Joyce Z.
Yelp
Although I have stayed at the Hyatt, Westin, KBH 4 times, and Grand Wailea twice, Whaler is like my home. With 5 Whaler stays through Aston and 12 times as a time interval owner within the past 15 years I can speak about this property from both perspectives.
Rooms/Housekeeping - When you rent through the Aston, it functions like a hotel which means daily housekeeping, amenities including pineapple in your fridge upon check in, etc.. When you are renting from an owner direct, you are renting their specific unit and I assume housekeeping schedule will depend on what is negotiated with them. As a time interval owner, you are staying at a specific unit at the same time each year unless you exchange and have only 1 mid-interval cleaning (after 7 days) during your stay. With the exception of the TIO units, décor of each unit is up to the individual owners that own that unit and therefore is not the same across the board. You have a choice of studio, 1 or 2 bedroom units all boasting a full kitchen and a lanai (garden view, ocean view, or oceanfront)
Fees: Parking fees have now been replaced by resort fees which includes parking (currently $16 but will be increasing a dollar per year until it reaches $20 per day). Daily resort fees are more common than uncommon in Hawai`i and although it is just a simple pool vs. the more elaborate ones at some neighboring resorts, there are some nice amenities that has been added since per below and included in this fee that other resorts nickel and dime you for.
Amenities: Parking, complimentary washer and dryer on each floor, free Tide Pods for wash, complimentary beach chairs to sit at your "front yard" Kaanapali Beach, handful of first come first serve cabanas at the pool and sundeck.
Pool: Like I mentioned, simple pool so no water slides but if you enjoy the ocean, you won't even care.
Restaurants: No restaurants on site but shorter walk to Whaler's Village next door to Leilani's, Hula Grill, and soon to come Monkeypod Kitchen, or simple fare at the food court including Joey's Kitchen, than it would be to walk through an extensive resort property to get to on site restaurants in some resorts. Walking distance to other restaurants at neighboring Kaanapali Resorts with the farthest (Hyatt) less than a mile away.
Location, location, location - Kaanapali Beach is your front yard, Black Rock, less than 5 min walk away for snorkeling.
If you are looking for drink and food service at the pool or slides, etc., this is probably not the place for you. Otherwise, welcome to your home away from home!!
Note: Currently lobby is under construction until mid-Dec with improvement projects planned over time to keep this a first class condo so just ask before booking if any construction is planned and make sure that your unit is away from construction noise.