Updated April 8: I have been hearing from people booking this deal and confirming it via phone directly with the property.
Fairmont apparently expected the deal to be widely distributed through their employees. They were told, we believe, not to distribute it through web sites however. In today’s age, how could that be?
Fairmont must have known what was going on and just how quickly it was being spread. They are a smart company. Yesterday I saw multiple visits to our site from Fairmont and the searches that they performed to arrive here (and no doubt other sites that talked about the offer).
The whole point of the offer was to get people to Fairmont who were outside of their normal customers and channels. That has definitely been accomplished.
Here are deals at two top-rated Fairmont luxury hotels that normally sell for many times more.
Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui $169
Fairmont Orchid, Big Island $139
The Possible Catch:
This deal was intended for friends and family of Fairmont employees. It’s been discussed on a number of travel forums and no one using it has reported a problem. Just beware that this offer could be modified or removed at any time.
I suggest caution:
Some people who have made reservations have called the hotels and their reservations have been confirmed. If it were me, I too would call the hotel directly (and get a name), to confirm any reservation made, including the fact that it was done at the friends and family rate.
I am attempting to get clarification from Fairmont and will update this when and if I do.
How to Get the Deal:
Shannon (3 years ago)
I was not able to get these rates for early July (within the 90 day time frame.) Have others had the same problem, or did I do something incorrectly? I tried to get 5 nights at the Orchid on the Big Island. We we married there in 2002 when it was a Sheraton and can’t afford it since it turned into a Fairmont. Thought this would be a once in a lifetime opportunity to return. : ( Please help! Mahalo!
Jeff (3 years ago)
This was obviously a weird but very nicely priced deal. It wouldn’t surprise me for it to unavailable for some or all dates, or even be sold out already. When I tried booking dates last night however, I found many dates available, even in summer.
Aloha, Jeff
Pua (3 years ago)
Aloha Jeff,
You are the ‘nugget’ finder, if those Fairmont rooms rates are true. $139/nt. that’s the cheapest I’ve ever seen for the Mauna Lani Orchid Fairmont on the Kohala Coast! Kind of too good to be true.
Big Island visitors would love it though. That would be a real ‘stimulus’ to visit Hawaii. Let’s see what feedback you get from visitors who tried your codes.
Happy to share this vacation info with our blog visitors. Mahalo and a hui hou. Pua
Best Hawaii Vacation blog
Anonymous (3 years ago)
FYI This rate will not be valid anymore. Most booker ID’s have been suspended that have been circulating around the internet. You may still be able to see the discounted rates with the promo code but the booker Id will be invalid and you will most likely NOT get the rate when you show up at the hotel. Please remove this from the website immediately. Thank you for your understanding
Pua (3 years ago)
Couldn’t help but follow this discussion about the ‘too good to be true’ rates at the Kohala Coast Mauna Lani Fairmont.
Jeff, it looks like Mr Anonymous is from the Fairmont hotel source itself and knows best. No more discount, double bargain rates there!
Hope that other Kohala Coast hotels come to their senses and offer more special rates for Big Island visitors, at least for the slow season Spring months in April and May 2009! So maybe Shannon can afford a return visit to the Fairmont where she got married.
Aloha, Pua
Best Hawaii Vacation blog
Jeff (3 years ago)
Hi Pua,
Who knows about Mr. Anonymous. If he is from Fairmont, why not say? I do know that we had a lot of visits on the site yesterday from Fairmont.
The odd thing is that this deal was actually out there for quite a while before I posted it. I deliberately waited to see what would happen. With today’s technologies, Fairmont definitely knew what was going on. Perhaps they finally had enough takers, I don’t know.
Aloha, Jeff
Michelle (3 years ago)
I just booked at this rate last night. I called and confirmed this morning with “julie”. I have printed out the confirmation and they charged my card. I have a hard time beliving they won’t honor it when you check in. I stayed up until 2am getting all my travel arrangements purchased around my Fairmont, for fear they’d yank it. So far so good. I’ll report back in a few weeks when I return….
Hawaiian Honeymoon (3 years ago)
Hi Jeff,
We just used this to book the Kea Lani in June. We’ll be on Maui for part of our honeymoon. I haven’t been to Maui since I was a kid and my fiance’ has never been (though we’ve both done Oahu and Kauai). We are trying to decide between the Kea Lani and the Hyatt for our time in Maui. Based on location, hotel perks, dining, beaches, etc., do you have any recommendation or thoughts on one vs. the other?
Thanks!
Michelle (3 years ago)
Just got back from the Orchid. The deal worked great! Best vacation in a while!
rk (3 years ago)
is this deal dead, when I checked it is showing $249/night
Jeff (3 years ago)
The price has gone up. That was some time ago.