morrow373

I am starting to plan my honeymoon and we are planning 5 nights in Maui. I can't decide between the Westin Maui, Westin Villas, or the Hyatt. I heard the pools are great at the Westin Maui but they nickel and dime you with resort fees. It's also closest to Whalers Village though. Is this a place we would go to every night or just a one time thing to check it out? I also read the beach isn't the greatest at the Hyatt and it's farther away from everything. Looking for reviews and info....thanks!

dusty56438

Haven't stayed at any of them so can't help you there.

But, here is a link that has resort fees for Hawaii:

http://travel-hawaii.com/hawaiiresortfees.html

Note that most include parking.

I don't know how complete the list is or how accurate it is.

Lots of other info including sites with free brochures for all islands:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34812564

krisf

We stayed at the Westin Maui this past July. It was a nice resort - the beach there is good. The pools are nice, and big, but also crowded (at least in July); had our kids with us so didn't check out the adult-only pool. Whaler's Village has several restaurants, an ABC store and lots of other shopping. We had dinner there twice during our 4-night stay on Maui. I believe that self-parking is free at the Westin, but you need to pay for valet. We felt like all we got for our resort fee was the 2 bottles of water they leave in your room each day. But, I don't think you can make a decision based on the resort fee - all of the resorts have them. Here's a link to some of our photos from Maui; there are a number of them of the Westin itself, Whaler's Village or the beach/ocean from one of those two places. No matter where you stay you will have a wonderful time. Congratulations on your upcoming wedding!
http://picasaweb.google.com/mom2travel/Maui2008#

travelingirl

We stayed at the Westin on our honeymoon and we liked the overall resort grounds/pools, etc but did not like the rooms. The ones in the main ocean tower are tiny! There is not a closet in the room, just an armoire that has small space for hangars. Also, the bathroom and vanity area were very small. We also had a room in the Beach tower (we were moved) and that was much more spacious so if you do decide on the Westin I would request that tower! We most recently stayed at the Sheraton and LOVED it so you may consider that resort. It is a 5-10 min. walk to Whaler's village and we were very happy with the resort and the rooms (we were in Bldg. 6). The Hyatt looks beautiful and the walk from there to Whaler's Village is about 15 minutes - not bad at all and a very nice walk along the beach on a sidewalk. It seems the Hyatt definitely has a more upscale feel from the Westin. I would choose the Sheraton or Hyatt on our next trip. Have fun!

DebitNM

We stayed at Westin Maui in Oct 2006. We got a great deal on price, though our room was not yet refurbished [they were working on them at the time]. We got it through someone who had a timeshare. We did not have to go to presentation, but got 5 nights for $750 or so with credit vouchers. Room had 2 full beds, was on low floor with so many trees in front we couldn't see far but at least it wasn't parking lot views, which MANY rooms had.

The resort fee was a ripoff for the 2 bottles of water as we used none of the other things it covered.

The beach was nice outside the hotel, but you have to pay to rent chairs and/or umbrellas on the beach. This seems common place in that area.

Westin Villas seemed dull, more like condo's in FL for 60 year olds.

There was shuttle between them, and Sheraton too, so you could get to Whalers pretty easily, but honestly, for a honeymoon, I wouldn't recommend Villas. Only 1 small restaurant on the grounds.

For my full trip report on hotels:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34887170

and here is another thread similar to your question.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=35089112


We went to Hyatt for Drums of Pacific Luau. The hotel was nice, very sedate, seemed like it was geared to the moneyed older traveler. It was a bit of a ways from Whalers and the action.

Hope this helps,
Deb

crefloors

I have stayed at the Hyatt several times, but sadly haven't been back to Hawaii for about five years now.

The grounds are beautiful and the pools are great. We had breakfast at the swan court included each time we stayed there and it's a lovely way to start the day.

It's expensive, the resort fee just ticks me off..but they all do it now. The self parking wasn't priced too badly, but then don't know what it is now.

I think all the hotels "nickle and dime" anymore, so it's something you just have to live with if you want "upscale" accommodations and don't want to stay in a condo. Anyway, I loved the Hyatt.

Suzie

For a honeymoon I'd stay at the Hyatt. I've stayed at the Hyatt twice with DH and once with kids. We all loved it. My sis stayed at the Westin with her DH & kids and they loved it. I think the Hyatt is more romantic.

sunshine

We stayed at The Hyatt a few years ago and loved the buffet breakfast at The Swan Court and the grounds are beautiful. However, we got a really dated, crappy room. It was supposed to be a smokefree floor, but the guy next to us was smoking and the walls were so thin that we could hear their conversations, coughing, arguing, flushing the toilet, etc. We'd never stay there again. The resort fee at the time was $25 a day, which we thought was a ripoff. But, like someone else said, all the hotels charge a resort fee now.

crefloors

As in any hotel...all rooms are NOT created equal. I've never paid for full ocean view, but have had the garden views a couple of times. Last time I was there, the room was NOT good. My friend and I thought of making a scene, but in the end, let it go. We weren't in our room a lot anyway. So, just be careful where they put you if you book this hotel, IF you don't go for the full ocean view room. The spa fee last time I was there was 12.50 per day...so wow, I guess it's gone up a lot.

kureiff

I haven't stayed at the Westin or the Hyatt. We stayed up the hill in a condo. I did attend a conference at the Hyatt, and I walked the length of Kaanapali beach several times a day (to the conference, to Black Rock for snorkelling, to McDonalds for snacks for our daughter, etc.).

Anyway, both hotels have beautiful grounds. The beach in front of the Hyatt is very steep and there are more rocks in the water. The Westin's beach is a wider. The Sheraton sits on the best stretch of beach (in my opinion). The snorkelling is great off Black Rock right in front of the Sheraton.

However, it's very easy to walk between the resorts. The beach stretches for about a mile. I would leave my conference at the Hyatt, and it would take me about 10 minutes to walk to meet my husband and daughter in front of the Sheraton.

I thought the grounds and the buildings at the Westin and Hyatt were nicer and prettier than the Sheraton, but the Sheraton's location is wonderful.