whimzigirl

Hello! It has been years since I have posted on Fodors, but it has been so helpful in the past, and so I naturally found my way back here with high hopes.

My husband and I are planning a honeymoon "redo" (Sandy hit the Caribbean during our honeymoon last year) and are switching gears to the Pacific with a 10-night trip to Maui this October. We hope to get it perfect this time. We have narrowed down our hotel selections, but I was curious as to how much time to spend at each hotel, and in what order. We will be renting a car. We love lounging at the pool/beach and are fairly active outdoors (hiking, biking, snorkeling). We like days of quiet nothing but also enjoy a party night every so often. We are not golfers.

Our current plan is 4 nights at the Ritz Carlton, 3 nights at Travaasa, and 3 nights at Hotel Wailea. I wish we could spring for 7 nights at the Ritz or do 3 nights at the Four Seasons, but in an attempt at budgeting, we feel like Hotel Wailea is a good choice.

We are hoping that by staying in these 3 hotels, it gives us a nice sampling of 3 different Maui experiences. It seems to make sense to put Hana in the middle. What are your thoughts on how the nights are split? And with starting with the Ritz and ending with Wailea?

Thanks for taking the time to read my post! All advice and critique are welcome

whimzigirl

One other thought....What about Paia Inn Hotel instead of Hotel Wailea????

ChiSue

Hotel Wailea has been turned into time shares. It's not getting as good reviews on Trip Advisor in recent weeks.

I wouldn't move around that much in a ten-night stay. Maui's not that big, and people don't plunk down AT a single resort; they drive around, sampling beaches and restaurants and sightseeing.

I understand a night or two in Hana, but you might want to choose a central location for the rest of your stay. Wailea is more convenient, and is home to all of Maui's top hotels except the Ritz -- way up at the top of West Maui. In October the best ocean conditions will be off South Maui.

Paia Inn -- uh-uh. Small rooms, right ON the highway -- and not that far from Travaasa.

whimzigirl

Thanks, ChiSue! That's a great help. Do you have recommendations for Wailea? FS is just too much for anything other than a mountainside view. I was just looking at the Fairmont and was wondering what your thoughts were? Havent really looked into Grand Wailea because I keep reading that it is too family oriented....

ChiSue

You might like Makena Beach Resort -- about five minutes south of Wailea, with a shuttle in to Shops At Wailea. It's a former Prince property, smaller than the new, huge hotels like Fairmont, Grand Wailea, Four Seasons. It's on probably THE best snorkeling beach in the area. The Marriott Wailea is a solid buy too, also smaller and with ocean view rooms that are almost IN the ocean.

I'm too Scots to pay tons when I don't plan to stay 'on property' pretty much 24/7 -- which you probably won't do if this is your first trip to Maui. That said, the biggies shouldn't have many children in October. Look carefully at the 'extras' at all these major hotels: Cabana fees, parking & valet, 'resort' fees...

I'd also 'save the best for last' if you're staying in two places.

You can see aerials and read reviews here: www.hawaiirevealed.com

Lookin_Glass

I'm an advocate of bopping around on Maui! We've done it a few times. And it has its advantages. The first being that you can do and see a lot while staying on each corner and still have plenty of time for r&r and pool/beach time.

The Ritz is a bit secluded and formal (and gently haunted) but the action is only 15 minutes away, so it may be the perfect oasis for you. We adore the West end drive, if you are an adventurous driver go as far as the gift shop on the hill and turn around. After a couple of hours in Lahaina you'll be glad to get back to the pool and seclusion!

We adore Hana! It calls me. I haven't been since the Travassa transition, but the locals are still running the show backstage, so it should be the real deal old school aloha in a wonderful rural slice of heaven. The thrill of staying in Hana is the slow pace, enjoying the early mornings before the day trippers and then the late afternoons after the day trippers. In between, chilling at the old Hotel Hana wouldn't suck!

I've been blessed to stay at many places in Wailea. As far as the 4S, nothing wrong with a mountain view room, considering the perks. We've been blessed to stay twice. Kea Lani has suites which is really nice. GW is disney on steroids and unless anything has changed they nickle and dime you to death. Stroll the grounds but don't bother. We also adored the marriott which we pricelined a couple of years ago. It's not one of the big dogs, but it has its charm, and a casual adult only pool that was a lot quieter albeit a lot more casual then the busy big dawg pools. Makena Resort again would be secluded and require traveling to dinner etc. but Makena beach - that's the reason to split you hotel time. So you can spend a few hours, or sunset taking it in and then be back to your lodging in a few minutes, rather then driving across island.

The thing about staying at multiple locations is - be prepared. Have a bag with your pool lounging clothes and beach clothes so even when your room isn't ready, you don't miss a beat and are poolside within minutes of hitting the valet and dropping off your car and luggage.

Lookin_Glass

Oh, and unless you decide to stay at the 4S mountianside or Kea Lani, I'd do Wailea first, Hana second and Ritz last. I've learned from experience that you never want to down grade as you go. Unless downgrading is a secluded beach shack with an outdooor shower and bbq

offlady

All three hotels are nice in its own way, but just be aware that none are located on the beachfront and you will need a car to get to a nice beach. You may want to switch out the Wailea or Ritz hotel for one where you can walk out to the beach from the hotel grounds.

tifa2276

I love split stays. I feel as if I'm getting to experience 2 vacations rolled into one! *claps hands*. This year we are probably going to do 4 nights at the Andaz Maui Wailea - it opens in July of this year so should be running nicely by the time you are going (we will be there in Oct/November too). I can’t wait to see it. It looks stunning and modern and I love Wailea.

After that we’re probably moving up to Kaanapali for a week to stay in a condo. Not sure which one yet but am eyeing the Honua Kai. I really wanted to throw in a few nights at the 4S Manele Bay in Lanai – but am thinking logistically it is going to cost me a LOT more money and time getting there and back and not sure if it’ll be worth it. Maybe a day trip will have to suffice.

A few years ago we did a similar thing, we stayed in Kihei for a few nights and then went to the Ritz Carlton for the last half of the week. It was great and I really enjoyed both locations. If you click my profile you can probably check out the trip report I did a few years ago. Maui Wowee is in the title.

We did the RTH which was wonderful but didn’t stay in Hana – that may be another option for us on this trip. Although we are ok with just a day trip.

If you like a night out…probably Front Street Lahaina. Plenty of shops, art galleries, and restaurants that open late. Kihei also has its fair share of casual bars and restaurants. We really loved a sunset dinner at Mama’s Fish House or Merriman’s. Both splurge meals. For casual meals we loved Da Kitchen in Kahului, Star Noodle in Lahaina, and Kihei Caffee for breakfast.

Ending with the Ritz is nice - it's secluded location is great for just relaxing and enjoying the resort which is what we did on our first split stay. But maybe you want to recharge at the begining of vacation and then be ready for the drive to Hana afterwards? In that case by all means indulge in the Ritz first. In Wailea I pricelined the Marriott before and got it at really great prices, much cheaper than even the Hotel Wailea.

Enjoy your trip!

Lookin_Glass

offlady - how did the Ritz move DT Flemings beach and where did they relocate it?

whimzigirl

Thanks for so much insight! This has all been a great help. We will probably keep the split stays....we enjoy bouncing around and dont mind driving. Its all part of the adventure! I think we will probably move the Ritz to the end. Our main task now is to decide on our Wailea option. We just need to find time to sit together and compare the Marriott, Kea Lani, and Makena. Im tempted with the 4S but probably shouldnt even do that to myself Looks like I might have to add Andaz to my research list!

tifa2276

whimzigirl - The Andaz looks to have rates similar if not more expensive than the 4S. But we are using free night certificates which we got when we applied for the Hyatt credit card and with a minimum spending requirement. That saves us a huge deal on our vacation. So, it is something you may want to look into especially if that hotel appeals to you.

ChiSue

I think bouncing around works better for people who have already 'done' the Maui sights and just want to experience different hotels. But then, I'm the kind of person who hates to have to pack up and be out at 10 a.m., then wait to check in until three or four. (BTW, do not leave luggage in your car trunk, unattended. Theft from rental cars is something of a cottage industry on Maui, especially at beaches and on Road to Hana. Follow Looking Glass's instructions to leave luggage at your hotel if you're there before your room is ready.)

offlady

D.T.Fleming Beach Park was originally located where Kapalua Bay is today. The grassy area above the beach was landscaped with picnic tables for employees of the pineapple plantation and cannery to use. After the pineapple fields were developed into the Kapalua Resort, the beach was renamed Kapalua Bay and another public beach park further north (past the Ritz) was renamed D T Fleming beach park. I remember going to the old Fleming beach and the waters were crystal clear down to your toes. There was a turtle nesting ground in the tiny little cove near Merriman's and I recall seeing baby turtles in the sand there. Now the water isn't clear and the grassy area is considered off-limits to the general public.

wekewoody

Regarding the Hotel Hana Maui (I still can't get used to calling it the Travassa): if your budget can handle it, go for one of the Sea Ranch Cottages over the Garden Rooms. We have stayed in both and like the ocean views, open vistas and sea breezes of the Sea Ranch Cottages better. You are close to that gorgeous pool too. One word of caution. Beware of kissing horses.

https://picasaweb.google.com/1094459...gVQ&feat=email

suben

The Wailea Ekahi Village is a lovely condominium style hotel that is right on the beach with wonderful beach views. You can get a very good rate there at http://www.bestvacationislands.com

k2ok

We were in Maui 4 years ago and spent 4 days at kanapali ( not sure I've spelled that correctly.) we stayed at the Sheraton. We drove to Hana and stayed overnight. Then returned the next day going full circle and spent the last 3 days at the 4 seasons in a mountain view room that was absolutely wonderful. We used Maui Revealed as a guide. It was our first time (and maybe it will be our only time) so we did a lot of tourist stuff including a luau and the fabulous magic/comedy show called (something) and Annabelle. Hope you enjoy Maui !!

whimzigirl

All of your posts have been so helpful and we finally settled on our itinerary! We caved and decided to include the 4S...so, we will do 3 nights at the Ritz (we have 2 free nights from Marriott points), 3 nights at Travaasa, and 4 nights at the 4S. Looks like our dream trip is coming true!

Lookin_Glass

fantastic, fantastic, fantastic!!!! you are blessed to have such a wonderful trip!!!!