Where to stay in Maui

What is your budget?

The Plantation Inn in Lahaina meets all of your requirements, I think.
http://www.recommendedinns.com/id_1020286.html
I heard only positive things about it.

You can also look for more recommended inns on Maui here:
http://www.triprents.com/rentals-Hawaii-Maui%20Island.html

Johann: Why would you recommend a B & B? Most do not welcome children, and OP has a toddler. They are looking for a house or condo.

kqc: you should focus on condos. Maui County no longer allows private house rentals. How many in your party?
There are many 2 bedroom condos, and a few complexes with 3 bedroom units. From your description, Kaanapali would probably meet your needs best.

Napili area is great for kids.

The Noelani Condos in Lahaina are wonderful. You can watch the whales playing from your balcony.

I would say that the Ka'anapali area of Maui would suit your needs..
The Westin is very nice and you can walk to Whaler's Village for dining and it has something for everybody.

www.westinmaui.com

If this is your first trip to Maui, I would recommend staying in the Kaanapali area. It has everything you are looking for and offers fun for all ages of family members. You can find many condos for rent at vrbo.com. I would not recommend Lahaina---the options there for all things you want will disappoint you.

I would also recommend Kaanapali Beach (having been there with my kids at all stages of their lives, including toddler-hood). It has Whaler's Village (which is a shopping/restaurant center, but narrow and long, so only a couple of restaurants front the beach) -- everyone hangs out there in the evening. It has the continuous paved beach path (from the Hyatt to the Sheraton), which is great for running if you get out early, before most people are out and about (7-ish would be fine -- still empty then. I don't run, but I do remember taking my kids out for a stroll at that hour). It's only about 3 miles from Lahaina, which is a fun town to wander around. Excellent snorkeling right at the beach in front of the Sheraton (Black Rock). Kaanapali is a "planned development" - there are no private homes in the development on the beach, but there are a variety of hotels (Hyatt Regency, Westin, Sheraton, Kaanapali Beach Hotel), traditional condos (Kaanapali Alii - perhaps the best, and the Whaler) and the Marriott timeshare resort. Depending on your budget, I would look into Kaanapali Alii (much more upscale than the Whaler) and the Marriott (but at the Marriott, be sure you are looking at the newer "villas", which are larger and more fully outfitted than the older units (the older units were previously the hotel, now converted to timeshares, and are suites, but with limited kitchens, whereas the new villas are full, gorgeous, apartments).

"I would not recommend Lahaina---the options there for all things you want will disappoint you."

I'm curious why this statement. While accomodations may be somewhat limited in Lahaina -- other than those suggested above and I believe a number of rental houses, it seems it is ideal for what was asked -- particularly for its wealth of restaurants, galleries, and shops -- more of a real "walking distance to a town with decent restaurants" than any of the other areas. It's also ideal as there are so many boat tours, excursions, and activities that depart from right there. On the other hand if the poster is looking simply for the big resort feel, then I agree Lahaina is probably not the place.

Montreybob, to each their own, but please explain how a charming town that offers exactly what the OP seems to be looking for would be disappointing?

I'm just assuming that since this is OPs first trip to Maui and with grandparents and a toddler, that Lahaina would not offer the types of condos on the beach and the good beaches that first visitors might be seeking. Just MHO.

Yes, Montereybob, the lovely condos that I recommended in my earlier post are on the beach in Lahaina. Hello - that's why you're able to watch the whales from the balcony, which is pretty exciting for first visitors to Maui. (I know it was for me.) You can also use their barbeques to grill your own dinner by the sea if you wish, which saves money.

To be fair, "on the beach" and "view of the whales in the ocean" aren't necessarily the same thing Pam, are the Noelani Condos actually on a nice BEACH?

I'm with Bob on this one. I think Lahaina is great for adults, but not very kid-friendly as a place to stay. Much better beaches elsewhere. Plus it gets very HOT due to the mountains blocking the tradewinds. The older grandparents might find this uncomfortable. I thought Noelani was more up towards Kahana, along a rocky shoreline? I agree that the whale watching would be fantastic, though, from this location. I might check it out for a potential trip in March. It is the kind of small, budget-friendly property I prefer.

no offense, but having been to Maui about a billion times, I have never thought to stay in Lahaina..I see it more as a place to dine and catch the boat or go shopping.
Our single friends enjoy it..
Since Ka'anapali is up the road, it really is perfect for all ages and the beach has really no reef left in shallow water, so your not getting into trouble on that end.
sf gave you great info on a myriad of hotel/condos..
I have my preference to the Westin but are good friends love the Sheraton at Black Rock..not a fan, but that's what makes the world go round..

Yes, SF7307, the Noelani Condos are on a beautiful beach, and uh, yeah you really do have to be "on the beach" to be close enough to see whales play.

I disagree Barbara5353, Lahaina is kid friendly. And as for being hot, it would depend on when they will be there. It's not hot there in late Feb. and early March.

Uh Ksucat, the OP is looking for a town with a decent places "to dine" and "go shopping". That's why I made my recommendation.

Pam..really don't want to get in fight over Lahaina vs. Ka'anapali but Lahaina is not for everybody..
I would not swim in Lahaina..too much diesel fuel and trash and really not my ideal swimming beach.
As far as 'decent places to eat'..if you consider Cheeseburger in Paradise good..well, more power to you.
Kimo's is decent and as a TS property with restaurants all over Southern California and Hawaii..with Hula Grill, Kimo's, Jake's and Keoiki's paradise in Kauai.
David Paul's Lahaina Grill has really come into its own.
I would no more want to base my Hawaiian vacation around staying in Lahaina..if it works for you great.
I consider it a fun place to walk around the Banyan tree, have lunch or dinner, buy some t-shirts, go to Hilo Hatties and then move on to what Maui is all about.
My family has owned a home in Hawaii for over 40+ years.
Aloha

So reviewing, some find the "resort" atmosphere more "kid friendly" and preferable to the "walking distance to a town with some decent restaurants" than the poster specifically asked for. I guess we all have different ways of interpreting specific requests. But we often seem to want to impose our own likes and dislikes on other posters rather than respond to the specific things they have said they are looking for.

I despise MacDonalds, but when someone asks where to get a quick and cheap hamburger and fries, I might even recommmend it --rather than steering them to the type of place I'D prefer. As they say, to each his own. I'm still waiting for the reasons for saying that Lahaina would be "disappointing" to the poster since it seems it is just the type of place they are asking for, including being the only real "town" atmosphere they seem to be seeking out of all the places mentioned and not being based on golf like most of the resorts (and most of Ka'anapali) are.

<<<and uh, yeah you really do have to be "on the beach" to be close enough to see whales play>>>

To me, "beach" means sand (or at least an expanse of pebbles). By my definition, not all water's edges are beaches, and the "shoreline" at the Noelani is not a beach.

Gee, SF7307, I guess it must be fake sand that the ocean washes up on outside the Noelani and the tiki torches are stuck into then, huh? Someone should alert the media!

They probably put the tiki torches between the black rocks..
Here is a link to the condo that sits on a bunch of black rocks..I don't see any sand.
Pam..let's see some aloha spirit!

http://www.noelani-condo-resort.com/Noelani300x200.jpg

Seriously, Pam, their own website states that it is "adjacent" to the beach at Kahana. Wouldn't they be touting that it is "on the beach" if it were?

Hi again -- OP here. I am really, really grateful for all of the insights. It is our first trip to Maui and there will be five people in our party (my wife, myself, our toddler, and two grandparents), so looking for 2-3 bedrooms. I would have included more detail in the original post, but really had no idea that so many people would be so helpful (thank you!). Our preference would be to avoid the resorts. Planning to go in early January. Our ideal would be to find a 3-bedroom condo/house on the beach that was within a mile or so of a few decent restaurants. (We really liked our stay in Hale'iwa on the North Shore of Oahu, if that helps; good house rental on the beach and within a few minutes of a decent town.) Thanks again for your help!

Ksucat and Sf7307, obviously neither of you have ACTUALLY STAYED at the Noelani. I have, and it is very lovely and quite appropriate for a family of first time visitors to Maui WHO WANT TO AVOID THE RESORTS. And the "bunch of black rocks" are actually lava rocks, which are ALL OVER HAWAII. I'm very surprised that you don't already know that, Ksucat, since you consider yourself to be such an expert on Hawaii. And yes, the tiki torches ARE IN SAND. I was just trying to help the OP find something that might work for them. If it works for them, great. If something else is a better match, then that's fine too. That's true "aloha spirit", Ksucat, not your annoying constant criticism of a place you haven't stayed at.

Sorry Pam, but you still haven't answered the question -- where's the beach? (No I haven't stayed there, but looking at the website, nothing about it indicates it's on the beach)

Sf7307, it's clearly time for you to see an optomotrist about your vision. The OP has graciously thanked us all for our suggestions and will pick whatever is best for the family, so move on and let it go already! If you can't, then it might be time for you to see a psychiatrist too.

kqc, take a look at
http://www.wizardpub.com/maui/mauwestmap.html

You'll find reviews and aerial shots of hotels, condos, etc. which I hope will be helpful.

And really, I'm not trying to pile on, but the aerial shot of the Noelani doesn't show a beach. It gets a good review from the Maui Revealed people, though.
http://www.wizardpub.com/maui/mrnoelani.html

Lee Ann

Lee Ann

Yes Elendipickle, it's a great place, that's why I recommended it. If you continue on to their website from that link, you'll see the beach.

Well, actually, no you won't -- that's where I started, Noelani's own website.

Kahana is NOT Lahaina..and Pam..we in Hawaii call the lava rock..Black rock.

Aloha kqc!
Wishing you all the best in your ventures to Maui..

Keep in mind that Maui has strict zoning laws, which consider some condos as transient vacation rentals..(TVR)
Most are ok with zoning but ask, to be sure...they need a business license.
Mahalo to you and your family!

kqc,
I haven't read all of the repllies, so there may be some repeating.

I love Napili and I think it is Napili Shores that has several different types of privately owned condos. When we were there before, each family had their own unit, which was great for grandma, she could get some private time! Fantastic beaches, great snorkeling! The only drawback is that you really need to drive if you want to go anywhere else.

On the other hand, if you want to be in Lahaina, which is a great town with a lot to do, I highly recommend the Aina Nalu, which was beautiful. You can walk to town and they have a gorgeous pool.

Kaanapali is okay, just not my choice. It's TOO much, to me. Fake Hawaii, imo.

aloha cat!
Second Napili and we stayed in a gorgeous 3 bedroom 2.5 bath with washer/dryer and a half block from beach and super close to the Gazebo for breakfast or lunch..google 'One Napili Way'..its been years and they were brand new but its worth checking out..

Aloha and Mahalo