I've been unsuccessful in finding a hotel who will let us purchase 'pool tickets' for the day as we have a 10-hour stopover from 10 am until 8 pm. Four Seasons has offered us a rate of $295 plus taxes for a room for the day though. Wailea, and Kea Lani are supposedly more. Has anyone ever tried to book a room for a day at one of the nicer hotels - even Kaanapali or Napili area would be fine with us. I find that $295 plus tax for a few hours at a hotel is a little too expensive for my taste - my limit I think, would be $200 for the day! I'm rationalizing even at that because I figure I'd have to go shopping if I don't get to have a pool day so the money would be gone regardless!

I think you might get a lower rate if you call hotels in Kihei or Napili.

we did one of those 2 stars one time near the airport for 8 hours and they charged us $40 and though they had a pool, it was just great to hang our head and relax before taking the red eye home to LAX/SD.
I'd call the resorts direct and speak to the GM.
In this economy, I would think they would be open to the idea.
You'd be spending money and eating and drinking at the pool.
This would be a great marketing idea for days when things are slow.

You'd be willing to pay 200.00 for a few hours at the pool?

this is a real problem for the islands when you have to vacate your hotel/condo at 10-11am and your flight doesn't leave till 10pm.
Shower, pool, beach chaise works really well to bide time when your flight doesn't leave till late.
We work some of the time at restaurants for lunch and dinner.
It's an uncaptured market which we have gone and asked for a half day rental at motel/hotels near the airport.
If your paying $400+ a night..$200 for 12 hours doesn't seem so bad.
It solves a huge problem that obviously travelin you have not experienced...especially with a family.
Anyone that goes to the outer islands know this to be very common issue.

what about a spa? you might be able to get a little treatment and access to all the facilities, pool included?

What about buying a room for the night you are leaving on Hotwire.com? Check in when you check out of the other hotel, hang out for the rest of the day and just don't spend the night.

I looked at the 4* hotels. I don't know your dates, but for the date I checked in May -
$179 - Wailea - Makena hotel
$209 - Ka'anapali hotel

There are some 3.5 star options too. Take a glance at the Hotwire hotel list on betterbidding.com to see if you can figure out what the hotels would be. The only negative is that the purchase is non-refundable.

starrs, that is a brilliant idea!!

Why, thanks sf!

It looks like the Makena will be the former Prince - so-so pool but great beach.
We loved the Makena when we stayed there

It looks like the Ka'anapali will be one of these - Hyatt Regency, Sheraton or Westin
You won't know which one until after the purchase is complete, but I'd like any of those. We loved the Hyatt when we stayed there - great pool, so-so beach

I was going to suggest bidding on Priceline too. I just got a condo in S Kihei for $100/night. Be aware of parking and mandatory resort fees at many hotels. The Days Inn Maui Oceanfront in S Kihei is right on Keawakapu Beach. It has very small rooms but it was $127 a night online if you prepay. When I checked 2 weeks ago it was only $66!

Keep in mind that check in is usually 3 or 4 pm. Make sure they will let you either check in early or allow you to use facilities before checking in.

If they don't let you do either, you are out from 11 am check out to 4 pm check in. Cuts down on your time at pool. They most likely would let you use pool, but ask to be sure.

Maui Seaside is an old fashioned motel, but has a pleasant pool and friendly staff. My husband stays there nearly every month on business. i'd think you could get a room for about $100.

It's not such a brilliant idea..

There are deals to be had at the front desk vs. paying for a full price room..maybe now with the economy things are a little different but not much on flights that leave at 10:30pm to LAX/SF route.

You can't check in till 4pm and when you work the deal to check in immediately at 11am and have a your room ready to hang and put your luggage vs. a car that usually gets broken into..especially if its a 2-3* motel/hotel.
You don't want your luggage hanging around for too long unattended at the front desk/baggage area..if you know what I mean.

If you can work a deal under $100 rate and have access to the room at noon, then go for it.
So many motels near Kahalui airport that you can get for full day and night for less than $50 for 12 hours or less.
Rooms are super clean, TV, pool, wifi, and relax and nap.
Done it several times and it works for both parties.
Sometimes at the end of a long beach/golf week plus, all you want to do is not be in the sun and vege in front of the tv.

I like Maui Seaside..perfect for what we are discussing about!

My suggestion was to bid on 4* hotels.
I've never been to a hotel that did not allow you to use the hotel facilities upon arrival, even if the room is not available. They have no problem holding your bags at the bell stand while you spend time at the pool, etc. In fact, the Four Season on the Big Island held our bags for two days while we flew over to Kauai before our actual check in date. I'm not recommending that to others of course, but just FYI.

I've stayed at two of the four hotels I mentioned above on Maui and can't imagine they would have a problem with a registered guest (in a pre-paid room) using the pool, etc. before the room is ready. Pack your swimsuit, etc in a carryon bag to use if needed. We always traveled with our snorkel bag as the carryon for island trips and had what we needed for beach/pool time, including a thin Kmart beach towel, swimsuits, lotion (harder nowadays) and snorkel equipment.

Based on the info given in the OP, it's worth considering.

aloha starrs!
Understand your point but its crazy to spend $300 room rate plus taxes for a half day stay when you can negotiate with hotels for a half day rate and get a into a room at 10-11am vs. waiting till 4pm by the pool for check in and then when you have a 10:30 departure and get there 2.5-3hours ahead and add dinner time of 1hour+ you really aren't get the moneys worth.
So you are saying bid on priceline or similar for an additional night and try and get a deal 4* star deal for 1 night?
It's definitely worth checking out if you can get a rate that isn't over the top.
Like I said, I have walked up to the 2-3* motel/hotels right before the airport on the water for $40 for 12 hours..maybe I got one of those hourly places and they thought my wife was a one trick pony!

ksucat, see above. $179 for the Prince and $209 for the Hyatt Regency, Sheraton or Westin.

The suggestion was in case the OP could NOT get "pool tickets" for their 10 hour stopover.

The OP asked for suggestions and that's just one. If they can get access to the pool of a nice hotel without it, great.

From the OP - "I find that $295 plus tax for a few hours at a hotel is a little too expensive for my taste - my limit I think, would be $200 for the day!"

I provided a suggestion that fits his/her request at a 4star resort. A 3 star is much less, as would be a 2star (obviously).

Lcuy's idea is a good one.

West Maui Lahaina Kaanapali Hotels are arrogant. Be aware. Maui News Feb 17 2010. Activity, restaurant prices are hurting visitors

A tourism executive said, "We haven't seen such revenue and visitor declines in Maui since we've been keeping records."

A fresh sign of the woes are being unleashed by a Maui economy mired in boom-time pricing marketing and the Great Recession.

Those vacationing on Maui are, unfortunately, not finding ways to reduce their restaurant and activities expenses once here. Visitor confidence in finding reasonably priced activities and restaurants in Lahaina/Kaanapali is exceptionally low.

Next year will not be any better than this year if the needs of visitors cannot be met.