First trip to Maui - lodging on the nicest beach, your advice please
 

First time going to Maui in Feb. with our family of 3: husband,wife and teen.

In your opinion, what hotel has the nicest beach? I've read that people like the Fairmont, the Westin, and the Hyatt.

What are their differences?

What would you recommend, if not any of the above, and why? We're open to suggestions.

Thank you.

You will probably get a ton of votes for many different beaches so let me just put my vote in for Ka'anapali Beach. The beach is nice and nearly all the hotels have pretty nice pools. Also there is a nice beachfront sidewalk that takes you down the strip. There is Whalers Village which is a decent shopping mall in the vicinity. Aloha.

The Fairmont is in Wailea (Kea Lani) on an excellent but somewhat secluded beach. If you are looking for a Waikiki style beach with lots of people then the Westin and Hyatt in Kaanapali are the best choices. The beaches are different but both excellent. I may be wrong but in my experience Kaanapali is sunnier. ???

Thank you for your advice.

On average, Wailea gets far less rain than Ka`anapali. It's also developed with low-rise hotels, featuring high end shopping and dining, and a strand of smaller crescent-shaped beaches. Ka`anapali is dominated by high-rise hotels and condos on an unbroken beach, miles long. The sand in both areas may disappear in the winter, though the disappearance can be more pronounced in Ka`anapali.

The Fairmont is the Kea Lani- beautiful resort. Next door to the Grand Wailea and the Kea Lani they are doing some construction - don't think any going on at the properties. Westin and Grand Wailea both have good pools, especially if you have kids. Kea Lani is all suites. Kaanapali is close to Lahaina lots more going on here, but beaches on Wailea side are better. Beds in Westin are great - (heavenly). Its Maui - can't lose at any, just depends on who is coming and what is most important and will you adopt any children?

Author: ThomasJohn
Date: 01/09/2006, 09:54 am

I stayed at the Westin for my honeymoon last May(2005) and we absolutely loved it. Great location. Within walking distance to shopping. Had a great beach, great pools, waterslide, and gorgeous gardens. Here is a picture that I took just outside of our hotel room.
http://www.holdren.org/honeymoon/waterfallwestin.jpg

The Westin had relaxing beds(my wife said I didnt snore!), and the showers are really nice(all "Heavenly" brand).

Somehow breakfast buffet was included with our vacation package through our travel agent. Such a wonderful breakfast and a HUGE money saver. I like to eat, and if I dont get a huge breakfast I get crabby. We filled up so much on the Westins amazing breakfast that we didnt even need lunch!

My vote is for the Westin.

*note, I have stayed in Kaanapali in both January and May and I never noticed the beaches "disappearing" in the Winter.

-TJ Holdren

If you look back into the old posts, summer/fall of 2003 was a time of significant beach erosion along Kaanapali - the worst in ten years. The beach in front of the Westin did essentially "disappear". I do not think that is a significant problem at this time.

IMHO the south Maui beaches have Kaanapali beaten hands down! We stayed at the Grand Wailea last time and Wailea Beach plus many surrounding beaches were gorgeous.

We had our first trip to Maui in September, and after much deliberation, decided to stay at the Sheraton: it's on Kaanapali beach next to Black Rock. The beach there was much wider than further down near the Westin and Hyatt, more swimmable with less surf, and the snorkeling at Black Rock is excellent. The Westin pool area is lovely, but very busy (maybe because the beach is smaller there and has more surf). Didn't get to the Wailea area because there was so much to see, we ran out of time.

If you have a teen, you might be glad of the Kaanapali/Whalers Village beach walk that allows you to go to shops and restaurants from the hotels, without having to drive all the time. You are also close to Lahaina, where there is lots to do and see, especially in whale season.

Hi again, Anne.
If budget, as well as location, is part of your decision, Beachgirl 86 recently posted about a fantastic rate she got at Sheraton (in Kaanapali) area. I'll "top" it if i can find it.

We loved the Sheraton. It had a great beach & great snorkeling right there at the hotel on Kaanapali Beach next to Black Rock. Rent snorkels cheaper than the hotel at Snorkel Bob's for the week. We saw a hugh turtle, dolphins & lots of beautiful colored fish along the edge of the Black Rock. The Hotel was excellent. Clean & a friendly staff. The breakfast buffet was awesome(included in some packages). It is within walking distance to the Whalers Village and the restaurant named The Hula Grill(beachside with live music). No complaints & we would deinitely return to the Sheraton.