We are considering staying at the Grand Wailea this September. I've heard there is construction going on next door, however, and I'm concerned that it will be distracting and take away from the nice relaxing vacation we hope to have. Has anyone been there lately? Did it affect the resort rooms or pool area?

Also, I'm a little irritated with the resort. I found a great rate of $279 on their Web site a few days ago. I went to book it today, and it's gone. The next cheapest room is $325/night, or they have a stay 6/pay for 4 deal for $465/night which works out slightly cheaper. It's for the same room, though, as the $325/night room. It just seems a little tricky to me. Is this resort worth it? We stayed at the Kea Lani last time in Maui and loved it. We were only considering the GW for something different and for the pools.

I don't find the differing prices for the same room [category] tricky. The hotel tries to sell all its available rooms every night, because an unsold room represents an opportunity lost forever. Some people are interested only at $279 per night. Some are willing buyers at $325 (though would snap up a room at the lower price). The hotel tries to estimate how many of each buyer exist, and allots a finite number of rooms to lure those buyers. Seems it succeeded in selling all its $279 rooms. Airlines do same thing when they assign a limited number of seats on a less than full flight to flier awards (and they also sell seats of the same category at different prices). The moral: if the price is appealing, buy it or it may be gone whilst you ponder. Also, there's nothing new about quantity discounts, dropping the nightly price for longer stays.
Have a great vacation.

My husband and I stayed at the Grand Wailea in January and were lucky to have a wonderful Ocean view room with no construction noise. However, others with our party weren't so lucky and complained to the resort about the noise from construction. You do NOT want to ruin your trip with staying near that, so book your reservations with the ability to be able to designate where you stay. It does not affect the pool areas at all.

During our 10 day vacation, we stayed at the GW for the first half and then moved up to Kaanapali for the remainder at a condo. ALthough the GW is a breathtaking spectacle that the kids will love with their 9 different pools, we preferred the Kaanapali area more. It is cooler with many more things nearby to do, including the shopping mecca of Lahaina. If you have money burning a hole in your pocket, indulge in the constant beauty of the GW resort. You literally never have to leave the resort. But we wanted to do far more, including the volcano, road to Hana, North Coast drive, Lahaina, submarine ride, etc. that left us just sleeping there at night. The rooms are nicely appointed, but actually no big deal. If you don't have a lanai with a wonderful view, you don't plan on staying there every minute, you may be wasting your money staying at a place that charges exhorbitant rates (I paid 100 bucks just to have my hair washed and flat ironed).

But it is a place you'll never forget....

We just visited the GW last week after walking over from the Kea Lani. The construction is still going on, but you can't hear it from the beach or pools. The problem might be if you end up with a room on that north side of the property. If you can have them guarantee a room anywhere but there, you'll probably be fine.

Re: the sudden price changes, hmmm is right. All the hotels & resorts do that; you just have to act fast. Good luck.

What are they building there? They aren't tearing up the landscape around the chapel are they?

We stayed in a terrace room in the Molokini wing recently and heard no construction noises. If you book the least expensive room that's where you'll be unless they upgrade you. The construction is on the Chapel Wing side of the resort - a LONG way away. It's a big place... By the way, we loved the resort. We felt we were paying for the pools and the beach and they were worth it.

I thought the chapel wing had the prettiest view. What are they doing? I hope they aren't ruining the landscape.

I couldn't see what they were doing because it's enclosed behind a temporary wooden wall. It's a bit away from the chapel, though. That whole landscaped area, lawns and wing to the north are still intact. The construction seems to begin about where Wailea beach ends on the right (facing makai). Does anyone who lives there know? Like that hotel needs to be any bigger!

We were in Wailea in March at the Four Seasons. They are building new homes there and these homes are VERY pricey. We heard that they start at 3 million each. The wild thing is that every one of these new homes are already sold! I don't think I would want to own a home squished in between all those hotels. The beach in that area is always packed too. They had basically just begun digging and installing underground cable when we were there. I wonder how far they have come along.