I have been looking at every lodging site and discussion board on the internet I can find and I can't decide between a couple of resorts on Maui for my husband and I in June. I think I have narrowed it down to these: Grand Wailea Resort, Four Seasons, and Renaissance on Wailea and the Hyatt Regency on Kaanapali. Can anyone can help me pick the perfect place? I want this trip to be perfect for us. We can't afford to do this very often. Thanks!

Sheila:
I'm sure you're read some of my postings, since I just returned from Hi.(Oct 3- Oct 14).
Whether you take my advice or others, I think you need to give a little more detail in terms of what you and your husband are looking for in your vacation. By that I mean what type of activities do you enjoy doing? Are a relax at the hotel pool/beach type of couple, or do you enjoy lots of activity? Do you like to go out to bars in the evening, or is dinner and a walk on the beach more your speed?
Also, in terms of a hotel, what type of hotel style do you enjoy? Do you want a mega-resort with all the fancy trappings? Or do you like a smaller, more intimate place to stay? Will you or your husband want to use a spa or gym? By providing some details in terms of your personal likes and dislikes, people can better give you recommendations that would be accurate to your tastes.

Sorry if I was too vague about my request. We are both in our mid 30's. We are not the adventurous type but we don't want to spend all week lying by the pool either. We like sight-seeing and some shopping. We definately will want to go to some nice restaurants. I really can't decide if we should pick a quiet place or one with a lot of activities. That is why I am having trouble deciding. We probably won't use the spa or the gym either. I don't know if this helps or not.

I've been to Maui 5 times and all five have been spent in the Kaanapali area, and the reason being that everything is withing a one or two mile radius (maybe 4) Wailea area is beautiful. It's more
for golfers and the rich and famous (Grand Wailea) Very expensive snack bar;restaurants and shops. Kaanapali is a wonderful beach area (Hyatt) Plenty of
shops moderately priced restaurants and expensive. Kaanapali is near Lahaina town a 5 minute drive, and it's a funky little town with a lot of shops, good restaurants, casual or dressy.
I thought the Grand Wailea was very pretty the 2 times that i've gone out there, but definitely very ritzy, and the rooms are very expensive.
I recommend the Hyatt. We loved it. Great swimming pool, but the beach in front is not so great, but the ambience of the resort more than makes up for the lack of beach. Kaanapali Alii condo is nice. Right in the middle of the beach great location and 1,500 square foot units for around the same price as hyatt. Actually, it's a little cheaper depending on when you go. But the Hyatt has a wonderful buffet breakast which is included, and believe me, breakfasts in the hotels are EXPENSIVE, so get an inclusive breakfast deal if at all possible. We stayed at the Sheraton Maui a couple months back and every morning our breakfast was something like
$18.50 per person, and it costs that much whether you have the buffet or simply a glass of juice and a waffle. They make it so that you're better off getting the buffet, buy who wants to pay those exorbitant prices every morning? I sure don't. Good luck.

Sheila -- I would DROP the Hyatt from your list entirely!! Any of the other three will be just fine (they're all right next to each other, connected by a beautiful walking path). The two BEST would be the Grand and Four Seasons, the Grand being VERY ELABORATE and the Four Seasons on a much smaller scale. However, if, as you say, you want "perfect" and "memorable," then I would choose the Grand!

Please help! ... I have been monitoring this site to decide on where to stay on Maui and now I am more confused then ever! My choices narrowed down to the three areas I am considering are:

Napile Kai Beach Resort - Concern: Will this be too much of a "family-oriented" resort? How is the beach/pool, restaurant?

Hyatt on Kaanapoli - Many mixed reviews; although it seems like a nice resort, I am concerned that it may be too big, impersonal and crowded. Also, would like to be on a nice beach but not too far off the beaten path.

Four Seasons - Great reviews on the resort, and if it was located more centrally there would probably be no question that we would stay here. I am concerned that it will be too off the beaten path.

Some background - My husband and I (early 40s, no children) would like to be at a nice resort that offers some amenities with a nice romantic atmosphere. A nice beach is important (we like to swim and snorkel), although we would like to be close to some activities as we like to mix our day up. We are not much for drinking and dancing, but rather a nice dinner and it would be nice to be able to go walking in the evening with some people around, but not alot of crowds. (It would be ideal to have a choice of expensive and moderate priced restaurants.) Would like to avoid places with lots of families/children and "party crowds." Places we loved that we visited are Caneel Bay in St. John and Cambridge Beaches in Bermuda.

P.S. We would be going in August (tacked on to a business trip so this time cannot change).