jan

Help?? We can't decide which Maui condo to choose
Here's our choices:
1)The Whaler
2)Aston Kaanapali Villa's
3)Aston Kannapali Shores
4)Kannapali Ali- (oceanview room sold out)
5) Aston Mahana

Any Advice??

Eric

The Alii is the nicest. It is right next to Whaler's Village, but it is generally more expensive. We never pay extra for the great view as we are always out and about or at a resort.

yep

Yep, Eric is right--the Alii hands down.

aloha

Shores & Ali are nice establishments.

LoriL

We've stayed at all but the Ali.
Be forewarned that ALL condo's are individually owned in these places and furniture, etc. will (and can) vary a great deal.
Whaler: we had a nice 1 bedroom, 2 bath condo, lovely furniture, 2 baths and total oceanfront. The pool is smallish but the location cannot be beat (right next to Whaler's Village and walking distance to several hotels).
Villas: GREAT beach, the best of the bunch beach-wise. Units vary a great deal, we had one that was "OK", not great, not terrible, we had oceanview, 1 bedroom, and did see the ocean. The grounds are pleasant, lots of grassy areas. The pool is nice enough, but not like the Hyatt (if that is what you want). The beach is wide, sandy and very very good.
Shores: We had a one bedroom, oceanview. The view was a "sliver". The furnishings needed to be updated, the unit was clean, but nothing to rave about at all. The grounds are nice,pools OK, a couple of shops, etc. The beach is not good - narrow and rocky.
Mahana: This is our favorite, we stayed there 5 times. ALL units are oceanfront, no surprises about the view, it's dead on ocean. You need to ask for a "remodeled" unit, if you get one it is great. We've had them 4 out of 5 times.
Nice rattan furniture, new carpeting, appliances, etc. Washer/Dryer in all the condos as well. The downside is the pool is small and the beach is narrow, however if you walk slightly (a few yards) to the left the beach is very good. Some 1 bedroom units have 2 bathrooms (the ones that end in "15", i.e. 715, etc. We've had one on one visit.
I understand the Ali is very nice, but it is also probably the most expensive of the bunch.

Nancy the Tanned

I think the view is very important. Yes you are out of the room alot, but how often can you sit and have breakfast or afternoon cocktail or late night snack in your own room with a beautiful view and the sound of the waves?

Michelle

We stayed at the Noelani Condo Resort in July and loved it. Not too expensive, good location & really close to the ocean. They have studios, studio deluxes, 1, 2, & 3 bedroom units. We stayed in a studio deluxe with a super view.

Dan

My family and I just back today from spending a week in Maui. The Aston Mahana is FANTASTIC. We had a two bedroom, two bath condo with amazing views. One wall of windows directly faces the ocean (including views of both Molokai and Lanai), another overlooks the pool and provides a view down the beach, and still another from the second bedroom views the West Maui mountains. The condo was huge and very tastefully decorated. I can't imagine any other property having better views.

Dan

Dianne

I've stayed at the Ali'i many times, and love it. I'm trying a townhome in 2002. Community is called Puamana, just south of Lahaina. Have booked a 2br/2ba oceanfront for $247 per night.

Celine

I've read about 500 posts on Maui tonight (no kidding!) and am now considering a condo instead of a hotel room for my 7 day trip in July...

My question is, it seems everyone is saying that condos are cheaper than hotels, but I'm looking at my Pleasant Holidays brochure, and the 4Seasons is $1438 a week, and the Kaanapala Alii is $1457!!!(that's for the cheapest options they have, and they're both 7 days with air)

Why would I choose the condo if the hotel is the same price?? Especially since you mentioned that the condos are individually owned...ok, I understand that the condos are suites,etc...but they don't have the service/goodies of the hotels.and who knows what condo I would end up getting??!!