help with Kihei condo
 

dh and I are going to Maui for 15 nights Dec 1 - 16th.
I know, I know... we should have had rooms boked already , but we just changed the dates again...
We are going for Business reasons, so want to stay in a condo in Kihei,
it isnt realy a vacation,
we will spend 10 nights ina condo
and then the last 5 nights at the Grand Wailea.. tha hopefully will be the vacation part, if we get everything done we need to...

We want a one bedroom condo in Kihei, we want something, very clean, and kept up well, the choices I was lookin at are:
kamaole Sands
Maui Banyan
Maui Kamaole
Mana Kai (this one is most expensive...)

we are trying to not spend too much $$ b/c this is not vacation,
but still want a nice place....

thank you for any input...
I have to book this soon! :)

oh, and I did do a search, but there wasnt enough info to really help me decide, thank you!

Kamaole Sands, the Banyan and Maui Kamaole are all next to each other. The Banyan in across from Kamaole Beach Park 2, the others Kam 3. Kamole Sands is actually set back a tad, sitting behind and adjecent to Haleakala Shores. But the beach is still just a short stroll away. There is parking for Kam 3 that is across Keonekai from the Sands, if that puts it into perspective.

I have had visitors stay in all of these, and they are all very nice from what I have seen. Much depends on the indivual unit and whether the owners have kept it up-to-date, but the units I have been in these were all very nicely decorated and well-kept. Sorry, I can't recommend a particular unit for you.

The Mana Kai, which ironically is more expensive, is the one on your list that that has come back with les-than stellar reviews. The property is 20 years old and I believe that some individual owners may not have kept their units up as well as others. It is directly on the beach, though, as opposed to across the street like the other three.

Thanks....as always :)

I like Maui Kamaole best from what I can figure out from web-sites..etc.. It's hard sight unseen...

any thoughts on Castle Kamaole Sands ?

I am almost wondering why I am not getting a hotel room, it isnt like I actually even use my kitchen at home, lol.

I stayed (as someone's guest) in a Mana Kai condo unit in 1992 and it looked 20 years old back then. As you may know, the building is hybrid, condominium and hotel. The condo unit I stayed in was simply awful, dark and cramped, almost institutional feeling. I walked through the Mana Kai again last November and it looks the same, though the Five Palms restaurant, which is well regarded (at least its view) was being redone. You might investigate the Kihei Surfside, next door, that gets glowing reviews. We've stayed there twice and enjoyed it thoroughly, though it is not lavish.
On the upside, the beach in front of the Mana Kai, Keawakapu, is as fine as any of the southern Maui beaches.

I think Castle Kamaole Sands is the Kamaole Sands? I can't place separate one called Castle Kamaole Sands.

Castle Kamaole is a separate place according to Expedia...
they list Castle Kamaole Sands
and Kamaole Sands,
both in South Kihei...
http://www.expedia.com/pub/agent.dll...ty=&from=f

see if that link works to Castle...

I own a condo in South Kihei and I would not reccomend it for a "business" trip because of the price and location.
Kamaole Sands would be a good choice, the units are large and less expensive than the oceanfront condos.
It is sometimes a crap shoot when it comes to finding a well decorated condo. Our resort manager rates each of our units on a strict criteria and grades the condos . "A" level condos get first priority when rental requests are received,"B" level are rented after the "A"s are gone and "C" levels are in danger of being removed from the rental pool.

I HIGHLY recommend the Kihei Surfside condos, which share the parking lot with the Mana Kai. Drop dead views of neighbor islands from every unit, enormous lawn, clean, bright, and one bedrooms. I have a trip report with lots of details here: http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34436140.

In July 2003, we paid $125/nt through CRH Maui (condo res). Let me know if you have any questions!

love
roxy

HereToday says "But the beach is still just a short stroll away". A short stroll is different things to different people. Is that a mile or is that 200 feet? It would be nice to know.

My cousin did a sort of tour of units at Mana Kai. Some refurbished ones were really beautiful but there were some dark, dreary ones that needed updating. Depends on the rental. She will stay there just for the great beach.

logandog, I dont get what you are saying...what about the price and location?
mostly everything we need to do will most likely be in Kihei (finding out the details next week) and the price seems low to me....

I am sure a "short stroll" to the beach is no biggie for us, as we are quite active.

I still cant decide, we never rent condos, always resorts...of course this is the first time we have taken a long trip for business reasons.
usually when I go away for business it is a 2 or 3 day thing....

I was thinking of the condo to save money, cause the resorts we tend to stay in are high priced...

I meant that since you'll be occupied with business activities most of the time you won't need to pay for oceanfront views.

leelane, I tried to qualify the "short stroll" statement by my comment regarding the beach parking being across the street from it. If you drive to the beach you'll just be parking not much closer than if you just walk from across the street anyway. Standing on the beach, looking east--beach, grassy beach park, S. Kihei Rd, cross past Haleakala Shores and you are Kam Sands. Beach parking is on Keonekai and S. Kihei; either place is across the street from Kam Sands. I live further up Keonekai and I walk to the beach in about 5 minutes.

lj, I think it would be a great place to stay, close to places to eat, easy access in and out via the upper highway and it will give an opportunity to check out the neighborhood, both for business and for that apartment hunt that is sure to follow. You can use the time to get a feel for what it would be like to live there. Actually, I suggest you spend your time there as if you were living there. That neighborhood is more residential than tourist. Even though there are vacation rentals there, the surounding area is residential. I live in that neighborhood. Kam 3 is a very "local" beach.

does it get cooler in the evenings in December in Kihei? I read the trip report on Kihei surfside, and no a/c does not intrigue me, especially if the bedroom does not get a breeze. we stayed at Hotel Hana Maui in Sept, and I did not sleep for 3 nights straight cause no a/c, even though ther were pretty good winds and we were right on the ocean...

heretoday... that's exactly the point :) to act as if we are living thre already...:)
hence..the condo :)

We have A/C, but have only used it twice this year. We face the ocean and get a wonderful breeze. Last night it was cool enough that I turned off the ceiling fans and grabbed a throw to put over my legs while watching TV. I guess I could have closed the sliders.

Sept. is a month when we tend to loose our tradewinds, and the time you were here was pretty humid.

I'm thinking that if you want to spend the time as though are living here, the Mana Kai or Surfside will not be good choices. Maybe not the Banyan either, since this is really a time-share location.

Haleakala Shores, what's it like ? See several rentals on vrbo but not seen many comments, good bad or indifferent :)

I stayed with my family at Maui Kamaole last summer and recommend it. Agree, each unit will vary depend on owner upkeep. The grounds were excellent, it was very quiet, and we had great views from our condo lanai. Try to get a unit close to the front of the complex as it makes the walk to the beach shorter.