We are looking at three possibilities for our home base in Maui --- we have a rent a car and will be travelling around but really just want to base ourselves in one area...

-kihei
-Lahaina
-Napili

We are first-timers. I have done a lot of research but really cannot find any particular reason to choose one over the other. I don't really want to stay in the resort areas but would like a place with cultural, historical things to see and some beach time. Any opinions? Any recommendations for Condos...one bedroom or studio is fine.

Of those three locations, I would choose Napili. A million years ago we stayed at the Napili Kai Beach Club and liked it a lot. Seems as if it is still nice...I periodically check the reviews.

You didn't mention Wailea, but in February we rented a one bedroom condo at Wailea Ekahi. I loved the location, the complex is beautiful and the feeling is very low key.

We stayed in a condo at the Wailea Grand Champions in March and really enjoyed the experience. Wailea is just south of Kihei.

Lee Ann

Napili is a good choice. Upscale and beautiful with nice beaches and surf spots. Happy hour sea food at resort restaurants close by are inexpensive and awesome. Lahaina is close by, there are good hiking spots that I missed when I went there. Plus the secret hike at the iao needle park.. lunch or dinner during day light at restaurant at King Kamehameha golf club... has beautiful view of the Haleakala mountain and the surrounding places. And if you go on snorkeling trips make sure weather is ok and insist on getting what you pay for. My(Pacific foundation) trip was silly..paid to go all the way to a nearest island and snorkel instead blamed the weather and took us to a place by the road near Lahaina called oluwalu. Felt silly ..it was barely swiming distance from the road side. All being said if very expensive and no good deal Kihei is reasonable and lively with lot of great restaurants and new developments.

We always stay in Kihei. It's more of a real town with a funky lived-in feel.
Beautiful beaches, good snorkeling and a plethora of eateries.
We stay at Hale Pau Hana because it's directly on the beach and we can walk to a number of restaurants after a few Mai-Tais on our lanai.

I can't think where on Maui you'd stay in a 'cultural area'. You could spend a couple of nights in Hana if you'll be on island long enough for a split stay.

South Maui is a more convenient base for first-timers who will be driving all over the island to sightsee. It's 20 minutes on 4-lane road to Kahului, where you start the Road to Hana and the highway to Upcountry and Haleakala. Iao Valley is also near Kahului (in Wailuku). You can be in Lahaina Town in 40 minutes.

Napili and Kapalua are very nice, but really only convenient to Lahaina and the rest of West Maui. It's 2-lane road between Lahaina and Maalaea. I would not book there in winter, but the breeze is welcome in summer.

I like this site for well-vetted condos in South Maui: www.mauiownercondos.com (We own in South Maui, but don't advertise there.)

logandog, which units at HPH have you rented? The low rise units have always appealed to me, but I have never been able to book for my dates when I wanted to. Thanks.

We like the lower units because you can hear the surf at night. The view is better on the second floor, but ground floor gives you a nice lawn to set-up your lounge chair.
The high rise has larger condos and some two bedroom units.
Although we have a car we don't have to drive to snorkel , eat dinner or buy booze and groceries.

Thanks everyone. It seems like the winner may be South Maui, either Kihei or Wailea. The whole island looks good to me but I really need to make a decision as Sept is coming quickly Thanks for the condo recommendations..all suggestions welcome...our criteria are fairly simple...close or on the beach, clean, parking, AC,and NO BUGS! Thanks everyone.

Thanks logandog.

MelanieMJ -- For more specific condo recommendations, tell us who is coming (size condo you require) and your lodging budget. In South Kihei, pricing goes down from:

Beachfront -- like Hale Pau Hana.

Oceanfront -- like Kihei Surfside.

Close Ocean View/Walk to Beach -- like condos from Maui Vista to Maui Hill.

Distant Ocean View/Drive to Beach -- like Grand Champions.

Also, some complexes termed Beachfront stretch so far back from the ocean that they may as well be Close Ocean View. Beachfront also tend to be older, built when small units (without A/C) were the norm.

I like low-rise, low-density, away from street noise -- except for people coming in Whale Season when taller, elevator buildings make some sense.

Here is unit at Wailea Ekahi we stayed at. Great ocean views and a 5 minute walk through the lovely grounds to the pool pavillion right on Keawakapu Beach. Mokapu and Ulua beach are a short walk in the other direction. Highly recommend it.

http://www.vrbo.com/438450

I really enjoyed Lahaina, because I love to have a town you can walk around, see and do things, without getting in the car everytime. We (a family reunion trip) stayed at 5 different condos at the Lahaina Shores.

wekewoody - when did you stay at the Wailea Ekahi? I'm thinking about staying there in August but wanted to make sure that there were no issues with the condo - especially before I send over payment. Thanks!

I believe all the hotels and condos along Ka'anapali Beach have a Lahaina address, so are you including those in your options?

We stayed in February of this year. The current owner bought it last September and since then has been updating stuff along the way. The photos on vrbo are a bit confusing because it shows some old kitchen appliances and some old furniture (which I like better than the new) along with the old.

We like renting homes and cottages more than condos, but I would stay in this condo again. I think it is a good value. We were very happy there. I hope you like it.