Have done a lot of research and based on input on Fodors.com (thank you all) and other places, booked a reservation at the Hyatt Maui in large part due to the great pools and tropical setting.

However, just read some disturbing things about crowds, lack of beach chairs, less than adequate service and other things.

Anyone been there lately and can provide recent info and point of view?

Also, I have very strongly considered the Kealani Fairmont and would like recent info there as well.

Thanks very much

Would be beneficial to know when youare going. I've stayed at the Maui Hyatt 3 times and it was never as you described. Once in Sept/Oct other times in April but not during spring break/Easter week.

Thanks for your response. We're going in mid-August of this year. Some of the negative comments were from people earlier this year.

Well the summer is a time when more people vacation there than during the fall and spring. A busier time still is the winter. The pool waitress told us a story about two women fighting over the lounge chairs (as they were all filled). One women threw the other women's belongings into the pool during the fight. Guess things can be kind of crowded at times.

Most hotels consider August to be part of mid season. Not really high season which runs in the winter and not value season that is in the fall and spring.

I strongly favor the Kea Lani over the Hyatt. Mostly because KL feels much more relaxed (Hyatt is too crowded feeling) and Kaanapali feels like LA to me. Too busy.

We stayed at Kea Lani in Oct 2002. We liked it very much but I don't think that you could go wrong with either hotel. I think that the Hyatt is closer to more dining/activity choices and also has more of a "hawaiian" feel. Pool and beach cabanas are $40/day at Kea Lani. The adult pool at Kea Lani was crowded during the day and the pool is large but not huge. I think at any of the hotels, you will run into the problem of people leaving their towels/book on their chair early in the morning to reserve it. They come around with cold towels and pineapple periodically.

The service at Kea Lani was fine. We tended to go to breakfast as early as possible (before 7:30) to avoid as many screaming children as possible. The later we seemed to go breakfast, the more whiny kids we encountered. Kids are all over Hawaii so there is no getting away from them.

The rooms at Kea Lani were nice with large lanai, marble bathroom, separate shower/tub, double sinks. The living room area we thought were showing their age, worn cushions/carpet. They had a nice entertainment system/tv/vcr/dvd player.

Struggling with final decision between Hyatt or the Fairmont. Traveling with my wife and two kids (14 and 10) and really like the "tropical" ambience the Hyatt reportedly has as well as the closeness to where all the "action" is in Maui. Also can get two rooms for just a little more $ than one suite at the Kealani. At the same time I've read that the Hyatt has seen better days, is somewhat crowded.

Have heard they Kealani is very nice but with two kids thought it might be better to be near the "action" of Maui as well they Hyatt sounds more like a kids type of hotel with the elaborate pool, exotic birds, etc.

Please provide any and all input.

Thank you

Dude, I'm not trying to be rude or anything, but you really need to just suck it up, make a decision, and go with it. You have been posting and agonizing over this decision for the past month. You have pretty much gotten all the opinions you are going to get from this board. Half will say the Hyatt and half will say the Kea Lani.

They are only hotels. They are both nice hotels. If you keep going like this, you are going to ruin your vacation. You should have a good time at either place.

Was just at the hotel in Nov. It is not true that it has seen better days. We had a deal for the Mrriott next door so we visited the Hyatt with our own kids 13 &9 who claimed they wished we had stayed at the Hyatt again. It's a beautiful hotel.

I love Kaanapali. I dont think it is anything like a city beach (Waikiki). Hotels are well spaced Probably 100 yards between the Hyatt and the Marriott (next hotel north). I think it is great to be able to walk 1/2 mail to Whalers village in this 1/2 mile you will pass about 4 hotels. The problem with the lounge chairs is many people will get up at 8 and lay they towel and sandals at a chair and not return till 2. The pool never looked crowded, it is just rude individuals. Everything is in walking distance, Catamarans will sail up to the beach for sunset cruise, Snorkel at Black Rock (1 mile walk). Catch a suttle to Lahaina, luaus... Everything is there. When I stayed in Wailea, I was always driving somewhere for activities

Take a look at this web site. It shows arial shots of hotel.
http://www.wizardpub.com/maui/mauaerials.html

Actually the most recent negative review was posted on Fodors.com in the "Hotels" area. In fact, the first review of the Hyatt Maui was posted on 6/03 and was pretty negative.

Thoughts?

I read that review. It sounds like that person had a bad attitude from the start and probably treated the staff with that same attitude. I seriously doubt that they "don't understand customer service." I would take this review with a grain of salt.

We liked but not loved the Hyatt-I found the Swan Court Restaurant(which they claim was cited on Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous) to have the look of the late 80's. The rooms have be redone so there isn't an issue there. The pool was semi-crowded at times, it was hard to find a lounge chair and people guarded them fiercly. It does have a great pool, lots of fun for all ages. The older kids tended to gravitate to the jumbo water slide area. Even with a convention taking over the hotel for a few days (I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy!!!) we still always found a space in the pool or within the grounds. The service was adequate, but the staff to us didn't seem too happy in general, maybe there is something behind the scenes or whatever. We did like the hotel better overall than the Marriott or the Sheraton, the other 2 Kaanapali hotels we have stayed at.

Again, everyone has their own experiences. Just returned from stay at the Hyatt and will return there when we can. It's beautiful, and the staff was very friendly everywhere. The pool chair problem exists everywhere, and again, it's just "ugly Americans".

We stayed at the Hyatt last summer and service was adequate and crowds were not an issue. We have yet to stay in a resort hotel whether it be Atlantis, hotels in Arizona, Hilton head or wherever that you learn the first day that people reserve chairs starting at 8:00 am with towels, magazines, clothes ..... It definately is out of hand but the hotels can't seem to control it so you learn to get to the pool early. I highly recommend the Hyatt.