Kaanapali hotels
 

Hi again =

I posted here last week regarding my honeymoon. We are staying 2 weeks in Wailea in a condo and wanted to book 2 or 3 nights in a resort. We want a nice pool on the beach where we can just relax and sit at a bar by the pool etc. I know some might not agree with this idea - but that is okay. :)

Anyway - we have opted against staying in the area of Hana - we will probably do the road to Hana in a day.

I contimplated booking the Grand Wailea, Fairmont or Four seasons - and of all of them the GW suited us best however I am turned off at their prices and how they miraculously change within one day based on who you talk to! and when you tell them you called once before they change the price to what you were originally quoted. I actually have a call in to the manager there to ask about their fluctuating prices.

Anyway - my question is - what is considered the most luxurious hotel/resort in the Kaanapali area including Kapalua?

The hotels we are considering are:
Hyatt
Westin
Sheraton
Ritz

I am leaning towards the Sheraton - but wanted others thoughts.

Thanks!

Sheraton is good. They have a pool bar with ocean view. Hyatt's bar isn't located very good in my opinion. Try booking with priceline.com We got a room at the Sheraton in April for $140.00 per night which is typical. It is garden view but you could try for an upgrade when you get there. Don't count on it though.

Here is link to Conde Nast ranking 2003:S-<font color="blue">http://www.royalelephant.com/events/condenast2003.shtml
Lists Hyatt before KBH.</font>

Hi and thanks for the responses - wasn't one of these hotels (Sheraton or Westin) recently sold and will now be going through renovations?

&quot;lists hyatt before kbh&quot;

what is kbh?

Here is link to KBH:
<font color="blue">http://www.starwood.com/luxury/search/hotel_detail.html?propertyID=1190</font>

KBH - can stand for:

Kapalua Bay Hotel
or
Kaanapali Beach Hotel

I think John D. is talking about the Kapalua Bay Hotel. The Kapalua Bay Hotel is Luxury and quiet....great for Honeymooners. Kaanapali Beach Hotel is a a wonderful place, great location with lots of action right in the middle of Kaanapali beach.... but not luxury at all. My vote would be the Hyatt for Honeymooners. But the Sheraton has a better beach/snorkeling location. Both are condsider Luxury.

Thanks - we will have so much quiet and privacy at the condo on Elua Beach - we were looking for a place a little bit more active.

I agree the Hyatt sounds good for us - the lack of beach won't be a problem since we love pools! :)

I think you'd enjoy the Sheraton, stayed there in January. The beach, pool and beach bar are great. You can watch the divers light the torches and cliff dive at sundet (along with some crazy tourist that try it during the day). The night life at the Sheraton isn't very &quot;wild&quot; but you're only a short beach (path) walk from Whalers village or a 10 minute cab ride from the nightlife in Lahaina.

beachgirl - The Ritz is amazing, but it's in Kapalua which is a little quieter area than Kaanapali, which has the beach walk between hotels &amp; the Whaler's village with restaurants and shops. Kaanapali is also a short drive or &quot;Classy-taxi&quot; ride to Lahaina which has even more restaurants, bars &amp; shops and IMO the most lively area on the island. In Kaanapali, I think the Hyatt is the most luxurious of the ones you mentioned. They even have a telescope and stargazing parties on their roof. The Mariott next door has a nice luau. We stayed there, it's a nice property but not as nice as the Hyatt. The Westin &amp; Sheraton are also nice, but I've not seen them to the same point as the other two. Good luck with your honeymoon plans! Hawaii is fantastic! Trish

Thanks so much for the info - since things will be very quiet in Wailea at the condo where we will be the majority of our stay - we would like a bit more 'action' - so I prefer the area closer to Lahaina. We will have a rental car - so we will definitely go into town at night.

I am leaning towards Hyatt or Sheraton - tough decision! :)

Thks all!

Perhaps I can help in your decision. I've stayed at the Hyatt but have inspected the Sheraton. I found that between the two, the Hyatt to be a more lushly landscaped and romantic property with better pool and jacuzzi. The Sheraton was very nice also and was actually suprisingly nicer than most Sheratons I've been to; soft creams throughout and nice bamboo. The Sheraton beached is curved so you can see way down it compared to the Hyatt. While you can't really go wrong with either property, I would recommend the Hyatt for a honeymoon instead of the Sheraton.

But don't be tempted to walk down to that Marriott luau, if you stay at Hyatt! With all due respect to Tpatricco (and in all fairness, maybe there's a new catering co./dancers/emcee now), our experience at that luau was awful....... such a waste of money! If you do a luau, make it the Old Lahaina!

LOL bonniebroad, We had an ok experience at the Mariott Luau, but I too have heard the Old Lahina is the best.

Wow! I can't believe you didn't jump on that great price you were quoted for the Grand Wailea. The Sheraton is not even close to being in the same class.

Actually I am glad I did not! First off the GW turned me off big time with the different prices they gave me based on who I spoke to within a matter of hours and when I questioned the one guy he lowered the prices which ended up being WRONG. Also the $279 was for the terrace room for Thurs night stay only, then Fri/Sat they went up - which is when we want to go anyway. But Second - it makes no sense for me to stay 2 doors away from where I will be all week! LOL

I would rather stay on the busier side of the island near Whalers Village and all the restaurants for a few nights. I agree Sheraton can't compare - but if we did choose it, we can use the pools at the Westin. Prices are far better too - I think we will probably go with the Hyatt tho. Have always loved Hyatt properties so I am sure we will be very happy there. :)

Your reasoning makes sense and you'll have a great time regardless of where you decide to stay. The Westin and the Hyatt both have great pools and close proximity to fun West Maui things!

Thanks! :) I do have another question - go figure right? hehe

Maybe I should post it at top - thanks again!

Beachgirl66, are you suggesting that there are some people DON'T enjoy sitting at a bar by the pool in Hawaii? I find that hard to believe.

Believe it or not some people thought i was nuts for wanting to stay in a hotel for a few days for just that - and leave the condo we will be staying in.

Beachgirl -
I understand totally, as I'm a resort junkie! I just reread your post and realized that you asked for the most &quot;luxurious&quot; place to stay, including Kapalua. That would be the Ritz! However, you'll have a lot of fun at the Hyatt. I do not believe the pools are heated. Can anyone who's stayed there address whether you can walk to Whaler's Village from the Hyatt? You can from some of the Kaanapali properties and that's a plus... (When I was there, we stayed at the Embassy Suites in Honokowai and had to drive a short distance.) I do not believe the beach in front of the Hyatt is very nice but you'll get plenty of nice beaches in Wailea. Go to Wizardpub.com and read the reviews for Hyatt vs. Westin vs. Sheraton vs. Ritz and some of these pool, beach, proximity questions will be answered. If you have the Maui Revealed book you can type in the code and see the aerial views of the properties as well.

Hi and thanks -

Read about the Ritz but am a bit concerned with weather up there. Have read that it can often be rainy there vs. the Hyatt area - and it would be nice to be very close to Lahaina too.

I have read that the Westin has heated pools - so people who stay at Sheraton go to use the Westin pool as they have shared priviledges but I really don't want to do that given we won't be there that long. BUT the Hyat is nicer than the Westin. Thks for suggestion for Wizardpub - did that. Read all the reviews with my password - but I did not notice them mentioning proximity to Whalers Village from those hotels - but will have to look again.

Thks!

Is the Hyatt really nicer than the Westin? That surprises me for some reason. Has anyone stayed at - or walked through - both of them?

Okay, you're right. If MR is to be believed, Hyatt gets a gem and Westin does not. But look at those pools...
Looking at the locations of the resorts on the map, I'd have to guess that you can walk to Whaler's Village from the Westin but not the Hyatt. Anyone?

Hi again -

Yes it does appear the Westin is closer and within walking distance to shops etc - infact I think I have read that is the case.

I will have to closely compare the Westin and the Hyatt! :)

The Westin is right next door to Whaler's Village. It is exactly one mile from Whaler's Village to just a little past the Hyatt (my daily running route). To the Hyatt it is about 3/4ths of a mile, about a ten minute walk. Go to this web site for an aerial view of the properties and their proximity to Whaler's Village.
http://www.kaanapaliresort.com/accommodations.html

Thanks Rusty - great website!!!

Hi - Just spoke to a few people (brides) who have stayed in the area. They said they Hyatt's pool is heated and is very nice. They also said shops and restaurants are within walking distance. And that the Hyatt is at the end therefore has a bit less traffic.

another nice thing about kaanapali in general is that there is a shuttle to lahaina. for $1, you can get a ride to the old lahaina luau, or to the village itself. you dont need to worry about parking or a DWI. =) the shuttle picks up on the road that leads to the Hyatt.

we stayed at the hyatt and loved it, though we had a standard room that we wouldnt consider &quot;luxury.&quot; the pool was lovely. the beach by the hyatt can be quite small though the size of the beach changes all the time due to erosion. we walked down towards the sheraton when we wanted to hang on the beach.

~fiasco

I stayed at the Westin for 5 days last year. Our room was in the middle of the building on a high floor and had the most amazing view I've ever seen. The pool is nice (there's a quiter adult pool) but drinks were pretty picy. Make sure you get to hapy hour at the Moose.