My husband and I would like to go to Maui in May 2013. We're looking to rent, probably through VRBO, or stay at a resort if the price is right. We are in our late 50's, we don't need a lot of action, we're mainly looking for a nice beach with calm waters where we can swim. Not sure what side of the island to stay on, reading some reviews seems like people prefer Kaanapali for condos on the beach. If anyone can recommend somewhere with ocean front, would like to pay $250 or less per night.

On the part of Kaanapali Beach south of Black Rock, you'll probably be hard pressed to find a condo in your price range ( the choices are the Kaanapali Alii, which is über-expensive and the Whaler, which isn't as nice or as pricey, but is still not inexpensive). I think you'd have better luck at some of the condos north of Black Rock, and farther north of there at Napili (very low key, nothing particularly upscale, but nice nice beach).

The Napili Sunset is not particulary upscale, but it's cute, clean and has a nice lawn in front of the great little, uncrowded beach/bay. There is also a small shopping center as you come in off the main road - with a good sized grocery store (with fresh fish) - which also has a coffee shop with Internet connections if you need that.

http://www.napilisunset.com/

We don't need upscale, it doesn't have to be Kaanapali, just something with a nice beach right outside the condo.

I'm not crazy about Kaanapali for you -- lots of tall buildings 'on sand' (not necessarily on swimming beaches) with visitors flocking to an overcrowded Black Rock to snorkel. In West Maui, look at Napili/Kapalua. In South Maui, look at S.Kihei/Wailea.

May is nice all over the islands. If you want to tour Maui's major sights, that is more convenient from South Maui.

Beachfronts tend to be older buildings with smaller units -- at higher prices. In S. Kihei you can stay across from the good Kamaole beach parks in newer complexes for less.

I like this site for South Maui condos because the manager has vetted the units before accepting ads: www.mauiownercondos.com (Chase n Rainbows is a good resource for West Maui condos.)

Remember to reserve your rental car for airport pickup. May isn't as 'slow' a season as it once was.

Why stay across from the beach in busy Kiehi when you can stay right on the beach in Napili?

We don't want to be across the street to the beach, we want to be right on the beach. Has anyone rented a condo at the Outrigger in Napili Shores?

We don't stick to just 'the beach out front'. We drive five minutes to try various beaches from the Kamaoles south through Wailea. Perhaps the interiors are more important to us because we are on Maui at least a month.

Does Napili Shores have A/C? I'd never rent anywhere in Hawaii at any time of year if A/C was not an option. The Trades do die. You'll be sticky with only fans. This January we had Kona winds for five days -- even ran the A/C in the living room!

We could help more if we knew your lodging budget.

Per the first post, the budget is $250 a night or less.

'Scuse. You did say $250/night.

Hale Pau Hana? Kihei Surfside? Mana Kai Maui? I don't think we can get you into any Wailea beachfront condos for that, but maybe Makena Beach Resort?

Sugar Beach Resort? Hale Hui Kai?

Have you looked at aerials and reviews here?
www.wizardpub.com

Hale Pau Hana in Kihei is directly on the beach,not across the street.
Kamaole II beach is a great swimming beach and has good snorkeling at each end.

Who said I wanted Wailea beachfront? I just said a nice swimming beach with if possible turquoise water???

blue waters, perhaps, turquoise water???

It all comes down to tradeoffs. If your budgeting around $250 a night and want beachfront - that narrows the location choices and other "amenities".

And I really don't recall if the Napili Sunset had AC (as their flow through layout offers good circulation)- but in May - I don't think that would be a big problem, unless you are prone to hot flashes.

Most of the time in Paradise - I/we are rarely in the room anyway, and their lawn chairs offer some nice nap options.

Hawaii isn't like the Caribbean. The sand is not sugar white. The water is not turquoise.

We often cruised or stayed in the Caribbean for some of the winter until we 'discovered' Hawaii. Now we spend more time and money to get to Maui Jan. - Feb. I think May is a nicer time of year to visit, but it's nice at our home then, and we also like to see the whales.

I wasn't saying you wanted Wailea. I was saying where your budget could put you *beachfront*; wanted to indicate that there are some nice Wailea options *near* the beach.

Tomsd and I are just pointing out that '$250/night' and 'beachfront' will mean compromises. *I* would compromise with a newer, larger, oceanview low-rise, low-density condo that is a three-minute walk to a good swimming/snorkeling beach. I think Tomsd would prefer the smaller, non-A/C-ed low-rise, low-density condo at the beach at Napili. YOU may prefer a 10-story Kaanapali condo.

Nicely done Chisue. ASnd I gladely tradeoff some of the Carib's
splusses for not much humidity in Hawaii.

I would much prefer a lowrise - right on the beach - with flow thru air - even if it didn't have a/c - but you provide some valuable info if some travelers really feel the need for "additional chill".

Uno mas -
hgaving been all over the six islands the past 35 years - (some as many as 10 plus times) - I much prefer simple, close to the beach lodgings - compared to anything else. Rarely do I spend much time in the condo/hotel - other than perhaps to toast the sunrise/sunset - and have a few pupus.

But hey - to each her/his own, oui?

We recently stayed at Kahana Sunset and really enjoyed it. It is between Kaanapali and Napili. There is a tiny but lovely beach on the property. Decent snorkeling and frequent visits from sea turtles. It is also within a very short drive (like 5 minutes) of the beautiful beaches of Kapalua and Kaanapali. We very much enjoyed the fact that is was a little bit separated from the "action," but also within a short walk to nearby stores for neccessities. We loved it, and I think it should be within your price range.

Thank you all so much for your input, I saw on VRBO a bottom ocean front at Napili Shores.