My husband and I are wanting to go to Maui in late Sept/early October. It's our first trip to Hawaii.

We love to snorkel.
Wouldn't mind a nice pool (not a must, just like an occasional alternative to salt water).
A clean and pleasant room/condo etc..
Any suggestions?

Not knowing much...
We're thinking about a place near Black Point.
Planning to rent a convertible.
Take a few snorkeling excursions by boat, but would love to be able to go straight from wherever we stay.
Don't really want to cook lots of meals ourselves.
Are in a bit of sticker shock over hotel prices, but getting over it.

Hoping that you may have some advice.....

A suggestion if you haven't already done so...there is a wealth of info on here...your's for the reading.

Click on the drop down menu above and then click on Hawaii.

Also, type in Maui in the search box above.

There's so much info on here with Q & A's people have already asked. Folks on here are only happy to help you...it just makes it a bit easier if you can narrow down what info you are looking...general questions are harder to answer.

Read through some of it and see if you can garner some info that way and then come back and post specific Q's. That is what I did when researching trip to HA coming up in October.

Hope this helps..
Debi

Black Rock is at one end of Kaanapali Beach and the snorkeling can be very good there. The Sheraton Hotel is sort of built on Black Rock. Another moderate hotel choice is the Kaanapali Beach Hotel, which is right next to the Sheraton. It's older and not at all fancy, but it has IMO the best location of any hotel or condo on Kaanapali. There are plenty of moderatetly priced condos built along Napili Bay, which is a few miles north of Kaanapali. Depending on the season, the swimming can be very nice there too. I've not snorkeled there, so I don't know about that, but have heard that it is nice. Another hotel that is moderately priced and located on a great beach down in Makena is the Maui Prince. Again, it's an older hotel, not fancy, but like the KBH, its location is its big plus.
Have fun.

-Bill

Get a condo!--cheaper, more private, save money fixing food when you want, what you want,almost all have pools (and grills, private lanais, etc.)I personally prefer the range of snorkeling locales (and variety of beaches) on the south (Wailea, Makena, La Perouse Bay); Kihei condos are very affordable, several complexes are right across from Kamaole beaches.

We loved staying at the Sheraton Maui at Black Rock. It was everything that you are looking for in a place to stay.It was clean, nice employees, had a great pool, a wonderful beach to snorkel next to Black Rock. The food was excellent( especially the Breakfast buffet-check to see if it is included in the package).It was in walking distance to the Whalers Village & other restaurants like the Hula Grill.I think you will love it. We would definitely return.

If you decide to stay at the Sheraton at Black Rock, don't forget to go to spg.com an join for free. You can get 35% off rooms in Hawaii. I am leaving in 3 weeks for my 14th trip over.
I will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Have a great & fun trip!

Maui Kai condo has great ocean front condos, we paid $185 July '05. They have a great pool/hot tub and game room/rec and BBQ area. Clean and nice. Good service too, should you need anything. They have boogie boards, chairs and coolers available for the guests use, as well as washers/dryers on each floor. And ours had A/C ( I think they all do, but not sure). The ocean is about 25 ft. from of the hotel, with swimable beach.

If you don't want to cook, go a couple blocks down Lower Honoap'ilani Rd. and pick up chef style deli food to order at Honokawai Okazuya (in a strip mall)and take it back to enjoy on your beach or your lanai. Very ono!

I am going to recommend the Maui Prince Hotel. Has one of the best beaches on Maui, and it is not shared by any other hotel. Wonderful snorkeling. Gorgeous views and sunsets.

Kaanapali Beach - uggh. Don't understand the attraction to paying so much to stay in such overcrowded hotels on such an over-built beach. I guess the pools are nice if you can squeeze by the masses to get to them. Tourist hell to me.

Condos are a much better deal. Check out some of the areas north of Kaanapali - Kahana, Kapalua or Napoli Bay on www.vrbo.com.

Since the first thing you mentioned is snorkeling, I would recommend reading about the boat trips to Molokini. Molokini is a crescent shaped reef off the coast that is a spectacular snorkel site. Its a half day trip that usually comes with a lunch. Last time we went, we also got to see a few whales pretty close. I got a little boat sick, and yet, it was still worth it for the snorkeling. there should be tons of info online, including the different companies that go, pick a recommended one, for sure.
and for your first time to Maui, pick up a copy of Maui Revealed for a huge overview of everything Maui. I haven't always agreed with their opinions, but its a great resource, and you can check their opinions with other sites.