Hello all...I'm planning a trip to Maui next Friday (09/05). Haven't booked the hotels but considering the Maui Prince and the Sheraton at Ka'anapali. Any suggestions?

Read the info on Haleakala...great info on not going at sunrise.

We will have rental car...looking for relative inexpensive golf courses (total amateur).

Anyone visited Tedeschi Winery? or Iao Valley State Park?

First trip to Hawaii and looking very forward to a relaxing vacation...we will be there for 7 days!!

You haven't made reservations yet?

Maui Prince is smaller than the Sheraton and sits by itself on a lovely beach south of Wailea in Makena. The Sheraton is in the thick of things in Ka'anapali and is more of traditional larege Hawaiian resort.

The Prince will probably be quieter and more mellow with fewer children, but the Sheraton will be more convienent if you want to walk to the other resorts on Ka'anapali or the restaurants in Whaler's Village. At the Prince you'd have to drive to Kihei or Wailea if you want to eat elsewhere. The beach at the Prince is known for its great snorkeling and turtles, while at the Sheraton you are right there at Black Rock which can have good snorkeling.

I prefer the Wailea/Makena area to Ka'anapali and I don't really like staying in resort hotels, so I'd choose the Prince in a heartbeat.

Iao is a nice way to spend an hour, very lovely and green; nice botanic gardens on the way, if you like those.
If you want the cheapest golf, it's going to be upcountry (like Pukalani); if you want the best ocean-view golf, it's probably going to be south Maui, Wailea (3 courses) or Makena (2); you can get a later tee time and save LOTS of money (plus, many on-line discounts, and you can decide what course is the best for you as far as forgiving vs. losing quantities of expensive balls, ocean views, etc.) You can get better rental rates at the local golf shops (place on Pilani Highway, north end of Kihei, has good rentals, clothes with logos, good info, and sometimes course deals).

I don't remember the name of it but there is a beautiful golf course right across the street from the hotels on the Kaanapali beach strip of motels.

yes...iamq....this trip is somewhat spur of the moment. We were looking at condos but then searched hotels and narrowed it down to the (2) mentioned above. From what I can tell Maui is in it's off season (??) and lots of last minute deals are available for next week. What other accomodations should we look at?

thank you sylvia3 for the golf tips...will probably check out one more inland as opposed to ocean side.

Hi,
Love Last Minute Trips!!! we just returned from Maui (Wailea area) on August 10th. We bid Priceline and "won" the Marriott Wailea for $170 for 7 nights, plus resort fee and tax. It was beautiful and had self parking included in the resort fee. We loved it! Swam with the turtles every morning off Ulea Beach, just out front to the right of hotel. We also bid and won a mid-sized car for $16 per day. Great inexpensive trip. Never felt "discounted". Have fun!!

That was 170 per night.

BTW, teetimeshawaii.com is a good info website for all Maui courses; there may be better discounts available dealing with places directly (never hurts to ask!)

I love the Maui Prince Hotel. Very low-key and quiet on a superb beach where you don't see any other hotels.

Sheraton almost the opposite, as mentioned above.

There are golf courses all over. I've heard the one in Kahului is quite reasonable.

The drive to Tedeschi Winery is my favorite in all Hawaii. You will be up above the clouds on the slopes of Haleakala, and able to look down across the island to the blue water beyond. If you stay at Maui Prince you'll be able to spot the hotel from some of the pull-offs along the road. Stop at Grandma's Coffee in Keokea; often there is mellow live music on the lanai. Peek up the slopes and maybe you'll get a glimpse of Oprah's Maui home (white, two story). The winery is also scenic and historic. On your way back down, visit the galleries in Makawao that feature local artisans. Much nicer, IMO, than those in Lahaina.

Oh, yes, that drive to the winery is just gorgeous. The winery isn't much, and their little tour is cute, but what a view! And the history of the windery and the old photos are really interesting. Get a sandwich at the deli across the street and sit outside and enjoy.

If you continue on the (now paved) Pilani highway around the island to the south and east for a ways, there are great views of Haleakala from the dry side (can't go all the way around anymore, though). You can experience many microclimates from that area, through Tedeschi, to Kahului.