Maui "Experts"
 

We are trying to plan our 25th anniversary "getaway" and we need some help in picking a very nice hotel, that isn't taken over by families(ie: lots of kids) with a nice beach & pool area, close to some good restaurants, and offers some watersports. The main idea is to relax in the sun, with a couple of drinks, and celebrate our time together. Also, since we have 2 kids in college, we're hoping that such a resort exists, without forcing us to eat Mac & Cheese the rest of the year(ha ha) We have been told that the Napili Kai Beach Resort would be a good choice, anybody have an idea/opinion on that or any other resort? We plan on going in mid-May 2007. Thanks for your help !!

I think that's a good idea. It has a very nice snorkel/swim beach and is not 'unreasonable' expense.

Hi Badger Redd, family members just came back some weeks ago from Maui. They stayed at the Sheraton. They were there before school vacation started so there was not a flood of children. They loved the Sheraton so much they are returning in January. I have no idea of the cost versus the napili Kai Beach Resort however.

Here are some sites that might help you plan your trip:

www.mauihawaii.org Great site of Maui Jon

www.visitmaui.com Free brochure

www.gohawaii.com Free brochure

www.alternative-hawaii.com Good narrative driving tours w/photos.

www.hawaiiweb.com

www.driveguidemagazines.com Good maps & restaurant guide

www.thisweek.com This Week on Maui XXX

www.spotlighthawaii.com Maui Gold XXX

www.101thingstodo.com 101 Things to do on Maui XXX

XXX - These also have free hard copy brochures that you can pick up at airport baggage area & other places on Maui. Lots of info for things to see & do. Lots of ads & coupons for attraction, shopping & dining

Attractions/activities/tours. You can look at thes site to see what is available & the approximate costs. Many of these you can do on your own much cheaper:

www.hawaiifun.org

www.hawaiiactivities.com

Buy a copy of 'Maui Revealed' for lots of info.

We love Napili Kai, but its not really a "resort-type" property, its more of an old-fashioned hotel, I think. the beach is one of the best in Maui, but they have only a couple of very small pools. The Sea Lodge is a nice place to eat, and the Gazebo (which is on one of the neighboring places) is a first rate breakfast place, with long lines. They have a nice putting green, and one and two bedroom units, and the prices are very reasonable, usually. We love it, but am not sure its what you have in mind. In Wailea, the Grand Wailea would probably have a lot of families and since you mentioned price, the Four Seasons is probably too expensive. Have you checked the rates you could get at the Westin or the Hyatt, or Sheraton? I think they're all in Ka'anapali, more resorty, great pool areas, and good beach. Now that i think about it, you could also check the Ritz Carlton, which is in Kapalua, near Napili Kai, if you could get a decent rate, I've heard its a great property, with a nice pool, and a romantic place, without too many kids. You might be alright in mid-May anyway. Have a great anniversary!

One other thing, (sorry),but do you have any interest in the Big Island? Our absolute favorite place is the Hapuna Prince Hotel, which has one of the best beaches in all of Hawaii, a great infinity type pool area, AND they have a deal where your second room is 50 percent off, which might be great for your college age kids. For a place to relax by the pool/beach and have a drink, i can't think of a better place.It also has the Volcano National Park, which is terrific. Hapuna has a sister property next door called the Mauna Kea, which is older, but a nice place. Rates in May, especially with the discount, should be very reasonable.

Hi BadgerRedd. I also answered on Carib forum. As said there, I don't think Napili Kai is what you're envisioning as being perfect for your anniversary.

Have you definitely decided on Maui? There are some other Maui choices given here that are great. Given what you wrote on the Carib forum, you still might want to consider an AI in Playa del Carmen, or maybe a small villa on St John--May is "low " season there and you might spend less than on a hotel room.
It would also help Fodor Folks' responses if you gave a general idea of how much you want to spend per night.
I've been to some gorgeous resorts. don't have lots of money, and don't eat mac and cheese--in other words, what you want exists and is affordable.
Best wishes and happy planning!

The reason we chose Maui was because of our past trip to Hawaii(Oahu/Maui 7 days on each island, 20 years ago) We know if we went to Sandals Royal Bahamian, as "signature guests" the price would be under $4500.00 including airfare at Sandals "top rated" resort. So we're using that as a "starting price". Our 3 previous Sandals trips have been very nice but we wanted to see how Maui compares in price/accomodations. Thanks to everyone for your help !!

If Maui is your choice, I have two recommendations. We've sayed at the Kea Lani and it is very nice. The accommodations are all suites. If you travel in May or September, October, the prices are lower and there are far fewer children around. It's a very nice resort with lovely pools and a lovely beach. My other recommendation is not a resort. The Kaanapali Alii is a terrific condo choice. If you reserve a "premier" room they have been updated to include granite countertops and top of the line appliances. You can reserve a two bedroom and your young adults can have their own space. We loved it there, having just visited in June. The beach is terrific and its location can't be beat, with Whalers Village just a short walk away. If you think about the Big Island, I can also recommend that Hapuna Beach Prince, it was lovely also and very quiet. Would make for a great place to spend quality time together on such a wonderful occasion. Good luck with your choice.

A couple of things I should clarify, 1) We plan on celebrating our 25th anniversary WITHOUT our kids along.(If my wife has to be "with me" for a week, she's going to want to be "under the influence", not something the kids should see.) 2) We have just started looking into vacation spots and we started with areas/chains(Sandals) we have enjoyed. 3) For my own personal reasons I'd rather not stay at a place in Mexico. Again, thanks for all the tips/advice in helping us with our plans!!

Hi again, I didn't get that you weren't bringing your children, so you have no need for half price rooms. I bet you can get a fair price at many nice resorts in Maui for mid-May in your price range (4500) You could probably get a package deal through a web site like Expedia or Costco or something like that at a number of nice places. Sherrie mentioned Kea Lani, which looks like a beautiful place, and there is also the Fairmont Orchid which i didn't mention yesterday. Maui is certainly pricey (once you book your flight, we can start talking restaurants, lol), but I feel it is such a magical place, and for a 25th anniversary, certainly worth it. I hope you can get the right price. Good luck.

We'll be celebrating our 25th anniversary on Maui this Dec. I can't wait to get there!!!!

Kea Lani, Kea Lani, Kea Lani. Did I say Kea Lani? Perfect for you...all suites, a resort on the beach with everything you desire and not overrun by too many people and kids. http://www.fairmont.com/kealani/

We just got back from Maui and visit frequently. We know the island very well. More questions? Please feel free to post.

Okay, I looked at the comments by people who stayed at Kea Lani recently and ratings of 1 for service, value etc., have me puzzled. Has the property changed ownership/managers? Under renovation? With so many people recommending this property, it's hard to focus entirely on 1 place with the latest reviews being so poor. Can anybody clarify what happened? Thanks

We were at the Kea Lani about 4 years ago, sorry I can be more "recent" with my comments. The staff were o.k., not exceptional, but that didn't bother me too much. The room was great and the beach was great and the pool was great, so that offset any minor thoughts about the service of the staff. The housekeeping staff was great also, our only issues were with the front desk and concierge. Front desk was less than accommodating when we needed a late checkout (we ended up getting a room for a day at the Renaissance because of a late flight) and the concierge could have been more forthcoming with "expert" suggesetions, but it was no biggie. We had a great time. All that said, if I were to go back to Maui anytime soon, I would opt for the Kaanapali Alii condo that we just left. The area was better for us, and the convenience of having such a large condo couldn't be beat. JMHO. If you want resort services, you can use those at the surrounding hotels. I posted a few photos of our condo at the Alii on Tripadvisor if you check out their hotel reviews, you can take a peak.

I have not stayed at the Napili Kai Beach Resort, but I did live on the other side of the beach from it. I've eaten at their restaurant a few times (very good) and did some business with the hotel. It's a family owned resort (163 rooms), and I remember distinctly that the people who stayed there would come back year after year (which says something). While not a 5 star hotel, this is definitely an excellent experience. It is definitely not close to a Sandals type experience, if that's what you're looking for (I've been to 4 of them, and I like them, so this is not a dis, just an observation.) But, Napili Kai has a tradition of Hawaiian hospitality that can't be beat. Please remember that the rooms have ceiling fans (no a/c) if that's important to you.

The Kea Lani is a completely different experience; it's a much larger resort, great grounds, with good amenities. I haven't seen it recently, so I'm not much help on that.

Hope this helps. ((S))((*))

Sherrie - he said he wanted peace, remember? There's not much of that at Kaanapali - it's a zoo. So much traffic and congestion. We went up there, twice, during our trip this month and couldn't wait to get back to Wailea.

Badger, another nice hotel that is very quiet is the Prince in Makena. Have you checked it out? By the way, I mentioned Kea Lani because it looked as if you originally said you were going to take the kids.

A friend of mine has a wonderful website to check out: http://www.mauihawaii.org/

Is Napili Kai air conditioned? I thought I read somewhere that it wasn't or many of the units are not.

I'm a huge fan of the Maui Prince in Makena, too. Very restful. The best beach on Maui, and the only hotel on it. Great snorkeling, great sunsets. The pool is just, meh. The Sunday brunch is incredible. I find the hotel to be very very relaxing and secluded. The hotel is substantially less expensive than the Wailea hotels. If you want a getaway, I would head to the Maui Prince and never even consider the noise, congestion, and over-hyped bustle of Kaanapali.

The Kaanapali area may be a bit congested, but the Alii was not. It was quite peaceful and when we wanted a little more excitement, we just hopped on the walkway and made our way to Whalers Village on foot. For us it was great, maybe not for everyone.

TravelTess - Napili is located about a 10-15 minute drive north of Ka'anapali, and is in a much quieter neighborhood. That being said, they'd still have to deal with the traffic to get there.

I mentioned that the units have ceiling fans (no a/c) in my message (directly above yours). Though as close to the ocean as they are, with the cross breezes, it shouldn't be a problem.
((S))((*))

We loved the Sheraton Maui Resort at Kanapali Beach. Great beach, pool & snorkeling right at Black Rock. The place was really clean, friendly staff, & within walking distance to the Whaler's Village via the Beach Path. The Hula GrillRestaurant had excellent food either beachside with live music or fine dining inside the restaurant. The drinks & sunsets were awesome. Hope you enjoy. We will definitely return.

Wow, Maui seems expensive !! I've done a little research into some of the recommended places to stay & it seems that $500.00 per night is the minimum rate for these properties. That would be $3500.00 a week before airfare, food, and car rental. Also any shopping/tours would be extra. Again if I compare this to Sandals "top rated" Royal Bahamian resort, with airfare included, the price would be under $4500.00. If I compare the Maui properties to the Radisson Resort in Aruba(another highly rated resort) the price is about $225.00 per night, without airfare or food included.(Also, I don't know how "relaxing" Aruba would be) At 1/2 the price it's hard not to look at other places for our anniversary. I guess that since I have some time I'll keep researching, but, I'm not convinced that Maui's properties are worth the extra $$$.

Hi again, BadgerRedd. Maybe I'm wrong , but in mid-May I don't think you'll see lots of kids at resorts(Maui or elsewhere) --since school isn't out more toward end of May at earliest?
You're right- many hotels in HI are expensive--and often airline prices are as well.
Good luck in your quest for the perfect anniversary place!!!

I was able to get the best rate on our Maui condo at greathawaiivacations.com. I was very happy with their service and most importantly, the price. Here's something else to think about . . The Big Island. We loved the Hapuna Beach Prince (breakfast included) for around $250.00 / night. It is a beautiful / peaceful resort. Their website ususally offers the best room rates under "hot deals". Try looking at it also.

Another vote for the Kea Lani. It's amazing. I think we paid about $400 a night, but got the 5th night free, as well as a free car rental for 7 days.


What everyone else said about it, I agree with. It really is awesome.

It's really hard to discuss nice hotels/resorts on Maui and not mention the Four Seasons - at least IMO. Our stay there was wonderful and everything you seem to be looking for. I haven't checked recent prices, so don't know if it's within your range or not (though there is a separate thread on this forum about how they, and others, have really raised prices this past year). I would also add my vote for the Wailea area if you're looking for something more peaceful. We thought Kaanapali, while enjoyable, was very crowded and not particularly relaxing.

BadgerRedd, have you thought about a condo? There are some right on the beach (makena surf is upscale and beautiful)at half the price of the hotel rooms you are quoting.

Here is an example of the rates at the Fairmont Kea Lani using the greathawaiivacations website, least expensive room is 525.04 per night average with a weekly rate of $4130.00 which includes a compact car but NOT the "resort fees" which are collected at the resort. A 1 bedroom oceanview or pool view room costs $5691.00 a week with a rental car but not the resort fees. That's $813.00 per day WITHOUT food or drinks added in. Throw in airfare($1500-$2000 or more) and $100.00 per day food "allowance"(I bet that's very conservative) that adds up to $8400.00 or $1200 per day. I'm not related to any CEO of Exxon/Mobil so that price is out of my league.

You will be VERY happy with Napili Kai, we absolutely love the area. It is in our opinion the perfect place to celebrate your anniversary. We loved it so much, we planned our daughter's wedding there this past May, and it was a beautiful event. They treat you like family there. Very personal, unlike other stuffy hotels. The beach there is some of the best snorkeling on the island. They provide coffee/pineapple/lemonade to all of their guest beachside every morning at 10:00. They will do everything possible to accommodate your every need. You also, have a microwave/stove/full size fridge for when you just want to stay in. There is a great fish market very close, with everything to prepare a wonderful dinner at home. They also have a great restaurant on property, the Seahouse. We can't wait to go back. We have stayed on all parts of the island, and Napili Kai is our favorite. Have Fun. Nancy

Prince Hapuna in BI has a great deal...car and breakfast each morning for under $300. We are staying there in October.
Hope this helps...
Debi

Hey Nancy1013, what room category did you stay in? Was your room air-conditioned? The travel agency we use most of the time recommended this resort with the luau/mai tai parties and the beach plus, the price is comparable to the other destinations we're considering. This trip has to be great or I may not live to see our 26th anniversary(Nah, I don't feel any pressure) Thanks for your reports/advice to all !!

Sylvia - Makena Surf's rates start at $465 for a one bedroom to $1400. Not half price by any means.

Dear BadgerRedd, We stayed in the Honolua Wing on the 2nd Floor,(only two floors in all the bldgs). This one is beachfront and has a/c. We were there in Oct. and were glad to have the a/c. There again in May, for our daughter's wedding, and could have probably stayed without a/c. The Lahaina Bldg is also oceanfront, but, doesn't have a/c. It's a beautiful bldg though, and was refurbished two years ago. You absolutely can't beat this location. Everyone that stayed in different areas, and attended the wedding, was very impressed with the view. If you want, I can send you pictures of the rooms and beach area. You can also go to their site, NapiliKaiBeachClub, and scroll down to their webcam. There is also a great take out deli near by, that is fabulous. The chef, used to work at Mama's Fish House. We would pick up our order and come back to our lanai and have a great dinner and bottle of wine while watching the sun set. Just doesn't get any better than that. Nancy

Nancy, thanks for the advice/info on Napili Kai it sounds very nice.(I'm not sure if you should send me your pics though, something about another woman sending me her pictures might not "sit right" with my wife.)(J/K) How does Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel compare to Napili Kai? Are there more/less cheaper dining places by one resort or the other? ($100.00+ dinners are not normal for us) How far out do the "travel sites" (Expedia, Orbitz,Hotels.com etc) start booking vacation packages to certain properties? Some of the "sites" I couldn't get a package price that far in advance, while others said no rooms available at my destined time(mid May). Thanks for all the info, it certainly is mind boggling trying to figure everthing out. Take care !! BadgerRedd

Of course, these properties are on two different islands with vast differences. I have not stayed at Napili Kai, but I did have breakfast several times in the Napili area and it is mostly condos in that area, I believe. I can't speak for that particular property, but I can say that Hapuna Prince (Big Island) was sheer relaxation. We loved it. It is a bit remote, but that didn't bother us. Room was very well appointed, loved closing the shutters each evening and sleeping with sliding doors open, listening to the sounds of nature. I would return there in a heartbeat and the price is fantastic. The only downside for some may be its remoteness, i.e., access to cheap eats. For the money, it can't be beat. I'm guessing that the two properties can't be compared, condo vs. "resort" with services available that one would expect at a resort. Also differences in island make it hard to compare. It can be agonizing trying to choose that "perfect" place to stay. If you are thinking about BI, and want a nice place for value price, the Hapuna is your choice. If you are thinking BI and money is no object, go for Four Seasons. Good luck with your planning. It will all come together, it just takes time.

I would recommend the Ritz at Kapalua. It offers total relaxation. Amazing pool, great restaurants, nice beach, and not tons of kids. Plus, you are close to Kapalua Bay (which in my opinion has the best snorkelling), and Kaanapali which shopping and tons of restaurants. Also, don't miss Roy's (just north of Kapalua) for dinner...it's wonderful. But beware...the tradewinds in Kapalua can be strong and last for days. I don't like intense sun, so the wind was perfect for me.

Not a fan of the Ritz. The hotel was crowded, and it took forever to get served in some of the restaurants. The hotel is not on the beach, it's on a big bluff (which is incidentally an ancient burial ground). You have to walk up and down the hill, or take the golf cart shuttle to the beach. The beach is nice, unless it's windy (like most beaches). I really prefered the Maui Prince over the Ritz Carlton.

My folks have a place in Kapalua and when we/they have friends in town they usually have them stay at Napili Kai. It's an old fashioned hotel but the restaurant is quite nice and the beach is unbeatable. Get an oceanfront room if you can and open the windows if no A/C. :)