azdryheat

I will be traveling to Maui in July. This is my first trip to Hawaii. I am looking for suggestions as to where to stay. It will probably be 7-9 days and we are hoping to stay around $3000 or less. There will be 4 of us in our early 30's. We are looking for a place that will be both relaxing and fun. I am open to condo's or resorts, as long as we have a kitchen. We want a place ON the beach. I know some places are on the ocean, but we want actual sand. Is there a difference between the beaches up North vs the Wailee area? We would like a place that either has its' own night life or close by night life. We want the best of both worlds where we can relax, but still have fun at a nice relaxing bar at night if we so choose.
Also on a side topic if any one knows of any must do's or on the flip side, things that aren't that great ~please share your opinions. I apprecaite the help.

Randyforgt

Get Fodor's or Frommers guide book.Next check out VRBO.com,vacation rentals by owner.Kihei is where most tourist stay.You'll love Maui!!!

garyt22

Go to a travel agent and grab some tour information... that will give you an idea of price and location.. I recommend the Lahaina area for its activities, luaus, nightlife, and great restaurants... tons of snorkel and sunset tours, tiki bars, shopping and beach...... start there and proceed after your group reviews the brochures...

mumpsimus

Just one thing: I always preferred the Wailea area over the Ka'anapali area because the odds of getting rained on are less.

suze

You can research here on Fodor's, Trip Advisor forums Maui branch, and/or go to the library and check out guidebooks to look thru.

I can't help you with lodging, but fun things I did on Maui included: going up Haleakala crater, spending time in the town of Lahaina (where there's lots of fun shops, bars, restaurants, entertainment), go to a luau (we went to Old Lahaina but there are others, maybe Feast of Lele for your group), saw a show called U'lalena at Myth & Magic Theater, did a little self-guided historic walking tour around Lahaina... just to name a few things.

sf7307

Wailea is a much quieter area than is Lahaina/Kaanapali, so although i haven't stayed there, it just doesn't sound like the right location for four 30-somethings who want some nightlife. And as for this statement, >>, well, that's patently ridiculous. Lots of tourists stay in Kihei (which is a more downscale part of the island than either Kaanapali or Wailea, not bad, just not upscale, so it depends what you're looking for), but loads stay in Kaanapali, Wailea, Napili, Lahaina, Kapalua, etc. The Kaanapali Beach resort is about 3 miles from Lahaina, which is a town that, as suze said, has lots of fun shops, bars, restaurants and entertainment. The north part of Kaanapali Beach, and Napili Bay (just a little more north) are just a little farther from Lahaina. I think you should choose one of those areas, and just be sure your place is on the beach. You should have no problem with your budget --- is that for 2 bedrooms, or 4?

montereybob

A great place to stay that is right ON a beach that is excellent for swimming and snorkeling is the Sheraton in Kaanapali. It is also walking distance to great restaurants and live music. Be careful, because some hotels that are on the beach in Maui are on beaches that are not very good for swimming or snorkeling. Any hotel at or near Wailea beach will also offer good swimming and snorkeling.
The book Maui Revealed by Doughty will give you all the info you need to know about where to stay, what to do, and where to eat in Maui. It is written by Maui residents, so they give the accurate positives and negatives on everything. Most other travel guides tend to give only the positives.