Hi folks! I am sorry to be so frantic. I need Maui information soon. My husband and I would like to visit Maui at the end of December/January of this year. Yes, most rooms are booked already.

Which is nicer: Sheraton or Kapalua Bay Hotel? FYI: We do not golf, we do not enjoy loud children, however we DO love luxury, fine dining, swimming in ocean, updated hotel rooms. We are used to 4-5 start resorts.

Is Kapalua too cold/windy/rainy at the end of December?

Should I give up?

Thanks!

Can't speak to availability of rooms. January is the wettest month of the year. Hawaiiweathertoday.com. Kapalua is one of the wetter and prettier parts of Maui where tourists stay. Kapalua has a great golf school, though that doesn't interest you. It is nicer than the Sheraton, Black Rock, (it was built by Lawrence Rockefeller's group), but the latter hotel is very good and will have better weather and proximity to many attractions.
You might also look at the Wailea resorts, probably the toniest of all the resorts. Also, much drier area. You'll find something, though it sounds as though you're looking at Starwood properties.
As Churchill said, never, never, never, never, never, never, never give up.

Thanks! I am looking for ANYTHING nice. I don't care if it is Starwood or not.

How is Kapalua nicer than Sheraton? Service on the beach, etc?

My husband and I stayed at the Sheraton Maui 2 years ago and it was recently rennovated. Our room was wonderful!! Not one complaint (and we complain plenty). We didn't eat at the resort but it was nice to be able to walk along the ocean walkway to shopping and some delicious places to eat. The pool was wonderful, like a stream that meandered through beautiful flowers, waterfalls and greenery. I think with Apple Vacations it's either a 4 or 5 golden apple - we had an ocean front room and were lucky enough to have a mother whale breach in front of our room and her baby was following. It was amazing. If you need any more Maui help, let me know. We are heading back again this March. According to my husband, Hawaii is the only place for him!!!

Thanks! Was the Sheraton packed with children? Was it hard to find a chair and umbrella by the beach? Do they serve you cocktails on the beach? How is snorkeling?

Thanks, again!

Black Rock (Sheraton) has some of the best easily accessible snorkeling on Maui. More kids. Closer to the water.
Kapalua Bay is more intimate, more luxurious, more isolated and prettier, more "Hawaiian."

When we were there in March - there were a few kids - but I would not say a lot. Maybe a few little guys here and there. We didn't have any older kids running around, jumping in the pool and splashing, etc. Finding a chair was never a problem for us - in fact, we would go down late morning or early afternoon and be able to find chairs. Now, I do remember, when we went, it was the March after 9/11 so tourism was done. I can't remember the capacity of the hotel, but I do know that it was not sold out during our week. I don't know if they serve coctails on the beach, my guess would be no. I know they do serve drinks at the pool which worked out great for us. The snorkeling was great at our beach. I don't snorkel but my husband does and he said it was fantastic. Plus, it's very inexpensive to rent the gear at the hotel. So, if you enjoy snorkeling,it's a great location. I hope this helps.

To agree with the person before me - Kapalua Bay is not as croweded as Kannapali. It is more certainly not as touristy. We have been all over Maui and will be staying at Kannapali again because we enjoyed it so much. It depends what you are looking for...

Also, I wasn't suppose to say tourism was "done" it was "down". Typo.