Hi and thanks - I called the GW and got the following rate yesterday. It tripled when I called today after the man asked if I had called before. I HATE THAT! After he quoted me I told him what I was quoted and he said why didn't you tell me that!

Anyway - Gardenview is $279, $335 and $335 for Thurs - Sat nights.

Not bad.

I would call it phenomenal! Go for it!

Go for the oceanview at GW, if you can $)and congratulations!

Thanks for the congrats John!
I figured since we will have full view of the ocean in our condo in Elua Village - we might as well save the cash and go with the gardenview.

Would love an oceanview but - that rate will be through the roof.

Question - do you recommend staying at a resort in Wailea rather then up by Lahaina/Kanaalapi?? Seems the resorts are MUCH nicer in the Wailea area - and I gotta admit, that pool sounds right up our alley!

Thks -

Beachgirl, if your main reason to go outside your condo is to have that resort experience, rather than wanting to stay in a different location in the islands, then sounds to me that you want to go to Four Seasons or Grand Wailea in Wailea. If you want a resort experience AND a different location, maybe the Ritz-Carlton at Kapalua, although people complain of the wind and distance to the beach there. But in the winter, I would stay in Wailea because Kapalua will be cooler, windier and possibly rainier. I would stay in Wailea (I always do!;-) )

Thanks Bonnie! Yep - we want the resort experience, and a bit of pampering just for a few days.

I have read that it is less rainy in Wailea then other areas of the island.

So are the chances slim that we will be rained out - for an entire day or two? Hope so!


Thanks!

Reply to Beachgirl66,

Pardon my confusion, the view from Elua should provide great whalewatching, but at check in I would ask GW about upgrading and be sure to mention that it's your honeymoon , sometimes hotels will give freebies or discounts etc, and they did for our honeymoon on Kauai.
I think the resorts are newer in the Wailea area and enjoyed long walks up the beach to Kihei and back. Kaanapali has more resorts and action but is a little over-developed IMHO.

It very rarely rains in Wailea, and if it does, it's a short *pineapple juice* sprinkle, and it's done. As I said, in December, I would definitely stay in Wailea.

Thanks all!

Beachgirl, gotta say here, thanks for coming back and letting us know what you're thinking, and what you might do, and that we've been able to help in some small way! So often, I wonder, whatever happened with so-and-so.......... not that people *need* to come back and say a word, but it's nice when they do!

No one can predict the weather for next December, but you should know that anything is possible. This winter was one our wettest in many years. We had days of rain in December and January, and we got more rain in south Maui in a six week period than we had been getting in an entire year. Many people have said that the rainfall was uncharacterisitc, but my husband who grew up in this area tells me that this type of weather pattern is more typical for ho?oilo (rain season), even here on the leeward side. We have been in a serious drought for the past decade and the heavy rains this year were welcomed, even if they may have altered some vacation plans. I even overheard a woman at the grocery store telling her companion that she was going to sue her travel agent because he never told her anything about the RAIN, of all things.

If you get a few days of rain, snuggle up and enjoy the time together. If it's not a heavy rainfall or a Kona storm, you might want to check out another part of the island. But remember, the rain is a blessing. Without it there would be no flowers, no waterfalls, no life, and no rainbows.

Here_today, that is really interesting, your description of the weather changing there this past winter (all the travel books rave about how dry and sunny the Southern parts of the islands always are in winter..... how bad must this year have been in the Northern parts of the islands?). You're also reminding me that when my sister stayed in Kihei this winter for seven weeks (parts of Jan., Feb. and Mar.), they DID have an unbelievable amount of rain and actual storms, when we have (my sister & BIL, my hubby & I) been coming to the Islands for 20 years now, and normally have had the experience described in the guide books, weather-wise. Also on the Mainland, where we live in the South, we have had REAL winters, the last three years. So no, you can't predict the weather for sure, but I guess it's safe to say it will be better in the South than the North usually. I always love Hawaii, though. Even when it rains.........;-)

I would spend one night at a B & B. They can be found to be pretty cheap - and then you don't have to drive an hour back home. We stayed at the Plantation Inn in Lahaina for $150 for one night - and it has a great restaurant attached called Gerards ($50 off meal if you are staying). Then you can have two full days there if you leave early enough on the first day.