Maui Hotel Help
 

Just need to choose a hotel or condo for the Maui portion of our trip.

So far I have read some good things about the following:

The Grand Wailea
Makena Beach & Golf Resort
Westin Kaanapali
Sheraton
Honua Kai Resort and Spa

Not sure if I should stay in Wailea or Kaanapali area while on Maui?

I want the hotel we stay at to have a NICE BEACH and be AMAZING.
I might like the idea of getting a condo style unit at a resort so we have the hotel feel with a kitchen.
Thanks for the help!

We will be there for probably 6 or 7 nights. We are traveling to Maui before or after 6 or 7 nights on Oahu. Its just my husband and myself and we are in our early thirties. This will be early to Mid December. Thanks!

I can't comment on the others, but while the Sheraton is nice enough, there's nothing about it that would be described as "amazing". It's a low-key place with attractive grounds on a very busy section of Kaabapali Beach (because it's right at Black Rick, which is terrific for snorkeling).

I might suggest you look at the Fairmont Kea Lani as an alternative to the Grand Wailea. They do have Condo style units that are actually closer to the beach than rooms at the main part of the hotel.

We opted for the Fairmont because I didn't like the idea of the exorbitant resort fees at the Grand Wailea and their mandatory valet parking fee. At the Fairmont we had breakfast included and we preferred the straight forward price, rather than a price with a lot added to the base cost.

The standard rooms at the Kea Lani are one-bedroom suites and that worked best for our family of two adults and two children.

We found it really advantageous to hit the Safeway a few miles from the hotel to load up on things that could be made easily for lunch. We didn't mind paying up for dinner, but we didn't feel the need to incur and $70 lunch each day.

We found the Wailea location to be perfect in terms of weather and easy access to all parts of the island.

You don't say when you are going, but if it coincides with the whale migrations I would highly recommend that as an activity.

Of the hotels you listed, the only one I would put in the "amazing" category is the grand Wailea. And the beach in front of it is one of the best beaches on Maui.

Thanks for the tips! If there are any hotels that are better than the ones I listed, I am open for more options. These are just some that I had seen suggestions for. Thanks!
We are going to be in Hawaii 12/6-12/20 not sure if I will make Maui my first or second half.

If you want to stay in a luxury condominium complex, look at Kaanapali Alii. It's between the Westin and the Marriott on Kaanapali Beach.

http://www.kaanapalialii.com/

For a beautiful resort hotel on a really great beach, I can't think of anything on Maui that would be better than the Grand Wailea.

Four Seasons

beatty1000:
There are lots of options in Maui when you ask Kaanapali or Wailea its entirely up to what you want out of your vacation, if night life is included then Kaanapali might be a better option, I stayed at the Westin Kaanapali in 2007 and at the Wailea Beach Marriott in 2009. I loved the Westin because of all the things to do around you can just leave your hotel and walk to Whaler's Village to look, eat or shop, Wailea also has an area like that but they don't have a Lahaina close by. Beaches: I honestly went out of the hotel to go to the beach did find a real nice one close to Wailea called little beach (I think)and of course you have the Red Sand Beach and Black sand beach. Enjoy either way your in Hawaii.
Hope this helps
Gina

I think Kaanapali might be a better option for us. We are staying at Turtle bay for a week before or after so we will be pretty secluded up there. Might be nice to be close to things during this leg of our trip.

Yes, kaanapali is a great place to stay if you want to be near excellent dining options and fun shopping. The beaches there are very nice. The hotel there with the most beautiful tropical grounds IMO is the hyatt. But there are several other hotels along kaanapali beach that are also quite nice. The best snorkeling in that area is at Black Rock in front of the Sheraton.

All the hotels listed, including the Fairmont and Kaanapali Alii mentioned are good choices, except I would advise against the Makena Resort because of its distant location. It has a wonderful beach fronting the hotel, but you will find yourself driving constantly to get to anywhere else.

We stayed at the Sheraton last February and we loved it. We love the big resort feel. It's in a terrific location and only about 6-7 mins from Lahaina. We had a nice room and the grounds of the resort are lovely. The breakfast buffet is delicious. The beach is really nice and it's only steps from Whalers Village (shops, restaurants). We will definitely go back to the Sheraton.

If you want a "condo style unit" why not stay in a condo? Wailea Elua, Makena Surf and Polo Beach would be my choices for a higher end condo in Wailea, which I prefer over Kannapali,