We will be going to Hawaii for our honeymoon and part of it will be spent on Maui. We will be in Maui for five nights starting Oct 2nd and I am trying to decide between the Sheraton or the Hyatt. At each one we would just stay at the Garden or Terrace view rooms. Does anyone know which one is nicer, more accomadating or has better grounds. Can you swim at the beach at both hotels? Thanks for any input you may have.

Both hotels are on opposite ends of Kaanapali Beach and you have full access to the 3 mile long beach. Although the portion of beach directly in front of the Sheraton is nicer (and has snorkeling at "Black Rock"), its my opinion that the Hyatt is a far nicer hotel...its fantastic grounds,lobby, shops and ambiance make it a hands down winner...I've stayed there 5 times. Ask for a mountain view room on a upper floor in the Atrium Building.

Absolutely the Hyatt.

Sorry to disagree, I stayed at the Sheraton, and looked at the Hyatt grounds and rooms last year. I prefer the Sheraton, the beach snorkeling and pool area is better. I think either way you'll be extremely pleased.

What do you do, go in other hotels, ride up the guest elevators and walk down the corridors looking for rooms to stick your head in? Do you even walk in, look at the bathrooms, measure them for size? Look at the view? That's creeepy, I don't care who you are and what the reason. That's a good reason to have all elevators keyed off to anyone but hotel guests. I wouldn't think of wandering around outside the public spaces in a hotel other than my own. Geez

I've stayed at the Hyatt twice (most recently in April 2002; once in '98)
and the Sheraton in 2000.
They're both great properties. The rooms at the Hyatt have a much larger feel. They Hyatt rooms have been recently refurbished, and very nicely, I might add! Both properties have wonderful pools. The Sheraton is on the best part of the beach, so if you're a beach person, that's the hotel you'll probably like most. However, the rooms at the Sheraton are not as nice as the Hyatt rooms. Pretty compact from what I remember, but still nice!
The hotel staff seems more professional at the Hyatt. We paid for Mountain view at the Hyatt and were upgraded to partial ocean view (it was the off-season) My friend just got back from that Sheraton and claims she'll never stay anywhere else again, but she's never been to the Hyatt there either --
although she's stayed at all of the other properties in Kaanapali though.
Also, if you don't care for long walks to your car, then the Sheraton is not for you. It's extremely spread out.

We too have been looking at the Sheraton, Hyatt, and the Westin as well. This is a great thread, any comments on the WEstin in comparison to these?

Our main concern is location! (not room size or staff) We are going to Maui and DON'T plan on getting arental car. We have included airport transfers but we want to stay in the center of the action. We plan to relax on the beach, go snorkeling, and walk over to the Whaler's Village for shopping and eating out. We like nice pool are and landscaping as well as more the low-rise type vs. the high-rise type, but these are not as important as location since we will not have a car. What do you think, Sheraton, Hyatt, or Westin?

topping for Ang from Chicago