Maui in October? Hyatt Regency, or quieter spot??
 

My husband and I (active at 60) are planning our first trip to Maui... A travel agent is recommending the Hyatt Regency in Lahaina... While it looks nice overall I'm reading in reviews there is noise, possible construction, too many kids, etc... Any one have any thoughts, recommendations? ... As we're going off season, it might work out barring the construction.... I was aiming for a relaxing trip visiting waterfalls, snorkeling, nature.... This was offered at a deal with the luau and car included, but not sure it's worth the deal.... Thanks for any and all input!

The Hyatt Regency is located on Kaanapali Beach, which is a few miles from the town of Lahaina. I stayed there a few years ago and liked it a lot. But, it is on a stretch of beach that includes a number of hotels and condos. So if you prefer to be more isolated, it's probably not your best choice. The grounds and the rooms were very nice. There will be families there with children. It just depends what you are looking for.

Maui has very isolated hotels (Travaasa Hana), isolated hotels (Ritz-Carlton Kapalua), and resort "developments" with many hotels (Kaanapali Beach and Wailea) (there's also Paia and Lahaina and some hotels near the airport). Like tom42 said, you have to decide what type of experience you're looking for before picking the hotel.

Have you been to Hawaii before, and is there a particular reason you chose Maui? There may be a better fit for the kind of experience you're seeking.

I have been to Kawaii, and liked it very much; I wanted to go to Maui to see something different and have always heard how beautiful it is. I am looking for a relaxing, beautiful spot... I want to snorkel, hike, see nature... Tripadvisor recommends some b&b/inn type of places that might work, and the Napili Kai Beach Resort only (!) has 160 rooms and is older Hawaiian supposedly. Also near there a condo development should be quieter. Hana I might do on a one-day tour, as I don't have the time or want to do the drive, though the Travaasa looks nice (with the airplane) on a different trip...

We just returned from Maui the end of May and stayed at the Hyatt Residences which are right beside the Hyatt Regency Hotel. We walked over to the hotel one morning to have breakfast and while we thought the hotel was beautiful, we would not want to stay there with the number of people we saw. The lobby was very busy and the restaurant had a line down the hallway for breakfast. The hotel even has a mall in it with high-end stores. Given what you describe, I'm not sure you would enjoy it.

We loved the residences. It seemed like a different world from the hotel. If you're going to be there for a week or more I highly encourage you to think of a condo. We enjoyed our evenings in more than going out! Fixed meals and sat on the lanai (4th floor unit-ocean view) and just drank in the view. The concierge arranged for a catamaran trip for SNUBA and there was no lines for the concierge and we could walk down the beach.

Hyatt Residences look lovely but a room is $770 a night, so that's not in our budget....

I did find Aston at the Whaler nearby which is a condo, and has a kitchen and much more affordable... That could be a possibility if I want a kitchen... Otherwise both the Napili Kai Resort, also in Lahaina, and Kanapali Beach Hotel, also nearby, might be good...

The Sheraton Maui might be an option to check. Also Kawaii is Japanese for cute though it sounds similar to the island.

Sheraton Maui is on one end of Kaanapali (at Black Rock Beach) and it more low rise than the Hyatt. There is also snorkeling right off the hotel. I walked over from the Hyatt to check it out and it looked nice. It might be more in line of what the OP is looking for than the Hyatt, although it's still a large hotel (500 rooms) in a busy area.

If Napili Kai is within your budget, book it! It's very "Hawaiiana" and on one of Maui's most beautiful, picturesque beaches, away from the high-rise resorts and condo-tels of Ka'anapali Beach. Nice restaurant there too, with a couple others within easy walking distance (most notably, Merriman's).

Don't be confused by the Lahaina address; that's just a function of where post offices are located. Napili Kai is actually about 10 miles from Lahaina town, and about five from Ka'anapali Beach.

If I were to visit Maui again, Napili Bay is the only location I would consider.

Yes I have considered Napili Kai, as I've read wonderful things about it, has good reviews, and it's a low-rise, old Hawaii type of place. Only problem is they will be doing some sort of roof work when I'm planning to be there... though far from where I would stay at, though need to check if it's tar (smelly) or what...
Then I've found all of these condos near by which look nice, are cheaper over all and gives us a kitchen, though not sure that's a good thing or not... so many choices!!!
Hotels give you service and restaurants, condos more privacy...hmmm

"Hotels give you service and restaurants, condos more privacy...hmmm"

You get the best of both at Napili Kai. It does have a few hotel type rooms, but most accommodations there are condo type, with kitchen and living room space. AND daily maid service.

Napili Kai is very nice, and Napili Bay is wonderful. It's about as far from the Hyatt Regency and Kaanapali Beach in concept as you could get.

There is roofing at Napili Kai, with tar and hammering, starting Sept. 10 and going on through my trip, on a building right behind one I would be slated for.... though I could request another building on the other end, but sometimes these things have a way of echoing and the smell.... so back to square one.... maybe condos...

Condos.... I've never stayed there, but always liked the look of Elua Village in Wailea: http://www.waileaeluacondos.com/. It's on a beautiful, private feeling beach, with decent snorkeling, out of sight of the monstrous resort hotels farther south. Each condo is privately owned, so the link I provided is only one of several through which you could make reservations.

If you're not set on Maui, you might also consider the Mauna Lani Resort on the Big Island, either the hotel, or choose from several condo complexes. We've stayed in condos at three different complexes, at varying times of the year, and have always enjoyed quiet and serenity. Our favorites have been units in The Point and The Terrace. The Mauna Lani Resort is on the Kohala Coast, which is known to have some of the best snorkeling in the State of Hawaii, and where weather is reliably warm and dry. The same may not be true of northwest Maui, depending on when you're traveling.

Well that's a shame about Napili Kai construction. I wouldn't be worried about noise, but the smell of tar I can understand.

I asked my husband last night - where? We have stayed at 4S a few times, Grand Wailia, Kea Lani, Marriott and other resorts. His answer was Napili Kai. Yes he would rather return there then the Four Seasons.

It just has an authentic vibe and character. I like their mission statement, their philosophy, their philanthropy. I would be concerned about tar scent, but might reconsider working with the front desk to be on another area of the property. I wouldn''t think tar would be more then a day or two of the roofing process. And their house rules would make Emily Post proud. Nothing like drinking coffee on the lanai, watching the grounds crew clean clean clean while young children are mindful of the quiet hour rule and whisper playing ball. Add to that affordable Happy Hour and snack bar and no resort or parking fees - it is just a wonderful place.

We walked through the grounds at the Elua complex in Wailea when we were there in November and it is a very pleasant property. (I'm not a big fan of the Big Island, so I wouldn't switch Maui for Hawaii personally, but others here like the Big Island best -- Kauai is my personal favorite)

We prefer low-rise, low-density condos on Maui. Although we visit Hawaii in winter, I won't book anywhere without air conditioning.

We like South Kihei/Wailea in South Maui and Napili/Kapalua in West Maui. I don't like Kaanapali lodgings. South is more convenient for anyone planning sightseeing to Haleakala, Upcountry, Iao Valley, and Hana. You have to get to Kahului for all of these. OGG is in Kahului.

It's 20 - 30 minutes to Kahului from South Kihei/Wailea. It's over an hour from Napili/Kapalua, largely because the only road in and out of West Maui is only two lanes between Lahaina Town and Maalaea. An accident or brush fire closes the road for hours...or days.

I like Wailea Elua, Wailea Ekahi, and Makena Surf. Wailea Beach Villas and Polo Beach Club are good, but taller buildings. Palms of Wailea is across from the beach. Nearly all of Maui's top hotels are on the good swimming beaches of Wailea.

We own in South Kihei at (low-rise) Maui Kamaole, across from the Kamaole III Beach Park. Two nice condos ON the beaches here are Hale Pau Hana and Mana Kai (taller).