Maui Prince
 

I'm considering this hotel for a late September vacation (solo)...good choice? <BR><BR>They have some good rates...<BR><BR>I know it is off the beaten track (a good thing for me!), but is it super nice and will I feel pampered? <BR><BR>How far from the beach is the building? Is the ocean view room worth the extra money from the partial ocean view? Do the rooms have mini-fridges?

I visited this hotel a few years ago and liked it quite a bit. Yes, it's off the beaten path but that can be a good thing. It was formally a Westin property. I remember it having a subdued elegance to it. Average quite pool area. The beach is not far from the main bldg; just a short walk. Reason for this is because the hotel is surrounded by a golf course. You cross the golf cart path, walk over a small hill and you're on the beach. Rooms were nice, bright and airy. Don't recall them having mini-fridges though.

Thanks for the insights! Much appreciated.

We stayed in 1999, and it was nice, but not overly elegant. We stayed first at the Westin in Ka'anapali and then moved down to the Maui Prince and we were a bit dissapointed, but mostly due to the location and lack of things going on in the Makena/Wailea areas (this was before all of the shops opened up in Wailea). The pool is rather small and plain. There is only one or two restaurants. But the beach is just a 2 minute walk away, and the rooms were actually very nice and spacious. I think that there was a small fridge in the room. Have fun!

ttt

I stayed at this hotel for my honeymoon in May. It was ok. The beaches nearby are nice and secluded. There is also a nude beach nearby if you're interested. However, it seems to only attract men. We had a partial ocean view and I didn't like the room. I asked to be upgraded to an ocean view and it wasn't much different in my opinion. The rooms do have mini-fridges. This was nice to have. I wouldn't consider it to be super nice and I didn't feel pampered. If you want a secluded area, away from all of the noise and crowds of the Kanaapali area, this is definitely the hotel for you. However, I wouldn't stay there again.

ttt

Actually, Kimmy, this hotel would be great IF the rooms were truly luxurious which, as you know, they are not. I really like the property overall and think the beach is the nicest along that "strip!" But I wouldn't stay there because it's not really a 5-star property!

Hi David, actually I love this property. I like the fact that it is isolated from the other resorts. The rooms are fine, in fact larger than a lot of places...I can't figure out what's not to like in them. And tho the pool is not freeform or one that winds thru the property, it is a nice pool. I've seen a lot smaller at other properties.<BR>Here is what many visitors do not realize..the hotel is opposite Molokini (great sunset views) & that little island protects that hotel & beach from some serious winds from time to time. <BR>The beach is one of the best on Maui. Things like Iao Valley & Haleakala are not a bad drive..nor are the restaurants in Wailea. My suggestion is always to eat lunch so you can stay at the hotel for dinner and eat light & drink in the sunsets. <BR>I've only had partial ocean views & if you are on 4th floor, you'd never complain. I do not think you'll feel pampered. For that you must go to 4 Seasons or Grand.<BR>Have a great trip & do consider going to the Big Island for the volcano.<BR>Aloha, Linda

Thanks Linda...sounds like the higher up you are, the better the view! <BR><BR>Do they have chairs/loungers on the beach?

You can usually get a rate there that makes it a good price-to-value ratio. Last time I stayed there, they were out of the lesser rooms I'd reserved, and so I wound up with a comp upgrade to an oceanview suite. Can't complain about that.

It has been awhile since I was there, but there were chairs at the beach. Nothing fancy, just the vinyl straps.. not telling what is there now. We really enjoyed the snacks at pool. At the time we were there, the hotel supplied soft drinks & juice in the fridges, wonder if that is still a practice. We did not eat at Golf Club, but heard it was good.<BR>Enjoy...aloha, Linda

I stayed at the Maui Prince November 2002 and it is a nice place. The beach is excellent and the location very beautiful. The rooms are a little outdated, but certainly still nice. I'm pretty picky about hotel accommodations and this was fine for me. If you want really fancy, there are other hotels in the area ie. Grand Wailea and Four Seasons that are really nice, but of course more expensive. I would stay there again, in fact I'm going again this September!<BR><BR>Have fun!

We were on the beach in front of it in May. I'd guess hotel maybe 75 yds away. Guidebook says there's a berm between hotel & beach so beachgoers' view not upset (I guess), book says if you want a good view get off ground floor. Other than that, grounds looked nice and the beach is great in itself, also it's next to Makena (Big) beach.

So David, where did you end up staying ?<BR>and how did you like it ?<BR>Let us know.