Please help! My parents are planning a trip to Hawaii with my 21 year old brother over Christmas 2004. Which hotel is better in Maui - The Sheraton or the Westin? Also, what are your thoughts about going to Maui for 4 nights and then Kona for 4 nights? I told them that I think 8 nights on Maui might be too much. Thoughts??

Of those two hotels, I'd chose the Sheraton, and, no, I don't think eight days on Maui are too many. They could relax some, plus do all the Maui highlights in that time. I'd say, especially if they're coming from the East Coast, it would be good to hold it to one island.

My husband and I stayed at the Sheraton last summer for our honeymoon and LOVED it! It's a beautiful hotel and the beach is fantastic. Honestly, though, I would recommend staying at whichever hotel you can get a better deal at. They're next door (if I remember correctly) and on the same stretch of beach. As for staying on Maui and/or goin to Kona - we were in Maui for five days and loved every minute of it. We decided we'd rather stay on one island and see everything rather than split time. And even after 5 days there was still plenty to do. Happy travels!

Actually when we were in Maui staying at the Westin I took a jog one morning and ended up by the Sheraton. Lo and behold what did I see but a mango tree with its fruit nice and fresh, some of which had fallen. Well I carried as many as I could back with me and my wife, who loves mangos had a wonderful surprise awating her when she woke up that day. This was mid or early June and if those trees are still they may have yielded their fruit by now. Hopefully not for your sake. .

Thanks for your responses. If we are going to stay on Maui the whole time and not go to Kona, should we stay at the Sheraton for 8 nights or break it up between the Sheraton and another hotel on Wailea (e.g. the Marriott Outrigger)?

Hi
We stayed at the Westin and loved it. We did come with our kids but traveled with friends who brought their college aged kids and they loved it to. We walked over to the Sheraton and everyone hated their pool, it seemed desserted the whole place did. But it was beautiful! Their is more hustle and bustle at the Westin but it seemed so fun and tropical. It is next door to Whalers Village and everynight the girls would go over to check out the free shows and shopping. We just loved it. When I asked my 20 year old friend where she would stay again and she picked the Westin. SHe oved the restaurants in front and all the cute guys.

I do agree with the person who said they are near to each other (about 3 hotels away) so I guess it does not matter either way. But I thought the SHeraton was too boring for us.

I do love your idea of staying on both sides of the island. We almost did that and we sill next time we go to Maui. Waliea is so lush and pretty.
Have fun wherever you go it will be a blast!

You can get the Sheraton for $140 a night on Priceline.

We did 10 days in Maui and enjoyed every minute of it.
We stayed at the Westin in Oct. 2001. Their pools are really nice. Slides, waterfalls. The hotel tends to be family-friendly so you might have some screaming kids. There's a pool that's for adults only, but it's a simple one (no slides, no waterfalls).
There's an outdoor place (walking distance) with lots of shops and restaurants. It was nice to escape the Westing's pricey foods.
The beach was nice, but the hotel charges you for the use of beach chairs even if you're a hotel guest (that really bothered us so we didn't use them).
Can't comment on the Sheraton nor Wailea since we didn't stay there.
And please, if you're set on a specific hotel, do NOT do Priceline because you are not guaranteed to get the hotel you want. Believe me when I tell I'm a Priceline fan, but it's not for someone who wants a specific hotel.
Good luck.