Maui Summer 2012 Need help picking a resort
 

Hello all,
After much consideration we have decided to travel to Oahu and Maui from the east coast in August. Traveling on this trip will be my Husband, myself and youngest children, DS 17, DD 16. We will stay on Oahu for 2 nights to see Pearl Harbor, then over to Maui. We are looking for an upscale resort that would be a good fit for all of us. Our teens are well traveled, and DH and I are spoiled...
Looking at Four Seasons, Ritz Carlton, Fairmont , Grand Waillea, Westin villas, and other villas around above properties. We look forward to exploring Maui, but also love that pampered quiet time, nice beach, pool and service.
Thanks to all!

In Maui, we stayed at the Ritz Carlton property, which was very nice, but it is in a quiet location and is neslted away.
The Marriott has two vacation club properties, which may be a good fit for your kids.

The Ritz is a great romantic getaway for a couple but it can be a bit sedate and isolated for teens. All the others you listed are great upscale resorts good for teens and adults. Another that should be on your list is the Hyatt in kaanapali. Everything on your list has great pools and are near good beaches. Maybe look at the photos on their websites and see which you like the looks of best as they would all be a great place for a Maui vacation.

Four Seasons

My concern for a few of the properties is access to the beach. Any thoughts?

You might look into something at Kaanapali. The resorts there are right on the beach, it is near a large shopping center that has cool shops and great restaurants, the kids can wander around easily.

Thanks, I decided to go with the Grand Wailea. I am hoping it will be the best for all of us!

Great choice! The beach there is one of the best on the island.

If you don't like it - just move to one of the others. :)

I really don't care that much where I stay in Paradise - as I spend very little time at the hotel/resort - save maybe for a swim in the pool and a little jacuzzi time. There are way too many other things to do than sit around the pool and talk to other travelers.

And for moi - the beaches at the mega resorts are just too "sanitized". Rather find a good snorkeling area and enjoy it than just properly getting a towel and plopping down in front of a sterile environment.

As I understand, Grand Wailea is closing one of its major restaurants to add a couple of hundred additional rooms. In my opinion, regardless of the construction, the disney atmosphere pool can't handle an additional 400-600 guests.

Holy Toledo. How on earth can GW handle 400-600 additional guest, a large portion of which are likely to be kids? That is a real deterrent to going there.

I find beaches are beaches, regardless of where they are. Makena Beach Resort is on a terrific beach with fine snorkeling and I would not make disparaging comments about it.

Just because one person finds a beach sanitized and sterile does not mean another person will not enjoy it immensely. To each their own.

I may have jumped the gun, but I would contact GW in person to confirm that there will be little impact during your stay. This article might be helpful.

http://www.mauinews.com/page/content...ct.html?nav=10

And personally - I prefer the area up by Kapalua/Napili to the Waimea/Kiehei area. Too busy down there, except of course - at a semi-private beach. :)

I much prefer Kapalua/Napili side as well.