My fiance and I are thinking about going to Maui for our honeymoon (early November). We both love to hike, snorkel, 4-wheel, horseback ride, and spend time at the beach. Everyone that we know that's been to Maui has always stayed on the West side, whether it be at Lahaina or Kanapali. After reading multiple trip books, it sounds like the West side is much more commercialized than the South side. We plan on doing activities, such as driving to Hana, hiking, snorkeling, horse-back riding, 4-wheeling, going to the crater, etc. I just wanted people's opinions on which they thought was the better location to do these activities. And where are some good places to stay on about a $5,000 budget, keeping in mind that it's a honeymoon trip and not a trip with kids. Thanks guys!!

South. Is the $5000 for lodging or for the whole trip? If the $5000 is just for lodging, then stay at the Four Seasons. If $5000 is for the whole trip, try the Maui Prince.

Hi,

Check out the Napili area because it is close to the Kaanapali and Lahaina areas, but not commercialized. There are several nice resorts in that area, especially the Napili Kai, which would be great for a honeymoon. If you are going to drive over to Hana (great idea!), it is a beautiful drive with waterfalls, honor fruit stands, but it is a slow and winding road. In order to really enjoy the trip, I might make it a 2 day trip and spend the night at the Hotel Hana Maui. That would give you time to enjoy the drive and the views, visit the town of Hana and enjoy the experience of the hotel. Then, I'd drive back to Kaanapali area around the south end of the island, visiting beaches, etc.

Best Regards,
Julia
Blog: spasandadventures.wordpress.com

In November, you have better weather in south Maui. I agree with poolboy's comments. The Maui Prince is the only hotel on it's beach, so it has a more tranquil atmosphere than the Grand Wailea region. The snorkeling is also very good on the south end of their beach. However, the Four Seasons is more posh and honeymoonish.

South. We honeymooned there. We stayed in Wailea, which is amazing and relaxing. When we went to Kanapaali we were shocked by how crowded and full of kids it was. It felt like Disneyland, where Wailea felt like a honeymoon. We've stayed in two places in Wailea-- both the Fairmont (which is a great splurge, very romantic, and all suites) and the Renaissance (which is also VERY nice, but smaller). We felt it was fine for activities-- we drove up a few days, but were also able to enjoy where we were staying, and a big part of Maui is also sitting poolside or beachside in a beautiful, peaceful place, with a drink in hand. I thought Wailea was in a different league from Kanapaali. If you don't have kids, run, don't walk from Kanapaali, and stay on the southern side.

Hi:

Another vote here for Wailea. We rented a house on vbro and loved it. When we went to Kanapali the beach was really crowded and I much preferred the beaches in the South. It also rains less in the South. If you like to be able to walk to a wider array of bars and other hotels then the West is probably more for you. We will stay in Wailea again on our next trip.
Kristen

I wasn't aware that the drive from Hana back around the south side had opened up to regular traffic after the earthquake.

It was closed when friends were there in March/April. I had read that the road MIGHT be open by sometime in 2009, but then again I'm not a blogger, so what do I know.

No disrespect to anyone intended....just observation for your consideration ..... Wailea was extremely beautiful and noses turn up very easily in a number of places on that piece of the island.
The north side of the west coast is more "real", if there is even such a thing in that beautiful place, and the island is small enough that you can make any day trip you wish. Going to "the crater" is about an all day trip so get up and at it, especially if you want to see the sunrise. Leave your hotel about 2 hours BEFORE sunrise. I agree 100% with Julia about the Road to Hana. Use it as the midway point on your trip around the south end of the island. Double check to see if the road will be open by then. Be sure you get a 4-wheel rental! In Hana, if you want "posh" (LOL, "posh" in Hana), stay at the Hana Maui. If you want a more natural, less fancy place, stay at the Hana Kia.
Old Lahaina Town is a great place to people watch....eat shaved ice evry day...spend time with the characters at the harbor and just plain chill. Virtually all of the hotels on Kaanapali are nice. You won't be there much anyway! Well, wait. You're on your hineymoon! I take that back, altho there are a number of great little coves on the island to get jiggy at! Aloha!

I have stayed in both areas and would recommend the South (Wailea) area. Just seemed more convenient to everything we wanted to do, and it's a little more mellow than the Kaanapali area.

We picked Wailea for our honeymoon, and we loved it. We visited the west side, and it seemed over commercialized to us. Wailea was really beautiful and romantic; I don't think you'd be disappointed there. We stayed at the Renaissance - it was a great location and had a gorgeous view. We also had great weather for our entire trip.

Thanks everyone. I think after reading your posts and reading travel books, we're leaning towards the South side.

South side, if for no other reason than November begins the winter storm season. Wailea area will have drier, warmer weather and calmer water.

Does the advice to stay on the south side vs the north hold true for mid-October as well? Is October in the windy season?

How long does it take to drive to Lahaina from the south area?

What is the best 4 star hotel in the south?

South end is fine in October, too.

What is your budget? That is more the question. There are expensive condos, and 4 hotels: Grand Wailea, Fairmont Kea Lani, Four Seasons, and Maui Prince. You could go on Expedia or kayak.com to get reviews of the places and ideas about the accomodations. Each is different.

South side.

Drier, more peaceful, yet also closer to everything, Kihei, Kahului, Hana and upcountry.

We've stayed at all the major hotels there and haven't encountered anything that I would call "snooty."

West side (specifically Kaanapali) is like a tiny version of Waikiki. If you like the nightlife, etc., that may be the place for you.

If you do plan on driving from Hana around the south side to Wailea, I'd double check the conditions. Also, I don't think rental companies allow their cars on that road.

The Kaanapali, Napili and Wailea areas each have both proponents and naysayers. I can't seem to get a consensus. Since my friend and I are only going to do this once, we really want to get it right.

We are young seniors, like lively settings, don't want to be inundated with kids, would like to golf just once, since we'll only have a few days there, and would like to visit Lahaina, the Ocean Centre, and perhaps do a submarine or catamaran tour or whatever is appropriate for the season. We aren't big on lying around relaxing.

We are not likely to do the drive to Hana.

We are prepared to spend approx. $400 a night on an ocean front room in a four star hotel, and would like to stay in as dry and sunny an area as is possible in mid October.

What's our best bet?

I agree with the post for Napili. My husband and I are the same age, and you can't find a more relaxed layed back area. The Napili Kai Beach Resort is absolutely breath taking. The bay is perfect and protected. We've done West, South, Upcountry. We thought the South was way over-rated. Kaanapali is too crowded. At lease take a look at Napili Kai on the Web. The beach is beautiful, and you can walk to the Gazebo for breakfast and lunch. Napali Kai also has a fabulous Restaurant/Bar Good Luck

Elaine, you won't find consensus because all of Maui is just wonderful. So naturally, everyone will have their likes and dislikes.

We live on Oahu and have visited Maui numerous times. We prefer the Wailea area for the reasons I mentioned, but also have stayed on the west side several times. Hyatt was nice. Kapalua Hotel was nice (not sure if that one is open any longer). Again, you really can't go wrong.

My advice is to go to Trip Advisor and keep checking the websites of every possible hotel you're thinking of staying at.

We really enjoyed our stay in Wailea for very much the same reasons already mentioned here previously. We stayed at the Renaissance Wailea which for me, I preferred to the other much more posh lodgings - Four Seasons and Grand Wailea which were next door. We ventured over by walking along the beach and if I'm not mistaken, it was the Grand Wailea, felt a little too Vegas-y FOR ME. If you like that kind of luxury/poshness, then I suppose that would be a good choice but for me, I just felt that the Renaissance Wailea had a more tropical feel, and if you call the hotel directly, sometimes they have specials going on for the private rooms that are literally just a few steps from the beach with your own cabanas, attendants, etc which would be perfect with honeymooners since there's only a few rooms. When we went, we were with our then 4 year old but we didn't see any other families with children, maybe just a couple - it was very low-key and relaxed, and they also had their own luau right at the hotel, twice a week. Check for the latest info on these as this was a couple of years when we went and at that time, I think they were planning on a renovation.