Maui: where oh where to stay?
 

Greetings.

We're going to Maui for two weeks, one week at the Grand Wailea and then we're interesting in going to another part of the Island. We've got two kids, 5 and 4, but don't want to be stuck on a Disneyland-like setting...

A few areas like Paia and Haiku have caught my eye on the Northern side, but we're going in January. Is the North side a good "central camp" or would you recommend the South or Western sides, any particular towns you guys can suggest?

Many thanks,

Raz

If you are looking for a lower key sort of an experience, try the Napili area. Napili Kai would be a good choice. Nice Bay, good beach.

Another not so low key choice would be to relocate to the Kaanapali area. Kaanapali Ali'i is a great condo right on the beach.

Staying on the north would make areas like upcountry, Hana and Haleakala easier to get to. There are some very nice vacation rentals in Paia, Haiku and Huelo. Check vrbo.com

iamq's suggestion is an excellent one, if you want a different feel from Wailea. My family has twice split our Maui trips between Napili Kai and the Grand Wailea.

We love Kaanapali as well, and you'd be able to walk to lots of restaurants and shopping, but Napili is very laid back, the beach is the real draw, and the properties are more "old fashioned", and I mean that in a good way. Quite the opposite of the GW.

If you stay in Napili, may I suggest breakfast at the Gazebo, and dinner at Sansei in Kapalua? The Sea Lodge (which is on the Napili Kai grounds) is also a food place to eat.

I suggest you do the other week before you introduce your kids to the GW, as things could turn nasty when you take that world away from them! LOL

Napili is the area I would suggest as well. I have never stayed but visited the Napali Kai Beach Resort and think it is a fabulous old hawaii choice http://www.napilikai.com/ Far enough away to explore that side and the whole island before becoming resort bound! The GW shoudl be a real treat for them and you.

I agree with kealalani- Do the Grand Wailea last.

That's hysterical, and I wholeheartedly agree that if you can save GW for last, do so. The pool complex is incredible.

By the way, the beach at Wailea is also fantastic, if you can get your kids out of the pools.

Hey guys, thanks for all the great replies...I really appreciate it (and sorry for the duplicate post I just made). Also, I WISH I could do GW last...but, alas, it's business and happens to come first! Thanks again, any other reco's will be appreciated!

You have had good suggestions, but one thing I might suggest. Get lodging as close to the water as you can. You won't be that close at the Grand Wailea and in Jan., the whales will be in Maui. I have to say that sitting on our lanai and seeing whales breech, jump, tail slap, and play, ranks up there with my all time great travel memories. Take binoculars--I just had mini binoculars and scanned the horizon for what looked like a puff of smoke---a whale would appear there.

We visited in Feb. and had a lanai that hung over the cliff on Kauai--every morning, I would see at least 10 whales. We were also in Maui, at the Maui Prince but our room was not as close to the water. We did see a lot of whales from the beach at the Prince though. In fact we had a spectacular show when a female whale and her calf decided to join snorkelers at Turtle Town, to get away from 2 males who were jousting and putting on quite a show for her(and us). It was written up the next day in the Maui paper--the snorkelers were totally creeped out to have whale snorkeling with them. they couldn't get out of the water and into the boat fast enough.

Getting closer to the water than The Grande Wailea is going to be ahrd to do. That place is incredible. Take everyone's advice and do GW at the end, and get a cabin in Hana or in Haiku or upcountry for the first week. Staying in Hana is the greatest thing ever! It won't cost you more than you'll be shelling out in Wailea either. This way you get a little beach and tropical jungle goodness.

My vote goes to visiting another island for the second week. Maui is not that huge of an island and is easy to get around. Don't get me wrong, I could happily spend two weeks on Maui--but if you don't get out to Hawaii often, I'd vote on visiting Oahu or Kauai or the BI for the second week.