Maui: Where to Stay?
 

Hello, <BR><BR>My wife and I will be celebrating our 5th year anniversary this summer. We are planning on about 6-8 nights in Maui. We are interested in a little diversion-splliting up the time between two seperate locations. <BR><BR>We are both 30 and enjoy going out to eat and getting a drink after-typically home by 10 or 11pm. <BR><BR>Question 1: Can anyone reccomend a condo location/property or a condo web sight for Maui?<BR><BR>Question 2: If you could have the best of both worlds(seclusion and accessibility to nightlife), where would you stay?<BR><BR>Question 3: Any feedback on the Marriott resort as well as the Hyatt are appreciated.<BR><BR>Thanks.

Haven't been to the Hyatt but stayed at the Marriott several times. Older property but has recently been renovated. Convenient to Lahaina. Good beach access. Scenic location for their on-property luau. Luau food is not bad, entertainment could be better. Rooms are nice since the renovation.

I'd suggest splitting your time. Go for very affordable accomadations in the Kaanapali, Napali area and explore the coast.....then after a few days of adventure stay at the Four Seasons. If money is an option get the most affordable room there, garden, mountainview....you will love it!

Thanks for the quick replies! What about the Outrigger Resort in Wailea? Feedback would be appreciated. The last time that I was in Maui, I was 10. Obviously, a lot has changed and expanded.<BR><BR>I did hear that the Marriott and the Hyatt have done some remodeling. If you were in the states, what would you compare the Kannapali area to? Newport Beach? Cony Island? Navy Pier in Chicago? If you know what I'm talking about...the fear that I have with booking a resort near this area is the swarming amount of children and the countless fast food chains and the like. <BR><BR>I guess I want the best of both worlds: proximity and seclusion. All feedback encouraged.<BR><BR>Thanks again.

"If you were in the states"???? Hawaii IS in the states and if you talk about Hawaii as if it is not in the states Hawaiians will be very insulted.<BR><BR>NOTHING on the mainland compares to Hawaii, especially Kaanapali. Absolutely nothing !! Not even remotely!! <BR><BR>I suggest you split your time between Kaanapali (close to night life and the town of Lahaina) and Wailea (30 miles from Kaanapali and Lahaina, very upscale, and quiter than Kaanapali.

Congratulations on your anniversary jimsteph3!<BR><BR>The two main areas people usually stay on Maui are Wailea and Kaanapali. Wailea is drier, more resorty, with fewer restaurants. The resorts are more upscale and spaced further apart. Kaanapali is a little more active, with a good cluster of restaurants located on the waterfront in Lahaina. Don't think it's like Waikiki, however, it's smaller, less crowded and less commercial. I think the only fast food chain restaurant on the main strip is a Burger King. <BR><BR>We personally prefer Kaanapali because we really like trying the different restaurants in Lahaina, then taking a walk after dinner and exploring some of the galleries. We're typically home by 10 pm as well after a full day of watersports. We also like the accessibility to different kinds of activity providers and activities. You can find seclusion if you stay in the far side of Kaanapali or Napili (away from Lahaina), yet it's still only a 10-15 minute drive to Lahaina. The Ritz Carlton is very popular and is very peaceful. <BR><BR>I've stayed in many different accomodations ranging from 2 star condos to the Four Seasons in Wailea. There are so many condos to choose from - I would suggest going online to a travel website like AAVacations or Travelocity and see what they have to offer. Pick a condo in your price range that you like, then shop around at different places to find the best deal on it.<BR><BR>Sorry, i've never stayed at either the Marriott or the Hyatt, however, I can recommend the Sheraton. I thought it was a reasonably nice place to stay. Will be at the Marriott next month for 5 days, so I can post a trip report if you're still interested.<BR><BR>Good luck!<BR><BR>

We'll be staying at the Kaanapali Alii condo for a week. The location is great and the condos are very spacious and nice. We also like being close to the restaurants in Lahaina and enjoy taking walks after dinner. Congratulations on your anniverary. We just celebrated our 20th. Have fun on Maui. Sue

Don't overlook the Sheraton at Black Rock. Outstanding accomodations, great pool and beach, and great snorkeling right off the beach.

Beautiful, yes, but it rains all the time!

Stay anywhere in Maui and you'll love it.. Remember you'll be in Maui...Wow-eeee!!!!! Can't miss.......!!!!

My husband & I (age: late 20's) stayed at the Outrigger Resort in Wailea 2 years ago. Although we enjoyed the quietness of the pool and walking along the beach and exploring the backyard beachfronts of the neighboring hotels, we found ourselves driving 20+ minutes to other locations such as Lahaina, Kanapaali, etc. almost every day because there was not much in the way of restaurants, shopping & sightseeing in Wailea. The rooms were undergoing renovation while we were there and a large shopping area was being built right by, so it could be a lot nicer and livelier now. Definitely more resort-y and luxurious feeling than Lahaina or Kanapaali, but not much within walking distance which I would have liked. Next time, I might find a place a little closer to the action.

Just stay away from the Embassy Suites. Tons of children.

I've heard the Plantation Inn is nice but don't have first hand experience, certainly a great location for a few days: <BR> http://www.theplantationinn.com/<BR><BR>

Check out condo rentals thru owners by putting grand champions villas condo rental wailea maui in any search engine.<BR>Grand Champions is a great place to stay at a really reasonable price.

We stayed at the Aston Mahana in Ka'anappali and LOVED it. Its not glitz or glamour, But all condos are ocean front and have full kitchens. It is close to all of the attractions of Lahaina but pretty secluded. We just loved sitting by the beach every night. The beach out front is not very swimmable, but if you walk a bit to the right or left of the condos, swimming is perfect. We enjoyed the beach out in front of the Royal Lahaina resort, to the right of Sheraton Black Rock. Don’t miss Haleakala for sun rise – breathtaking. Overall, we loved Maui but were disappointed in the Big Island. I thought most parts of it were run down and trashy.

My husband and I and two of our friends (all 30) stayed in kaanapali last May. To tell you the truth I was very disappointed in the beaches on this part of the island. The beaches were very rocky and had a lot of thick green seaweed. Everyday we went searching for a good beach to hang out at-the best one we found was napili. I would compare Napili to Little Corona in Newport Beach. It's not a very big beach at all but it's nice. If I were to go back I would probably try the Wailea(?)area. I heard the beaches are much nicer.

I just want to add one thing--My husband and I and our 2 friends are convinced that It's a big fat joke to go and see Haleakeala(?) at sunrise. It was the most miserable experience. We got there at 3am and we all sat in our car until about 5:30ish and then we went and staked out our area to watch the sun come up- It was sooooo cold and windy. My husband and I brought our comforter from our hotel bedroom (thank god) and wrapped it around us. When we got in our car after it was all over - we all busted out in laughter. We couldn't believe we woke up at 1am for that!!! I guess it was cool to be above the clouds but you know what- it ruined my whole day because i was so dead tired from waking up at 1:00 -it wasn't worth it.

We split our time at the Whaler's on Kaanapali and Renaissance Wailea Beach Resort. We enjoyed both places. You can get a discount at both of them using the Entertainment book.

Kaanapali Ali'i condos are the BEST!!<BR>We're staying at the Hyatt in one week<BR>(again) and are curious about the rooms<BR>since the remodel.<BR>The Whaler condos are good too, but the Alii is quite a cut above the Whaler.<BR>Nicer area to lounge around.<BR>The Sheraton was nice. However, we didn't care for the rooms very much; too small compared to all the others...<BR>Hyatt has a wonderful breakfast buffet<BR>included with our package deal, as well<BR>as we're getting a 7th night free and free upgrade; free breakfast every morning and some resort credit too!<BR>But seriously, if I had to pick one condo, it would definitely be the Alii.<BR>Whoever said that the beach was crummy a few posts earlier was seriously misguided because everyone I know loves this beach. Too bad some green algae or moss ruined their trip, but hey, that's the beauty of nature.

Jim,<BR>We stayed at the Kaanapali Westin in late Sept in '00 and early Sept '01. Few children then, but we were told there were lots during the summer.<BR>We really enjoyed the Westin. <BR>The rooms at the Westin are "nice." Not overly impressive, but we were very satisfied. Excellent service and very friendly staff. As for the beach access and pool, you can't beat it. The Westin and sister Starwood property, the Sheraton are near Blackrock and the beaches along this stretch are marvelous. I saw a Travel Channel story on this exact piece of paradise just last week. So how shabby can it be?? For us, it was a reason to return. We didn't find the beaches here rocky, nor full of seaweed as someone else has mentioned. We did wander down the beach in a southerly direction and did find the rocks and seaweed, but this place is still impressive. We took a snorkel cruise out and the double hulled cat picked everyone up on the beach at our hotel. Directly adjacent to the Westin is Whalers Village. A Tiffany's and a Prada store, and it goes on from there. And you can get t-shirts too. So you have a real gamut of shops.<BR>In addition 3 very nice restaurants at Whalers, not counting the resort eateries all around. Nothing like having lunch a stones throw from the beach too.<BR>Restaurants, etc did seem to close a wee bit early. Sushi shop at the Westin, which was very, very good, closed shop at 9pm?????<BR>We rented a car to travel to Kapalua and Lahaina. Primarily for the restaurants, which were great too. We are going to Wailea this fall, but we would return to Kaanapali and the Westin in a heartbeat.<BR>Frank