Need Help Deciding on Condos for S. Kihei
 

Hi All,
Just stumbled across this forum and was wondering if I could solicit some reviews/recommendations from any of you.

I'm trying to decide between the following condos:
1. Kihei Surfside
2. Hale Kamaole
3. Maui Kamaole

I noticed a couple of post recommending Kihei Surfside - does anyone have any information about the other 2?

Also, do people have any recommendations on which agency is better? I've seen AA Oceanfront (makena.com), and CRH (crhmaui.com). Does one have better service than the other?

I also found some condos off of the VRBO site, but these are at Kihei Kai Nani and Island Surf - two places I haven't really seen any feedback on this site for?

Would you guys recommend going through an agency? Or going through VRBO?

Thanks in advance for all your help & advice!!

So it ends up that only the following is available
Mana Kai (most expensive)
Maui Kamaole (least expensive)
Hale Kamaole

The Mana Kai is appealing because it's right on the beach, but then I've heard stories that the rooms are pretty bad....
The Maui Kamaole property seems enormous (from the layout map I saw off of expedia), while the Hale Kamaole property seems a bit smaller.

The VRBO Island Surf property is still available too, but I have yet to find any reviews for the place, so I'm a bit hestitant to book there...

Do you guys have any suggestions on which option is better?

Wow, I was just about to post and tell you how much we loved the Surfside, but I guess it's not available! The Mana Kai does share a parking lot with the Surfside, which I walked through to get to the beach, which is awesome, and the Mana Kai has this great lawn that rolls onto the beach. I have heard complaints that the rooms are small, but that may be referring to the "hotel type" lock offs, maybe if you got an actual one bedroom it would be bigger; find out what the square footage is.

Also, we went through CRH Maui in July 2003 and they were very helpful and professional. Their office was easy to find to pick up the keys too.

You know you can look at great aerial photos of ALL the properties at www.wizardpub.com. Click at the top on "Maui Revealed" then click on "resort reviews and photos" then "aerial photos". You need a password (available by buying the book, which is great) to actually read the reviews. But sometimes a picture can help a lot!

Did you try tripadvisor.com for reviews?

love
roxy

Thanks so much for the reply roxy! =) I just checked out the aerial photo site, and you're right - the pictures are very helpful! Thanks for the tip. I have checked out tripadvisor, but find that they can be confusing at times since they sometimes are all over the board.

And yep, I'm going for the 1-bedroom (since we have 3 adults in our group). But I'll definitely make sure to ask about the room size...

Also, just curious - I read from your previous posts that you used AAA discount with CRH. Was this something you had to mention explicitly? I noticed it wasn't on the online booking form....

RE: AAA discount

I wish I could remember the circumstances behind the discount, how exactly I got it. Why not just call them and ask? Then you can ask any questions you have about the condos too. I don't think the discount was very big though, so don't get too excited!

Glad I could help!

love
roxy

In 1992 we stayed at the Mana Kai (Surfside too). Condo units were dark and dreary, institutional looking. The hotel rooms (the building is a hybrid) were nicer, though not spectacular. The on-site restaurant, Five Palms, is recently renovated. There's a convenience store on the premises.
Great views at sunset. Saw the Mana Kai again last year and it looked the same from the exterior: acceptable, but not life-changing.
The beach in front, Keawakapu, is one of my favorites. Long, good views, good snorkeling.

We stayed at he Surfside last Dec. Enjoyed it. Did you trying calling surfside. I know they have a list of people who rent out condos privately.

I'd recommend checking out Hale Hui Kai, also on Keawakapu Beach. It's three stories, around 35 units, very well maintained and managed 2 bedroom units. We've stayed at Kihei Surfside. It's fine and has great views of the West Maui mtns (and killer barbecues)but the units are long and narrow and prone to a wind tunnel effect that makes it hard to open the front door if the windows in the unit are open. It is also very noisy at night with lots of action in the parking lot. Mana Kai Maui is busy and dated. We prefer Hale Hui Kai to both- and the beach is front is terrific.

A word about Hale Hui Kai. Choose your unit carefully. Some are great, others are not maintained. Our recent rental (#210) was in poor shape but had a good view. Management doesn't seem too pleased to respond to problems. Garden units can get quite warm and bedrooms can be noisy as some have louvered window walls that open directly onto the walkway. Close the louvers and you roast. Ocean front units seemed much better. Great beach but minimal grass area in the complex. Entry could use a sprucing up.