I am looking for a luxury condo near or in Wailea. I have stayed at the Kea Lani, but I am returning with my children and want more room. I believe that the Makena Surf is the best bet, but am not sure. I would like the best and most modern/luxurious in the area - prefer on the beach, but not a must.

Cheryl the Polo Beach club looks nice I have never stayed there. Here is a web site. You might do better from owners direct.
http://www.destinationresortshi.com/polo.htm

ttt

Polo Beach Club is right next to Kea Lani and shares the same beach, but the 2 are fairly far apart...I stayed at Polo about 2 years ago...it is a nice property, but the unit I rented badly needed updating and redocorating to get rid of the 1975 feel! Fully equipped kitchen, full laundry, 2 full baths, 2 bedrooms (1 ocean front), a nice lanai facing the water (with dining table and chaise)...daily maid service, cooler, beach chairs, etc. Indoor parking and within easy walk to Wailea hotels...I rented through Destination resorts and did not find their staff very helpful or pleasant...Note the the Deluxe ocean front units are only those in the center of the building...the other ocean fronts are along the sides (a minor point, but I specifically asked and was misled)...I have never stayed at Makena Surf, but is sure looks nice...a bit further away...I think with condos, it is best to rent from owners directly and to demand recent photos of the inside of the unit...I would not have rented the unit I did at Polo if I had seen the interior...it was clean and fine, but not luxurious and it made me miss Kea Lani!

Try the Hale Hui Kai near Wailea. We stayed there recently with 2 kids and had a great time. We were in Room 211 which is on the beach. It was incredibele and nice.

Would you be interested in a private home? We rented a 3 bedroom home with jacuzzi tub in Makena, oceanfront, for $200/night. You can snorkle for turtles (lots!) right in front of the house. Here's the website:
http://www.maui.net/~dugal/index.html

Joan,

I went on the website for the house you stayed in. It looks great. I tried to email them but it wouldn't go through. Is the house air-cond.?

We rented through an owner at Polo Beach and liked it very much. We plan to go back there unless I can find a better deal. Thanks.

Hi Jackie; no the house is not air conditioned. Every room has ceiling fans, and these neat louvers either under or over the picture windows, which allow lots of breezes to come through. I was worried, my husband is a "sweaty guy". But it was no problem for us in early September - we actually dug out a blanket one night!

Be aware that the house is not on a sand beach; instead there are steps into the water. Also, the owners, a golf pro and an artist, live downstairs. They were invisible most of the time, nice folks with lots of good suggestions. Bring your snorkel gear, could not believe the number of turtles we saw while snorkeling here!

P.S. to Jackie: I forgot! The owner's email is: [email protected]

Joan,

Thanks for the info. We'll look into it. Happy Holidays.

Hi Cheryl: We stay at the Makena Surf every summer and love it. It is right on the beach - all oceanfront units and is great with children (full kitchen/washer/dryer/great pool/daily maid service). The beach out front is great for boogie boarding or swimming. Go for either the "E" or "F" buildings which have the best location. If you need a travel agent that specializes in HI and gets great rates thru Destination Resorts (don't go directly to them), let me know. Makena Surf is better than Polo in my opinion (Polo doesn't really have a beach and is more of a high rise resort. Also, check out nearby "Big Beach" for a beautiful spot to take your kids. Have fun!

Thanks Sheryl. I did go with Makena Surf, so I'm glad to hear it is nice. Would you classify it as "Luxury" or just "Deluxe"? Also, how many minutes is it from the Shops at Wailea? Also, what is the inside like, nice decor, updated?

Cheryl: Sorry for the delay, just got back from vacation. Hard to say if it is deluxe or luxury - depends on the specific unit that you get because they are all independently owned. Quite a few are managed by Destination Resorts, so you get the daily maid servce which is a big help. Closets contain an umbrella and beach chairs which is nice. We have had good luck with our units - well maintained, nice furniture, etc. You could ask the travel agent to check on decor and he/she could possibly find out what is available. The Shops at Wailea are about 10 minutes away. Also, groceries can be purchased about 10-15 minutes away as well. We plan to return this July. Have fun!

Very quiet - maybe not the best place for kids