Sheraton Maui vs Renaissance Wailea Beach Please Help!
 

Made reservations at the Sheraton Maui to celebrate our 20th anniversary this February. We chose the Sheraton for the pool and the snorkeling. We reserved a partial ocean view room for 295.00 a night.
Now that our trip is almost here we are hearing that we would be much happier in Wailea. We have heard that Wailea has better beaches, better snorkeling, isn't as windy and chances for rain are not as high on this part of the island. I am sooo confused it took us 20 years to get to Maui and I so want to pick the right accomodations.
I have found reservations for an ocean view room at the Renaissance Wailea for 259.00 a night. I cannot find any information on this hotel. Is the pool anything comparable to the Sheraton? Is this hotel as nice?
Any information would be appreciated.
Which area should we choose?
Should we split our trip half at Kaanapli and half in Wailea?
Help!!

I dont think you can go wrong with either place. But, if you want nightlife or taking any excursions out of Lahaina. I would stay in Kaanapali. Wailea is a 45mins drive to Lahaina. We stay at Kaanapali for that reason and then take a couple of day trips to Wailea area to snorkel and body surf. If you want to sit around the pool and be just lay around and not leave your resort very often then stay at the Renaissance. The Renaissance rooms are larger and nicer than the Sheraton too.

The pools are extreme in difference. The Sheraton has a lagoon type pool that when even crowded you can almost always find a private spot. The Renaissance has a VERY small pool, probably just a little bigger than our own backyard pool. If a pool is what you are looking for, the Renaissance is not the hotel you want. However, the grounds at the Renaissance are really beautiful. Somehow, the way the land slopes toward the ocean it just seems like you are isolated, truly a gorgeous setting. The Sheraton has very nice grounds too, it being built into a rock outcropping that is casually called "Blackrock". I have not stayed at the Renaissance, but we enjoy their little poolside cafe called "The Maui Onion"(great onion rings). The drive to Wailea from Kaanapli is a beautiful scenic one, approx.45 mins so if you stay at one location only there is no reason why you can't drive to another even just to enjoy the beaches and explore!FYI-priceline sells both those hotels around 140 to 170/night but there is no guarantee for ocean view etc...I would not worry, either locale is a great one, you will enjoy either way!

Maggie101: Everything you say you heard about Wailea is true.
I 've seen the pool at the Renaissance and it is small, but the setting is idyllic. Also ambled through the lobby and grounds-wonderful island feel.

Have stayed at the Renaissance and it is very nice. Even though we prefer Kaanapali because there are more activities and restaurants are within walking distance I don't think you would be disappointed with the Renaissance - I personally would prefer it over the Sheraton. You may be able to get an even better deal using the Entertainment card. We used it a few years ago to get a 50% discount. I believe we got an ocean front room for about $175.

We stayed @ Renaissance Wailea in 2000. The pool is small, no waterslides, waterfalls, etc., but the resort is on a nice beach. We are more beach people than pool people, so it didn't matter much to us. We also weren't looking for much nightlife beyond a nice dinner and some cocktails. The Wailea area is so pretty (developed with care) I would go back to that area no question. Rooms at the Renaissance were nice, lanais, bathrooms, etc. Good luck Maggie!

Maggie: I am in the somewhat unique position of having stayed at each of these two properties on my two visits to Maui. In summer of 2000 I stayed at the Sheraton and in the summer of 2002 the Renaissance. The other posters are really quite accurate. The pool at the Sheraton is much larger and nicer, while the pool at the Renaissance is no bigger than any small hotel pool (they do however have a rather large number of chairs and chaises, so finding one was never really a problem). As stated earlier, it was much windier up at the Sheraton, although it can get windy down in Wailea as well. Both beaches are very nice. One thing not previously mentioned is that there is a very nice beach walk that winds along the shore in Wailea that connects all of the upscale resorts: Renaissance, Four Seasons, Grand Wailea, Kea Lani, etc. So it is very convenient to visit and eat at any of the Wailea resorts, which tend to be larger and more sprawling than up in Kaanapali. While I enjoyed both hotels, I definitely felt that the Renaissance had a more laid back, aloha feeling. Rooms were comparable although neither was especially large. I am returning this summer and trying the Kea Lani because I am, I suppose, slightly more impressed with the whole Wailea feeling. That said, we will still make a trip up to Lahaina and probably the Kaanapali area. If you have any specific questions please post through this thread and I will be happy to add my two cents...but whichever one you pick, I feel confident that you will have a great time.

I've stayed at both hotels many times.
I can't believe anyone would go to Hawaii to lay by and swim in a POOL!
Yuck! With those gorgeous beaches and the fantastic warm ocean water, skip the chlorine! The Rennaissance beach is nicer, less crowded and an easy at least 2 mile beach walk toward Kihei. Wind can be a problem at any beach in the afternoon, but usually not as rough at Wailea than at Kaanapali.Depends on your personal requirements but Wailea is cleaner and better quality than Kaanapali.