I am interested in stayin in the Wailea/Makena area in Hawaii during my next trip in July. I am having difficulty deciding where to stay. Can anyone suggest something under $200.00 a night and on the beach? In addition, please let me know your thoughts about the area itself.
thanks

Aston at the Maui Banyan-
Royal Lahaina
Maui Prince Hoetel
Kahana Beach Resort

Janie, of the hotels you listed, I have stayed at the Royal Lahaina every time I have visited Maui. It is not in the Wailea/Makena area but in Kaanapali. It is one of the older resorts and probably needs a remodel, but we like staying in the "cottages" that are on the golf course. These are usually under $200 a night and you can't beat the beach at Kaanapali. The RL is right next to the Sheraton Hotel (Black Rock) and walking distance to Whaler's Village and several nice restaurants. We like the location and the price.

Under $200 a night? how about under $200 a week?

You're renting a car right? Well there you go.

We always stay at Grand Champions Villas in Wailea. It's a small complex that is perfect. The units are very, very large and the one we always rent is on the golf course with a part ocean view. Just writing about it makes me want to hop on a plane and go immediately. If you can live without being on the beach you can save yourself a bundle to spend elsewhere on the island. The units rent for under $1000. plus tax for a week in the summer.

My family (husband, 2 boys) and I stayed at the Maui Prince last August...very nice...don't recall the price, but it was a fairly good deal, included a rental car. Lovely, secluded feel because you're at the end of the section/row of resorts. Played golf at Makena Resort, just a few minutes away.

Good Lord, Whatever you do don't stay at the Royal Lahaina. That place is the biggest joke going on Maui. Read the hotel reviews here at Fodors. The ceilings are chipped paint, they have roaches and the decor is as old as the hills. Besides, it is in Ka'anapali. Does anyone under 65-70 really stay there? Whenever we rode the trolley and had to stop there to pick people up it seemed that they should have named it geriatric hotel. Nothing against seinor citizens, but you never saw anyone under 65 get on the trolley from that hotel. It was kind of bizarre. If you want to go retro back to the 60s and 70s then that's the place to stay. No wait, you can also go to the Ka'anapali Beach Hotel and swim in the whale shaped pool, which is about as big as your thumb nail. These places could make so much more money if they would only renovate. I suppose that they know they can lure in these unsuspecting seinors for a cheap price and then theres nothing the poor people can do once they are already there. I heard that the man who owns Pleasant Hawaiian Holidays also owns the Royal Hawaiian and he is not very good to his employees. I read that just the other day on the travelocity forums. He should be ashamed of himself. He's a multi-millionaire and luring these unsuspecting seinors into this dump!