Yet another Maui/Kauai question...please be kind.
 

We have decided on Hawaii for our honeymoon, mid January 2004. I have been doing text searches as there is MUCH info on some of our top picks but still feel compelled to post this as we are still undecided. It would appear that every hotel has things we desire, but yet not one that has everything thus far. Perhaps you can shed some light, things are the things that are important to us...
This time, we prefer to stay at one resort for the duration.
We will be traveling from a very icy state so we want the best guarantee for lovely weather which ruled Princeville, which was our top pick for Kauai.
We like a luxury resort vs. a condo, mainly for the ease of the amenities........club level usually........nice pool area, the less crowded the better......... as far as rooms go, we usually get an oceanfront, and I know many disagree because you aren't actually IN the room all that much, but for us we love to wake up and retire with that enchanting view.
Our top picks have been Four Seasons Maui and Princeville Kauai, but again the weather thing, I am guessing we would have better luck with Four Seasons.......but then with FS we have heard that their pool area isn't the best. So perhaps Grand Wailea......would there be too many kids? Mid-January, can there be that many families out there traveling?
You see now why we are undecided.
Most important: GREAT oceanfront room that makes you gasp......nice pool area......best bet for good weather.
And nothing against kids, I love them, but it is our honeymoon, best bet for low amounts of ankle biters. :)
Thank you to anyone who decides to indulge me and post a response to yet another Hawaii question. Bless your heart.

Hey Tiff,

On my honeymoon this past February, my wife and I actually stayed at both the 4S Maui and The Princeville in Kauai. While we liked the 4S (specifically) and Maui (in general), we absolutely LOVED The Princeville and Kauai.

Let me say, as you're doing right now, I stressed about the decision you're going through many a nite....the last thing you need is your honeymoon to be washed out. But, ultimately, after talking to many friends who stayed at The Princeville on their honeymoons and absolutely raved about it, we "had" to stay there. And we never regretted it for a second.

About the weather....yes, there is a greater chance of rain in the North during winter months but like I said before, we went in February and it never rained for more than 15-20 minutes a day. Maybe that was a fluke and we got lucky, I don't know. But what I do know is the North side of Kauai is gorgeous....so lush and green, especially during the winter months.
If we ever get the chance to go back, we'd absolutely stay at The Princeville again no matter what time of year, no questions asked.

And finally, when you said most important is GREAT oceanfront room that makes you gasp, that IS The Princeville....if your jaw doesn't drop the 1st time you look out your window at the NaPali Coast, there's something wrong.

My stay at the Four Seasons was perfect. I got back less than two weeks ago, and it was sunny the first two days and cloudy the rest of the time. It rained briefly for 15 min on one of the days. I can't comment on the weather in January, but from what I've heard, the weather in Wailea is pretty constant and dry. And if it does rain, it's usually for a really short period. Personally, I wouldn't worry about the weather in Maui, it's almost guaranteed to be better than the "icy state" your comming from.

I agree with you that view from your room is important. One of the most memorable things about my stay at the Four Seasons was sitting on the lanai and watching the ocean. The view was breathtaking. I took a few pictures and I could literally mail them out as postcards. There was also nothing better than waking up to a great view of the ocean, though going to sleep, the ocean just looked pitch black. If you're really worried, just call the hotel and ask.

I didn't hang out by the pool since I heard you had to wake up at 7AM to reserve your spot. I didn't bother even though I was up around 6AM every morning since lounging by the pool isn't my thing and I definitely prefer being at the ocean. You can ask an attendant to set up a chair and shade for you on the beach. The area around the pool did seem pretty full when I passed it coming and going from the beach (though the actual pool looked pretty empty), but I hear that the service is so wonderful that you won't care or notice.

I did see some kids at breakfast and around the pool area (they have their own pool though), but I didn't notice them beyond that. Though the hotel was booked full (an acquaintance tried to book a room but was told none was available), with the exception of breakfast and maybe the pool area, many times we felt like we were the only people around.

We walked over to the Grand Wailea to look at their pool, and it did look fun... they had some kind of waterslide. I was tempted to just jump in. But if you're looking to dodge families, I'd avoid the Grand Wailea. The pool was brimming with kids. Not that it's a bad thing, it's just not what you want.

Still, even if the Grand Wailea built a water theme park, I'd choose to stay at the Four Seasons. The service was unbelievable, and as I said before, everything was perfect. I can't wait until I get to go back.

Thanks Doug, that is helpful and congrats to you on your recent nuptials. Did you miss the lack of a lanai or balcony at Princeville? I too have a friend that raves about P., and he has traveled almost everywhere, he has said there is nothing that matches the view.
Thanks.

Thanks to you also Shebs, I didn't see your post when I replied to Doug. Which room/area did you stay in at FS, as I have heard not all have the best ocean views, but it sounds like you had a great view.
Thanks!

Tiff,

Yeah, having a lanai might have been nice but I can't say we really missed not having one. You can still see the gorgeous views from your floor-to-ceiling windows.

And I don't know if you've researched much yet, but the bathrooms have "windows" themselves that, at the flick of a switch, become clear so that you can see out. The picture I took of the NaPali Coast from the shower is one of my favorite.

We booked an ocean view room and were upgraded to a one bedroom suite when we arrived. As for the location of the room, I thought the hotel appeared to be shaped like a "u" (or square with no top), and we were at what seemed to be the center bottom of the "u". The view wasn't oceanfront but a bit setback, but I thought it made the view much more interesting. You could see the ocean straight-on beyond a landscaped fountain/garden area with statues of what seemed to be three women in dresses. Also, I could hear the ocean from my lanai.

If ocean front is really important to you, I'd suggest booking a ocean view prime room. They seem to get booked up pretty fast, though you'll probably be fine as you have almost half a year. I believe they have this room type available in the club level since you mentioned you prefer it.

Do keep going. Great info. and it saves me from posting. But hurry - time grows short on the first trip. But there will be a seocnd this fall, so I will keep reading. Lots of questions I wouldn't have thouight of -thanks very much. I am looking froward to Maui!!