Maui Accomodations

So because my husband is the best husband in the world: he bought us a trip to Maui. Now, we're just trying to figure out where to stay.

The last time we went, we stayed at the north end of Kihei(crappy beach)

This time we want to split our time between The north-west side (Ka'anapali/Napili) and the deeper south west-side (would like Wailea/Makena, but can be pricey)

Does anyone have any input on hotels/rentals that are on the beach or a stone's throw away, that doesn't cost $1,000/night? We're going during whale season, so want to be close to the beach, plus having to pack a 2 year old in and out the car is a hassle and would rather just walk down to the beach.

Better yet: does anyone have property down there that they would be willing to give us a CP discount on?

Because this time we're tied down with a kid, it's going to limit what kind of things we can do because of her size and short attention span, so any ideas of things to do that don't involve a 3 hour drive (to Hana) Or snorkeling trips (she can't swim yet)? I'm thinking it's going to be a lot of pool/beach time for us.

Thanks a bunch guys!

[Bigtime]

It will be lots of pool/beach time with the kid, try to get a place with a pool on the property as it it can be a real timesaver.

There are some nicer condo places on the south end of Kihei, I think you'll have a hard time finding affordable places in Wailea and Makena, but it never hurts to check.

[FLAMESRULE]

I got my wife and I a trip to Maui this March as well (from our lovely dog Iggy :-) ). We're staying at a new condo development called Honua Kai. I think you can get them on VRBO. It gets awesome reviews on TripAdvisor and our travel agent said the place is amazing. There are 3-5 pools, right on the water, located in Kaanapali.

[Buzzard]

VRBO is a great resource for rentals.

[Jordan!]

http://www.alohacondos.com/

Napili Bay is where it's at

[The Goon]

We stayed at Mahina Surf:

http://mahinasurf.com/

In between Ka'anapali and Kapalua. We could see whales from our balcony. Great accommodations, great location --very close to Lahaina.

Originally Posted by Buzzard

VRBO is a great resource for rentals.

That's where we rented our last one from... I was just looking for some personal experiences.

I was looking at Napili Bay, because it seems like the water is a bit more calmer... Am I right?

[Buzzard]

Just stumbled onto www.vacationrentals.com

Looks like they're part of VRBO somehow. They link to each other. Anyone know what the difference is between the two?

[Buzzard]

Originally Posted by Puxlut

That's where we rented our last one from... I was just looking for some personal experiences.

I was looking at Napili Bay, because it seems like the water is a bit more calmer... Am I right?

That's what I like about VRBO...you can read the reviews from previous visitors. Mind you all the reviews are positive, and they could be from the owners relatives I suppose!

[drewboy12]

Always my first choice...

Banana Bungalow

lol, hot tub and kegger on Fridays!

Sorry I am no help to your family accommodations, but I will also vouch for VRBO as a great place to find very good deals on property rentals.

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by Puxlut

So because my husband is the best husband in the world: he bought us a trip to Maui. Now, we're just trying to figure out where to stay.

The last time we went, we stayed at the north end of Kihei(crappy beach)

This time we want to split our time between The north-west side (Ka'anapali/Napili) and the deeper south west-side (would like Wailea/Makena, but can be pricey)

Does anyone have any input on hotels/rentals that are on the beach or a stone's throw away, that doesn't cost $1,000/night? We're going during whale season, so want to be close to the beach, plus having to pack a 2 year old in and out the car is a hassle and would rather just walk down to the beach.

Better yet: does anyone have property down there that they would be willing to give us a CP discount on?

Because this time we're tied down with a kid, it's going to limit what kind of things we can do because of her size and short attention span, so any ideas of things to do that don't involve a 3 hour drive (to Hana) Or snorkeling trips (she can't swim yet)? I'm thinking it's going to be a lot of pool/beach time for us.

Thanks a bunch guys!

Kaanapali Beach Hotel is where I stayed last year . . . . . very nice place and I had a room overlooking the beach. Watched whales from my balcony and there are whale watching cat or trimarans leaving from the beach out front. I think about $50.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...ui_Hawaii.html

I've also stayed at Kaanapali Villas a few times before. Good place on the beach as well. Small kitchen in these I believe.

Kaanapali Beach is a fairly big surf beach with a fairly quick drop off . . . . which I like because I'm a strong swimmer. One of the best beaches in the world though. Short drive to Lahaina. If you can't swim, its a tougher sell.

http://www.mauiinfosource.com/Maui%2...n_map_main.htm

The beaches along Kihei side tend to be much tamer surf. More friendly if you and the family aren't swimmers.

Kaanapali, out front of the Kaanapali Beach Hotel:



My balcony at Kaanapali Beach Hotel . . .



Below is Kamaeole Beach Park, Kihei side . . .



Below, sunset over Lahaina . . .



Walking up Waihee Trail



Maui is a great place.



Cowperson

[Vox]

Hale Kamaole is right across from Kamaole Beach 3 at the south end of Kihei. I've stayed there several times, and it's really nice for kids. Two swimming pools, tennis courts, and a couple of bbq pits. They have 1 and 2 bedroom units that are both very reasonably priced. You'd likely have to call them direct, as I don't believe you can book Hale Kamaole online anywhere.

A couple of complexes South of Hale Kamaole is Maui Sands, which was also great with a kid. A very nice pool, and a close walk to the beach. A little further than Hale Kamaole, but very nice units. Last time we were in Maui we had a huge two bedroom that was larger than my first appartment, and by borrowing some RCI points from our inlaws we paid only $500 for two weeks.

Is it just me? or does it seem unnatural to see a picture from Cow without a dog in it?

The last time I went, we stopped at a beach up in the northwest side and it was really calm. Looked like there were some reefs that broke the waves up off the shore a bit, does anyone know which beach that was? It wasn't a steep drop off, more of a flat Kamaole beach-like.

[Ace]

I'm convinced this is the best place to stay in Maui

http://www.vrbo.com/27535

Been here 3 times

Originally Posted by Ace

I'm convinced this is the best place to stay in Maui

http://www.vrbo.com/27535

Been here 3 times

Nice, but it's been rented for the month of March. And I'm not sure the kid would enjoy sleeping in the tub.


But she might, never know?
Edit: I guess I could look at other units? DUH!!!!!

[HockeyPuck]

The next time the wife and I go to Maui, we want to stay at a complex called Kihei Akai. Right across the street from Kamaole Beach 2. For some reason, we really like beach 2 than beach 1, even though we were right across the street from 1. I think you can find some reasonable prices at Akai on VRBO

[Bend it like Bourgeois]

We're at the westin Maui as I type. Kaanapali is a beautiful place.

The upside I can see with a 2 year old is the SPG properties have a shuttle to lahaina / whalers village so really no need for a rental car. Probably not the cheapest/most family friendly though.

The whalers hotel is under serious construction. Don't stay there.

[return to the red]

Originally Posted by Cowperson

Kaanapali Beach Hotel is where I stayed last year . . . . . very nice place and I had a room overlooking the beach. Watched whales from my balcony and there are whale watching cat or trimarans leaving from the beach out front. I think about $50.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...ui_Hawaii.html

I've also stayed at Kaanapali Villas a few times before. Good place on the beach as well. Small kitchen in these I believe.

Kaanapali Beach is a fairly big surf beach with a fairly quick drop off . . . . which I like because I'm a strong swimmer. One of the best beaches in the world though. Short drive to Lahaina. If you can't swim, its a tougher sell.

http://www.mauiinfosource.com/Maui%2...n_map_main.htm

The beaches along Kihei side tend to be much tamer surf. More friendly if you and the family aren't swimmers.

Kaanapali, out front of the Kaanapali Beach Hotel:


*snip*

Cowperson

We leave on the 6th and staying here, looks great!

Every time we stay in Maui we always stay in Kaanapali, but that's mainly because our family LOVES the Hula Grill

[daredevil]

My wife is a westjetter, so we frequent the Islands.
We have a 5 year old and a 2 year old, so we're in your same boat for travel needs.
First you need to decide if you want to cook your own meals or eat out.
IMO that determines condo vs hotel.

I guess my main advice is this:
We've been to Hawaii about a dozen times with the kids, we've had a great time regardless of the price per night. When we get back we've always thought that spending 300/night doesn't make the trip 2x better than spending 150/night.

We've had great luck doing the name your price priceline thing, but are pretty familliar with the area (and last minute travel) so might be a little more flexible than the average traveller.

As mentioned Honua Kai is a nice property (great walking paths for kids), we stayed there in May for a week. It was supposed to be the be all end all of family properties. It is pricey and is BY FAR the windiest property we have ever stayed in and one of the most expensive. It's on the end of the Island, and there is a different wind that passes through there that you won't find just anywhere (ask the locals).

There is a grocery store close by, but there is also a construction site next door.

What we found is that the kids area at the Maui Kaanapali Hyatt (same trip) was one of the best we've encountered. (pricelined for $127/Night) Plus they have animals (all sorts of birds and penguins on the grounds (even a Macy's in the hotel). Also a great place to walk around.

As you've experienced VRBO is the place to go if you want a condo experience.
We've stayed all over the Island and have never really had a "bad" experience at any condo's, but beware if you get a "non-renovated" room you'll be walking straight back into 80's polynesian theme. The condos/rooms in Kehei tend to be older. There are really great beaches in Kehei like Kama'ole Beach and there is a park there if you want to supervize your toddler. Wailea is more pricey as you know.

You can't go wrong on Ka'anapli side, great beaches. We bought a 7 night stay at Ka'anapali beach club from Ebay for $500. Figured we couldn't lose for the price. (#38 of 50 on tripadvisor, which is lower ranking that we like to try and it was still decent, the Restarant had $2 kids meals).

Our routine is usually, hit Trip advisor read the reviews for the top 15 or so in the area, then cross reference prices on VRBO.

We also tend to focus on reviews from Western Canadians as they tend to have a more familliar "grounded" sense of reality.

Good luck!

[redforever]

When our children were young, we always stayed at the Kamaole Sands, more southern portion of Kihei.

http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Hotel_Revi...ui_Hawaii.html

Large property, 1, 2, and 3 bedroom condos, pool, across from the third public beach, no restaurant on site though.

You can rent privately from some owners.

http://www.kamaolesands.net/

And on VRBO

http://www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals.../kamaole-sands