Maui, Hawaii , a paradise on earth, is far away from the hustle and bustle of the US mainland and has a great deal of hotels. Selecting the right hotel is important for your Maui Wedding and depends on many variables. Almost everyone relies on the Internet or referrals from friends on what place to choose . As a lifelong resident, I come by all sorts of stories, good and bad.
Travel Agents who know Maui well are always a point of referrence , but a first-hand account always comes in handy . Many travel agents from the US mainland call and ask for the best advice.
Planning your budget is another good place to start . Most informed visitors know that prices on tropical islands like Hawaii thousands of miles away from any continent are going to be greater than hotels in their hometowns. After all, everything has had to be shipped here; from building materials to food; the hotels have a much higher overhead. Land is expensive in addition to labor. Nevertheless, a high-quality hotel can be had for under $4000 for a 10-day stay.
We always suggest that folks stay at a nice hotel instead of an economy hotel. Tripadvisor.com collects reviews of Maui hotels and is worth a read for both economy and luxury hotels. So many people save all their lives to visit here only to be incredibly disappointed in their budget hotel. Most people tell us that because the price per night was over $100 they thought it would be a decent hotel – not so ! It really pays to do your homework. Our list we made at the end of this article has excellent recommendations for hotels and condos, as we have actually been to them and know firsthand.
In addition to your budget another thing to consider is the setting . Maui Island has 3 main areas with hotel locations. The East side of Maui where lush and beautiful Hana is located is about a 2.5 hour drive from Maui’s airport. Hotel Hana is 5-star and is the only real hotel on this side of the island. This resort is best for people who have been to Maui previously as it is far away from Maui’s famous attractions . Hana is close to Maui’s famous waterfalls, is a must-see for visitors . The serenity and supreme beauty of Hana is mesmerizing .
The other side of Maui also known as Lahaina or Kaanapali is about a 45-minute drive form the airport. It is a 3.5-hour drive to Hana and a 1.5-hour drive to our 10,000 ft volcano called Haleakala. The west side has pros and cons. Many of the oceanfront hotels and condos are a bit dated, with most construction occurring in the 1970′s . But quite a few hotels and condos are right on the beachfront and the views are spectacular . Hotel and condo pricing are set a bit lower than on Maui’s south side.
The south side of Maui which is actually the southwest side is the most modern area with moderate to luxury hotels and condos. This area is also known as the Kihei/Wailea/Makena area. Some of Hawaii’s highest ranked hotels are on the south side such as the Fairmont Kea Lani, Four Seasons Resort, and the Grand Wailea. The Grand as locals call it recently had Oprah and 100 of her employees. She knows where to stay! The south side boasts some of the greatest beaches in the world, is a 30-minute trip from the airport, 1 hour to Haleakala, and 2.5 hours to Hana.
To sum up , you should go for a hotel that has a good reputation and is near all you want to do here on our beautiful island of Maui. All of the hotels/condos recorded down below are in the South Maui area ( Kihei, Wailea) where it is not heavily visited by tourists , has nicer beaches and is drier with fewer chances for rain. Here in this area are five championship category golf courses, fantastic restaurants and incredible shopping! Please take note that South Maui receives 9″ of rain per year, while the Lahaina/Kaanapali area receives 18″ of rain per year on average. Hana averages 75” of rain yearly.
We have listed our top hotels/condos by their ratings:
luxury 5 star, deluxe 4 star, moderate 3 star.
5 star – *****
Fairmont Kea Lani, Wailea
Grand Wailea Resort, Wailea
Four Seasons Resort- Wailea
Wailea Villas
4 star – ****
Maui Prince Resort, Makena
Wailea Marriott, Wailea
Palms at Wailea (condo), Wailea
3 star – ***
Kamaole Sands Resort, Kihei (condo)
Maui Coast Hotel, Kihei 800-895-6284. Maui Hill (condo)
Mana Kai Hotel, Kihei,
Maui Kamaole (condo),
Maui Oceanfront Inn, Wailea hotel
Maui Kamaole, Kihei condos
Maui Banyan, Kihei condos
Hale Pau Hana, Kihei condos
