Hotel vs condo when staying in Maui?

Would you plan on including another island in your stay?

How long will you be there? For Maui and Oahu, you could probably do a 7 night/3night trip. For Maui and any other island, would suggest a week on each.

We have always stayed in a condo ( presumably what you call a 'co-op'). We rarely eat out when we go to Hawaii.

For Maui, this is a very good choice for a special dinner, (or lunch) https://mamasfishhouse.com/

Aloha

Congratulations on your retirement!

We like Maui and the Big Island - haven’t been to Kauai, yet. For Maui we have stayed at the Westin Resort and also at their villas. Both of those are very nice and have wonderful pools and amenities. On the Big Island we usually stay at condos or B&B’s, so the last time at Maui we stayed at a condo just north of Ka'anapali. We enjoyed our time there so much that we’re staying at the same condo building the next year for about three weeks.

Generally the advantages of something like the Westin vs. a condo will be:
1. Much nicer room & bathroom
2. A restaurant on site
3. Spa & other options
4. The pool area is beautiful and has bar access.
5. It has a shuttle to the nearby outdoor mall.

The advantages of the condo:
1. A kitchen for meals
2. More space to lounge in your robe with coffee in the morning
3. Usually a washer/dryer
4. Quieter
5. Pool isn’t as busy.
6. Parking is very close.
7. No constant extra charges.
8. (Ours has turtles that come to the shore area.)

We bought the island “ultimate guidebooks” by Andrew Doughty and highly recommend them! I always pack very light, but we bring the book with us in the car because he has such good info of places to see or things to do (or not do).

We have always been in Hawaii in Feb/March, and we do the sunset sailing or sunset dinner cruise, whale watching, and the road to Hana. There’s lots of snorkeling and general sightseeing, and the book will give you historical info. I don’t like heights, so my husband drove up to the volcano by himself last March and enjoyed it.

My husband hadn’t been to Oahu, so we started one year on that island and went on the Pearl Harbor tour and also did a city bike tour. We were there three days and then finished in Maui.

If you do decide on a condo, there’s a Costco near the airport to stock up on food, if you have a membership.

Maui is our favorite island. It has a variety of landscapes. We stay in a condo & prefer the less touristy area of Kihei. We do enjoy visiting Ka’anapali, Napilli, the North Shore & Upcountry. As mentioned up thread, lots of benefits in staying in a condo. We also would recommend Mama’s Fish House for lunch or dinner. Another local favorite is Kula Bistro in Upcountry.

We have made several trips and have spent about three weeks total on each Maui, Oahu,Kauai, and Hawaii. They told us they’re all beautiful and different and they are. They have an expression, Maui No Ka Oi which means Maui is the best and I think in retrospect I’d agree. It has a good mix of everything. A car is really essential on Maui. We stayed at gorgeous ocean front hotels for the first time in our lives. I just looked the other day thinking maybe we’d go…the prices that made my stomach jump 20 years ago are now eye watering. Air travel between the islands was easy and I’d try to mix it up if you can. Maybe you could fly into Maui and out of Honolulu or other way around. Good luck, safe travels and congratulations on your retirement! I think you’re going to the most beautiful places I’ve ever been to.

You might look into the wonderful Napili Kai Beach Resort, old style Hawaii, and the best of both worlds.

Lived on Maui for 3 years. Been to the 4 main islands multiple times. Sold all the activities on the island and have done most of them. ( although not the new ones). If you ask a specific question, I can probably answer it. My favorite part of the island is Napili.

I think that comparing a hotel to an apartment is more than just a cost comparison. It kind of depends on how much luxury you want. If I'm wanting to relax, I dont want to deal with shopping and cleaning and prefer the amenities of a hotel. We've stayed at the Ka'anapali Beach Hotel 4 times now, because we like the location, the vibe, and the beach right there, only steps away. There is a shopping mall just down the beach (Whalers Village) with several good restaurants, and thats where some of the boat cruises (whale-watching, snorkeling) start. I think the KBH is a good value for where it is, just not the fanciest. We've visited friends at the Westin property and its very nice, but you pay for that.

The thing about Maui is that when your out in Ka'anapali, it takes 45-60 minutes to get to the main center area. Napili is another 15-20 minutes further from Ka'anapali, so that's further out than we wanted to go.

Mama's Fish House is ( I am told) one of the top five restaurants in the US. We stopped by one afternoon and they told us that people make reservations 6-12 months in advance because of its popularity. They let us sit at the bar where our two coffees and dessert cost around $100. Yes it was good, if that's your speed. The newly refurbished restaurant at the KBH is nice too, and all the hotels along that part of the beach are nice open experiences. If you want more party atmosphere, there are plenty of places in Lahaina to visit..

We enjoy visiting the "upcountry" cowboy towns Makawao and Kula. The Road to Hana we did once, and never again.

We like Kauai too, But the advantage to Maui is that you can fly to the mainland directly. I would recommend at least 10 days for two islands, or you'll feel rushed. IMO.

We stayed at a condo in Maui with balcony overlooking the water and swimming pool and we felt it was a great decision. All.we did on leaving was taking out our trash. Truly enjoyed it.

I think Oahu and Maui are the most "touristy" of the islands. I like them, but prefer the Hilo side of the Big Island or Kauai which don't seem to get the same amount of traffic.

In my opinion if you're staying less than 4 days go with the hotel. If longer, get cabin or condo. The closer to the beach the better, but make a choice on whether you prefer sunrise or sunset, and choose your location accordingly. (I prefer sunsets, so I always stay on the western side of the islands. I don't mind sitting out on a jetty at 6 am and watching the sky get light; usually I'm the only one out there.)

If you're going to do two Islands you want to plan on two weeks. One day is just going to be a travel and get settled day, and less than a week on any island isn't enough.

If you do go to Maui seriously give consideration to taking the bike ride down into the caldera.

Thank you for all the great advice. @Stan, we're into relaxing, but also seeing the sights. This could be our only opportunity to see Hawaii. We are attracted to the pros of a condo vs. hotel that @Jean mentioned...

diveloonie aka Tammy I currently have a reservation, which I can cancel by 9/15 at Kaanapali Shores - 943 and Mahana at Kaanapali 618 Even though the apartments and the room rate are approximately the same, $2,300 for 6 nights, the Mahana is costing $738 more due to additional fees. Any thoughts on which one is better?

Also, now thinking of adding an additional island to the trip. Maybe start on Oahu for 4 nights before flying to Maui for another 5-6 days?

I lived on Maui for 7 years. Ka’anapali is gorgeous but it’s harder to get around to other parts of the island from there. Kihei is more convenient and has a lot of condo options - my favorite is Hale Pau Hana as it’s right on the beach (Kam2).

A good tourist information resouce: https://www.hawaii-guide.com

If you only have a week, plan on one island. If you have two weeks, two islands would be a good choice for first timers.

https://www.hawaii-guide.com/best-hawaii-island-to-visit

Maui has a lot going for it but be aware that Maui has more tourist per local residents than the other islands:

In 2019, the average number of visitors was equivalent to 43% of
Maui’s population, or about 67,500.
https://thetravelvertical.com/2021/07/13/how-many-tourists-is-too-many-maui-moves-fast-to-tackle-overtourism-plus-other-initiatives/

Kaanapali destination resorts and Kihei condos are different kinds of animals and have different appeals. Destination reports are good choices for visitors who want to rest and relax while condos are a good home base after a day of active sightseeing and activities.

Some visitors choose condos to save money with condo cooking after a Costco/Walmart stop. But if you want to experience Hawaii, food choices are an enjoyable part of that experiene be it eating out or bringing a take out back to the condo.
https://www.prideofmaui.com/blog/dining/top-20-places-local-food-maui
We enjoyed the Hawaiian Lau Laus at "Da Kitchen"
https://www.hawaii-guide.com/blog/best-lau-lau-in-hawaii
{Just checked Google Maps show Piko Cafe clased and Da Kitchen reopened.]

I stay at a Kihei condo because Kihei is centrally located to places I want to visit and closer to the airport that West Maui or Hana.

I would not bother to go to Oahu as well, . You will have enough to do in Maui. What about splitting your trip in Maui into two places. Kaanapali and then another resort area, such as Kihei or the more expensive Wailea. Or we have stayed in the town of Paia and also in Hana for a couple of nights.

Napili is also very pretty, you will be close to it in Kaanapali. I seem to remember people saying it may be windier in winter.

Maybe start on Oahu for 4 nights....

Honolulu City Lights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiZ-j1Y_Eww

The Westin Resort & Spa is a great property and the rooms have small kitchens - you can easily cook all of your meals there. The property also has grills you can use. Their beach is my absolute favorite in Maui. There’s a Foodland Farms in Lahaina for groceries (it’s easier to navigate than the Safeway across the street). Mala Ocean Tavern is behind Safeway and personally, I would pick that over Mama’s Fish House. Do you have the Maui Revealed guidebook yet? It’s a great resource. Congrats on your retirement!

Do the condo for any trip over 3 days . Balcony breakfasts are awesome

I have not been to Maui, but love Kauai. As the oldest island, it is beautifully green and relatively rural.

I really prefer the space in a condo or studio. On an 8-night trip to Maui in 2015 we drove to Hana and spent two nights in a 1-BR condo, then spent one night in a B&B part way up Haleakala so we could be at the summit for sunrise, and 5 nights in a studio at the Napili Surf Beach Resort. We ate dinner out every night but enjoyed the extra space and making simple breakfasts and sometimes lunch at the condo. We walked to the Napili Kai Resort for dinner at least once. Napili is a great location with no high-rises.

We've been to Maui many times - condo and a car make the most sense. You can drive the whole island. Kihei and Wailea are our favourite areas and generally have the best island weather. Loads of restaurants. Five Palms right on the beach in Kihei is lovely. Sunrise at Haleakala and a hike on the volcano floor if you're ok with altitude. The road to Hana and beyond. Small town evening street parties in rotating locations. Try to get a copy of the book Maui Revealed - it will tell you all the best snorkel spots, walks and hikes off the beaten track and interesting activities. Maui is so much more than just a beach destination. Enjoy.