Maui Resort Area Question

We are planning a trip to Maui and I am not sure what area to stay in. Our options are:

1. Kapalua (Ritz)

2. Lahaina (Hyatt)

3. Wailea (Grand Wailea)

All three resorts look beautiful, but I am curious as to the differences in location. What are the areas like around each of these 3 locations? Which has the best beach? By best beach, I mean calm waters, swimmable, nice sand, not rocky.

How is the beach at the Ritz?

Which is the best area from which to do some sightseeing, such as the volcano, waterfalls, etc.?

Maui Resort Area Question

Kapalua tends to be windy, and I believe the beach is a bit rocky. Wailea is nice, but the Grand Wailea is not as nice-try the Fairmont Kei Lani-it%26#39;s nicer. But Ka%26#39;anapali Beach, where the Hyatt is, is long, nice, and lots to do. Great sand-a mile or so long, a nice shopping center, good swimming, so-so snorkeling except at Black Rock by the Sheraton.

All three are a bit distant from the activities, but Ka%26#39;anapali is closest to Lahaina, the main town. All are equally distant from the top of the volcano, with Kapalua the most distant, by about 10 miles. Ka%26#39;anapali, to me, is the best. I%26#39;ve dived in all three areas, but only park my carcass on Ka%26#39;anapali Beach. I know others will tell you more about the others...

Maui Resort Area Question

I don%26#39;t think I would go to the Grand Wailea unless I had children. It is fun place for families, but a bit loud for grown-ups.

The beach there is incredible, with great snorkling.

The Four Seasons is on the same beach, is roughly the same price (if not less) and has better service and atmosphere for adults.

The Fairmont Kea Lani is about 1/2 mile south. The beach is not quite as nice, but it is a shorter drive to some great areas to the south.

I think the issue is whether or not you have kids, and whether or not you want to be near the activities of Lahaina.

Which resort has the best beach in the Kanapali area? Which resort has the best beach in the Lahaina area?

Lahaina-very little beach.

Ka%26#39;anapali, I would go with the Sheraton, simply because it%26#39;s so close to Black Rock-great snorkeling/scuba around that! We stay up the beach at the Westin Ka%26#39;anapali Villas-we own a piece of paradise there. Westin%26#39;s good, if you like the heavenly beds.

How about Wailea? Which resort has the best beach there? How does it compare to Kaanapali?

Wailea is actually one beach. There are about three hotels on that beach, including Four Seasons and Grand Wailea. Snorkling off that beach is incredible. In the past week, we routinely saw snorkling cruises park just off the beach.

Generally, Four Seasons is more for adults and Grand Wailea is more for children. GW has incredible swimming pools, while FS has great beach service.

Is the ocean water calm down by Wailea?

In the morning the waters off Wailea are very calm. In the afternoon the winds pick up a bit as do the waves. If you like boogie boarding or body surfing, it is probably not the best place. The waves last week really were not big enough to do either. It was very comfortable to swim. I also would not recommend afternoon snorkling as the waves toss the sand up a bit. Snorkling in the morning is pretty amazing (at the Four Seasons end of the beach).

Which of the Wailea resorts has the nicest stretch of beach?

The best snorkeling is off of the Four Seasons, and then extending to the south off a reef.

The beach itself is pretty much the same from one end to the other.

The FS advantage of course is the service. If you are a FS guest, they address you by name, make sure you have fresh ice water, and walk around a few times a day with fresh fruit (twice a day I believe) and with an Evian mist and cool faces towels (every hour or two).

At the same time, if you have children, the Grand Wailea has far superior swimming pools. It is not even close on that one.