Will be staying here this September. http://www.astonhotels.com/aston/propertyOverview.do?propertyGroupId=45474 Also, anyone ever eaten at Duke's Beach House? Good? Thanks!
Long story short....my wife's cousin has a very successful condo cleaning business in Maui. This is one of his accounts. He's gonna get us the "family" rate.
I'd recommend this place: http://www.grandwailea.com/ I lived near it for 6 years, on the southwest coast of Maui. If you stay up on the northwest coast (like Kaanapali, the resort you posted about), there's like one road that gets you to the rest of the island, and that road is sometimes blocked by wild fire, landslides, etc. There are many condo type rentals right on the beach front in the southwest as well. If you're doing the condo thing, you may well be using the kitchen, and access to places to stock up the kitchen are more limited near Kaanapali. If golf is your thing, there are about 6 pretty awesome courses near Kaanapali and 13 on the rest of the island.
Make the 3 mile drive to Lahaina for dinner. These are all places we ate at and enjoyed enough that we'll re-visit next time. http://www.warrenandannabelles.com/ (awesome food and great magic/comedy acts) resv http://www.restauranteur.com/io/ (beachside, great food) http://www.coolcatcafe.com/ (great lunch spot to people-watch) http://www.feastatlele.com/ (beachside luau) resv http://www.kobesteakhouse.com/ (fun place, good food) http://maui-swisscafe.com/ (internet cafe for posting to make us jealous) Sunrise Cafe (hole in the wall, but good cheap breakfast spot off Front St.) The only place I wouldn't recommend was Bubba Gump's Shrimp Co., which was crowded, slow, and bland.
I also would recommend Lahaina Grill and Mama's Fish House. This place has great views The Plantation House Restaurant.
Do you need any more feedback? I go to Maui every other year for the last 10 years so I am pretty familar with it. I know the poster mentioned that the road gets closed form a wildfire, I have never seen that while I was there, but since he lived there it obviously is true.
The more the merrier. I believe we have our accommodations set. I guess just looking for feedback regarding favorite restaurants and/or entertainment. Thanks!
http://www.mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/531153.html In the 6 years I lived there, the road was closed probably 6 times. It is one lane in each direction, so if there's a bad traffic accident, it'll be closed for an hour or two sometimes as well. There is a road that goes around the north side of the island and into the business district (where all the big stores are), but it's one lane period, and you're not supposed to drive a rental car on that road (it says so on the maps you get from Avis, etc.). If you drive that road and come face to face with another car, one of you has to back up until theres a wide enough space for the other to pass. It's a GORGEOUS drive, though. If the road gets closed on the day your flight leaves, you will miss the flight - the airport is in that business district I mentioned earlier. Mama's fish house is on the opposite (the north/east) side of the island from Kaanapali. The food is great, but I remember the portions were kind of small. The real draw for Mamas is that's the north shore of the island and there are 15'-30' waves where the pro surfers and sail borders do their thing. "Up country" (on the side of the volcano) is a town called Makawao. It reminds me of an old west town - the sidewalks are made of wood, hitching posts for horses (there are a lot of horses up there). The Makawao Steak House is highly recommended.
"Boss, bunch of fires here. The only road to the airport has been closed. Appears I'm gonna have to stay an extra day....or, until they can get things under control. Sorry." Yep, that oughta do it.
Your going to have a blast. I've always loved Maui, so relaxing. I think next time I go I want to plan it around a Thanksgiving trip so I can see the Maui Invitational.
