If you are booking a Maui vacation, one of your first questions is likely where to stay in Maui. Not only are there many amazing hotels in Maui, you also need to decide which area to stay in on Maui. For all the information you will need to decide on the best Maui hotel and where to stay in Maui, keep reading for detailed descriptions of each area.
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Where to Stay in Maui: Lahaina Hotels
Lahaina is considered West Maui, and it is known for its beautiful beaches, quaint downtown area and the resorts located in Kaanapali (an area of Lahaina). Lahaina is a great option if you’re looking to stay in a beautiful resort, enjoy gorgeous weather and check out Lahaina town’s many restaurants and shopping areas.
Best Lahaina Hotels for Families
There are a number of excellent hotels in Lahaina and Kaanapali that have facilities for children and families. There is no ’right’ answer regarding the best hotel, but there are subtle differences to the hotels that may make one a best choice for your family. Below, I list the best Lahaina hotels for families, with a brief description about their most important features.
Where to Stay in Maui: Honua Kai
Honua Kai is technically a luxury condo complex, but it’s excellent for families for a number of reasons: there are condos with multiple rooms for larger families, the complex has numerous pools and includes a water slide, each condo has a kitchen where you can cook food at home and there is also a bbq area near the pools where you can enjoy a family bbq while swimming and watching the sunset. I personally stayed at Honua Kai for several months with my family, and our kids loved it.
Where to Stay in Maui: The Westin
The Westin is another excellent choice for families visiting Maui, and it includes multiple pools, on-site restaurants, easy beach access (it’s literally a one-minute walk) and a front-row view of whales during whale season (December to April). The Westin is especially appealing for families with young children, as it has a specialized kids pool with shallow areas, a slide and a rock area.
Where to Stay in Maui: The Sheraton
If you’re looking for a hotel that is a good fit for families and close to some of Maui’s best beaches, the Sheraton is a great option. It is walking distance from Black Rock Beach, which boasts crystal clear water and the famous black rock, which you can climb up and jump off of into the ocean. Black Rock Beach generally has very easy water conditions for kids and is walking distance from several other Lahaina hotels, giving you multiple food and drink options. It’s also one of the best places to snorkel in Maui.
Where to Stay in Maui: Why Stay in Lahaina?
Lahaina is a beautiful town and also home to the Kaanapali Beachfront, where all of the above hotels are located. It’s worth noting that the above hotels sit on the Kaanapali boardwalk, which is a lovely walking area that runs along the ocean. It’s a great place for people-watching, and there are also several restaurants and bars located in this area within walking distance, such a Duke’s, which is a well-know Hawaiian restaurant. If you enjoy going on a run or walk while on vacation, this is a great place to do so. For more great activity options, check out this guide on the best things to do in Maui.
Kaanapali Beaches
If you are interested in visiting great local beaches without going far from your hotel or renting a car, this is a great area to do so. Both Honua Kai and The Westin sit directly across from Kaanapali Beach, and you can be on the beach in about one minute after you leave your hotel room. If you are looking to snorkel or see a slightly different beach, Lahaina’s Airport Beach is about a 10-minute walk from the Kaanapali hotels along the boardwalk, and it’s a beautiful place to snorkel during the day or watch the sunset in the evening.
Kaanapali Shopping Options
If you are interested in doing some shopping while in Maui, Lahaina’s hotels in Kaanapali are a great option, because they are very close to shopping at Whaler’s Village. If you are looking for a shopping area that includes restaurants and a mix of high-end and low-end shopping, Whaler’s Village is a great place to find both. Whaler’s Village is about a 20-minute walk or 5-minute drive from the Kaanapali hotels, and it offers a variety of shopping and eating options. In addition to being able to pick up most things you might need at one of Maui’s shopping options, you can also check out this Maui packing list for all the recommended essentials.
Where to Stay in Maui: Kihei Hotels
All of the above properties are located in Lahaina, but it’s now time to turn to Maui’s other most-popular area for hotels: Kihei and Wailea. Wailea is a small subdivision of Kihei where many of Maui’s most beautiful resorts are located, and it’s also home to the Wailea boardwalk where you can walk between hotels while enjoying sweeping ocean views.
Like Lahaina, Kihei is one of Maui’s main residential areas and features a number of restaurants, bars and activities for couples, families and individual travelers. While Kihei town is where the action’s at, Wailea is where the resorts are – making it a great option if you want a mix of city options and all-inclusive hotels.
Where to Stay in Maui: The Grand Wailea
The Grand Wailea is an incredible resort with beautiful pool options, direct ocean access and one of Maui’s most famous luaus. If you’re looking to pick a resort that you stay at for most of your trip to rest and relax, the Grand Wailea is a great option.
Where to Stay in Maui: The Andaz
The Andaz is a very modern hotel that has a breathtaking pool area where you can also see the ocean and watch whale during whale season (December to April). If you’re looking for a hip, modern hotel, the Andaz is a great option – it has everything from a sand zen garden to a koi pond and modern architecture. In other words: it’s where the cool kids and instagram influencers go, and once you’re there you can see why.
Where to Stay in Maui: Fairmont Kea Lani
The Fairmont is one of Wailea’s most beautiful and unique hotels, with sweeping all-white architecture that sits directly across from the beach. It’s a beautiful, luxury experience and another great option if you’re looking for a luxury resort that has everything you need to enjoy a relaxing vacation.
Where to Stay in Maui: Why Stay in Kihei/Wailea?
If you want beauty, luxury and incredible resorts, Wailea is the place for you. Realistically, you will have a great Maui vacation at any of the hotels listed in this article, but Wailea is by far the fanciest area of Maui and is the best option if you’re looking for an all-inclusive resort experience and plan to mostly stay at the resort during your vacation.
Things to Do in Kihei/Wailea
There are many food and drink options and great restaurants in Kihei (minutes from Wailea), as well as high-end shopping at the Shops at Wailea. There are also beautiful beaches, places to snorkel and scuba dive, and more in the Kihei/Wailea area.
Where to Stay in Maui: Lahaina or Kihei/Wailea
If I had to boil down the decision to stay in Lahaina or Kihei/Wailea in one sentence, I would say: Wailea is better for luxury resorts where you plan to stay in the resort for most of your trip, and Lahaina is better for beautiful hotels that are close to bustling town that has more nightlife, restaurant and activity options. I have lived in both Lahaina and Wailea, and I found that tourists in Lahaina tend to leave their hotels more and go explore the island or eat at local restaurants, whereas tourists in Wailea tend to stay in the resorts and enjoy all of their facilities rather than going out in Kihei or elsewhere on Maui.
I hope this helped you decide where to stay in Maui and gave you a better understanding of Maui hotels – if you have any questions or want to share about your experience at a Maui hotel please let me know in the comments!