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Hotels Overview

Maui's accommodations come in three sizes: small, medium, and gargantuan. Small B&Bs are personal and charming -- often a few rooms or a cottage beside the owner's own home. They open a window into authentic island life. Medium-size condominiums are less personal (you won't see the owner out trimming the bougainvillaea) but highly functional -- great for longer stays or families who want no-fuss digs. The resorts are out of this world. They do their best to improve on nature, trying to re-create what is beautiful about Maui. And their best is pretty amazing. Opulent gardens, fantasy swimming pools with slides (some with swim-up bars), waterfalls, spas, and championship golf courses make it hard to work up the willpower to leave the resort and go see the real thing.

Resorts

The resorts are clustered along the leeward (west and south) shores, meaning they are hot and sunny in summer and hot and sunny in winter (with periodic downpours). Ka'anapali (in West Maui), the grande dame, is the original resort community and has the most action, feeding off the old whaler's haunt, Lahaina town. Kapalua, farther north, is more private and serene, and catches a bit more wind and rain. On the South Shore, posh Wailea has excellent beaches and designer golf courses, each with a distinct personality.

If you're willing to compromise on luxury, you can find convenient condos on the West Side (in Napili or Kahana) or on the South Shore (in Kihei). Many are oceanfront and offer the amenities of a hotel suite without the cost. Furnishings can be a little scruffy, however, and rarely do condos have central air-conditioning -- something to consider if you aren't used to sleeping in humidity.

B&Bs and Vacation Rentals

Most of the accommodations Upcountry and in Hana are B&Bs or vacation rentals. Few offer breakfast, but most deliver ample seclusion and a countryside experience. If you're booking off the Internet, it pays to fact-check. Questions to ask before making the deposit: how far from the airport/beach/shops is it? Will I have a private bathroom and kitchen? Are there a phone and TV in the room?

Apartment Rentals

Along with the condos listed in this chapter, which operate like hotels and offer hotel-like amenities, Maui has condos you can rent through central booking agents. Most agents represent more than one condo complex (some handle single-family homes as well), so be specific about what kind of price, space, facilities, and amenities you want. The following are multiproperty agents: Destination Resorts (3750 Wailea Alanui Dr., Wailea, 96753. 800/367-5246. www.drhmaui.com); Maui Windsurfari (425 Koloa St., Kahului, 96732. 808/871-7766 or 800/736-6284. www.windsurfari.com).