Sugar Beach Resort, any thoughts???

My friend and I are going to Maui in October. We have booked an 1 Bed Ocean Front room. I have been reading some bad reviews about this condo, and now I am having mixed feelings. I stayed there about 20 years ago, and it was really nice back then. However, I am sure things have changed quite a bit. Is it really that bad??

Sugar Beach Resort, any thoughts???

No,it is not bad. We just got back last week from a 10 night stay at Sugar Beach Resort. We have been twice in the last year. Also had an Ocean Front Room and the view/proximity to the beach is outstanding. The ground are nice, pool/jacuzzi are very clean and well maintained. I love taking long walks on Sugar Beach. That being said - this is not a luxury property. Our units both times have had a musty smell which I couldn%26#39;t get rid of with air freshener. Also, there was some kind of ventilation problem by which the ceiling in the bathroom stayed quite wet (to the point of dripping). I don%26#39;t like Sugar Beach for swimming or snorkeling, but there are great beaches in close proximity by car that we went to everyday. It is a nice place, but some units are better than others since they are individually owned.

Sugar Beach Resort, any thoughts???

Musty smell? Wet ceiling? Not good swimming or snorkeling ?

If this is a place that you LIKE, don%26#39;t tell me about the places you don%26#39;t like.

We stayed at Sugar Beach Resort January %26#39;06 and will be staying there again this coming February. We love it there. The grounds and pool are very well kept. The beach is great. We loved to go for long walks each morning on the long stretch of beach. This was the main reason for staying here. In past years we have stayed at other condos where the beach was not good for walking and drove to Sugar Beach just to walk. We found the water was OK for a quick ';cool off'; swim but went to other beaches where the water is clearer to snorkel. However, we did see people who were snorkeling and swimming daily.

Our condo was good. A bit dated but clean and no musty smell or bathroom problems.

Met lots of friendly people down at the BBQs in the evening.

Enjoy your stay.

I think you will be disappointed. There are much newer and nicer places in South Kihei/Wailea. The area from Maalea south to where the Kamaole Beach Parks start in Kihei is ';budget'; to me. Although that isn%26#39;t always reflected in the prices, it should be!

Have you looked at renting direct from a condo owner via vrbo? If you want oceanfront, try: Hale Pau Hana, Mana Kai, Kihei Surfside. For close ocean view, try: Maui Kamaole, Hale Kamaole, Kamaole Sands. Wailea offers condos at Wailea Ekahi (oceanfront).

I%26#39;m not a huge fan of north Kihei but it is a great way to get oceanfront on a budget. You will basically pay about the same rate for oceanfront in north Kihei as you will for mauka side in south Kihei. IMHO, the Sugar Beach Resort is a more attractive and complete complex than most anything else on the north Kihei oceanfront but it generally costs a fair bit more because of this. Not too crazy about the swamp across the street but at least the stink and bugs from there are seasonal and very dependant on the prevailing winds. I agree that the beach there is acceptable for dipping and excellent for a nice long walk (in the morning), however, I like the Kihei bookend south walk from the Kama%26#39;ole beach parks past the boat launch and down Keawakapu Beach every bit as much

The SBR is an older complex so the usual advice about being sure that you%26#39;re getting a newly renovated unit applies. Like others have often said, each unit is individually owned and so any given condo is only as good as it%26#39;s particular owner is willing to keep it. Vacation Rental Management companies do more to mask inadequacies than minimize them but you may be able to switch if you are unhappy with the unit they give you, especially during low season. During high season, howver, you%26#39;ll probably be just as stuck as you%26#39;d be renting direct.