Son's wedding, condo vs. hotel/resort package

Hi,

I%26#39;ve been looking at condo%26#39;s vs. hotel/resort and reading many reviews. I think my DH and I would like to stay at a condo, however son %26amp; bride and bride%26#39;s parents are seriously thinking about staying at the Hyatt and they are looking at package deals on airfare, hotel, car etc. like Apple vacations and others. I have never been to Maui and have no idea what%26#39;s the smartest way to do this. We are not really into crowds and glitz, which is why I am shying away from the Hyatt and maybe more towards the north end of the island in a condo. I would love an ocean view (whale watching) or an awesome mountain view and a decent, clean place with a/c, privacy, uncrowded pool (if there is such an animal in Jan) and some perks since this is a special occasion for us too. Personally, I%26#39;d like to stay on some remote part of the island for the nature and beauty but we need to stay fairly close to the ';kids'; for the wedding and all the other fun things and not fight traffic all day.

From what I%26#39;ve read it sounds like the Mahana has great ocean views (we don%26#39;t care about a great beach right in front) but all rooms are rented for that week, except for a few b/o. (sorry this post is getting long).

Are we better off just staying at the Hyatt to make things simple for the wedding plans, etc (and if there is a good vacation package deal) or trying to find a place we%26#39;d probably be happier with which may not be a package and a bigger expense all around?

Part of my problem in trying to do comparisons is that the vacation-package deals aren%26#39;t posting prices for %26#39;07 yet, so no one has reserved/booked anything except the wedding ceremony. I%26#39;m starting to beat my head against the wall and time/availability is getting short.

Any good advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Son's wedding, condo vs. hotel/resort package

Try the Kahana or Napali area. They are less gltzy and still fairly close. I thought you could find package deals with condo%26#39;s. Have you tried Pleasant Hawaiian holidays?

Son's wedding, condo vs. hotel/resort package

edybars,

We have stayed at the Mahana 3x and love it there for the same reasons that it appears you would like. We do for location but mostly for the oceanfront views. Even though we(like most) don%26#39;t spend much time there it is still nice for oceanfront!! The 1st time we booked through a T/A an they put us in the Royal Kahana and(IMO) there is no comparison to the Mahana. Also, we book each portion of our trip separately ourselves. We are going again in October for 2 weeks at the Mahana. I would check the few remaining at the Mahana and make sure you get current pictures just in case the room has not been recently remodeled. If you have more questions please ask.

Ah, yes, the role of Mother of the Groom: Smile, smile and smile some more (silently, of course).

If I were the to-be-weds or newlyweds, I%26#39;d much prefer to stay somewhere other than where all the parents are staying. However, if your son and his fiancee want ';one big happy family';, I%26#39;d go along with it and stay where they want you to stay.

How long will you be on Maui? Could you beat a retreat after the reception to the condo of your choice? You need to be in West Maui for the festivities, but after that you could head for the quieter, less windy and rainy South Maui.

In any case, time is really short. Our condo is regularly rented a year in advance from Christmas to the end of March.

BTW, I have never found any travel company prices to beat what I could book on my own; plus, I like to know exactly where I will be staying, not be at the mercy of an agency%26#39;s assignment to whatever space is available.

Aloha!

You might look at the ResortQuest Maui Kaanapali Villas. This is a MODEST, clean, and PEACEFUL place. They have some really cute ';OceanSide'; units right down by the beach. The Maui Kaanapali Villas has a NICE beach, but is not on the ';strip'; with the Hyatt or Westin. Hence, it is more quiet. I would seriously look at a package deal with car, air, condo, and travel insurance included. There are many wholesalers out there that can put such a package together. One more thing, the Kaanapali Villas has a restaurant on site as well as a little sundry store so you get the ';perks'; of a hotel in a way, and there is daily maid service if you rent through ResortQuest.

Bryan Brown

BBrown9825@aol.com

Thanks for all your responses.

Shantybob - I haven%26#39;t looked into Pleasant holidays but have checked classicvacations, greathawaiianvacations, and a couple others besides orbitz, expedia, etc.

I will check out pleasant holidays and I have started looking at the napili and kapula end and also on vbro.com (which is kind of scary to me, never rented from an owner - well once in FL, but it was family).

Rangermax - It was probably some of your prior posts, along with others, that influenced me on the Mahana. I felt it would still be close to the others, yet away from all the hustle and bustle (or at least I hope) AND we could get an oceanview for the price of a nothingview at the Hyatt. Only bookit shows a vacancy for that week, while the others (expedia,etc) all show completely booked - is it possible for one agency to have openings? Does each agency (by agency I mean travelocity and the likes) get specific rooms and condos or just a certain amount and type of room/condo? I am totally new at this and hate to admit that I have never traveled out of the states (mainland states). Since it is the first time (and for all I know the only time) I would love to make the most of it!

Thanks again:)

Thanks Hawaiian breezes,

I will also check out the Villas as I did see a few posts with regards to them also. The package vs. on your own dilemma still persists, which is why I am posting and asking questions. There seems to be a difference of opinion at this forum too with both ways have their pluses and minuses, and I%26#39;m glad to be getting all the different feedback from all of you.

thank you.

I will also check out the Villas as I did see a few posts with regards to them also. The package vs. on your own dilemma still persists, which is why I am posting and asking questions. There seems to be a difference of opinion at this forum too with both ways have their pluses and minuses, and I%26#39;m glad to be getting all the different feedback from all of you.

Aloha!

Being the mother of groom, I am sure you have enought to worry about. In my opinion, this might be one of those occassions where you book a package so that there is less to do and worry about.

Bryan Brown

BBrown9825@aol.com

Mrs. S%26#39;s mother of the groom mantra, wear whatever color they tell you, smile sweetly and say nothing. Enjoy .

I%26#39;m not the best person to ask about West Maui, being a South Maui fan! I only suggested S. Maui to you if you would have post-wedding time to get away and enjoy something quieter.

DH and I own at Maui Kamaole in S. Kihei. It, and many condo complexes are what you said you wished for: all the things a resort hotel offers except room service -- and four times the space, and a second bathroom. I also imagine your DH will be playing a course in S. Maui if January weather is its usual windy self in W. Maui.

Have you shopped air fares? Have you looked at vrbo or similar sites to see what you can get direct from an owner?

Is there some compelling reason your DIL-to-be wants to be married in W. Maui (in January)? In general, all the islands have better winter weather in their southern parts. For instance, Kauai%26#39;s Poipu Beach is lovely then, while Princeville in the north is windy and rainy. Last winter Kauai and Oahu had unusually fierce rain that flooded out northern parts of those islands.

I know, I know. Silence is Golden. At least this sounds like an indoor ceremony -- no bride knocked off her feet by a rogue wave!

Where in WI are you? I have a dear friend in Green Bay.

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