Which resort do you recommend in Maui?

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

There are two resorts in Maui for Worldmark/Trendwest. There is the WorldMark Valley Isle in Lahaina and the WorldMark Kihei in Kihei on the island of Maui.

If you had a choice, where would you rather be staying at in Maui for four people? I am reading some of the owner comments here and here but people have opposite opinions so what do you recommend?

This information is for friends of ours who own many points with the Trendwest/Worldmark system. They have never been to Maui yet and asked us for our opinion. I will forward them this link with your recommendations.

TIA.

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

I have visited both resorts, but I haven't stayed at either yet. I prefer the Kahana part of the island over Kihei. And, the views are better at the Valley Isle. I hear that there is no air conditioning at Valley Isle, though.

I'd probably stay at Kihei only because I've never stayed over on that side of the island.

[StressCadet Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close StressCadet]

Hey Emmy,
Do they belong to II and how many are traveling and when? I ask because exchanging with WM in II is easy and if they are willing to put up the same amount of credits...actually maybe even less...they could request any Maui resort in II. If they only need a studio or 1bd-I know some WM owners have received the Westin and Marriott in lesser seasons very easy. Something to consider.
That said...you know Kihei....I do like the Kahana area as well. I have not seen the Kihei resort but have seen Valley Isle. No a/c as Boca mentions and really not much to write home about-just my opinion. Others may love it.

Opps...just read four people. Are they looking for 1bd or 2bd?

I can't get into the durn WM website right now-but I bet a one week stay is at least 10,000 credits probably more like 12,000 with WM....10,000 put up in II will get you a 2bd plus exchange fee and HK token or cash and you can request first-it won't debit your credits until you have a match. I like WM-but I have been more than pleased with my exchanges to "better" properties as well.
Again, just a thought.
Good luck to them.

[odaddy Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close odaddy]

We stayed at Kihei May 2006, across from the beach, we really liked kihei, but I agree, it mostly comes down to which part of the island you want to be. I know certain valley isle units are ocean front. You could always do a split stay, and spend half the week at each place!

[LisaH Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close LisaH]

It depends on which part of island you want to stay and if ocean location is important to you. Valley Isle units are older but it's on the beach, whereas Kihei resort is across the street from a beach but the beach is a pretty good one (Kam III?). I would prefer staying at the Kihei resort because of better quality.

[kapish Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close kapish]

Research WM >>> then stay at a non-WM resort!

Choose Valley Isle if:

• You want to be just few minutes from Lahaina, Kaanapali, etc.
• You don't mind the beach near you is NOT swimmable
• You don't mind an older complex

Choose Kehei if:

• You want to be at the quieter, 'family friendly' part of the island
• You enjoy walking to a beautiful, sandy, Kamalole Beach for quiet sunsets and family get togethers

The other option is to work with one of these exchange companies such as Hawaii Timeshare Exchanges (HTSE), Interval International (II), RCI, SFX, or DAE to go to nicer resorts in Maui such as

• Sunterra resort in Maui (near Kaanapali) (II)
• Marriott's Maui Ocean Club (II)
• Westin Kaanapali (II)

For the same amount of credits you spend to stay at a WorldMark resort, you get to stay at one of these fine, "World Class" resorts on Maui. That would be my recommendation.

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

Lisa, it is for our friends. I don't think that they even know that they can exchange to other resorts too but I will mention it and hope not to confuse them.

They seem to visit WorldMark resorts often as I hear them talking about it. I don't know if they belong to II or RCI but will ask them. They mentioned the two resorts in Maui and asked if we knew which one was better to stay at. We drive by the Kihei one often but have never been inside and we don't know where the other one is. I guess it depends where they can find room. How expensive is it for them to make an exchange?

More suggestions are welcome.

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

Choose Valley Isle if:

• You want to be just few minutes from Lahaina, Kaanapali, etc.
• You don't mind the beach near you is NOT swimmable
• You don't mind an older complex

Choose Kehei if:

• You want to be at the quieter, 'family friendly' part of the island
• You enjoy walking to a beautiful, sandy, Kamalole Beach for quiet sunsets and family get togethers

The other option is to work with one of these exchange companies such as Hawaii Timeshare Exchanges (HTSE), Interval International (II), RCI, SFX, or DAE to go to nicer resorts in Maui such as

• Sunterra resort in Maui (near Kaanapali) (II)
• Marriott's Maui Ocean Club (II)
• Westin Kaanapali (II)

For the same amount of credits you spend to stay at a WorldMark resort, you get to stay at one of these fine, "World Class" resorts on Maui. That would be my recommendation.

Thank you so much and I will copy this and send it to them.

[kapish Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close kapish]

Emmy, you are welcome. Here is a link to a thread where Sean (odaddy) had posted pictures of the Marriott and Sunterra resorts.

Reviews and pictures of WorldMark resorts are available at WorldMark Owners Community site.
WorldMark Owners Community - WorldMark Kihei (Maui) - Resort Information | WorldMark Owners Community - WorldMark Valley Isle (Maui) - Resort Information

[mshatty Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close mshatty]

Emmy,

A couple more exchange companies for your friends to consider if they are willing to go the exchange route are Trading Places International and Trading Places Maui.

[cbcjs Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close cbcjs]

I'd avoid Kihei

It is the "inner city" of Maui.

Lahaina would be my bet. Stayed at Westin Kaanapali and would highly
recommend that resort.