I wanted to stay at least another week
Written: Feb 27 '06
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Beautiful scenery, happy faces, comfy beds
Cons: beach rentals were overpriced
The Bottom Line: Comfort and the beauty of the islands all in one package. Lots of activity if you choose or you could sit on the beach and do nothing all day!
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| protonsmom's Full Review: Sheraton Maui Resort |
My family just came home from a 6 night stay at the Sheraton Maui that I had booked almost a year ago on Expedia.com. We went there not knowing what to expect and being blown away by almost every aspect of the hotel.
The check in process was easy and they offered us a free upgrade to our rooms. We had originally booked 2 "garden view" rooms and they gave us two "ocean view". I think this upgrade changed our trip in a major way. I looked and hte garden view rooms really were more of a tennis court/street view and nothing like what he ended up with. From our balconies we could see whales jumping, it was amazing.
The rooms were large and very comfortable. We had 2 double beds that were so soft and fluffy. I have never been to a hotel with such comfy bedding. Each room came with a nice mini fridge hidden in the dresser, free high speed internet (bring your own laptop), tv, phone, coffee maker, and a tropical but serene decor. We had a roomy balcony with two chairs and a table for sitting and reading the Maui News that they brought to the door every morning. Roomy closet contained a safe that was free to use as well as a couple of nice bathrobes. My only complaint about the roooms is that the walls are thin, we could hear the tv from the room next door and could even hear people sneeze. Not a big deal, just a older hotel.
The bathroom fixtures were dated but worked. Hot water was almost instant and close to scalding if you were not careful. Pipes groaned a little after a shower and my parents toilet got backed up but was fixed immediatly by the staff. More soft fluffy towels than you ever would need and good lighting in the bathrooms.
There are plenty of activities at the hotel to keep you and your family busy. Our favorite was the morning koi pond fish feeding. At 10am you can grab some cups of fish food and go feed the friendly koi fish. The hotel also offers yoga and aqua classes free of charge a few times a week.
The pool was not heated and a little cool for my liking but it is a beautiful place to just hang out with a drink and a good book. Tons of deck chairs and helpful staff to bring you anything you might desire. The pool meanders throughout the property with little rivers and inlets, even a small slide. There is a kids pool seperate from the adults if you are looking for quiet kid free floating.
20 feet from the pool is the white sandy beach of Kaanapali. You can rent cabanas out there or just borrow a towel and a deck chair. The water here was warm and there is a protected cove area great for snorkeling. I recommend bringing your own snorkeling equipment or buying some from a local store since the hotel's rental fees were high. $8 for a hour or $20 a day. You can buy the goggles, snorkel and flippers for that $20 and have them for your entire vacation if you go to a local shop. This snorkel spot is famous for it's turtle encounters and is good for beginners.
Poolside bars offered snacks and tropical drinks. Also there is a building to go rent anything you need for the pool such as blow up innertubes, etc. Towels are free to use.
We did not eat at any of the hotel restaurants mainly because of their pricing. The breakfast buffet was $23 per person and did not look worth it. Most lunches and breakfasts would run you over $25 per person and dinners were in the $40 range. A 7 minute walk down the beach path gets you to Whaler's Village where there were many dining options as well as stores where you could buy things to stock your in room fridge. The city of Lahaina is a 10 minute drive south and you can spend days there roaming the shops and restaurants, also there is a harbor there to catch a whale watch boat or whatever you want. We went fishing one day and snorkeling another.
There is a reasonable spa near the pool with all the services you would expect. They also have a hair and nail salon there. A hour massage would run you about $110 + tip.
My mother is in a wheelchair and we found that everything at this resort was easy to roll her to. Also the staff was super helpful with her and everything we asked for was taken care of right away. Smiles on all the staff and friendly Alohas all the time.
There is a $17 per day "resort fee" which they say covers the use of towels, bathrobes, and the internet services. I personally think this should just be absorbed in the daily room costs. Also valet parking is $5 per day plus whatever tips you give them. This is all charged to your account at the end of your stay.
Every night near sunset there is a man dressed in old Hawaiian gear who runs through the property lighting the tiki torches. He ends up at the end of the black lava rock cliffs and dives into the water. This is a tradition for this hotel and people go out to watch every night.
On Wednesday nights they have a Luau on the lawn with food and entertainment. It is $80 per adult. We ran out of time and did not make it to the show but I have heard it is great.
Check out was painless and quick and we were on our way withing moments of me calling the bellman for help with our luggage.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
protonsmom
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Member: Cheri
Location: California
Reviews written: 55
Trusted by: 3 members
About Me:
Part time personal assistant, part time housewife, animal lover, automotive fanatic.
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