Author Topic: Maui Master Thread (Read 1722055 times)

skyguy918 · « **Reply #560 on:** January 20, 2014, 10:52:37 AM »

Quote from: Elgnt on January 19, 2014, 10:01:11 PM

Im going to kauai from sunday to friday. Trying to figure out what to do that shabbos. I plan on going to molokai on sunday or Monday and then big island from there on wednesday. Flights to molokai are only from HNL of Ogg or ferry from Maui. So I can either stay in kauai for shabbos and fly to mkk with stop over in hnl or go to hnl for shabbos and fly direct to mkk on sunday. Or go to ogg for shabbos and fly or take ferry to mkk

HNL is the only place you'll for sure have a minyan and full Shabbos meals available for purchase, not to mention within close range of many hotel options. If that's important to you, HNL is the way to go.

gavhaller · « **Reply #561 on:** January 20, 2014, 03:26:05 PM »

Hey guys I'm still here at the Andaz in Maui. I was here for the past couple of days including shabbos. I'll get around to writing a TR very shortly. Just so busy lately

sky121 · « **Reply #562 on:** January 20, 2014, 06:20:25 PM »

Quote from: gavhaller on January 20, 2014, 03:26:05 PM

Hey guys I'm still here at the Andaz in Maui. I was here for the past couple of days including shabbos. I'll get around to writing a TR very shortly. Just so busy lately

Hope you are enjoying! Don't forget pics

marko · « **Reply #563 on:** January 20, 2014, 06:52:20 PM »

Quote from: gavhaller on January 20, 2014, 03:26:05 PM

Hey guys I'm still here at the Andaz in Maui. I was here for the past couple of days including shabbos. I'll get around to writing a TR very shortly. Just so busy lately

Great. Looking forward to some insights into Andaz. I will be going there in a few months

daganster · « **Reply #564 on:** January 20, 2014, 07:51:44 PM »

Quote from: Dan on January 19, 2014, 07:52:00 PM

Why in the world do you need to get a place in Kaanapali?

Dan, can you please elaborate? Why get a place in Kaanapali as opposed to what? Maui revealed actually says that the nicest beaches are in the Kaanapali area and/or south Kihei. He says that there are more kid activities in the Kaanapali area. So back to my original question why not Kaanapali? Another thing is I may end up spending a lot of time in condo/resort, so I refer a nice place for the kids. Again, I appreciate your help, but I need to understand why not Kaanapali, and where to go instead.

Dan · « **Reply #565 on:** January 20, 2014, 07:57:36 PM »

Stop worrying about the area, everywhere on the west coast of Maui is perfectly fine. As I said in the Maui guide, our family rented a condo in Kihei and it was great.

Find a place with nice pics and a good price and stop sweating it.

daganster · « **Reply #566 on:** January 20, 2014, 08:00:48 PM »

Quote from: Dan on January 20, 2014, 07:57:36 PM

Stop worrying about the area, everywhere on the west coast of Maui is perfectly fine. As I said in the Maui guide, our family rented a condo in Kihei and it was great.
Find a place with nice pics and a good price and stop sweating it.

The only problem is that the $200 a night places don't look great, But I'm sure I'll find something

Dan · « **Reply #567 on:** January 20, 2014, 08:02:29 PM »

Then you're not looking or negotiating hard enough.

daganster · « **Reply #568 on:** January 20, 2014, 08:08:28 PM »

Quote from: Dan on January 20, 2014, 08:02:29 PM

Then you're not looking or negotiating hard enough.

Maybe you're right. What do you think I should be paying for a 2bd a night?

EandN · « **Reply #569 on:** January 21, 2014, 12:48:03 AM »

enjoy the Andaz. Do they have anything arranged for electric room keys on Shabbos? Are they any keyed rooms? If not, are they amenable to opening up the room when you need to go in? thanks

green · « **Reply #570 on:** January 21, 2014, 03:17:20 AM »

I stayed at the andaz in Maui in the beginning of this past December. It was amazing!!! They treat their guest like kings. Wtvr you need or want, they will give it to u gladly. Don't feel bad to ask for anything specially if your paying a lot.

mordy2005 · « **Reply #571 on:** January 21, 2014, 04:03:16 AM »

I'm going to Maui in feb
I want to know which spg to stay at the Westin hotel or the Sheraton

Dan · « **Reply #572 on:** January 24, 2014, 09:31:23 AM »

Quote from: green on January 21, 2014, 03:17:20 AM

I stayed at the andaz in Maui in the beginning of this past December. It was amazing!!! They treat their guest like kings. Wtvr you need or want, they will give it to u gladly. Don't feel bad to ask for anything specially if your paying a lot.

What's with shabbos there?
How much and what kind of automation and sensors are there.

So many people have stayed there already and not a single shabbos report

Ergel · « **Reply #573 on:** January 24, 2014, 09:37:42 AM »

Quote from: Dan on January 24, 2014, 09:31:23 AM

What's with shabbos there?
How much and what kind of automation and sensors are there.

So many people have stayed there already and not a single shabbos report

I guess we'll have to wait for yours

gavhaller · « **Reply #574 on:** January 25, 2014, 09:45:30 PM »

Hey guys! – My wife and I were in Maui for a week and we stayed at the Andaz in Wailea. I’m going to try and do a full TR and talk about the intricacies of the hotel that we liked, and the things that we didn’t like

(My wife and I NEVER go to hotels, especially since we just became DansFans just a short few months ago. So it really took a lot of paying attention to detail to talk about the issues that came up at the hotel)

I’m going to start off with the Andaz because it was kind of our first experience with Maui. We arrived Wednesday night 1/15 @ around 10pm. It was unbelievable who courteous the staff were when we arrived. They immediately helped with our luggage and were just really exceptional. My wife and I were astounded when we first walked in because of the gorgeous entry way, so our mouths were pretty much wide open as we made our way in. Even @ 10pm the valet’s were standing right by the entrance and talking to us.
-They gave us our leis (which were fresh and amazing!)
-They even asked to take pictures because they say it’s supposed to be an entire ceremony and momentous occasion. (Again, very, very courteous staff)

We walked in and were greeted by a staff member with an iPad – Jill (great hospitality) gave us a quick tour of the hotel facilities, brought us to our room and explained the light switched and the crazy modern technologies and zeh hu.

- We used hyatt points and fee nights which usually entitles you to the standard room unless you have some sort of suite upgrade thing. Originally we were in a garden room – after I booked it they upgraded us to a partial-ocean view. Then to surprise me, since it was my birthday when we landed, my wife called again and asked if another upgrade was possible since it was a honeymoon/birthday
- We were upgraded to a full-ocean view
THIS IS A MUST – THE VIEW IS OUTSTANDING

THE ROOM

The room is really cool and interesting – you won’t know how to use the lights if they don’t show you. Everything is operated electrically by panels. My wife and I had trouble getting used to all the switches, It took us around 15 minutes to learn where all the panels were and how to operate them. When we wanted to go to sleep, there was one light that we had no panel for. It took 30 minutes to find the switch which was located behind the light itself. LOL – why there is no panel for that specific light, I don’t know…

Shabbos was a little bit of an issue when it came to the room. First of all, the door is completely electronic – so either you leave the door open, or you have to bug the staff to open the door. (They totally do not mind)
The minibar has a light as well when you open the door. We tried to circumvent the problem by putting tape on the sensor but it didn’t work. Just know that you can’t open it on shabbos.
Also had an issue with the bathroom, as the bathroom has a motion sensor where the light underneath the cabinet turns on when you walk in. Regardless of what we placed in the doorway, or anywhere else by the entrance, the light ALWAYS TURNED ON. (P’sik reisha – I don’t know, ask your LOR.)
Other than that, when we wanted to go to sleep we foud a staff member and tried explaining to them in the most roundabout way ever that its way too light in our room

Stairs also have a problem with an automatic sensor for the light i believe. So when you ask the staff to let you in to the room, they took us right to the elevator and brought us to the room. Again - ask your LOR.

A great feature of the hotel is that they refill the minibar every day when they clean your room. Most of the stuff is complimentary except for the alcoholic drinks. So feel free to stock up on the free goodies because they keep on replacing them (Honest ade teas, seltzer, tonic water, pop chips, kind bars, and Virgil’s real cola)

There is also a nice feature that the front panel has when you walk in. It has a privacy button that when pressed, turns on a little red light on the outside of the door. This ENSURES that no staff member will knock on your door or disturb you when in your room. I’m pretty sure they won’t phone the room either in case of any needs.

The balcony (aka lanais) had a stunning and beautiful view from the entire room. (You can see the ocean from the bed and the shower is behind the bed with glass doors. So essentially if you have the shutters/screen/blackout shades open, you can enjoy a beautiful view while you shower. Each morning I opened the screen to the porch and enjoyed the most amazing sunrise. It truly is beautiful.

The bathroom is really modern and has a closet with safe and space for hanging things, there is a separate door for the toilet and an entryway for the shower, (Watch out, I stubbed my toe one too many times on the doorway – about a 4 inch ledge between the bathroom floor and the shower.) The shower is a rainfall shower and is nice, but the shower head in the ceiling is only a small square which might make it inconvenient to take a long hot shower – unless you are standing in one spot the whole time.
- We also had trouble with the hot water, sometimes it was hot and other times it was lukewarm.
Bathroom essentials replaced daily – Towels, soaps, shampoos, and really comfortable robes.

My wife and I had problems with the balcony – for some reason or another we had an ant problem (just on our balcony) we ate breakfast one morning on the porch and within minutes ants swarmed the dropped cheerios on the floor. We called the front desk and it took them 5 hours to come and spray the porch. Same issue happened the next day and they never came. = we complained and got 25,000 hyatt points. Yay!

The hotel can provide kosher food but arrangements need to be made at least 2 weeks in advance (or so they say). I believe they get it from the Chabad and they heat it up for you. You can also have your own food brought in and they can heat it up (DansMeals) – but they charge a fee, I believe its somewhere around $20 per meal – kinda expensive.
As mentioned by Dan earlier my wife and I rented a car and went to Mana foods, and safeway – we got sandwhiches, shmears, yogurts, cereals, and smart deli

We also brought prepackaged vacuum sealed deli from shoprite for shabbos – brought it in a freezer chest. We asked the hotel for a seperate fridge when we booked the reservation and it was there even before we checked in!

The hotel
The hotel is beautiful, 3 pools nice scenery, clean and pretty beach. We did not go to the main pools at all because there were a lot of little children and families there and it was a little loud and crowded. But they do have a few bars there and nice scenery and music.
We relaxed by the tranquility which is known as the “adult pool” – no kids allowed, very nice and calm. The second you walk to the pool, the pool attendant comes over and helps you get set up and offers you drink. Water w/ lemon is free of charge

- We had a problem with the pool that kinda bothers us. We went for a night swim (pool is open until 10pm) we got there by 7pm and nobody else was in sight. The pool is supposed to be heated and by 7:15pm it started to get cold already – that was really annoying and there were no staff around and I wasn’t walking around the hotel to go find somebody to complain to when I was soaking wet.

The beach is also nice, the sand it great and warm and clean. There are also attendants by the water waiting to set you up with chairs and towels. The beach staff also have activities such as (canoe rowing? I think) Again, family oriented.
Also, if you need activities to do, the front desk can be really helpful. They gave us a map and showed us all the great things that are MUST DOs on the island.

Amazing perk – they have a laundry room on the second floor that is free!! FREE!! FFFRRRREEEE!!! (self service only) so if you need to do a quick load or something for kids, its perfect. My wife and I live in a building in Queens with no washer/dryer, so we did our laundry before we left

There is a small shop/market that has some basic essentials and basic food items, but for everything else go to one of the stores listed above and they will most likely have everything. IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO RENT A CAR, the hotel has a special valet shuttle that will take you anywhere in Wailea for free. It usually transports you to the other hotels or to the nearby shopping center that has an ABC store and a mini mart – very overpriced.

Also be aware – it is like a $60 cab ride to the hotel from Kahalui Airport and the charge to park your car (only valet) is $30 I believe.
You can do what my wife and I did and only rent the car for the day you need it from the Hertz Wailea – Marriott edition and return it that night to the hertz parking lot. And get picked up and dropped off by the Andaz valet both ways.
Saving $30? Now were talking…

Hotel usually has kosher wine stocked in case you ask for it. With us they didn’t have so they went to get for us. They came back and told me it was $49 for a bottle of moscato. I said Noooo thank you. Luckily, the night before they had given us a bottle of champagne when we checked in as a gesture for our honeymoon – we brought it back to the front des and asked if we can switch it for something kosher. They did

- free moscato

Just remember – the staff are all really, super friendly. At first it’s really sweet and nice. It starts to get annoying. You don’t want random staff coming over to ask you how your day is going. Just my wife and I IMO, they start to seem really fake after a little… LOL

Attatched is a view from our balcony. Enjoy!

Dan · « **Reply #575 on:** January 25, 2014, 11:26:41 PM »

Hmm. Wonder if I should switch to the HR Maui for shabbos.

Something Fishy · « **Reply #576 on:** January 25, 2014, 11:33:21 PM »

Quote from: gavhaller on January 25, 2014, 09:45:30 PM

Hey guys! – My wife and I were in Maui for a week and we stayed at the Andaz in Wailea. I’m going to try and do a full TR and talk about the intricacies of the hotel that we liked, and the things that we didn’t like

...

Wow! Great, detailed, report (and the first DDF Andaz one!).

Looking forward to the full TR.

sam28 · « **Reply #577 on:** January 25, 2014, 11:50:49 PM »

Wow thanks allot for u great trip report . It's really amazing I hope more is still coming activities and pictures.

momo · « **Reply #578 on:** January 26, 2014, 12:48:22 AM »

Quote from: Dan on January 25, 2014, 11:26:41 PM

Hmm. Wonder if I should switch to the HR Maui for shabbos.

Just finished shabbos at the andaz papagayo. Had the same exact issues except for hallways. I spoke to the engineer, and they could not have been more accommodating. They came by our room on friday afternoon, and turned off all sensors, over rode the ac lights, doors etc... Dont see why they would not be able to do the same thing in maui

gavhaller · « **Reply #579 on:** January 26, 2014, 01:01:57 AM »

Quote from: momo on January 26, 2014, 12:48:22 AM

Just finished shabbos at the andaz papagayo. Had the same exact issues except for hallways. I spoke to the engineer, and they could not have been more accommodating. They came by our room on friday afternoon, and turned off all sensors, over rode the ac lights, doors etc... Dont see why they would not be able to do the same thing in maui

Its very possible that they could have been able to. I didn't speak with the engineers but I did speak with quite a few staff. The hotel is also very new so its possible they weren't accustomed to the request to have the panels turned off. Its very possible they would since they do try to accomadate as much as possible.

Name	Area	More Info	Comments
____________________________________________________________________________________________________	_____________________________________________________	__________________________________________________________	____________________________________________________________________________
Hyatt Regency	West side (Lahaina)	Website	Hyatt Category 5. The Hyatt advertises having Kosher food. In the past, these meals came from Oahu Kosher (Chabad in Honolulu). However, in Dec 2016 they claimed the meals were prepared by the Chabad of Maui, while in actuality they were prepared by a reform temple (story explained at the bottom of this post), which is still true as of Feb 2017.
Andaz	South side (Wailea)	Website	Hyatt category 8. A favorite among DDFers, although award space isn't easy to come by.
Grand Wailea	South side (Wailea)	Website	Hilton - 80k-95k depending on season. Reminiscent of the GHK in Kauai with sprawling grounds and more pools than you count, located on the beautiful Wailea Beach.
Sheraton	West side (Lahaina)	Website	SPG category 6.
Westin	West side (Lahaina)	Website	SPG category 6.
Fairmont	South side (Wailea)	Website	All suite hotel.
Destination By Hyatt Residence - Polo Club	South side (Wailea)	Website	Condos with full kitchen, Ocean front views. The Polo Club has the closest beach access of any property in Wailea - it's no longer legal to build so close to the shore. The beach is known for good snorkeling. Unlike all the other beaches, access from land is completely restricted to Polo club guests. While technically it is a public beach, access is only available from the sea... so it's a de facto private beach perpetually empty and exclusive.

Name	Area	Comments
______________________________________________________________	____________________________________________________	_________________________________________________________________________________
Black Sand Beach	Waiʻānapanapa State Park	One of the highlights of any Maui trip is black sand beach in Waiʻānapanapa State Park. A bonus feature there is snorkeling at the black sand beach. The waters are exceptionally clear, allowing you to observe a vibrant array of marine life, we saw lobsters, coral, schools of tropical fish, and even an eel. The waters just behind where the waves begin to break are around 10ft deep and super calm. It's important to note that a reservation is required to access this beach, so planning ahead is crucial. https://gostateparks.hawaii.gov/waianapanapa
Beach 2	Area 2	Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
Beach 3	Area 3	Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.

Name	Area	Comments
______________________________________________________________	____________________________________________________	_________________________________________________________________________________
Sliding Sands	Haleakala	An amazing hike into the crater from the upper visitors center. Quite challenging due to the constant downhill on a loose cinder trail. Amazing views unlike anything on the island, and no shade. The entire trail takes all day, but most people take it only partway in. Go as far as you like and remember that the way back is a constant uphill and will take twice as long. Bring lots of water.
Pipiwai Trail	Hana	One of the nicest trail on Maui. A bit past Hana, just before the Seven Sacred Pools. The hike goes through the jungle, past banyan trees and a 200-foot waterfall, and through a bamboo forest (this is the highlight for most people). The trail ends at the amazing 400-foot Waimoku Falls. Give this hike a couple of hours.
Lava Field	South Maui	At the end of the road, past the Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve. This is an amazing and relatively difficult hike. You will be walking on sharp, loose lava rocks the entire time, but the views are smashing and the terrain interesting. Great views of a particularly wild stretch of ocean, interesting pools (not swimmable), and ends in a glorious (and generally empty) beach if you brave it till the end. Do the loop - hug the coast on the way out, and take the Kings Highway back. See Maui Revealed for all the details.
Makamakaole Stream: 13 Crossings	North East Maui	The name undersells this gorgeous hike by a lot. This hike has close to 20 or more crossings (each way). The crossings are pretty well orchestrated such that a teen or adult can cross dry, with no issues at all. toddlers will need a helping hand (my 3yr old did this entire hike with just some hand holding) and 7-8yr olds will likely manage the entire hike with no help at all. Crossing the beautiful lightly gushing stream is refreshing and mesmerizing. The hike includes a incredible bamboo forest, and has 2 waterfalls. To the left is the main one - which is easy to get to. You are rewarded with the ability to dip into the cool water and it's deep enough to get completely immersed (5-6ft at the deepest point it seemed) and stand under the waterfall for some great pictures and memories. The hike has a lot of rocks, and is a "technical" hike - but not hard at all. Highly recommended as one of the best hikes in Maui. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/hawaii/maui/makamakaole-stream-13-crossings

Activity	Comments
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________	_________________________________________________________________________________
Helicopter tours	A few companies offer this; Blue Hawaiian is generally considered to be the best. There are different routes to choose from - keep in mind that the ones going to Haleakala don't actually go into the crater. This is not as recommended on Maui as it is on other islands, since the entire island is pretty much easily accessible so you won't go anywhere remote or extremely amazing.
Road to Hana	Absolute must-do. Don't get scared off by misinformation and go all the way around - in a way the backside is even more spectacular that the more popular first half. You do NOT need a special car or 4WD; any regular car could do it happily. Best way to do the road is to spend the night in Hana, as that will leave the most time to explore the thousand different things along the road. If you're only going for the day, make sure to be on the road EARLY (7-7:30 the latest).
Haleakala Sunrise	A spectacular event that is not to be missed. You will wake up at the witching hour, it will be freezing cold, and it will be absolutely worth it. Be there at least 45 minutes before the listed sunrise - the earlier the better; they close the upper parking lot when it fills up and you'll have to park at the lower visitor center lot. Dress warmly and bring lots of jackets and blankets. Take the trail to Pakaoao (White Hill) and you'll have the sunrise to yourself (mostly, at least). Tip: for younger kids it may be more worthwhile to go for sunset and avoid disturbing their sleeping schedule.
'Ohe'o Gulch (Seven Sacred Pools)	Also known as the Seven Sacred Pools, this is in the Hana side of Haleakala National Park. Save your receipt from sunrise; it's valid for three days and will get you in to the pools too. Short hike from the parking lot to the pools, and it's absolutely stunning. Will be absolutely PACKED from around 1PM and on (but still worth it). If you're staying in Hana go early in the morning and it'll be mostly empty.
Snorkling Molokini crater	Countless boat companies will take you out to Molokini. It has the best underwater visibility in the state, sometimes over 100 feet. Somewhat overrated and over-touristed, but generally considered to be worth it.
Whale watching	The waters surrounding Maui are the stage for some of the best whale watching in the world. Each winter (December through May), thousands of koholā (humpback whales) travel to Hawaiʻi from colder waters to breed, calve and nurse their young. If you are going during this season, grab a pair of binoculars or book a trip to go whale watching. It will blow your mind. Whales jumping 20-30ft into the air falling back in the water with a powerful splash. National geographic moments experienced in real life. If your kids like marine life, this will be unforgettable. People recommend the nonprofit: https://www.pacificwhale.org/ However if you're slightly more adventurous, and want more of a thrill, go for one of the speedboats. They go a lot closer, and the lower boat level next to the vast whales creates an experience hard to imagine. The key is - check the ocean with your own two eyes before you book. If you're seeing tons of spouts, breaches, fins and tails - you're going to have a really good time on the boat - up close. If you don't see activity... it probably won't be great.
Kayaking
Biking
Horseback riding
Ziplining
Cruises

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Author Topic: Maui Master Thread (Read 1722055 times)