Kaanapali Maui: A Playground Fit for Royals!How would YOU like to stay in a royal playground? Long ago, Kaanapali Maui served as just that for Maui nobility - they would come here to surf, swim, feast at luaus, indulge in games and relax. After having stayed here myself, I can see why these ancient royals were attracted to this little slice of Maui paradise! Kaanapali Maui is spread out over 1200 acres and is Hawaii's very first master-planned resort. It is located just 10 minutes from Lahaina, and is within a 1 hour drive from Kahului Airport. The resort includes numerous resorts, hotels and condominium vacation rentals that will suit a variety of budgets.
Hotel resorts include:
Our personal experience with Kaanapali hotels included a stay at the Royal Lahaina Resort, which we loved. (Click here to read my review of the Royal Lahaina Resort!) At the time we stayed at this Maui Hawaii resort (in the Lahaina Kai Tower), it was rated 3 stars - however, renovations were being done during our stay, so it is likely even better now! My point in bringing this up is that if we LOVED our 3 star Kaanapali Hotel, then if you have the budget for a 5 star hotel in Kaanapali Maui such as the Westin Maui Resort and Spa, you must be almost guaranteed to love YOUR stay! The resorts are scattered along the 3-mile long Kaanapali Beach and are connected via a paved beachfront walkway. It's great to have everything interconnected like this, especially if you're in the mood to check out a few neighbouring resorts during your stay. There are lots of things to do in Kaanapali Maui: you can choose from tennis, golf, shopping, a train ride, luaus, and relaxation at the spa, just to name a few! Most of the 35 tennis courts in Kaanapali Maui are found at the various hotel resorts, but a few of the condominium resorts have them as well. If you choose to golf, there are 2 18-hole championship courses: The Royal Kaanapali and the Kaanapali Kai. If you like to shop, Whaler's Village hosts a nice collection of boutiques and galleries. Since it's located within the Kaanapali Maui resort, it's easy to get to via the free resort shuttle service. For history buffs, there is the free Whalers Village Museum where you can learn all about Lahaina's whaling days. The Sugar Cane Train would be especially appealing to anyone with small kids. What kid doesn't like a good old-fashioned train ride? This train travels between Lahaina and the Kaanapali Resorts along 6 miles of track. The open-air coaches allow for great views as the narrator points out interesting sites along the route. Luaus within the Kaanapali resort include the Drums of the Pacific Luau (at the Hyatt), the Marriot Luau, and the Royal Lahaina Luau. If you have the budget for it, or are just ready to splurge, then you can check out the spa at either the Westin Maui or the Hyatt Regency Maui. Of course, there are also the obvious beach activities like sunbathing and snorkeling. In front of the Sheraton Maui Resort, you'll see the famous Black Rock: this is a great spot to snorkel! We were novices at snorkeling, and found Black Rock to be great: there were lots of fish to see, and it was within walking distance from The Royal Lahaina Resort where we stayed. It's no wonder that Black Rock is one of the top snorkeling destinations on Maui! Getting AroundIf you have a rental car as we did, getting around is super easy! But even if you do NOT have your own rental car, there are still a few great options for getting around the resort area fairly easily and economically. There is a free trolley for Kaanapali Maui resort guests that will take you to various locales within the resort itself. Also, there is a shuttle that can take you from your hotel to either Lahaina or Kapalua (for a fee). We used this shuttle for our trip to and from the Old Lahaina Luau (in Lahaina) - it was easy to use, and fairly inexpensive.Go to Kapalua, Maui
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