Maui Travel Guide
Tags: Hotel Closings / Hotel Woes / Maui Hotels / Hotel Foreclosures / → All Tags
Maui Owie: The Maui Prince to Close Next Month
The first Hawaiian hotel casualty of the recession has been claimed--The Maui Prince Hotel and Makena Golf Course will close on September 16, according to news reports. The hotel's management company, Prince Resorts Hawaii, was forced to close the hotel after the owners defaulted on a mortgage of $192.5 million. And it wasn't just the mortgage the owners couldn't keep up with--they couldn't keep up with their end of the operation contract either.
So while a hotel in foreclosure usually doesn't affect the guest experience during their stay, once the hotel owners are unable to meet the demands of their contract with the hotel management company, then things really start to go south.
Tags: Hotel Deals / Maui Hotels / Hawaii Hotels / → All Tags
Honua Kai Wants To Save You Money On Maui (We Think)
Last time we checked out the Honua Kai Resort & Spa on Maui, they were just about to open the first half of the resort and had $195 opening specials. Today, it's still a year before the second half of the resort opens, but the specials are back with the frugal vacationer in mind.
The new deal is that from September 1 through December 12, Honua Kai is offering you a "dream deal" with up to 50% off rack rates, which brings them back to the $195 a night rate they started with. Their press release on the deal is very careful to name lots of reasons why you can save money at the Honua Kai: for example, you get a shade umbrella for free next to the pool, instead of the $100 a day you might pay at other Maui resorts for a shade cabana. You can also save some bucks by cooking in your own suite, they suggest, because you can now buy any ingredients you're after at the Aina Gourmet Market.
Be careful with the fine print, though. Even though Honua Kai seems very keen to save you money, there are quite a few mentions of a $25 per day "daily resort service fee" on their website, so check if you'll need to pay that too before you do your calculations.
Tags: Hawaii Hotels / Fairmont Hotels / Hotel Bars / Hotel Cocktails / Maui Hotels / → All Tags
We Go Cuckoo for Pupus at The Fairmont Kea Lani’s New Luana Lounge
Our most memorable childhood meals were bite sized delights served on a beverage napkin with frilly toothpicks, so it’s no wonder we swoon for the pupu. These island-style hors d’oeuvres are a staple of Hawaiian luaus and happy hours, every bit as much as the Mai Tai, Piña Colada, Blue Hawaii, and Lava Flow.
The Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui celebrates the pupu at its new Luana Lounge. (“Luana” is the Hawaiian word meaning to be at leisure, enjoy pleasant surroundings, to live in comfort and ease.) The new lobby bar features a new theme, new menu, new bar, new décor and new furnishings that create a more authentically local ambiance. We love all the new updates, none of which distract from the stunning, colorful South Shore sunsets.
Tags: Celebrity Scoop / Lindsay Lohan / Hawaii Hotels / Beach Hotels / → All Tags
LiLo Lays Low At The Wailea Beach Marriott
Occasionally, we take some time to sit around and think about the possibility that we may become famous overnight, and the possibility that such fame could lead to a Britney or LiLo-esque breakdown or, at the very least, a one-night meltdown that is not-so-epic but still notable. Said meltdown could be triggered by a bad breakup or one-too-many run-in's with paparazzi, and preceded immediately by a head-shave or an ill-advised, highly-publicized affair. But when we are famous and we do have that breakdown, which hotel are we going to retreat to?
Luckily, Lindsay Lohan is out in the field doing some research for us and — fresh off her highly-publicized bad breakup with girlfriend Samantha Ronson and, um, highly-publicized turbulent life as of late — has flown to Hawaii to kick it at the Wailea Beach Marriott. From the volumes of pap shots that continue to emerge, showing her chillin' by the pool and appearing to not be completely devastated, the big, grand breakdown may have already happened and she may be in recovery or on the upswing — which is cool too.
We've gotta admit we were a bit surprised that our Lindsay didn't select the way-posh Four Seasons Maui as her Hawaiian getaway destination of choice, but this is a good pick, too: the property is nestled between two beaches and boasts several pools on property, including a new infinity-edged "Serenity" Pool. Yes. Serenity is good for her. We assume she's staying in a suite here, and those start at $589.00 this summer.
[Photo: Bauer-Griffin via Defamer]
Tags: Hotel Opening Rates / Hotel Openings / Maui Hotels / → All Tags
$195 Enough To Start At Half-Finished Honua Kai Resort
Maui's getting its first new resort for ages, when the Honua Kai Resort opens up on North Beach Kaanapali at the end of January. It'll be full of self-contained suites (they're very proud of the Bosch dishwashers, for a start) to give you a luxury experience on the beach.
Developer Intrawest, who normally specialize in mountain resorts, have decided to get their toes wet with a beachfront resort this time, so we hope they've figured out the difference. There are a few telltale mountain influences going on, with waterfalls heading into one of the swimming pools and another pool which has the shape of a river, but they both sound pretty nice to us.
Honua Kai has got opening rates of $195 a night, or $250 a night with an ocean view. Bear in mind that the second phase of the resort, including the Konea building and two of the three pools, isn't due to open until spring of 2010 so there'll still be some construction work going on somewhere--but perhaps the half price opening rates make up for that.
Tags: Hotel Closings / Maui Hotels / → All Tags
Run-Down Maui Hotel To Close, Finally
A few years back we wrote about the scary Aston Maui Lu hotel in which we cited a guest review calling the place, "an old hotel that needs to be taken down, it has outlived it's life, which is obvious because half of it is boarded up and falling down."
A year later, our Hawaii expert Alex Salkever called this place a bad rate and cited another guest review which called the place "unsafe."
Yikes. But fortunately, the hotel is closing down its operation as of November 10th. Maui News reports that the hotel will be leveled and in its place, time-shares will be built.
Actually, we started to feel bad for the Aston Maui Lu after reading a bit of the history of the place and its struggles to survive after the Wailea Resort went up in 1976. And even sadder, 41 hotel employees will lose their jobs.
That said, if you have some sort of retro-vacation hankering to stay here, just make sure you do it before November 10th.
Tags: Hawaii Hotels / Hotel Deals / Maui Hotel Reviews / → All Tags
Skip the Art Galleries, Get 6 for 5 At The Four Seasons Maui
Over at the Four Seasons Resort Maui they're not only pretty happy at scoring well in the Conde Nast Readers' Choice Awards--they were rated the best resort in the US--but they're also glowing with pride over their recent renovations, and their special winter 6 for 5 deal.
The renovations have seen new Hawaii-inspired furnishings in all the rooms and suites, along with "new intuitive technology", which might be great, but we're not really sure what the heck it is. As part of the whole refurb deal, the Four Seasons Maui has also added a significant collection of museum-quality art, and reckons that in combination with the Four Seasons Hualalai, they actually are caretakers of the state's largest collection of Hawaiian art.
Their favorite deal at the moment is a sixth night free promotion running from January 6 to February 14, 2008, where guests who book five nights get one complimentary night. Rooms rates start at $620. Seeing all that Hawaiian art won't cost you a cent extra.
[Photo: drw_ok]
Related Stories:
· Conde Nast Readers Have Spoken [HotelChatter]
· Hotels in Hawaii [HotelChatter]
· Hawaii Travel [Jaunted]
Tags: Hawaii Hotels / Resort Fees / Hotel Renovations / Ritz-Carlton Hotels / Marriott Hotels / → All Tags
The Dark Side of Hawaii Hotels: Resort Fees
[Ed. Note: Alex Salkever is the founder/editor of Hawaii travel blog Hawaiirama.com.]
You've coughed up mucho dinero for the getaway of your dreams in Hawaii (or, if you're local, that luxe holoholo). Natch, the resorts will charge a premium for food, drink and activities. But what the hell is a resort fee and why is it on my bill?
These fees appeared a while back in Hawaii and have become a key source of hotel revenue. They are also kinda sleazy. The hotels do disclose them but, for example, charging paying guests $20 per day for parking their own cars in the hotel lot is beyond the pale.
Some resorts are worse than others. Many include things like yoga classes and high-speed Internet as part of the resort fee. Fair enough -- such things are still extra at many high-end resorts. Others, such as the Ritz-Carton Kapalua on Maui, push it a bit.
The $18 daily resort fee at the Ritz gets discounted greens fees (off the already stratospheric rates at Kapalua), shuttle service to the nearby shopping district (shouldn't that be free) and coffee or tea in the lobby each morning. Umm, great. And what if I don't play golf? [Note: This hotel is actually closing down on July 2 to undergo a $110 million makeover.]
Other resort fees appear to be a bargain. At the Wailea Maui Marriott, kids eat free with adults for the resort fee of $20 per day. That's a great deal. The fee also includes two Mai Tais per day. Make that a superb deal (resort Mai Tais usually run around $10 a pop).
The excellent chaps over at Travel Hawaii (a local travel agency that knows the islands well and isn't afraid to make hard-nosed judgments) have cobbled together a list of resort fees at the 15 hotels which charge them.
Others (the Hilton chain) charges them indirectly through parking and other fees. This is a good place to look.
Tags: Celebrity Scoop / Family Friendly / → All Tags
Brit Picks Kid-Friendly Hotel
Today we have been doing a mix of old and young and now we combine both. One of our elderly...er...senior tipsters reports that she was at the Four Seasons Maui during Britney Spears, K-Fed, and little Tater Tot's trip to the hotel. Our spy said that the hotel is so kid-friendly that they even brought a rocker into Brit's hotel suite.
We doubt K-Fed used it but even if you aren't a celeb the hotel lays out the soft blankie for kids which includes:
· Child-sized bathrobes
· Complimentary baby and children’s toiletries
· Items to childproof guest rooms
· Complimentary infant furnishings, such as high chairs
Additionally, the hotel will have some poor beleagured soul babysit your rugrats while your are out exploring the island.
Related Stories:
· Britney Spears in Maui Celebrating Baby #2? [HotelChatter]
· Four Seasons Maui reviews [TripAdvisor]
Tags: Celebrity Scoop / Britney Spears / → All Tags
Britney Spears in Maui: Celebrating Baby #2?
We pray to God it isn't true but there are reports that Britney Spears is going around the Four Seasons Maui telling some staffers that her and Kevin Federline are pregnant with baby #2.
Those poor staffers. They had to endure the visit of Britney and little Sean Preston a few weeks back but luckily they were spared K-Fed. Then Britney and crew headed to Mardi Gras but when it was over, quickly ran back to the Four Seasons, this time with the news of a pregnant Britney in tow and K-Fed.
For those of you who can get past the shock of a second Tater Tot, the family is staying at the $12,000-a-night Presidential Suite at the hotel.
We hope Brit is tipping daily for all the clean-up of cheetos, baby diapers, hair extensions and cigarettes.
Related Stories:
· Mama Brit Working on 2nd single [NY Newsday]
· "I'm Pregnant!" Britney Reveals [Star]
· Four Seasons Maui reviews [TripAdvisor]
· Britney Spears Hotel Trips [HotelChatter]
Tags: Hotel Deals / → All Tags
Maui Condo for Under $100 with More Room Than A Volkswagen
Travelzoo is offering one-bedroom garden view condominiums for just $87 per night (ocean view $15 more) at Maui Kamaole in Maui.
You must book by September 16 and your travel must be completed by October 15, however it looks like you will get a good deal of room at your non-beach front condo (the property is across from Kamaole Beach III).
A TripAdvisor reviewer says:
The Maui Kamaole is a very nice property, not beach front but great views. I stayed in a 2 bedroom 2 bath condo which was a very good size. We had 11 friends along on the trip (got married) and all 13 of us could comfortably hang out there.
13 people hanging out comfortably in a condo? They sent in photographic proof that none of them were circus clowns, so at least we know the room isn't the size of a Volkswagen bug.
Related Stories:
· Maui 1-Bedroom Condo at 40% OFF [Travelzoo]
· Maui Kamaole Reviews [TripAdvisor]
Tags: Tips / → All Tags
Hotel Gossip! Maui hotels are in the spotlight...
Even if you are not planning a honeymoon, TheKnot.com is a great place to go for hotel advice. And I'm not just talking about a simple review. No, I mean the nittiest, of the grittiest, DIRT.
Newlyweds and wives-to-be are trading all sorts of info and pre-honeymoon research. You can get the scoop a few different ways.
1) Go to the Honeymoon section of their Chat & Boards discussion area. Scroll down through the messages until you find a hotel name, or worthy review that inspires you.
2) Go to Local Wedding Talk and search for advice by state, region, or city.
Or, try my third option. I went to Chat & Boards and used their search bar. I typed in "Maui + hotel" and recovered 200 messages.
Here's one example...
Hotels In: Africa | Asia | Australia | Caribbean | Europe | North America | South America
Our Publications:
Jaunted | HotelChatter | VegasChatter
