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Is the Grand Wailea Resort Like Las Vegas, But for Kids?

Where: 3850 Wailea Alanui Drive [map], Wailea, Maui, Hawaii, United States, 96753

Upon hearing that Grand Wailea Resort just threw down $50M for upgrades and renovations, we wanted to give the property a quick before and after look-see while recently in Maui – especially since we were shacked up right next door at Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea.

We should have heeded our gut instinct to steer clear after watching a bajillion screaming kids bouncing and jumping off an oversized inflatable slide in the water directly in front of Grand Wailea Resort. Ick. We asked around and this air-filled atrocity doesn’t actually belong to Grand Wailea Resort; it’s simply a noisy eye sore that disturbs the hotel’s waterfront views. The kids l-o-v-e it.

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Tags: Celeb Scoop / Maui Hotel Reviews / → All Tags

Wailea is Where to Spend Your Cash on Maui

For the celeb-obsessed (you know the kind: first to answer any question about why Nicole and Paris don't talk anymore, knows what new hair color Britney is sporting before any pics of it come out, owns Team Angelina shirts and has the real scoop on why Jess and Nick broke up), a vacation in Maui means only one stop, Wailea.

Here in Wailea, on the southwestern shore of the island at the base of a dormant volcano, celebs escape the harsh glare of Hollywood in their pricey resort getaways.

The two biggest celeb resorts are the Four Seasons and the Grand Wailea where rooms start at close to $400 a night (for a mountain view.) Both resorts have undeniably gorgeous grounds and top-rate service. The Grand Wailea has a better spa (its the largest in Hawaiit) and a better pool area (nine pools and seven water slides), but the Four Seasons is a little more low-key (ie less screaming kids.)

The Four Seasons also has a higher celeb wattage as Britney Spears & K-Fed, Pamela Anderson & Tommy Lee, Oprah, John Stamos and the Schwarzengger family are just some of the celebs that have been spotted there.

A little further down the road from these two celeb hotel havens is the Fairmont Kea Lani that has only suites and villas but is just as pricey with the one-bedroom suites starting at $385 and the villas at $1,600 a night. However, the pool scene offers a swim-up bar and waterslides.

Wanna live like a celebrity but don't have the budget? Some less expensive Wailea options include the Renaissance Beach Resort and Wailea Marriott Resort where rates are in the low $300s.

Chances are you won't run into celebs there but it doesn't matter so long as you know you're breathing the same air, right?

Image via Jasonsisk/Flickr

Related Stories:
· Hawaii's Wailea is paradise -- but paradise isn't cheap [AJC]
· Britney Spears in Maui Celebrating Baby #2? [HotelChatter]
· Finally, a waterslide with alcohol [HotelChatter]
· Wailea Hotels [TripAdvisor]