HotelChatter - Tag: Maui Hotels

Condé Nast Traveler Readers Choice Awards Favor Killer Views, Weird Bathrooms

Heidi Atwal — 2009-10-19T09:43:40-05:00

<![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/32083/hoteldupalaisviews.jpg" class="top"> The stunning coastal views from Hotel Du Palais They say the customer is always right, and we generally agree. PR pushes and clever marketing can often make a hotel sound better than it is, but leave it to a consumer to give you the inside track with merciless honesty. This is precisely why Readers Choice lists are more trusted than other carefully cultivated round-ups. Last week, Condé Nast Traveler's unveiled its 22nd Annual Readers Choice Awards, a respectable overview of the best cities, islands, resorts, airlines, and other travel-related miscellany. It's the location-specific hotel and resort "Top Three" lists that caught our eye first, of course, but there were some questionable standouts as well. Some of the

The Maui Prince To Remain Open; Hilton Portland to Close for a Few Selected Weeks

juliana — 2009-09-04T09:31:47-05:00

The water will not run dry at the Maui Prince.

Some good news for Hawaii: The Maui Prince Hotel will actually not be closing next month as was first reported earlier this week. Instead, the hotel will remain open under new management.

There was always a possibility that the hotel would not close if it could get a new management company to come in and run the place. But interestingly, Wells Fargo--the bank that's now in charge of the hotel, thanks to its owners defaulting on the mortgage--would not say which company is managing the hotel. Any of you know which company it is? Spill it.

Maui: Maui Owie: The Maui Prince to Close Next Month

juliana — 2009-09-01T08:34:44-05:00

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.

Wailea: Start Your Vacation By Waiting in a Line at the Grand Wailea Resort

juliana — 2009-08-21T08:54:38-05:00

<![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/1425/grandwaileacabanaline.jpg" class="top">Last month, we told you that the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Grand+Wailea+Resort/local/486">Grand Wailea Resort and Spa</a> in Wailea, Maui might have the coolest pool amenities (little grottos, a kiddie pool with a beach, waterslides galore) but that the place was <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2009/7/6/15624/45628/hotels/Is_the_Grand_Wailea_Resort_Like_Las_Vegas_But_for_Kids_">too crowded with children</a> for anyone to truly enjoy. Well, we thought you might like some photographic evidence of just how crowded the pool scene is: here's a snapshot of the line for beach cabanas that we snapped last Friday. Guests (only hotel guests are allowed access to the resort) must wait in this line before obtaining one of the beach cabanas. As usual with pool chairs and the like, the early bird gets the coveted seat on the beach

Maui: Honua Kai Wants To Save You Money On Maui (We Think)

amandak — 2009-07-23T10:05:04-05:00

<![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/3873/Honua_Kai_Hotel_Maui.jpg" class="top"> Last time we checked out the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Honua+Kai+/local/1418">Honua Kai Resort & Spa</a> on Maui, they were just about to open the first half of the resort and had <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2008/12/21/19587/019/hotels/_195_Enough_To_Start_At_Half_Finished_Honua_Kai_Resort">$195 opening specials</a>. 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: