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Maui's Anti-Resort Getaway Spot

Where: 15 Wailana Place [map], Kihei, Maui, HI, United States, 96753

If you're thinking of heading to Maui for a Hawaiian getaway, then you've probably been checking out some of the island's more famous hotels like the Grand Wailea and the Four Seasons.

But if a big resort experience turns you off, then consider the Aloha Pualani, a boutique hotel (i.e. small) that opened in 2003 in Kihei. The hotel only has five suites (orchid, bamboo, lotus, gardenia, and pikake), each with one bedroom, living room, kitchen and an upper level with views of either the pool, the ocean or both. Each suite is also decorated in different decor but stays true to the Pacific island theme.

Guests rave about the hotel which means "beloved flower of heaven":

If you want to want to visit Maui and avoid the typical tourist trap hotel, this is the place. My wife and I loved this place. It is more like a high end condo than a hotel (which is a very good thing). We stayed in the Bamboo suite, which is very large and on two floors. Comfy beds and comfy furniture. The bathroom had all the amenities the big resorts have. Another nice thing was to have a fully equiped kitchen. When on vacation, it is nice to be able to get up in the morning and grab a glass of juice, coffee, toast or whatever, without having to call room service, or having to get dressed to go to the dinning room for something quick.

Naturally rates are higher in the winter than summer with the smallest suite, Pikake, starting at $265. Orchid Suite is the honeymoon suite and it goes for $325 a night. The hotel also requires a two-night minimum and cannot take hotel guests under 16. Which is actually good because it means you can have a quiet vacation without a hundred kids running around the pool.

The only downside? The beach is a two-minute walk away.

Related Stories:
· Aloha Pualani reviews [TripAdvisor]