This is THE place to stay in Maui

Guest: The Verlaans (Calgary Alberta)
Date of Stay: 03/19/11 Review Submitted: 12/22/11

If this property is available for your trip, you need to grab it. We stayed here for two weeks in March of 2011 and received the royal treatment. If the vacation rental itself was not enough for my family and I to come back (which it is), the owners definitely would be. Their hospitality and thoughtfulness was so impressive that I knew I was going to enjoying staying here even before I got to the island. I can not express enough gratitude to the owners for making our stay so enjoyable. This rental itself has everything you will need to enjoy your stay, on the beach or inside the unit. The owners have taken such great care of the property and thought of everything that you can’t help but treat it like your own. It is extremely comfortable, well thought out, and has tons of natural light that you wake up every morning knowing you are in paradise. The beach right across the street was perfect for my 4 & 5 year olds, the waves were just the right size for them and the sand was amazing. There was lots of entertainment with the whales playing in the ocean, which we could clearly enjoy off of the patio. I got some great pictures of the sea turtles that come to feed daily just a couple of feet away from the vacation rental. We are looking forward to many return trips to the property as we won’t be staying anywhere else.

Owner response:We don't generally get a chance to meet our guests to put faces with the names so it was such a pleasure to have that opportunity when your family was staying with us. I will always remember talking to your kids and watching them play in the sand on the beach. :o) Every time I sort through the sand toys to make sure we have things for kids to play with when they stay with us, I think about how generous your kids were to leave the toys they did behind for others to enjoy. Please make sure they know they will be here waiting for them next time you visit and I promise to add to them before you come! We appreciate your positive review to our VRBO page, and would definitely give your family a full five star rating as well - if that was an option. You took such good care of our condo during your stay. Owners appreciate that more than you can imagine. Please know that we would love to have you back any time you are ready to enjoy the sun and sand and all the things to see and do that Maui has to offer. Happy New Year to you all!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, people with disabilities, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Sun, sea and sand just steps from your sofa!

Guest: Sam (Las Vegas, Nevada)
Date of Stay: 09/30/11 Review Submitted: 10/24/11

A massive thank you to Linda for sharing her beautiful home with us; we have just returned from a weeks vacation, and we are already planning when we can come and visit again! The property is beautifully kept; so much so that you feel as if you were staying in a friends house rather than a rental property, sadly all the decor was too much for my toddler so we had to move it to higher ground! The back doors open onto two little patios, which are just perfect for sitting and watching the world go by or keeping an eye out for those illusive turtles! With just a quick few steps from the grass terrace and across the road you are on the sandy beach, again perfect for the tradition of watching the sun set. The beach is glorious; there is super fine sand which is great for little ones to dig in, and the sea is quite gentle (although we did have two days of high tide, which was awesome for some impromptu body boarding!) The property has everything you may ask for: beach toys for the kids, chairs and towels for us grown ups, books, games, a fab washer and dryer (we realised we could have packed so much lighter because of this!) a well stocked kitchen (applicance wise) with the best unbreakable plates ever (we are in the process of buying these for our own home now!) and super cute little dustpans to brush off the sand at every entrance. My daughter thought this was the best thing and spent the vacation chasing round after everyone to brush their feet (shes 20 months old!). Everything was just wonderful, the property, the location, and the locals. We highly recommend staying here!

Owner response:Sam, I have thought this through and I think the sea turtles may have been on a vacation of their own during your stay. Which means that you and your family will have to come back at a different time of the year to see them. I highly recommend December through April/early May when the whales will join them to put on the most fantastic show you have ever seen. Your note about your daughter and the broom made me laugh. We might want to hire her for our next trip. It's always so much fun to enjoy all that Maui has to offer - even more so when you get to watch it from a child's point of view. :o) We loved having your family stay with us and we hope you really will be back again many times in the years to come. - Al & Linda

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children.

Great Location!

Guest: Francois & Brigitte (Quebec, Canada)
Date of Stay: 08/03/11 Review Submitted: 09/05/11

We stayed 2 weeks in August 2011. The pictures on the website are very accurate, it is a fabulous fully equiped condo in a great location in Kihei. We couldn't ask for anything more. Even the condominium staff were very friendly. The beach across the street is great, we tried others and kept coming back to this one as it is very clean and not too crowded. The location is great as you can easily walk to various shops and restaurants nearby. Wailea is a short hop away and you can easily drive to the rest of the island from here. I would definitively recommend this condo to anyone.

Owner response:We are so happy that you enjoyed your stay! As you know, I arrived shortly after you departed, and the first thing I heard when I checked in with the office was what a lovely family you have. :o) We agree that Kam I beach is just the best there is. We hope that your family will come back to Maui again in the future - we'd love to have you stay with us any time. - Al & Linda

Recommended for:Sightseeing, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Wow :)

Guest: Ken and Jana (Gregory, MI)
Date of Stay: 02/27/11 Review Submitted: 03/27/11

From the moment you open the door you realize that this is the place to be. We felt as though we were stepping into our home away from home. This is a clean well furnished condo. The owners have provided you with everything necessary to get you started on your Maui adventure. Linda's personal attention to the details right down to the laundry soap / beach towels and chairs / and even the salt and pepper / add to this condos charm. Open the blinds for a fantastic ocean view. Our personal favorite was being able to cross the street and onto the beach barefoot. Don't pass up your chance to stay here. Highly recommended.

Owner response:Mahalo for the wonderful comments! We are glad that you found the things you needed for a relaxing vacation in Maui and that our condo felt like home to you while you were there. It is always so wonderful when someone who has never been there embraces the culture and enjoys so much of what Maui has to offer in the time they are there. You two certainly managed to pack your days full of adventure, and having you share that with us via text messages with photos attached was a lot of fun. Glad that you were able to enjoy the mother whale and her baby so up close and personal right out in front of the condo from the lanai. If only we had known that she was going to hang out there, you could have saved some money on that whale watching excursion. Can't wait for your return - we'll look forward to more photos/text messages and promise to continue to improve things in the meantime so your stay is even better the second time around.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers.

Wonderful stay!

Guest: Cheri (Reedsvill, PA)
Date of Stay: 12/08/10 Review Submitted: 02/06/11

Great place to stay! Everything was impeccable. Location is centrally located - equally close to Lahaina and Kaanapali area, Kahalui, Upcountry and Haleakala. Amenities in the condo were excellent - the only thing we had to furnish was our own food and drink. The grounds of the club were maintained beautifully. When you say "steps to sandy beach" you aren't stretching the truth - just step off your lanai and cross the road and you are walking on a beautiful beach were the sunsets are spectacular! Would definitely stay here again!

Owner response:We truly have the greatest guests. Your family's story was one of the most heartwarming yet, and we are so glad we could be part of this special trip for you and your Mother. Hope you will visit again in the future!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, people with disabilities, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Great Location and Condo, Friendly, Helpful Owner - Our new favorite location

Guest: Longhorn (Houston, TX)
Date of Stay: 10/29/10 Review Submitted: 11/09/10

Our family had a great stay here. The owner, Linda, was exceptional to deal with. She worked hard to ensure that we had a great experience. The condo was very well organized and furnished. We had everything we needed for an outstanding vacation. There were labels and instructions clearly set out for everything. The kitchen was well appointed in every respect and even had spices and olive oil and many items we have found lacking in other VRBO rentals. We barbequed several times and enjoyed the pool and the grounds. The location was excellent. We walked 100 feet to an outstanding beach (with great snorkeling) and were walking distance to everything we needed, including a slightly longer walk to a grocery store. The only negative was the proximity to the road and the noise that accompanies it. In the evenings and mornings, the motorcycles and trucks driving by are a bit noisy, particularly if the windows are open. It didn’t bother us much as we slept well due to the sun and exercise from our daytime activities (and I used earplugs as I am a light sleeper). We loved the location so it was an acceptable trade-off to us. We will definitely be in contact with Linda for future stays.

Owner response:So glad that you were able find everything you needed to enjoy your stay with us to the fullest. During high season, S. Kihei Road can be a bit busy. But, like you, our guests generally feel that the great ocean views and proximity to lovely Kam I beach more than make up for it. We installed new double pane glass windows that do help considerably, and we also provide a/c and ceiling fans so our guests can be comfortable when they prefer to close the windows. Hope to hear from you next time you travel to Maui as we'd love to have you back any time!

Recommended for:Sightseeing, age 55+, families with teenagers.

Exactly what we wanted

Guest: Ed & Gayle (North Vancouver, BC, Canada)
Date of Stay: 04/15/10 Review Submitted: 06/14/10

At first we were concerned because we have not had a land-stay vacation for years – mostly cruises. However, on our last cruise we stopped at Maui and decided to come back. We found Linda and Al’s condo to be exactly what we wanted – close to everything…the beach, stores, and many restaurants. April turned out to be just the right time of year for temperature for us. The directions Linda gave us to get to the condo from the airport were simple and precise. Imagine my surprise to find a martini shaker and glasses waiting for our arrival when we walked in the condo. Our every need was looked after The condo is newly decorated in Tommy Bahama style, which was pleasing and comfortable. A bonus was the view of the beach from all windows – front and side. Air conditioning in the livingroom and all bedrooms was a nice treat as most condos only have a ceiling fan. Our hosts provided us with beach chairs and even a boogie board so we could enjoy the beach across the street when we did not use the pool in the complex. Another bonus was the free internet so we could check and send email as we wanted – and – also provided was free telephone to the mainland US and Canada. And…the cable tv showed both Canadian and US sports, so we kept up with the Stanley Cup finals. We found a new ‘bistro’ restaurant a couple blocks away that we went back to twice and even brought take out back to the condo. When we did cook at the condo, the kitchen was fully stocked with everything we needed, and the BBQs were just outside the front lanai where we met fellow vacationers while they did their dinners. The question I always ask of others is “would you go back again”. My answer, in a word: YES.

Owner response:Some guests are just unforgettable. You two were just a delight! So happy that your stay at our place was enjoyable, and we hope you returned home with some wonderful vacation memories to add to your travel journal. We've loved reading all about your adventures and look forward to future posts - especially the ones where you are writing about having another wonderful stay at our Maui condo!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Great Condo

Guest: Debbie, Mark, Christina and Rory (Marysville, WA )
Date of Stay: 03/20/10 Review Submitted: 05/28/10

The condo was well situated to the beach, we sat outside on the patio and watched the whales everyday and the adult kids were right across the street on the beach and we could see them having fun when we couldn't be there with them. We also used the bar b ques, they are cleaned everyday! The condo itself was well layed out and had plenty of room for the 4 of us, beach chairs and towels were a real plus, we used the washer and dryer several times. It was nice that Linda had stuff there to use if I needed to. It was easy walking to a couple of nice resturants and some shopping. The Scuba Shack was right next door and we rented gear from them. We really enjoyed our stay there in March and hope to return either next year or the year after. This is the first condo that had spices available and we didn't have to spend a fortune on buying everything, but we did add our favorties to be left there for the next vacationer. My husband was able to hook his zune up and play music through the speakers which he really enjoyed. Internet access was really easy to use. The decor was really nice, in fact my daughter wants to get the same type of bedding. The two twins beds converted to a King and was very comfortable. Having 2 full baths was great also, one upstairs and one down. Views were great from everyroom. We would recommend staying here, it fit right into our budget and so close to the beach. No elevators for me, I like be able to walk right outside and enjoy!! Linda the owner was great to work with, she emailed me answers to all my questions, and returned our deposit right away. The Condo was really clean and well maintained. The new windows were really easy to open and the window coverings were very easy to use.

Owner response:Thank you for taking such wonderful care of our condo during your stay. And, thank you for contributing to our spice collection - I know future guests will appreciate it so much. We're always working on updating and upgrading the interior of our condo and it is nice to have such positive feedback from our guests. When someone would like to have something similar in their own homes, that is just the best compliment you could hope for! We are looking forward to welcoming you back in the future and hope you will like the changes we've made since your last stay.

Recommended for:Sightseeing, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Kamaole Beach Club

Guest: Makena K (Coquitlam, BC Canada)
Date of Stay: 12/28/09 Review Submitted: 04/15/10

Our family enjoyed another New Year in Maui at our favorite Beach, Kamaole 1. The condo was recently renovated and fully stocked with everything we needed to make our stay as comfortable as ever. The owners have really paid attention to all details and truly make you feel at home. I would highly recommend this property for your stay in Maui.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Magical Maui Retreat

Guest: Maui in my Heart (Hamel, MN, USA)
Date of Stay: 02/24/10 Review Submitted: 04/14/10

This property comes highly recommended from our family from Minnesota! You cannot find a better location! This unit is across the street from beautiful Kamaole Beach and is within walking distance of shopping, and restaurants. The unit was incredibly clean and welcoming. Open the curtains and you have a beautiful view of the ocean! The grill is steps away from your door, the pool nearby also. The pictures on the website are very accurate showing the updates and the views from the windows. The owners exceeded expectation in their communication with us, and the care that has been put into their Maui home. It is truely our favorite place to stay in Maui! Activities for our 10 days in Maui included: Scuba diving the Cathedral, Scuba diving at Molokini, snorkeling, Star gazing at Haleakala (incredible), shopping in Lahina, shopping in Kihei, shopping in Paia and beach time, beach time, beach time at Kamaole Beach across the street from the beautiful two story condo.

Owner response:Your family truly wins the award for exploring the island to the fullest and taking advantage of every opportunity possible during the time you spend on Maui! We thank you for the great suggestions of things that WE still need to see and do. (We honestly thought that we had seen/done most everything after 16 years of visiting Maui, but we were wrong!) The curtains are gone - they've been replaced with brand new blinds. But, the fantastic views remain the same and are waiting for you when you return. We're so excited to hear you will be staying with us again and we can't wait for you to see some of the changes we've made since your last visit.

Recommended for:Tourists without a car, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.