On an island full of giant resorts, the Napili Kai Beach Resort in Lahaina is a welcome alternative. True, it has the word “resort” in its name but we presume that's mostly for marketing purposes.
Instead of a soaring tower of hotel rooms on the beach, Napili Kai is a plantation-style property with two-story buildings scattered around the edge of Kapalua Bay. Most rooms come with fully equipped kitchenettes and can sleep four people on a king bed and a sleeper sofa.
The look is old Hawaiian and yes, it's a little bit dated but that sort of adds to the charm. There's no air conditioning but you'll have your own lanai and even better, there's no resort fee. Also, the WiFi is free.
Some other perks to Napili Kay? The putting green that lays between the buildings. It's a fun way for kids and adults to kill sometime in between beach, pool, and eating. It's also where Napili Kai hosts their weekly themed parties. Not keen to mingle with others? You can still have your own private BBQ party using one of the four BBQ areas for guests.
The Kapalua Coastal Trail pretty much begins right in front of the property, making it a quick five minute walk to the neighboring Montage Kapalau Bay Resort and another five minutes to the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua, both of which have great restaurants and spas to try, but without paying those hefty room rates. The town of Lahaina is about a 10-15 minute drive away too.
Lastly, the resort has four plain pools but incredibly easy access to the beach. You'll want to bring your own sand toys and gear for the kids but other than that, just kick back and relax.
Room rates at Napili Kai start around $335 a night in August. While we only did a site visit of this property, we have heard from other families that Napili Kai is the bomb.
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