There are a ton of places to stay in Maui (we've covered a few of them here) but if you've got Marriott Bonvoy points to burn or you're looking for a little piece of history, consider the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa in Kaanapali.
Kaanapali is the “popular” district of Maui, meaning it's a little crowded with tourists, but the Sheraton Maui stands out from the other hotel offerings in the area because of its long-standing nightly cliff-diving tradition off the Black Rock. (Check this photo above!)
Originally built in the 1960s (Elvis Presley filmed a scene here for “Blue Hawaii”), the resort's layout has changed quite a bit. The original lobby is now a little lounge area while the new lobby is very typical of Hawaii resorts—open and breezy, overlooking the ocean and the pools with small desks manned by tour and activities operators.
The guestrooms have recently been renovated (in 2017) and are simple but modern with all-white bathrooms and a little splash of Hawaiian color here and there. But because of the resort's constant changes throughout the decades, many of the guest rooms are different in terms of layout and access.
For families, the best rooms to book are the Ohana suites. (Ohana means family in Hawaiian.) The rooms come with two double beds, a Murphy/wall bed and a sofa bed. Plus both of the patios lead out to the grassy area just before the pool and the beach, making coming and going to the water much easier. You can peep the layout of the room here.
BUT…if you want a little privacy—perhaps it's just you and your bae that are coming to Maui—we'd say opt for one of the Deluxe Oceanfront rooms which come in either king or doubles and all with a twin sleeper chair. There are located in the furthest wing from the resort and it takes two elevators to get to the pool area, HOWEVER, they have uninterrupted views of the ocean which is like 30 feet from your balcony. And they have a high-tech toilet in the bathrooms. It is so glorious and private-feeling without costing $1,000 a night.
See these photos below!
Other good things to know about the Sheraton? There are plenty of casual eateries at the hotel, including a hot dog bar by the pool, but being in Kaanpali puts you closer to loads of other restaurants nearby and Lahaina is only a 10-minute drive away. Like all resorts in Maui, the Sheraton charges a resort fee of $30 which includes activities, shuttle services and WiFi. Starting room rates are typically around $400-$500 a night in the high season but can go as low as $280 in an off-season time like November.
Want to book Sheraton Maui for your next trip? Email me with your dates and I'll check the rates right away. For more about about my services as a travel agent, go here. (TL; DR: I don't charge planning fees and I can get you some great perks.)
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