Maui magnificence: A evaluation of Kaanapali Alii, a Vacation spot by Hyatt Residence
There’s so much to like concerning the Kaanapali Alii, a Vacation spot by Hyatt Residence. Positioned on Maui in Hawaii, this Hyatt-affiliated property presents a superb location on iconic Kaanapali Seaside, giant lodging with spacious residing rooms and full-size kitchens, complimentary parking and a soothing pool space, amongst different highlights. Better of all, you should utilize your World of Hyatt factors to e-book a keep right here.
For some time now, I’ve been promising my brother and his three kids, who’re 9, 11 and 13 years outdated, that we’d make a journey to Hawaii. So, when a stash of World of Hyatt factors and some days off lastly put the dream household trip inside attain, I made a decision to take my household to the Aloha State.
After our four-night keep on the Kaanapali Alii, it’s secure to say that our journey was so successful that we’re already wanting into how we will make this an annual journey. Right here is the whole lot it’s worthwhile to learn about bedding down on the Kaanapali Alii so you may plan your personal Maui getaway.
Reserving
I used to be very enthusiastic about utilizing World of Hyatt factors for a trip in Maui … that’s, till I spotted there was hardly any availability for the dates I wished to go. For the October journey I used to be planning, I couldn’t discover any award availability on the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa or the Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort. Thankfully, the shortage of rooms at these Hyatt properties ended up working in our favor, because the lesser-known Kaanapali Alii had availability.
To accommodate the 5 of us, I looked for two-bedroom condos with house for as much as six friends. Given the island’s recognition and lack of award availability at different Hyatt properties, I wasn’t stunned to seek out that ocean-view premium suites had been going for a whopping 60,000 World of Hyatt factors per evening on my dates. Redeeming 240,000 World of Hyatt factors for one keep was probably the most I’ve ever spent on a Hyatt redemption.
Regardless of the excessive award fee, I’d nonetheless name my redemption an excellent worth, as TPG values these 240,000 factors at $4,080. Money costs for a similar days for a similar unit would have been $5,601.56, so I saved some huge cash and likewise had an opportunity to deal with my brother and his kids to an outstanding journey.
If you happen to don’t have sufficient factors (or money) to e-book a costlier two-bedroom rental, there are a few methods to trim prices. For instance, teams with not more than 4 folks can reserve a smaller one-bedroom unit with backyard views. The resort additionally experiences that you simply’ll usually discover the most affordable charges from April to June, in addition to between September and mid-December, so when you’re versatile along with your journey dates, it’s possible you’ll discover decrease costs. Once I checked for October 2023, I discovered money charges beginning at $548 per evening and award nights for as few as 30,000 World of Hyatt factors per evening.
When figuring out if a keep right here is feasible in your finances, keep in mind to issue within the property’s resort price. Known as a “day by day service price” on the Kaanapali Alii, the $58.71 cost can rapidly add up over a multiday journey. Nevertheless, when you e-book a stick with factors as a World of Hyatt member, your resort charges shall be waived. No matter whether or not or not you utilize factors, you might also get resort charges waived in case you have Hyatt Globalist standing (which was the case for us throughout this keep since I’m a Globalist member).
Location
The 177-unit Kaanapali Alli is positioned a few 45-minute drive away from Kahului Airport (OGG) on one among Maui’s hottest seashores, not removed from the outdated whaling port of Lahaina. It’s one among a number of resorts on well-known Kaanapali Seaside, a 3-mile stretch of sand on the western coast of the island. The world has drawn vacationers because it began being developed within the Nineteen Sixties, although the Kaanapali Alii didn’t open till the Nineteen Eighties.
Subsequent to this trip rental advanced, you’ll discover Whalers Village, a shopping center with loads of boutiques and eating places, together with common spots like Hula Grill Kaanapali, Leilani’s on the Seaside and Joey’s Kitchen Maui. Moreover, you may take a roughly 20-minute stroll to the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa, the place each evening at sundown, there’s a torch-lighting ceremony and cliff divers. I managed to scale and dive off the cliff and someway satisfied my brother to do it, too. The expertise ended up being a spotlight of our go to.
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Test-in
Test-in on the Kaanapali Alii is at 4 p.m., so I used to be pleasantly stunned after I arrived round 2 p.m. and was advised that our unit was prepared. The method was fast, with the resort worker taking a bank card and confirming I used to be in a two-bedroom rental with ocean views.
Throughout check-in, the entrance desk workers handed me 5 bracelets, which my brother, his three children and I had been requested to put on all through our keep to show residency. I used to be additionally given 5 towel playing cards so we might have towels to make use of when on the property’s swimming pools and Kaanapali Seaside. With the latter, I used to be warned that if we misplaced a card (or a towel), I’d be on the hook for a $25 alternative price, a coverage I discover to be a bit strict however not unusual to come back throughout at resorts in Hawaii.
As soon as the visitor insurance policies had been coated, the entrance desk agent supplied to ship a bellman to assist us unload all our baggage and groceries. Since we had a lot stuff, we determined to move in favor of transferring the whole lot we introduced ourselves to avoid wasting time and maintain ourselves organized.
Room
When my brother, his children and I walked into our assigned rental, we had been blown away by what lay inside.
After coming into the rental, which was someplace between 1,500 and 1,900 sq. toes, and taking a fast peek on the small laundry room near the doorway, we walked down a brief hallway that related to the principle residing house, the place sweeping views of the ocean and the neighboring Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Kaanapali awaited us.
Following a pause to soak up the unimaginable panorama, we turned our consideration again to the residing space. Composed of a household room, an open kitchen with an electrical vary and a Sub-Zero fridge, a separate eating room and two entries to a big lanai, or balcony, the residing space was spacious. It was a beautiful place to unwind with my household away from different friends and residents.
Whereas there was loads of seating inside the principle room, we spent the majority of our time on the lanai when within the unit, because it supplied a terrific view of Maui’s attractive sunsets and the adjoining Westin’s nightly luau. It was an excellent spot to get pleasure from dinner as a household after getting ready our meal within the unit’s kitchen, too.
Past this important residing house, there was the aforementioned laundry room, which was outfitted with a stacked washer and dryer, plus a small sink. After a couple of days with the youngsters in Hawaii, it was clutch to have a method to clear all the garments wanted whereas swimming and out exploring.
A pair of closets with satisfactory however not overwhelming space for storing was additionally accessible. A lot to my shock, the closet by the laundry room had one of many oldest-looking safes I’ve ever seen whereas touring. In contrast to extra fashionable variations with digital options for locking and unlocking the door, this secure was coin-operated, requiring 1 / 4 to open the door.
Moreover, there have been two giant bedrooms with a mixture of picket furnishings and island-inspired accents (assume: tropical throw pillows, potted vegetation and partitions painted in beachy colours like mild blue and beige). Lodge necessities like a flat-screen TV, a cellphone and air con had been additionally accessible in every bed room. General, the design was fundamental however ample, giving us a cushty place to catch some zzz’s each evening.
Hooked up to every bed room was one of many bogs. Regardless of providing sufficient house for a walk-in bathe or a big shower-tub unit, plus a bidet within the rest room for the proprietor’s suite, every rest room solely had one sink. Nonetheless, they had been principally a success with our crew because of the full-size lavender-lime-scented toiletries from Lather, an organization that sells magnificence merchandise made with plant-based substances.
Meals and beverage
In contrast to conventional resorts the place you’ll discover a number of eating places, there are not any sit-down eating venues on the Kaanapali Alii. This wasn’t a difficulty for my household, as we visited a Costco by the island’s airport on our method to the property so we might cook dinner the majority of our meals in our unit’s well-equipped kitchen.
If you happen to don’t need to fear about shopping for your personal groceries, you may prepare to have the resort inventory your unit’s pantry and Sub-Zero fridge for you forward of time. There’s additionally a small comfort retailer on-site, do you have to need to decide up a few objects or purchase a snack with out stepping foot off the property.
An expert grill grasp on the property can assist you make completely seasoned meat, too. This complimentary service is out there on a first-come, first-served foundation from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday via Tuesday.
For many who’d fairly keep away from having to cook dinner whereas on trip, there are a number of eateries positioned inside strolling distance, together with the beforehand talked about Leilani’s on the Seaside and Hula Grill Kaanapali, plus Monkeypod Kitchen by Merriman. All three serve informal, family-friendly Hawaiian fare, comparable to fish tacos, poke bowls and pizza topped with kalua pork and pineapple.
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Facilities
Though eating choices are restricted, there may be an array of different facilities on the Kaanapali Alli. Nevertheless, they’re not fairly of the caliber of what a high-end resort would provide in Hawaii.
Free facilities vary from on-site parking (which I all the time admire, because it’s laborious to seek out as of late) to Wi-Fi entry to complimentary espresso within the mornings in an indoor-outdoor house with TVs and plentiful seating.
There’s additionally a health club, which, I famous, remained empty for almost all of our keep. Positioned in a constructing to the proper of one of many parking garages, the unstaffed house had fashionable train tools, together with a Star Trac Max Rack weight machine, cardio machines like ellipticals by Matrix, Peloton bikes, free weights and a small studio for yoga.
The resort presents “Rise and Shine” yoga courses three days every week for $25 an individual. Group health courses, comparable to circuit coaching, are additionally accessible three days every week for $25 per particular person. To take part, you’ll want to order your spot on the entrance desk.
If you happen to’d fairly break a sweat with out of doors actions, you may head to one among three clay tennis courts. They’re free to make use of, and friends can borrow tennis rackets and balls free of charge via the concierge.
Do you have to favor to indulge whereas on trip, a day spa can also be accessible within the health middle. I didn’t e-book a therapy however noticed that quite a few massages, facials and even waxings had been accessible in particular person therapy rooms. A 50-minute therapeutic massage prices $145, whereas a 50-minute facial will set you again $160.
Apart from the wellness amenities, friends have entry to a few oceanfront swimming pools: a quiet pool, a children pool and a curviform important pool with a waterfall. They’re small by Hawaii resort requirements and lack any wow components for households, comparable to waterslides, however they by no means received too crowded throughout our go to. We might all the time seize sufficient lounge chairs for our total group, no matter after we visited, which is a serious plus in Hawaii as of late.
A few scorching tubs had been additionally accessible and had been all the time empty after we walked by.
On the important pool home, you possibly can hire seaside umbrellas and poolside cabanas. Seaside umbrellas price $20 per half day and $40 per full day, whereas cabana costs vary from $45 to $70 per day.
All through the pool space, there have been stations the place you possibly can prepare off-site actions and excursions like whale watching, snorkeling and helicopter rides. These stations had been additionally the place you possibly can get recent towels, although friends are restricted to at least one towel per towel card, which is strictly enforced.
If you realize you need to get pleasure from some actions whereas on Maui however usually are not fairly positive what you’d love to do, you may go to the concierge workplace contained in the small comfort retailer. There, you’ll discover extra info on close by issues to do and might get help reserving actions. Simply bear in mind that the hours are restricted from 8 a.m. to six p.m.
Like different resorts in Hawaii, the Kaanapali Alii has seaside entry. Nevertheless, it’s removed from good. We had been warned at check-in that elements of the property, together with the seaside, had washed away throughout latest storms. Whereas older pictures of the seaside present a large stretch of sand, it’s at present a lot smaller.
Almost the entire seaside stroll is closed as properly as a result of latest climate occasions, so whilst you can nonetheless entry the seaside, you may not stroll down the garden on to it. This isn’t the resort’s fault by any stretch of the creativeness, as neighboring properties additionally had points with their seashores after we visited, however you’ll need to maintain this in thoughts so you realize what to anticipate.
Service
General, we skilled top-notch service whereas on the Kaanapali Alii. The entrance desk workers was pleasant, and the truth that they allow us to test in early was a beautiful shock. The bellmen had been hospitable and fast to supply help, too, and calls to the entrance desk had been answered promptly. We additionally appreciated accessing fundamental housekeeping on daily basis, as so many resorts have eradicated it altogether because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Nonetheless, we did encounter a few points within the room, although they had been dealt with effectively.
In one of many bogs, the hand-held bathe head didn’t work and the bidet drain was backed up. Thankfully, a name to upkeep led to the decision of each points by the point we returned from a couple of hours on the seaside.
We additionally needed to name upkeep to activate the televisions because the property directs all friends to take action as a substitute of leaving directions contained in the models. Whereas it was barely annoying to must take this additional step so we might often watch a present, it was in the end a minor inconvenience that didn’t eat up an excessive amount of of our time.
The pleasant lady working on the concierge desk deserves a particular point out. She not solely helped us e-book actions, but in addition personally walked my household and me to the seaside to point out us methods to detour across the closed sidewalks. That was a pleasant service contact we weren’t anticipating.
Checkout was quick and environment friendly as properly, and there have been no surprises within the last invoice.
Whereas the service wasn’t as hands-on as what it’s possible you’ll expertise at conventional motels, it exceeded my expectations for a trip rental.
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Accessibility
As a result of the models on the Kaanapali Alii have particular person homeowners, there is no such thing as a authorized requirement for rooms to be totally compliant with the Individuals with Disabilities Act. Nevertheless, I used to be advised that some rooms have ramps and are due to this fact wheelchair pleasant, although each room has no less than two steps.
The property itself isn’t excellent for wheelchairs, because the irregular pavement and closed walkways would make it powerful for these in wheelchairs to get round. The hallways had been broad, although, and the elevator might accommodate friends in wheelchairs.
Moreover, there have been chair lifts for the swimming pools and scorching tubs.
General impression
The Kaanapali Alii has the whole lot you possibly can need in a trip rental residence … properly, apart from a bargain-basement worth. The one- and two-bedroom condos present ample house to stretch out, plus some top-notch options like totally outfitted kitchens and comfortably furnished lanais. Having complimentary parking and easy accessibility to varied outlets and eating places are highlights, too.
As a result of every unit is individually owned, the precise inside design, structure and situation of every house will differ from rental to rental. If you happen to don’t thoughts this lack of consistency, although, odds are you’ll get pleasure from staying right here, as long as seaside erosion isn’t a deal breaker.
Go to TPG’s Hawaii vacation spot hub for extra tales about attending to the islands, staying on the islands and what to do whereas visiting.
