condo advice

My husband and I will be staying for a week in Maui Feb 2006. We are trying to decide between two condo%26#39;s. Please let us know you have have an opinion/advice either way.

1st option: Kihei Kai Nani

2nd option: Kihei Garden Estates

I have read the reviews and can tell more people have stayed at Kihei Kai Nani but I am wondering is it worth the $30 an extra per night?

Thanks for the help!

condo advice

I have not stayed at either property, but just read a review of Kihei Kai Nani and looked at an overhead shot of the property. Do you know it%26#39;s not oceanfront and there%26#39;s actually a busy street that runs between it and Kam beach? Looked up the other one, but there was not a picture or review. I%26#39;ve noticed several condos are listed as oceanfront, but upon further investigation find they are not. Have you thought about Punahoa Beach Apartments, www.punahoabeach.com? They are all oceanfront units about 50 feet away from the water. There is no beach, but a short walk south and north there are. They are very clean and in Kihei which is central to everything. We stayed in a 2nd story studio with a murphy bed that was very comfortable for about $100/night. We feel it is the best value we%26#39;ve ever found.

condo advice

Leaving this Tuesday for 3 wks. at Kihei Garden Estates. Stayed last year at same unit (2br townhouse) for 3wks over the holidays and it was nice. Because they are condos, condition can vary depending on the owner. If you have any questions, post back w/an e-mail and I can check out your units in question.

I%26#39;m not sure of the unit number, the owner sent me pics and it looks fine. Since you have stayed there before perhaps you can tell me, How is the location of the complex? How is the beach there? And how is the noise level?

Our last trip we stayed at Kihei Kai Nani. We payed $70.00 a night and for the money it was well worth it. Yes it is across the street from Kam II but we never had a problem with that. The layout is basic but works well. We did not have air conditioning but honestly would have only used it maybe twice in the 10 days we were there. Remember these places are not the Grand Wailea they are more ';budget friendly'; but hey you still get the same sunsets as the big resorts...

Kehei Garden Estates is a small quiet complex. I believe they were built in the 70%26#39;s. We rent a 2br townhouse for about $130ni. During the high season of Christmas to New Years it is a good deal. We rented through Paradise Vacations. They have pictures on their web site. The complex is about 1 block from the ocean. It is a quad and has a garden courtyard in the middle, hence its name. It is very quiet. The beach is not great (see Maui Revealed). We drive 10min. down the road to Wailea beach in front of the Four Seasons. Kehei Garden Estates is next to the Catholic Church, Star Market (groceries), and lots of affordable restaurants and shops. Most of the units are owners so they don%26#39;t have a lot of rentals. I would confirm condition of your unit. Ours was impeccable. They have a nice pool, large jacuzzi, and bbq area. We have also stayed at the Renaissance and Four Seasons. Renaissance for $200. night is a great deal, but not available during this time of year. Four Seasons at $400.+ a night is the best hotel on the island.

Go with the Kai Nani. It is more of a ';resort';, where Kihei Garden Estates is more a long term complex. Plus the KGE is across the street from the beach.

If you are wanting beach front close to KGE, look at Hale Kai O%26#39;Kihei. It is across the street from Kihei Garden Estates.

I have stayed at Kihei Kai Nani, and it does sit across from the beach, but if you get a unit further back in the complex it is nice and quiet. Most units have a garden setting, except those close to the road.

Good luck.

Okay we have a few more contendor condo%26#39;s that I%26#39;d love opinions on (in addition to the two I started with):

1. Maui Vista

2. Koa Resort

3. Kihei Ali%26#39;i Kai

4. Kauhale Makai (Village by the Sea)

Thanks for any input you can suggest!

Well, I know you didn%26#39;t ask about this one, but I stayed in the Maui Banyan. While our condo was average, my parents condo was very nice and I can give you the exact building and number. It was building Q room 208A. It must have been recently remodeled. It has granite counter tops and the carpet looked fairly new. The furniture and decorations were nice as well. It was a quiet room as well. It%26#39;s right across the street from Kamaole. I wouldn%26#39;t let the street bother you. I as well thought that it might before I got there but realized it made absolutely no difference to us to have to walk a few extra steps. It%26#39;s a small frontage road and people stop all the time to let the pedestrians cross. I believe the condos you are looking at are right next to the Maui Banyan. They rent through AA Oceanfront Condos. I would not recommend the ground floor. Ground floors tend to lure more ants as well as more tourists which means the rooms are frequented more often. There are stairs as well as elevators and plenty of parking. They also have outdoor showers to get the sand off when you are finished with the beach. The ones at the beach are often busy.

You must understand that Kihei exists in three distinct tiers: South, North and Central. Where Central is the LEAST desireable and South is the MOST desireable. You then have tiers of complexes within these area tiers. The Kihei Garden Estates is a bottom tier complex in Central Kihei while the Kihei Kai Nani is a lower/middle tier complex in South Kihei so these 2 condos are not really in the same league. There is currently construction next to the rear part of the Kai Nani so if you do go that way, try to get a unit in one of the front 2 buildings (#1 or #2). These are also the only ones in the complex that get a legitimate ocean view. Is the Kai Nani worth $30 / night more ? Probably not, but it is definitely worth more !

Don%26#39;t know if you are interested, but we booked our condo through an owner on vrbo.com

It is a 2 BR, but it is only 109.00 a night. The owner is so very nice. The condo is at Luana Kai in Kihei. She has had her condo remodeled within the last couple years. I found out about the condo from a TA poster. Let me know if you would like to know who to contact.

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