Maui magnificence: A evaluation of Kaanapali Alii, a Destination by Hyatt Residence

There’s lots to like in regards to the Kaanapali Alii, a Destination by Hyatt Residence. Located on Maui in Hawaii, this Hyatt-affiliated property affords a wonderful location on iconic Kaanapali Beach, giant lodging with spacious dwelling rooms and full-size kitchens, complimentary parking and a calming pool space, amongst different highlights. Best of all, you need to use 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For some time now, I’ve been promising my brother and his three kids, who’re 9, 11 and 13 years outdated, that we might make a journey to Hawaii.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 is protected to say that our journey was so successful that we’re already wanting into how we will make this an annual journey. Here is every little thing that you must learn about bedding down on the Kaanapali Alii so you possibly can plan your personal Maui getaway.

Booking

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 needed to go. For the October journey I used to be planning, I could not discover any award availability on the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa or the Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort. Fortunately, the dearth 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 area for as much as six friends. Given the island’s popularity and lack of award availability at different Hyatt properties, I wasn’t shocked to seek out that ocean-view premium suites have been going for a whopping 60,000 World of Hyatt factors per night time on my dates. Redeeming 240,000 World of Hyatt factors for one keep was essentially the most I’ve ever spent on a Hyatt redemption.

Despite the excessive award fee, I’d nonetheless name my redemption an excellent worth, as TPG values these 240,000 factors at $4,080. Cash costs for a similar days for a similar unit would have been $5,601.56, so I saved some huge cash and in addition had an opportunity to deal with my brother and his kids to an exceptional journey.

If you do not have sufficient factors (or money) to e-book a costlier two-bedroom condominium, 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 stories that you’re going to sometimes discover the most affordable charges from April to June, in addition to between September and mid-December, so when you’re versatile together with your journey dates, it’s possible you’ll discover decrease costs. When I checked for October 2023, I discovered money charges beginning at $548 per night time and award nights for as few as 30,000 World of Hyatt factors per night time.

When figuring out if a keep right here is feasible in your price range, keep in mind to issue within the property’s resort charge. Called a “each day service charge” on the Kaanapali Alii, the $58.71 cost can rapidly add up over a multiday journey. However, when you e-book a stick with factors as a World of Hyatt member, your resort charges will likely be waived. Regardless of whether or not or not you employ factors, you may additionally get resort charges waived when you’ve got 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 situated a few 45-minute drive away from Kahului Airport (OGG) on one in every of Maui’s hottest seashores, not removed from the outdated whaling port of Lahaina. It’s one in every of a number of resorts on well-known Kaanapali Beach, a 3-mile stretch of sand on the western coast of the island. The space has drawn vacationers because it began being developed within the Sixties, although the Kaanapali Alii did not open till the Eighties.

Next to this trip rental advanced, you may discover Whalers Village, a shopping center with loads of boutiques and eating places, together with well-liked spots like Hula Grill Kaanapali, Leilani’s on the Beach and Joey’s Kitchen Maui. Additionally, you possibly can take a roughly 20-minute stroll to the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa, the place each night time 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.

Related: The finest time to go to Hawaii

Check-in

Check-in on the Kaanapali Alii is at 4 p.m., so I used to be pleasantly shocked after I arrived round 2 p.m. and was advised that our unit was prepared. The course of was fast, with the resort worker taking a bank card and confirming I used to be in a two-bedroom condominium with ocean views.

During check-in, the entrance desk employees handed me 5 bracelets, which my brother, his three children and I have 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 Beach. 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 substitute charge, a coverage I discover to be a bit strict however not unusual to return throughout at resorts in Hawaii.

Once the visitor insurance policies have 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 go in favor of transferring every little thing we introduced ourselves to avoid wasting time and maintain ourselves organized.

Room

When my brother, his children and I walked into our assigned condominium, we have been blown away by what lay inside.

After coming into the condominium, 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 linked to the principle dwelling area, 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 dwelling 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 dwelling space was spacious. It was an exquisite place to unwind with my household away from different friends and residents.

While 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 offered a terrific view of Maui’s attractive sunsets and the adjoining Westin’s nightly luau. It was an excellent spot to take pleasure in dinner as a household after getting ready our meal within the unit’s kitchen, too.

Beyond this predominant dwelling area, there was the aforementioned laundry room, which was outfitted with a stacked washer and dryer, plus a small sink. After a number of days with the children in Hawaii, it was clutch to have a technique to clear all the garments wanted whereas swimming and out exploring.

A pair of closets with ample however not overwhelming cupboard space was additionally obtainable. Much to my shock, the closet by the laundry room had one of many oldest-looking safes I’ve ever seen whereas touring. Unlike extra fashionable variations with digital options for locking and unlocking the door, this protected was coin-operated, requiring 1 / 4 to open the door.

Additionally, there have been two giant bedrooms with a mixture of wood furnishings and island-inspired accents (assume: tropical throw pillows, potted vegetation and partitions painted in beachy colours like mild blue and beige). Hotel necessities like a flat-screen TV, a cellphone and air-con have been additionally obtainable in every bed room. Overall, the design was fundamental however ample, giving us a cushty place to catch some zzz’s each night time.

Attached to every bed room was one of many loos. Despite providing sufficient area for a walk-in bathe or a big shower-tub unit, plus a bidet within the toilet for the proprietor’s suite, every toilet solely had one sink. Still, they have been principally a success with our crew due to the full-size lavender-lime-scented toiletries from Lather, an organization that sells magnificence merchandise made with plant-based components.

Food and beverage

Unlike conventional resorts the place you may discover a number of eating places, there are not any sit-down eating venues on the Kaanapali Alii. This wasn’t a problem for my household, as we visited a Costco by the island’s airport on our technique to the property so we might prepare dinner the majority of our meals in our unit’s well-equipped kitchen.

If you do not wish to fear about shopping for your personal groceries, you possibly can organize 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 wish to choose up a few objects or purchase a snack with out stepping foot off the property.

Knowledgeable grill grasp on the property might help you make completely seasoned meat, too. This complimentary service is accessible on a first-come, first-served foundation from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday by way of Tuesday.

For those that’d slightly keep away from having to prepare dinner whereas on trip, there are a number of eateries situated inside strolling distance, together with the beforehand talked about Leilani’s on the Beach and Hula Grill Kaanapali, plus Monkeypod Kitchen by Merriman. All three serve informal, family-friendly Hawaiian fare, reminiscent of fish tacos, poke bowls and pizza topped with kalua pork and pineapple.

Related: Which resort has the most effective free breakfast? TPG ate 10 meals to seek out the winner

Amenities

Although eating choices are restricted, there may be an array of different facilities on the Kaanapali Alli. However, they are not fairly of the caliber of what a high-end resort would supply in Hawaii.

Free facilities vary from on-site parking (which I all the time admire, because it’s laborious to seek out today) to Wi-Fi entry to complimentary espresso within the mornings in an indoor-outdoor area with TVs and plentiful seating.

There can be a health club, which, I famous, remained empty for almost all of our keep. Located in a constructing to the best of one of many parking garages, the unstaffed area had fashionable train gear, 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 affords “Rise and Shine” yoga courses three days per week for $25 an individual. Group health courses, reminiscent of circuit coaching, are additionally obtainable three days per week for $25 per individual. To take part, you may want to order your spot on the entrance desk.

If you’d slightly break a sweat with outside actions, you possibly can head to one in every of three clay tennis courts. They’re free to make use of, and friends can borrow tennis rackets and balls free of charge by way of the concierge.

Should you like to indulge whereas on trip, a day spa can be obtainable within the health middle. I did not e-book a remedy however noticed that quite a few massages, facials and even waxings have been obtainable in particular person remedy rooms. A 50-minute therapeutic massage prices $145, whereas a 50-minute facial will set you again $160.

Besides the wellness amenities, friends have entry to a few oceanfront swimming pools: a quiet pool, a children pool and a curviform predominant pool with a waterfall. They’re small by Hawaii resort requirements and lack any wow components for households, reminiscent of waterslides, however they by no means bought too crowded throughout our go to. We might all the time seize sufficient lounge chairs for our complete group, no matter after we visited, which is a serious plus in Hawaii today.

A few sizzling tubs have been additionally obtainable and have been all the time empty after we walked by.

At the principle pool home, you can lease seashore umbrellas and poolside cabanas. Beach umbrellas price $20 per half day and $40 per full day, whereas cabana costs vary from $45 to $70 per day.

Throughout the pool space, there have been stations the place you can organize off-site actions and excursions like whale watching, snorkeling and helicopter rides. These stations have been additionally the place you can get contemporary towels, although friends are restricted to 1 towel per towel card, which is strictly enforced.

If you realize you wish to take pleasure in some actions whereas on Maui however will not be fairly positive what you’d love to do, you possibly can go to the concierge workplace contained in the small comfort retailer. There, you may discover extra data on close by issues to do and may get help reserving actions. Just remember that the hours are restricted from 8 a.m. to six p.m.

Like different resorts in Hawaii, the Kaanapali Alii has seashore entry. However, it is from good. We have been warned at check-in that elements of the property, together with the seashore, had washed away throughout current storms. While older pictures of the seashore present a large stretch of sand, it’s at the moment a lot smaller.

Nearly the entire seashore stroll is closed as nicely attributable to current climate occasions, so when you can nonetheless entry the seashore, you possibly can now not stroll down the garden on to it. This is not the resort’s fault by any stretch of the creativeness, as neighboring properties additionally had points with their seashores after we visited, however you may wish to maintain this in thoughts so you realize what to anticipate.

Service

Overall, we skilled top-notch service whereas on the Kaanapali Alii. The entrance desk employees was pleasant, and the truth that they allow us to verify in early was an exquisite shock. The bellmen have been hospitable and fast to supply help, too, and calls to the entrance desk have been answered promptly. We additionally appreciated gaining access to fundamental housekeeping every single day, as so many resorts have eradicated it altogether as a result of coronavirus pandemic.

Still, we did encounter a few points within the room, although they have been dealt with effectively.

In one of many loos, the hand-held bathe head did not work and the bidet drain was backed up. Fortunately, a name to upkeep led to the decision of each points by the point we returned from a number of hours on the seashore.

We additionally needed to name upkeep to activate the televisions because the property directs all friends to take action as an alternative of leaving directions contained in the items. While it was barely annoying to should take this additional step so we might often watch a present, it was in the end a minor inconvenience that did not 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 seashore to indicate 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 nicely, and there have been no surprises within the last invoice.

While the service wasn’t as hands-on as what it’s possible you’ll expertise at conventional resorts, it exceeded my expectations for a trip rental.

Related: Book this, not that: Hawaii resorts version

Accessibility

Because the items on the Kaanapali Alii have particular person homeowners, there isn’t a authorized requirement for rooms to be absolutely compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. However, I used to be advised that some rooms have ramps and are subsequently wheelchair pleasant, although each room has a minimum of two steps.

The property itself is not very best for wheelchairs, because the irregular pavement and closed walkways would make it robust for these in wheelchairs to get round. The hallways have been broad, although, and the elevator might accommodate friends in wheelchairs.

Additionally, there have been chair lifts for the swimming pools and sizzling tubs.

Overall impression

The Kaanapali Alii has every little thing you can need in a trip rental dwelling … nicely, other than a bargain-basement worth. The one- and two-bedroom condos present ample area to stretch out, plus some top-notch options like absolutely outfitted kitchens and comfortably furnished lanais. Having complimentary parking and quick access to numerous retailers and eating places are highlights, too.

Because every unit is individually owned, the precise inside design, structure and situation of every area will range from condominium to condominium. If you do not thoughts this lack of consistency, although, odds are you may take pleasure in staying right here, as long as seashore erosion is not a deal breaker.

Visit TPG’s Hawaii vacation spot hub for extra tales about attending to the islands, staying on the islands and what to do whereas visiting.