EXCELLENT-- far surpassed even our high expectations
Written: Sep 25 '03
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Wonderful hotel and service, convenient location, excellent value
Cons: Early morning noise; overpriced on-site restaurant
The Bottom Line: Excellent value for your money. Save your resort money for a nice rental car, meals and activities, but it won't sacrifice accommodations.
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| swank1031's Full Review: The Maui Coast Hotel |
I have to say I am very surprised at the previous reviews here of the Maui Coast Hotel. Surprised, and disappointed. I think this hotel may be one of the best kept secrets in Maui. No, it is not the Four Seasons; if you're after a posh resort, go to the actual Four Seasons. Nor is it a budget or "roadside motel." It's listed as a 3-star hotel with many amenities, and when my husband and I called to speak to someone there prior to booking, we were assured that they pride themselves on 5-star service. They were NOT kidding either.
If you are on a budget but still want to stay somewhere nice, this is the place for you. It has all the amenities and service of a more expensive hotel, without the peskiness of an overly attentive staff and the sheer lunacy of resort and parking fees. It's located in Kihei, which is between the popular resort, shopping and dining areas of Lahaina and Kaanapali, and the peace and splendor of Wailea-- so anything and everything you could want to do or experience is well within your reach, though Kihei itself is a great place to explore. The grounds of the hotel are immaculate, the staff is friendly and helpful, the rooms are spacious and pretty, there is free parking and laundry-- what more can you ask for without paying hundreds of dollars a night? Also, there ARE views of the ocean-- we saw it every day-- if you are on the ocean side. If you happen to be on the mountain side, boo hoo, that view is no less beautiful. The hotel is "across the street" from the beach. So walk a block to get there, and spend the extra dough on a convertible to tool around in. Pick your priorities. Go to the Dolphin Plaza next door and rent a boogie board for a few dollars a day. That is all you need for a great time.
The only complaints I have about this hotel, and mind you, they are very minor, are that the area is slightly noisy in the morning (there is another hotel next door and you can hear the trash being collected, the birds waking up, or the sprinkler system coming on), and the on-site restaurant, Spices, was overpriced with so-so food. The morning noise was barely an issue as you arrive jet lagged and quickly get used to getting up early anyway. Spices used to be Jameson's, which received bad reviews from nearly all the travel guides, but has since been reborn. They have AWESOME breakfast, and great lunch, but dinner was overpriced, a la carte, and the quality was not a good value. But there are plenty of places to eat a great dinner, and we only ate dinner there once out of convenience (we were exhausted from our trip to Hana).
I can't say enough good things about this place, so I will post the letter I sent to them thanking the hotel for a great experience. Aloha!
Dear Mr. Cruz:
My husband and I are writing to commend you for a wonderful honeymoon experience at the Maui Coast Hotel.
Eric and I were engaged February 13, 2000, and we
endured over a three-year engagement in our quest to
afford the wedding and honeymoon of our dreams.
Although our wedding plans changed many times, we
always knew that Hawaii would be our honeymoon
destination. Of course, we found ourselves faced with
the dilemma of any Hawaiian honeymooner: where to stay
on the most beautiful islands of the world. We were
also very concerned with cost as we were on a very
tight budget.
We read many traveler's guides and reviews before we
came across a very positive, intriguing review in the
2002 Frommer's Guide of the Maui Coast Hotel. On a
blustery Ohio night in February 2003, we weighed many
options before we finally called the Maui Coast. The
employee who answered was incredibly friendly and
patient with all of our questions. He explained to us
that although the Maui Coast frequently is reviewed as
a three-star hotel, they pride themselves on five-star
service. Based on this conversation alone, we decided
on the Maui Coast for our honeymoon accommodations and
booked a vacation package through Expedia.
We had great expectations of the hotel when we finally
arrived on May 27, 2003, two days after our wedding
and after a nearly 15-hour flight to Maui, for our
five-day stay. As we drove up the driveway just after
sunset in our rental car, we savored the smell of the
hibiscus plants on site and smiled when we saw the
many welcoming tiki torches on the property, as a hula
dancer performed in the pool area. The lobby area was
warm and inviting, and we loved the open-air quality.
It was exactly the vision of Hawaii of which we had
dreamed of for so long. The staff was welcoming and
helpful, and check-in was quite easy.
Our room far surpassed our expectations. We had booked
a one-bedroom suite for our honeymoon. We found it
quite spacious and inviting. The lanai overlooked the
ocean, and the bed was one of the most comfortable
beds in which we had ever slept. The bathroom was more
than enough space for us, and had a generous supply of
toiletries. The refrigerator, sink and sitting areas
were especially useful. We had more than enough closet
space available, and we were grateful for the safe
with passcode access. We also enjoyed the cable
television access in both the sitting area and the
bedroom; the traveler's information channel was
especially helpful to us. We considered the quality of
our room to be an exceptional value.
Your staff was every bit as wonderful as had been
described to us over the phone. The front desk staff
was well prepared with restaurant recommendations and
driving directions. The activity desk was especially
helpful to us. The gift shop attendant was one of the
friendliest and most outgoing people we met in Maui.
The pool attendants were helpful and welcoming. The
Tradewinds staff served great food and drinks with a
smile. We enjoyed breakfast nearly every day in the
Spices restaurant, which was incredibly convenient. We
would especially like to commend you for the Internet
access in the lobby and the speed and friendliness of
your housekeeping staff.
The Maui Coast was conveniently located across the
street from Kamaole Beach I, and was within easy
driving access of many tourist attractions. Everywhere
we went on the property, we were greeted with smiles
by the staff and made to feel appreciated for our
business. It was rare to find in such a "touristy"
area. Yet, because the Maui Coast is so affordable, we
found ourselves able to afford many memorable
activities and meals we otherwise could not have
afforded if we had stayed at an overpriced, overhyped
resort.
We hated to check out of the Maui Coast, we so enjoyed
our time there. It will always be special to us, and
we hope to return again as soon as we can. We are
professional wedding videographers in the Cleveland,
Ohio area, as well as members of several wedding
planning website communities, and we will be
recommending the Maui Coast to anyone interested in
vacationing in Maui. You are to be commended on the
quality and value of your accommodations, and the
spirit of aloha which your staff carries with pride.
We would like to sincerely thank you for a wonderful
honeymoon experience. Although our stay was short, we
will always fondly remember our memories at the Maui
Coast.
Again, from two Ohioans who miss Maui very much, we
thank you.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
swank1031
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Reviews written: 2
Trusted by: 0 members
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