Napili area weather vs. Kaanapali area

We are going to Maui in late Jan. 09, I%26#39;m told that there is more rain in this area than in Kaanapali; is this a real problem or not? Also, we are staying at the Napili Kai Hotel due to the proximity to a nice beach, is the beach good for my 4 year old and whats the consensus on the hotel at about $500.00 a night I%26#39;m hoping it is great! Any input is welcome.

Napili area weather vs. Kaanapali area

Napili is about 10 miles north of Ka%26#39;napali. When we were there early last February, there was no difference in the weather, and Napili seemed a little sheltered. Kapalua gets windy.

Napili Kai is OK -- very nice location. Popular restaurant on site. At $500 a night -- I hope you are getting 2 bedrooms - a large unit.

Napili area weather vs. Kaanapali area

Napili Kai is one of our favorite resorts and Napili Bay and Beach is marvelous. We%26#39;ve stayed there 9 or 10 times over the past 15 years and keep going back for the laid back ambiance, the great beach that is litereally steps from your room, and the friendly staff.

That said, I must confess that the latest in the year we%26#39;ve been is early November and the earliest is early May. In the winter, those beaches get more of a north swell so the wave action might be a bit livlier than it is in the summertime. Hopefully some of the regulars who travel to Maui in the winter will pipe in about that.

If you haven%26#39;t done so already, check Napili Kai%26#39;s web site, or ask the reservations desk about their 5th Day Free package. That will at least help to bring down the average daily rate.

Thanks BLBL. Where would you stay in Napili/Kaanapali area, we do want that close beach access for my daughter, also need a full kitchen as we do like to eat in a few nights. Yes it is a two bath unit with a back bedroom for the child (and nanny) and a front room for my wife and myself.

VC, We did ask about that fifth night deal and got nowhere at all, also tried AAA rates and then resorted to begging all to no avail. Friends have reccomended Napili Kai but we are not adamant about staying there would go elsewhere for clean, condo close to a nice beach. Is the swell constant or on and off and what about undertow and/or currents?

January is HIGH season. Folks fleeing the Mainland snow. Bargains are few - unless the economy continues it%26#39;s slide.

I would re-post asking for condo ideas in Ka%26#39;anapali/Napili. I know that the Westin Villas come highly recommended.

Generally the further north you go on the west side of Maui the more clouds and rain you get. Kapalua can be socked in all day while Lahaina is sitting in the sun. And along with the clouds goes winds. That%26#39;s the basic nature of the way the prevailing winds hit the island. Of course your vacation may be sunny the whole time you are there. But odds are that you will see more sun the further south you go.

Napili Kai is wonderful. With a small kid I would keep them in front of the resort and not let them wonder off down the beach where the beach gets steeper and there can be more of a rip tide.

I love Napili, but the last two visits did have more rain there than in Kaanapali - Oct %26#39;07 %26amp; April %26#39;08. So much so, that I think if I stay there again, it%26#39;ll be for a much shorter duration.

I get enough rain in Oregon.

IMO a condo in Kihei is best for weather and the many kid friendly beaches there. Although Napili Bay has an unusual wave break that kids like to ride up the shore. You can%26#39;t go wrong anywhere, just don%26#39;t stay in Kahului.

We spent six nights at Napili Shores last Dec. Though we loved the bay, we will not stay in that area again during the winter. We had moved from the Sheraton in Kaanapali, and we found that the weather was considerably windier and rainier up North. I confirmed that this was specific to the area by checking the Sheraton webcam and by calling my friend at Papakea in Kaanapali during some of our rain showers. Often, There were blue skies just a bit south. We often observed a cloud bank hanging over the Napili area as we drove back from several excursions.

That being said, Napili Bay has a very nice beach. If you want to escape the rain, it%26#39;s easy to drive to other locations. Good luck with your decisions, and enjoy the planning!

We were at Napili Kai a few years back with our children, so I thought I would reply to your post. We had a nice holiday, but definitely the price of this hotel is not even remotely equivalent to it%26#39;s offerings. The beach is small but nice, and the pools although cold, are fine. There is a nice putting course in front of the condos that our kids enjoyed, and the guests we met were all very nice. The rooms left SOOO much to be desired - moldy, musty, holiday inn style. I couldn%26#39;t believe what we paid to stay there. I too read the boards and based on the numerous great reviews, decided to book this hotel.

If I was paying $200.00/night I would say this is a decent hotel. However is it worth a cent more - NO!!! Many of the people who visit this resort and post reviews are shareholders and family/friends of shareholders and pay a fraction of what the average tourist pays - and so I can see how they can walk away from their holiday happy - as it is a decent hotel. However, personally, from all of our travels, this hotel is simply ';o.k'; and is terrible value - for the average tourist. There are far nicer places to stay for the money.

In the end, a holiday is what you make it, but I always find it easier to enjoy when I know I havent been taken.