OT: Hawaii vacation house rental?

kitemare · Since 23 Mar 2010 265 Posts Seattle, wa Obsessed

My family and my in-laws are off to Hawaii Dec 30-Jan 6 and the task of finding somewhere to stay has fallen on my shoulders. Very Happy

Just starting the hunt and there are lots of cool places, just seeing if anyone knows of any thing super cool that isn't on the normal sites or you have stayed at previously?

Needs to be able to sleep around 9/10 people and be near the water, preferably upscale.

Thanks so much.

Bryan

forrest · Tue Aug 28, 12 9:52 am

What island?

Surfdawg · Since 29 Oct 2010 10 Posts

Check VRBO.com lots of places in all kinds of price ranges and locations. What island you heading to?

OG · Since 07 Jun 2011 599 Posts Addicted

2nd vrbo, used it a couple times and have had really good results. Not only on the properties, but ease of dealing with things when i got on the ground, transaction of payment, support while onsite with issues.

beech · Since 21 Aug 2010 486 Posts Longview, WA Obsessed

stay where the 1% (and Obama) stays!!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/21/obama-in-hawaii-rents-bea_n_152680.html

kitemare · Since 23 Mar 2010 265 Posts Seattle, wa Obsessed

I have been to Maui before and would love to go back, but am also open to going to the big island or Kaui.

I'm the only one who kites in the group, so I would rather be near stuff for the rest of the family to do and I'll just drive to the kite areas. Maybe near Lahaina?

I have been checking out vrbo, a lot of cool places.

Still looking.

forrest · Wed Aug 29, 12 8:38 am

Sprecks near Sugar Cove (walking distance to kite/surfing) would be pretty cool, and upscale like you said, though expensive.

Blazeheliski · Since 30 Mar 2011 659 Posts Mosier Addicted

Kiting is a relatively short drive no matter where you stay on any of the islands. So finding a spot that all the non kiters will enjoy should be the goal. It depends on what kind of activities your family likes to do. If you are looking for traditional beach/tropical activities like snorkling, SUPing, kayaking, playing in the sand - it is hard to beat the Wailea/Kihei area of Maui. Being the drier part of the island - the tropical sun makes it nice to do all those activities. Wailea is very upscale also.

Kaui is beautiful - but it can be very wet. The last time I went there - it rained 7 days straight. It is more of an adventure location. If your family likes amazing hikes and beautiful scenery - then Kaui can be nice. Just be ready for some rain.

The big island is very cool too. The beaches are beautiful, but most of them are rocky with not a lot of nice sand. There is some great horseback riding, and it is hard to beat a hike to the lava fields or exploring lava caves - but that is more of an adventure trip also.

It just depends on what everyone likes in their vacation.

kitezilla · Since 22 Jun 2006 453 Posts gorge Obsessed

As far as Maui goes, that time of the year, I would advise getting a house within a few blocks of the Maui Sunset... and more importantly, a short distance from the Menehune, which has located, on its ground floor... one GREAT Indian restaurant, where, if you time it right and have a big kite, you can get the whole family a front row table, at the big window, which faces the ancient "fish pond", and from where they can watch you kiteboard until dark...hucking giant jumps on the outside edge of the fish pond.

As the sun sets, and you are safely back on shore, tired and happy, they can bring you curry left-overs from the dinner, and you can sit on the lawn, in a deck chair, with a beer, dining, and listening to their praise and thanks for putting on such an entertaining show, for them.

If you stay up at the Northshore, you might get complaints about how windy, rainy and cool it is.

Bettyboarder · Wed Aug 29, 12 3:50 pm

We went last year with family members that didn't kite. We stayed at maui sunset it was great. You can rent a couple 1 bedroom condos from vrbo.com for the same price as a house. The great part is you have your own space but then you can hang out on the back decks together. If you have any kids going get a ground floor place so they can play in the grass.

The fam can go shopping in lahaina while you go kite

sirmichaelo · Since 26 Mar 2010 353 Posts Maui Obsessed

Another option. Especially since affordable upscale is a requirement.

http://www.mauisurfandturf.com/homes.php

kitemare · Since 23 Mar 2010 265 Posts Seattle, wa Obsessed

sweet, thanks.

The hunt continues

1surfer · Fri Aug 31, 12 6:28 am **VRBO**

We use VRBO wherever we go. I look up a whole bunch of places that are about 2x my budget and then start making 1/2 price offers. Always works and we get super sweet rentals on the cheap. Some people get upset with me for asking but someone always takes the offer. Make sure they post reviews or they are hiding something. Lots of great rentals all over Maui. Some of the coolest ones are houses and guest houses on the water down Wailea / Makena side. Even past Makena. Super cool. There is one great private house rental in Maalaea on Haole St. right on the water if you can find that one. The only place I might say to avoid is Lahaina proper. Nothing against Lahaina, its just sort of a party zone and has the highest ratio of scumbags on Maui. ( I used to sleep in the school busses there on the weekends after partying at the Blue Max etc. ) Last time we got a very nice 2 bed private guest house in Maui Meadows for 7 weeks for $3,500. Also, always check the parking situation. You are going to want a place that you can leave all your gear in the car without risk. Most places are pretty cool but not all of them.

1surfer · Fri Aug 31, 12 6:49 am **Location**