Kaanapali Beach on Maui’s West Shore has been named America’s best beach, with its white sand, clear water and history as a royal retreat.
(Photo by Al Bowler via Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0)
It was the first planned resort area in Hawai’i, but was so successful that others have copied its model around the world. You’ll find that there are six beachfront condo villages in Kaanapali, along with a handful of hotels. To cater to travelers and vacationers, the leisure development also includes a shopping complex, museums and two golf courses.
Of course, in addition to the man-made attractions, there are the natural attractions as well. These include, beyond the beach, the adjacent cliffs, which are popular for daily cliff diving.
If you want to experience Kaanapali Beach for yourself, here are the best ways to rent a beachfront vacation condo in the destination, for easy access to the shore and nearby dining and entertainment.
HOMEAWAY
HomeAway offers more than 300 beach condos for rent in the Kaanapali area, including popular Kaanapali Shores condos. Many are in clusters around Kahekili Beach Park, May’s Beach and Honokowai Point — all neighborhoods that are still considered part of Kaanapali, even if they’re not right on Kaanapali Beach (up to a mile and a half away). Regardless of which you choose, you still have access to the water, from the rest of the shoreline. All of the condos available are rated either a 3 or 4-star. There are none that allow pets or smoking. Prices range from under $200 per night, to nearly $1,000 per night for larger condos with better views.
Like many rental sites, HomeAway requires that you request the dates you want from the condo owner, rather than instantly booking your stay, and the owner can cancel your stay without warning. HomeAway does provide an instant booking option for some properties, but not all, and this option lessens the condos you have to choose from.
MAUI BEACHFRONT RENTALS
Maui Beachfront Rentals is a local rental provider, which means that you do receive some extra personal attention and, if you need assistance with your rental, you’re more likely to work with a local rep who knows the area well.
The company offers just over 20 beach condos for rent in Kaanapali, ranging from budget to luxury, starting at $204 per night and climbing to $605 per night. The condos are spread across three resorts — Kaanapali Alii, The Whaler and Kaanapali Royal.
To book, select the cheap condo rental of interest to see if the dates of your travel are available. If so, you can immediately book on the Maui Beachfront Rentals website.
BOOKING.COM
Booking.com allows you to search for vacation homes, which can include beach condos, but not always. For this reason, you should carefully ensure the rentals you’re considering are condos, not private homes, as the benefits you get with each can vary greatly (for example, condos are often grouped together and come with amenities like pools and dining options; private homes are just that — private homes).
The Booking.com options in Kaanapali Beach are slim and limited to just a few dozen, with prices around $200–$400 per night. As far as location, the cheap condo rental options are widely spread out, all up and down the Kaanapali coastline.