We are thinking of going to Maui this winter for riding and relaxing. Looking for recommendations on places to stay. We'd love to rent a small house or cottage, but would consider a condo, etc. No resorts or big hotels.

Anybody got favorites (and contact info) they would mind sharing?

Thanks!
J

try vrbo.com

Go to the Regional Discussions Forum. Hawaii is under Pacific Northwest.

I know you said no hotels, but if price is a motivating factor, I've stayed at Lahaina Shores hotel and it was great. Not fancy, not expensive compared to everything else and it had little kitchenettes which saved a ton of money.

Again, you said no hotels, but this placed was very affordable compared to what else was available when I went. No frills, but clean and nice.

You'll be unlikely to find a decent house at a livable price if you want to be anywhere near the water.

Most condos are in medium to large complexes. Does that qualify as a resort? Or a hotel? Not for me, but the OP sounds a bit picky.

Personally, I like staying in Kihei on Maui: prices are affordable, beaches are nice, everything is relatively close, and you're not overwhelmed with people like you'd be in the mega-resorts of Wailea or Ka'anapali. If you're going in winter, however, you've got to figure that any decent place near the water is going to be packed with people. I usually stay at one of the places near Kamaole Beach Park #3.

Do yourself a favor and buy a copy of "Maui Revealed" by Andrew Doughty & Harriet Friedman. It's the only guidebook I've found that doesn't pull any punches: if a place sucks, they'll say it sucks in no uncertain terms.

Condos, in my opinion, are the way to go. You'll get more space at a lower price than you would anywhere else. Having a kitchen means that you can easily cook your own breakfast and lunch, which can help keep costs down. Having a free laundry machine in the unit means you can pack less clothing. There are lots of agencies that will help you find a condo. You might also look for websites that feature owner listings. You might save a little money or end up with a nicer place by dealing with an owner directly. Condo management companies tend to take a huge chunk of the money from a rental, so owner's are often very happy to deal directly with potential renters. Much easier to negotiate prices, early check-in, late check-out, etc. if you're dealing directly with the owner.

We go to Maui almost every winter. Last year I took my bike and did Haleakala.

A few thoughts. Maui is a relaxing beach destination (at least for us). All the "big hotels" are right on the beaches. I tend to like houses and condos also but not in Hawaii. I would rather have the beach a few feet out my front door and that basically means a big hotel.

I was also a litle frustrated biking on Maui with the traffic. The "upcountry" is great but the traffic on most of the other roads was a lot heavier than I am used to. In fact, there really aren't that many roads on these islands. I don't think I would even bother bring my bike there anymore (but glad I tried it once). From now on, my winter biking vacations will be in places like San Diego, etc..

No, not picky, I just don't like big giant hotels or resorts. It's just me. A condo would be great. Haven't been to Maui, but on Kauai, small houses/cottages are easy to find and comfy. Thanks for the link. I'll check it out.