Maui Beach Hotel

The main problem wasn’t only that we didn’t get the room I booked and paid for. It was being repeatedly told that our assigned rooms cost the same, until our final night, and then still not getting the further refund or discount we were owed. I booked directly on the website two months ahead for three nights in an updated oceanfront suite with one king bed. The listing promised an updated marble bathroom, deep soak tub, walk-in shower, and kitchen. On arrival, my fiancé and I were given a standard street-view room with two double beds, no kitchen, and a small, dirty bathroom without a tub or walk-in shower. The desk made me think I was getting 20% off the first night for the trouble, but I was actually just paying the lower rate for that downgraded room. The front desk asked us to return at 9 the next morning, after the cleaners had an hour to prepare our suite. We changed our plans for that. At 9, a different desk agent said there was no note under our name and no suites available. We had to speak to the manager, Mateo. I explained how frustrating the lack of communication was, but he didn’t seem to care and didn’t apologize. He made no promises, but told us to come back between 12 and 3 PM for the same oceanfront suite type with two kings. I said that was fine as long as it had the same features as the one I’d paid for, and he confirmed it would. At 3 PM we got new keys. I checked again that it was the same type of room we’d booked, and the desk confirmed. The room did face the ocean, but it was two queens, not two kings, and nothing else matched. There was no updated bathroom, tub, walk-in shower, or kitchen. Just a rusty shower, and a refrigerator in the bathroom closet. I went back to the desk again to ask if what we’d paid was the same price as the room we got, because I wanted a refund for the difference. They said there was no price difference and no refund, and that we’d already had 20% off. That night, the same desk agent told me she’d found out there actually was a price difference between our suite and the one we booked, but she couldn’t refund us and said to talk to a manager the next morning. I couldn’t reach the female manager she mentioned; whenever I asked, she wasn’t there. At checkout, a front desk staff member apologized and said Mateo, the manager, needed to be let go and was the one making these mistakes. She said I should have received a bigger refund.

We found the staff very kind and welcoming, and the price was fairly in line with what you’d expect across Maui, even if it might seem high at first. Some parts of the hotel felt a little dilapidated, though nothing was surprising for a 3-star place. We stayed two nights at Maui Beach Hotel after landing late, using it as a base between activities rather than a destination. Being near the airport was ideal so we could avoid a long drive, but the hotel sits where two of Kahului’s busiest streets meet, which made driving a rental car in and out a hassle. We didn’t use the pool or on-site restaurant. One nice feature was the oceanfront courtyard, where we could relax on lounge chairs by the water. You can walk down to the ocean from there, but the beach isn’t suitable for swimming and had some washed-up trash on the sand. It worked for resting and sleeping between excursions. People looking for a place to relax for their whole stay will likely be disappointed. We’d give it 3 out of 5 stars and recommend it only as a quick rest stop or convenient overnight stay near the airport.

My plans fell apart, so I needed an affordable place at the last minute. The airport was very close, a five minute drive or less. The reservation and website mentioned a shuttle but didn’t explain how to arrange one. I happened to ask at the OGG visitor info desk about a taxi, and they told me to call the hotel. No one answered when I called at 8 PM, so I paid $25 for a taxi. The room was spacious, clean, and nice, with good AC and a view of the courtyard. Breakfast was okay, the usual choices, but the coffee was AMAZING. The beach was tiny and rocky. If I stayed longer, I’d want to swim somewhere else. The courtyard was great, with Adirondack chairs, rockers, a fire pit, and lounge chairs looking out toward the ocean. I agree with other reviews that customer service was basic. Nothing was wrong, but nothing was special either. As a returning Maui visitor, it was fine, though I might have been disappointed if it were my first visit. I arranged the shuttle back to the airport at the front desk to meet my travel party. The driver was a real joy and told us a little about the area, places to eat, and things to do.

The bed was super comfortable, and the hotel was very close to the airport. Tiana gave us excellent service and really made our stay, helping make the trip much easier. The rest of the staff weren’t as accommodating, though. We loved our time in Maui, but this hotel felt a bit like a catfish. It didn’t look much like the pictures on the website, and they charged a hotel fee when we arrived even though we’d already paid the full amount.