Castle Kama'ole Sands

Our first unit had a fun spiral staircase to the loft and an unusual layout, but it was very old and not very clean. We were switched to another unit that was much nicer, fully renovated and lovely. The original booking was changed on arrival day, and the other two families with us went through the same thing. Some in our group had to move more than once because of other unit problems. The staff were kind, helpful, and easy to work with, including for the other families. It's a fantastic location, family-friendly, with great views and easy beach access across the street. The staff were nice, but what unit you'll actually get, and what condition it'll be in, seems like a toss-up.

We rented directly from Sunny Maui Vacations and had a great experience. Other places charged a lot more, so we felt we got very good value. We'd stay here again and recommend it. The resort is huge, well maintained, has lots of BBQs and grass, and never felt crowded. There's always staff gardening or cleaning the BBQs below the lanai. Unit 2 207 is at one end of the building, beside the stairs down to our car. With windows on two sides, it was bright and quiet. We never heard neighbors unless we were on the lanai, though the roosters were loud early in the morning, so bring earplugs if you want to sleep in. The big lanai was lovely, with a peekaboo water view if you use binoculars. The living room AC worked well, but blew hot air onto the lanai, so we didn't use it much. We were glad to have the beach chairs. Kamaole 3 is a short walk across the street, and there's usually plenty of space on the beach. Snorkeling between Kam 2 and 3 was good, though December waves meant the water wasn't as clear as we'd hoped. The front desk is staffed around the clock, but they just collect $40 when you arrive and give you a parking pass. There was plenty of parking.

The pool and its staff were nice, though it definitely feels geared toward families. At the front desk, staff were a bit abrupt and didn't offer much information unless you asked. Our condo, #5407, was very dated and came with just enough soap for one dishwasher load and two laundry loads. We left the extra soap we bought, but I expect the next guest will only get the same small amount.

The only snag was with the concierge. Anna texted us about a 2-for-1 offer on a couple of tours. We went to the desk by the pool to book, but no one was there, so we called the number provided. I told Anna which tour and date we wanted, and she said she'd call back to confirm. She never did. When I called the next day, I was told the offer wasn't available anymore, so I made my own reservations. Aside from that, the stay was great. The condo was near the pool at the back of the community, which made it nice and quiet. My best friend and I had a week there. The living room and kitchen were roomy and comfortable. The bedroom was a little small, but it had AC, and the attached bathroom was a good size with a wonderful shower. Having a washer and dryer in the condo was so convenient. The bedroom and patio closets had everything we needed for the beach, including chairs, an ice chest, umbrella, blankets, and sand toys. There were nice big towels too. I'll definitely stay here next time I travel to Maui.