Kamaole Sands Resort by CRH

The staff were kind, helpful, and easy to work with, and the location was fantastic, with great views, family-friendly surroundings, and the beach right across the street. But the booking was a bit of a gamble. Our original house was changed to another unit the day we arrived, as happened to the two other families in our group. The first unit had a fun spiral staircase to the loft, but it was very old and not very clean. We were eventually moved into a much nicer, renovated unit. The other families had similar problems, and some were moved more than once because of issues in their units. So while we had a good stay in the end, the unit you get and its condition seem unpredictable.

We booked through Sunny Maui Vacations and felt we got very good value. Other listings cost quite a bit more, and we’d happily stay here again. The resort is huge, well kept, never felt crowded, and has lots of parking, BBQs, and grassy space. Staff were often gardening or cleaning the BBQs below our lanai. We didn’t have much contact with staff beyond the 24-hour front desk, which collects a $40 arrival fee and gives you a parking pass. Our unit, 2 207, was quiet at the end of the building, with windows on two sides and a very large lanai. You could glimpse the water with binoculars. It was beside the stairs down to our car, but we never heard neighbors unless we were out on the lanai. Roosters were loud early in the morning, so bring earplugs if you want to sleep late. The living room AC worked well, though it blew hot air onto the lanai, so we rarely used it. Beach chairs were provided, and Kamaole 3 beach is just across the street. There was plenty of room on the beach. Snorkeling between Kam 2 and 3 was good, although the water wasn't as clear as we hoped, probably because December is usually wavy.

The pool was pleasant, and the pool staff were nice, though the pool seems mostly suited to families. Our condo, #5407, was very dated and came with just enough soap for one dishwasher load and two laundry loads. We bought more and left it behind, but I suspect the next guest will only get the original supply. The front desk staff were somewhat abrupt and didn't offer much information unless we asked.

The condo had a great setup for beach days. The bedroom and patio closets had chairs, an ice chest, umbrella, blankets, sand toys, and big towels. The washer and dryer in the unit were handy too. The living room and kitchen were roomy and comfortable. The bedroom was a little small, but it had AC and a good-sized bathroom with a wonderful shower. We stayed a week at Kamaole Sands, in a unit near the pool at the back of the community, which made for a quiet location. The one snag was the concierge desk. Anna texted about a two-for-one offer on a couple of tours, so we went to the pool desk to book, but no one was there. I called the number provided and told Anna which tour and date we wanted. She said she'd call to confirm, but never did. When I followed up the next day, I was told the offer had expired, so I made my own reservations. Aside from that, we had a great stay and I'll definitely come back when I travel to Maui.