Maui Revealed - Kaanapali Beach Club

413 rooms, pool, keiki pool, spa, beauty salon, video arcade, free fitness center, hi-speed Internet access in rooms, free Wi-Fi in lobby, health spa, shop, restaurant, miniature golf course, bbqs, kitchenettes, parking fee ($16) for self or valet. They’re clearly targeting families with amenities such as their 18-hole miniature golf course ($1 for kids). Targeting families is good if you have kids, less desirable if you’re looking to get away from ’em. The pool is huge (they claim the pool area covers an acre), and it has a pretty waterfall. They also have a gently sloping 60-foot water slide geared toward smaller tykes. You can rent beach and ocean gear on site. Poolside gazebos are $45/day (with 4 chairs) and cabana chairs by beach are $30/day for two people. They have free family movie nights by the pool and a nightly “mini” lu‘au for $60.

There are numerous parrots and koi ponds in the lobby. One parrot named Alex is quite the flirt and has eyes only for the ladies.

All rooms are suites and very roomy at 820 sq. ft. The layout allows both the common room and the bedroom to be on the outside, so they both access the private lanai, and bathrooms are large with deep soaking tubs and separate showers. The closet is a walk-through (not walk-in). Rooms were remodeled in 2006 and are very elegantly furnished. There are no stoves, but you can order an electric skillet for your room. Rooms have two tvs, stereos, iHomes and dvds. Each 1/1 suite can accommodate 4 people for the same price—a nice touch. There is either one king or two double beds per room. The building orientation means that views aren’t as good as some of the neighboring properties, especially the resorts to the south.

There is one restaurant—the Ohana Grill and Bar. It has a good lunch place, and they also have pizzas you can take back to your room.

The sandy beach is less rocky offshore than at Ka‘anapali Shores next door.

In all, this resort works well. Many of the units are timeshares, but they don’t seem to be as aggressive in pitching them to you as other resorts we’ve seen. 1/1 suites are $359–$569. 2-night minimum. Weekly stays get mid-week maid service.