Best Places to Stay in Maui for Families

Maui is a fantastic family vacation destination. If you have never been to Maui before it can be a little challenging to figure out exactly where you want to stay with your family. Thankfully you do not need to worry anymore– I have the answers for you!

Read below to discover the best places to stay in Maui for families. 

Which part of Maui is best for families?

I recommend staying in either Kaanapali or Wailea. 

When our family travels to Hawaii we usually split our time between a couple of different places.  We do this is for a number of reasons.

1. Each area in Maui has a different feel

For example, Kaanapali is livelier and has more people in closer proximity with all the hotels and resorts near each other.  Alternatively, Wailea has a more luxurious and quieter feel. We like to experience both of these atmospheres. 

2. Proximity to different attractions and activities

Driving around Maui can be very time consuming so splitting your time between two different places can save you on drive time to certain attractions.

3. Budget

Wailea is definitely a more expensive area while Kaanapali is more moderately priced. 

In case you decide you want to stay in just one location for your trip, I have broken down some of the key differences between Kaanapali and Wailea.

Kaanapali

• Moderately priced
• More family friendly restaurants and shopping
• More walkable 
• Beach is usually right out the steps of your hotel

Wailea

• More expensive
• Luxurious feel with more spacious resorts
• More high end shopping and fancy restaurants
• Need to drive around more to get to restaurants and even the beach

Which type of accommodation is best for families?

Next, you may want to decide whether to stay at a resort or rented vacation home or condo. Both of these have their own advantages. On our last trip to Maui, we did both!

Advantages to staying in a vacation rental

• More space–extra bathrooms, sleeping spaces, etc.
• You will have a kitchen
• Can be more affordable
• Have more extras available like towels, coolers, beaches supplies, etc.
• Get more for your money

Advantages to staying in a resort

• Experience the resort-feel
• Likely have a better pool 
• Many resorts have kids clubs and other fun family activities
• Most have on-site restaurants

I do think it is also possible to have the best of both worlds. On our recent trip to Maui we stayed in a vacation rental that was located at the Sands of Kahana Resort. The resort had a restaurant, fitness centers, an adult and children’s pool, and was right on the beach. We had all of these amenities plus a condo that had 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, a large living area and kitchen, AND a huge lanai with unobstructed ocean views. 

My recommendation when determining the best place to stay in Maui for your family is to weigh the cost of the accommodation with what you need in terms of space and what amenities you want. For most families a trip to Maui is not a vacation you get to go on every year so I would suggest doing what you can within your budget to make your trip extra special.

What resorts are the best resorts for families?

I have been to Maui a couple of times and have stayed at all of the resorts mentioned below. I would recommend all of them for your family. To help you with your decision, I noted what we loved about each hotel and what we felt was missing from each one as well. 

Note: When I go on a trip to a destination like Maui, I usually try to use credit card points for hotels if I can to help offset costs.

The Westin Maui Resort and Spa, Kaanapali

Why we love this hotel–located just steps from the ocean, great pools, walkable to shops and restaurants at Whaler’s Village, and many fun activities on premises

What it’s missing– no kitchen or suite-like amenities, rooms are a bit small for a large family

Residence Inn Maui Wailea

Why we love this hotel–complimentary breakfast, amazing swimming pool, and a full kitchen in the hotel room 

What it’s missing–that amazing ocean view and not really walkable to anywhere 

Fairmont Kea Lani

Why we love this hotel–luxurious atmosphere, more spacious suites, kids club plus other activities, and the pools

What it’s missing–pricey especially for the villa you would need for a family of 6

These are just three of the resorts that I have personally stayed at in Maui. There are many other great options both in Kaanapali and Wailea. 

For a family of 4 finding a great place to stay in Maui will be fairly easy.

Last time we went to Maui, we were a family of 5 and finding accommodations to fit our entire family in the same room was a bit more difficult, but we were able to do it by staying at a vacation rental for part of the time and then at the Residence Inn Wailea for a couple of nights.

Now as a family of 6, I know that finding the perfect accommodation will be even more challenging. Staying in a vacation rental is likely our best option or we will need to increase our budget to find a resort such as the Fairmont Kea Lani that has larger villas available. 

I hope this helps you to determine the best places to stay in Maui for families. If you are looking for more information on vacationing in Maui with your family, you can check out my post Things To Do in Maui with Kids. 

Save and PIN this post for later. May you love your adventure! KW