We just got back from our 2 week vacation to Maui. We were not sure what we were getting into buy the reveiws but it was was very clean and the people were all very friendly and helpful. We stayed in A305 and everything we needed was there. Only complaint was the turntable in the microwave didn't work. Not super fancy but your not paying super fancy prices. jnjgreen@wmtel.net

This is a very nice resort. It isn't fancy, but has everything you need. The condo was very well stocked, very nice pool and jacuzzi, tennis courts, Activities Desk and the grounds are beautiful. All the grass around the resort is better than most greens I have played golf on, it's that nice. Some units have been remodeled and are very nice. We decided to rent the Ocean Front - Standard Room. We wanted something in Kihei because of the central location and the Maui Sunset had what we were looking for plus a beautiful sunset every night. The Master bedroom is a nice size, and the other bedroom had twin beds that were comfortable and clean, the bathrooms are small. The kitchen is a galley style and the living room and dining area is very nice with more than enough space. Our first impression was not good, basically because it's an older style resort and our condo had outdated decor, and hadn't been remodeled. After a day we got use to the size of the bathrooms and bedrooms and for the money it really is a pretty good deal. We were somewhat concerned when we read the other reviews, but for $220 a night for a 2 bedroom / 2 bath condo it's very nice. If you want plush, with all the bells and whistles, a whirlpool in your bathroom then this isn't the place for you. But, if you want that then expect to spend well over $400 a night. Plus we didn't come to Maui to spend time in a condo, we were traveling the island.

Having stayed in the Ka'anapali area several times over 15 years ago, we felt that although at the high end of the spectrum, the rest of Maui would not have followed far behind. Kihei, simply put, is one of the poor man's sides of town in my opinion. My first clue to this was the drive in from the airport- as we reached the beach area our first glimpse of the shoreline was a driver who had pulled over and with no attempt to conceal his anguish, proceeded to annoint the sacred grounds with his urine.

Although this was an exception to the following four days we spent in Kihei, I would think twice about choosing this area to stay. The people were friendly enough and we never felt unsafe, it is just far from the nicest part of the island. If you can afford a little more, I would suggest you stay elsewhere on the Island.

We stayed for four days in Unit B-202, a one bedroom unit that was rented four days in early August. We used this condo on the advice of someone my wife knows who stays in one of the units for the entire month of July or August I believe. Since it was part of a package (allabouthawaii.com) deal, I figure it cost about $150.00 a night. The condos consist of two tall structures which face each other at an angle, perpendicular to the beach. There is an A side and a B side.

Pros: All units pretty much on the beach, although more apartment than condo style. This unit was pretty large and included an oversized refrigerator, stacked washer and dryer (knob on washer broken and immovable from the "hot water" position, dishwasher, Cable TV, etc., etc. Has all of the cookware you would expect in your own home. Convenient also to what shopping there is. We found ourselves driving more back to the Airport/Lahaina/ Ka'anapali side of the island most of the time, though. Plenty of free parking in the adjoining lot. Since I am in the food and wine business I will post reviews on the restaurants we ate at, particularly Mama's Fish House which was pretty spectacular.

Cons: The unit has two air conditioners. The one in the bedroom worked fine but even after cleaning out the filter on the one in the front room I never felt cold air blowing out in the four days we were there. We just kept the one in the bedroom at 72 degrees constantly and that made it tolerable. I should have reported it to the management company (which is never on site on these condos, you know) and they may or may not have been able to do anything. TIP: if you are going to be using ice at all, check the ice in the freezer at any condo right away. Ours smelled and tasted really funky. Before we left I emptied it all out so it would make new ice for the next guests. The bathroom off the entry/living room is very small and all but the most diminutive of us will find ourselves riding the commode semi-sidesaddle because of the proximity to the shower door.

Considering the size of our next condo in Kauai (see review on Kanalei Bay Resort), we may have done better than I originally thought, although I would still prefer visiting Kihei on a day trip from a hotel on the north island area.

My daughter's fiance proposed February 2008. April 2008, they decided to have their wedding in Hawaii. Their first choice was the Mauna Kea resort on the Big Island, because her uncle lives on the Big Island, however, "the Madam," had other plans and nearly destroyed the resort before the eruption of Pu'u O'o. So, June 2008, she changed plans and contacted the Fairmont in Wailea, Maui. My family and I were able to pay for her wedding, but could not afford the $700 a day room rates, so I contacted a friend who travels to Hawaii annually, and he gave me the URL for the Maui Sunset. Upon contacting the Maui Sunset resort, I discovered the rental of a two bedroom apartment was ten times cheaper then the Fairmont. From the brochures sent me, the amenities and extras offered convinced me to sign a reservation to hold my family a room.
We arrived May 18, 2009, following nearly 11 hours of flying and two babies who could not handle the flight from Texas to Maui, so we weren't in a very festive mood, and we got a phone call that my daughter's fiance who flew over with her, did not have a place to stay because his family was coming over on the 19th. So, following all this, we were glad to have the kitchen and washer/drier because, we ate at the apartment instead of the resteraunts, my daughter and her fiance, my son and his wife and children, all went down to relax in the hot tub after dinner.
On the 19th, my daughter and her fiance went to meet his family and go to the Fairmont to start the wedding set-up. On returning for their luggage, my new son-in law commented, after seeing where his brothers and their families were staying, and where his parent's were staying (at the Four Seasons Resort next to the Fairmont). The Maui Sunset was by far the better deal, and the "luxuries" and grounds were far more beautiful and luxurious then the brochure displayed. If his family had known what we had, they would not have used the travel websites to get their "bargains," but contacted the Maui Sunset from the website on the brochures he had given to each member of his family. The one thing Jon's family had which Maui Sunset didn't have is, daily maid service and room service. And as anyone who has travelled to Hawaii knows, resteraunts are expensive compared going to the local Safeway or Star supermarket and cooking your own meals, especially for a family with 2 and 3 year old babies. Even more expensive is going to the local "travelocity of FODOR recommended" dining, disco, lunch, or tour/sight seeing offers. Maui Sunset has a kiosk at the pool which can arrange, with a discount, these same tours, dive trips, and dining experiences.
My experience at the Maui Sunset was very good, my grandchildren, if they do remember what they did at age 2 and 3, will remember the beach and swimming pool and walking the grounds in their bare feet without getting their feet hurt by rocks, branches, or thorns. My one tip to newcomers (malahines) to the Maui Sunset, ask a lot of questions to get exactly what you want. My one regret besides too short a stay, I should have asked for a ground floor apartment so I would not be worrying about my grandchildren falling over the railing surrounding the lanais on the upper floors. We had a fifth floor apartment.