Maui Schooner Resort

Maui Schooner Resort is a casual, low-key condo hotel on a waterfront property in North Kihei. With just 58 units, this small property is quiet and informal, with one-, two-, and three-bedroom condos -- but they're basic and dated. The rooms are arranged over two buildings, surrounded by nice gardens with a pool in the middle. Building A holds the Oceanfront rooms which offer great water views, especially for sunset. Building B is set back and the rooms have garden views. In between the buildings, there is a small pond with a waterfall, and well-maintained foliage around the property.

While the pool area is generally quiet and peaceful, there are a few games nearby, including horseshoes and shuffleboard, to provide some activities for kids. The overall atmosphere at Maui Schooner is friendly. Travelers can also check out the Luana Kai condos right next door, which have a very similar layout, but the condos are warmer and better decorated, at about the same price point.

Maui Schooner Resort is located in an oceanfront location in North Kihei, on the shore of South Maui.  It is located directly behind the county’s Waipuilani Park -- so while it is not a beachfront property, the only thing between the resort and the ocean are the open, grassy fields of the park. However, the beach here is narrow and rocky, and often experiences high winds. It's not a beach for swimming or spending a day lounging in the sand, but there are many nice swimming beaches within a 10-minute drive of the property. The resort is within walking distance to a good supermarket and several shops and restaurants, including great tacos at Coconut’s Fish Cafe. It’s about a 25-minute drive from the airport.

The resort offers one-, two-, or three-bedroom condos with full kitchens and open-plan living-dining room combos. Of the 58 condos, there is only one three-bedroom unit available. In both the two- and three-bedroom layouts, one of the rooms is loft-style, with an open wall that looks down onto the living area. Each bedroom has a full bath, though some feature an odd half-sized bathtub.

All units have big sliding glass doors the let the sun in and open onto a nice-sized lanai. The ground-floor units allow guests to walk out to the pool or gardens, which is convenient, but makes for less privacy. Kitchens have oak cabinetry that looks like it's from the '90s, granite countertops, and white appliances; all come with a decent fridge, dishwasher, stove, blender, and microwave. Each condo has a small portable boom box (no iPod docks) and a flat-screen TV. Some rooms include ancient-looking alarm clocks that could be considered “vintage” if placed in a thrift store, but here they just look dusty and old.

The sparse decor is similar throughout all the condos: all white walls and white tile floors with little color. The medium-tone wood furniture is contemporary and island-themed, with palm tree patterns in earthy tones of brown and green. There are some dated decorative accents scattered about, like the mirrored closet doors and country-style floral shower curtains. Some of the bedrooms are quite small and bathrooms are dim and plain, but the countertops are updated. Beach chairs and a cooler are provided and there is a washer and dryer in every unit.

The resort is centered around a pleasant pool area with a medium-sized oval pool and a large hot tub. There are many plastic loungers and a gazebo with picnic tables, two outdoor showers, and a few umbrellas for shade. A few nice barbecue grills are located on the side of the pool for guests to use. Lawn games including shuffleboard, horseshoes, and golf putting greens are set up in the garden next to the pool. Equipment for all can be borrowed from the front desk for free. Next to the lobby, there is a small meeting room and business center with two computers. The lobby features a small gift shop selling local coffee, some dresses, jewelry and postcards, and a bookshelf/sharing library with board games.

There is a public park between the property and the waterfront, with wide grassy fields and a few tennis courts. The courts are public, and guests can get racquets from the lobby. Past the park, there is a small, narrow, rocky beach area with no shade. It’s often very windy here, especially in the afternoons -- so it’s not the best beach to lie out on, but will do for a walk along the water. The wind makes this area great for kiteboarders and windsurfers, and locals often come to the park to set up their gear on the nice big green lawns.