Gardens at West Maui and Any Other Recommendations?

Finally decided to go to the Big Island (KCR II via Shell) and Maui (deposited Pono Kai) next July. Dilemma... adding 1 or 2 more resorts to my list of requests to help assure that we get a place to stay. Already on the list are WKORV, Marriott, and Kaanapali Beach Club. I had to take off the Whaler because we must have a Saturday check-in.

I'm inquiring about Gardens at West Maui. Location to the 2 nice beaches sounds good, not sure about the resort itself. It's not a Gold Crown resort, but I'm not sure what that means.

I understand there are a few owners here on this board. Please let me know what you think about the resort... the pros and the cons. How would you compare it to the Kaanapali Beach Club? I've been recommended to the Hololani, but there is no air conditioning, and that is a must in July for me. Do you have any other recommendations to add to the request list? It must be on the West side from Lahaina up to Kapalua. Thanks for your help.

We did own at Gardens at West Maui and loved the resort! The units are all studios and one bedrooms, so when we take family, we had to get an exchange to get another bedroom, which didn't work for us. So we sold it the week.

The units were remodeled two-and-a-half years ago, with new carpet, furniture, etc. The place is always very clean. You definitely want to ask for a unit that is not in building one because the roosters are loud there.

The beach across the street is gorgeous.

The units have a washer/dryer and a great kitchen, with enough dishes for 8. The kitchens are impressively furnished. Also, the king bed was very comfortable. We slept very well there. There are two full, identical bathrooms in most of the one bedrooms.

Is it on the same scale as Kaanapali Beach? Not at all. But I would stay there again, if we were only two and not 3 or more. No one should have to sleep on a hideabed.

The Gardens sounds like it might be a possibility to add it to the request list. But, definitely we would prefer to be at a 'resort-type' resort if we have our choice. Do you think the Kaanapali Beach Club will come through as an exchange? I pretty much realize WKORV and the Marriott probably will not happen.

Gardens has a beautiful pool area and hot tub. The benefit of staying at a smaller resort is that the pool was ours exclusively much of the time we were there. I loved that! So did the kids.

We were there in May and I did a two part review, which is in the review section. Since that time I recently purchased an every even year week.

Units are condo style apartments, clean, well stocked on nice grounds. Nothing fancy...just a good solid place to stay in a great area.

I'm looking forward to returning next fall!

I second UWSurfer's comments - a solid place to stay. I stayed there 4 years ago in a 1br. I was tight for us (my parents in the bedroom, my wife and I on the pull out sofa for 3 nights (normally we get 2br units when we travel)), but other than that, it was a good place. Unit was nicely furnished, and also as pointed out, you often had the pool to yourself.

We just stayed at Hono Koa last month, and I'd give it similar ratings - by no means in the Marriott or Westin league, but a solid resort. Only 28 units (all 2br), recently redone, and like Gardens, never a problem parking, getting a spot at the pool, etc.

Jeff