Due to an amazing (glitch?) NW fare of $82, I am FORCED (!!) to take a Hawaii vacation in mid-March.

However, because my plans are so last-minute, I'm struggling to use my Starwood points. I went onto www.vrbo.com to look for some rentals-by-owner on Maui and Kauai, but with a twist. Instead of cash, I offered them Starwood points. We'll see if I get any bites.

Anyhow, in general, are there any non-chain resort lodgings that you could recommend near Poipu (Kauai) and Wailea (Maui). Be grateful for any thoughts!

thoughts....

http://www.vrbo.com/900

We stayed in a condo at Poipu Kai. The condos are great especially if you stay a week and want to make your own food once in a while. This is not the unit we stayed in but ours was just like it. I've heard that the weather in the north part of the island in March can be so so. It rained when we were there in March. Poipu is in the south and the weather was nice almost every day.

http://www.a1vacations.com/USA/Hawaii/Kauai/vacation-house-Poipu/p206584.htm

I'd recommend Gloria's Spouting Horn B & B located, of course, right be Spouting Horn in Poipu-near Koloa. Directly on ocean, has a pool and 3 rooms with lanais right over the ocean. http://gloriasbedandbreakfast.com

I'd recommend Gloria's Spouting Horn B & B located, of course, right be Spouting Horn in Poipu-near Koloa. Directly on ocean, has a pool and 3 rooms with lanais right over the ocean. http://gloriasbedandbreakfast.com

I'd second that. Gloria's has gotten AMAZING reviews and she is a great host!

On Maui we stayed here,
one word: AWESOME!
The Puna Hoa Beach Apartments
http://www.punahoabeach.com/home.html
In the studio (murphy bed) rooms, the bed overlooks the ocean. We woke up w/whales playing in the ocean 1/4 mile from our bed.
there are small kitchens in the rooms so you can prepare food to really save $$$$

http://www.aliiresorts.com/index.htm
http://www.secretbeachkauai.com/index.html

Look on myresort.com, redweek, for timeshare condos for rent - renting a condo timeshare is SO much more pleasant than a hotel room and usually the same or even less money. I much prefer having a condo with separate living room, dining area full kitchen. Try Marriott (nice) or Westin (fantastic new) on Maui and Marriott on Kaui. The KoOlina beach villas on Oahu are at a BEAUTIFUL location about a half hour out of Honolulu.

We never use hotels for vacation anymore always rent condos for the week - Aruba is next in late April

Isn't trading Starwood points "illegal"? Look in their T&C's to make sure you are not doing anything to upset the people at Starwood.

Isn't trading Starwood points "illegal"? Look in their T&C's to make sure you are not doing anything to upset the people at Starwood.
FYI, you are pointing this out to a master of alternative earning/burning and I love beaubo for it!! :)

phyllisnnj: Have you stayed at one of those secret beach cottages? They look fantastic. I'm a big fan of not sharing my vacation with 1,000 other folks at a resort ... these sure seem to meet that criteria.

phyllisnnj: Have you stayed at one of those secret beach cottages? They look fantastic. I'm a big fan of not sharing my vacation with 1,000 other folks at a resort ... these sure seem to meet that criteria.

No, I haven't. It's on my list of potential places to stay in Kauai.

Warning..... I just looked at the latest tripadvisor.com review (read the Feb 2006 review).

Warning..... I just looked at the latest tripadvisor.com review (read the Feb 2006 review).

That was hilarious. Thanks. I don't like toads much, and certainly wouldn't like them jumping at the doors or in my spa, but her Smith & Hawken question was priceless. :) The poor husband who thought he was going to have a romantic honeymoon only to have his wife watch geckos 12 hours a night ...

On Maui we stayed here,
one word: AWESOME!
The Puna Hoa Beach Apartments
http://www.punahoabeach.com/home.html
In the studio (murphy bed) rooms, the bed overlooks the ocean. We woke up w/whales playing in the ocean 1/4 mile from our bed.
there are small kitchens in the rooms so you can prepare food to really save $$$$


Sound ideal...but how comfortable was the murphy bed?

That was hilarious. Thanks. I don't like toads much, and certainly wouldn't like them jumping at the doors or in my spa, but her Smith & Hawken question was priceless. :) The poor husband who thought he was going to have a romantic honeymoon only to have his wife watch geckos 12 hours a night ...

Somewhat OT: We had a Fat Tuesday party this week. When I turned one of the not-used-very-often ceiling fans on, a surprised gecko got slung from its apparent perch on top of one of the blades. He was stunned enough from his flight that I was able to grab him in a paper towel and fling him outside.

Geckos are so routine that none of the guests even looked twice. Luckily, our cats after a year have finally got the gecko population indoors much, much reduced.

At least the Kauai visitor didn't have centipedes. Those are the nastiest and vilest things and have been spotted much more often here with all the recent rain.

Ah, yes, but they are all God's creatures... :)

Except the 2" cockroaches. Nothing like opening a drawer and finding one of those guys smiling at you.

There are indeed some things I'd like to discuss with God about what He was thinking when making paradise -- cockroaches, centipedes and mildew come to mind :p

On the other hand (and back, sort of, to the topic of the poor TripAdvisor's poster's experience) knowing that there are no snakes is a comfort :)

On Kauai we stayed at a B&B that was located between Princeville and Ka'paa. It is Green Acres Cottages. They have three cottages; the two smaller ones are $75 and the larger one is $90. They have microwaves, refrigerators, dishes, and some appliances (coffee maker and toaster oven). We stayed at the larger because we needed two beds. The decor is a lovely mix of antiques and really comfortable furniture. There is a jacuzzi and a barbecue for use by all guests. The breakfast is coffee, tea, muffins, and all the fresh fruit that you can pick from their orchards. You can also have all of the macadamia nuts that you can crack.

Beaches are close but driving is needed unless you want to hike or hitchhike. I'll post the website or just do a search for Green Acres Cottages Kauai.

In Maui, we have been renting condos using VRBO. We stayed in the Maalaea area (cheaper than Lahaina) and paid $150 for a 2BR/2B condo in January and then paid $175 for a similar unit in February. On our next trip we are staying at a B&B called Penny's Place Inn Paradise; the rates range from $98 to $130. There is a communal kitchen and laundry available.

Last time we were on Maui, we stayed at Mana Aina (http://www.manaaina.com/) which we found to be nice and remote from all the neighborhoods. Having a kitchen and fridge made it easy to get food plus there was a laundry facility, which put an ease on the luggage

On the other hand (and back, sort of, to the topic of the poor TripAdvisor's poster's experience) knowing that there are no snakes is a comfort :)

That is one of the neat things about Hawaii. But, I've read some articles stating that every now and then, a snake will make it over, or someone releases one into the wild, or something to that effect. Oy. Snake One (http://www.mauinews.com/story.aspx?id=17342)
Snake Two (http://www.mauinews.com/story.aspx?id=2058)

Just a bump to ask if you can recommend any apartments/condos, cabins or well-located B&B's suitable for a romantic and hiking/surfside couple of weeks in May?

(I'll look at some of the suggestions already here, so thanks!)

Cheers ^

G'Day, Mate! There are just a few B&Bs in Hana, Maui. They're all on the web. They're all pretty nice. None to avoid, to my knowledge. Just choose by price! Hana may offer the combination of hiking/beach activities that you love! Aloha! Oh, P.S., Mate - If you do have any questions about a specific B&B in Hana or anywhere here on Maui, just post it here and I'll find out about it for ya'! Hana does have mosquitos, though. Cheers!