Maui Revealed - Kaanapali Beach Vacation Resort

413 rooms, pool, keiki pool, spa, beauty salon, video arcade, fitness center, day spa, shops, 2 restaurants, room service, miniature golf course, kitchenettes. Some resorts nickel and dime you, but it doesn't feel that way here. (Except for the $13 per day parking fee for self or valet.) Freebies include the fitness center, free cocktails nightly at the Moonbeam Lounge and free breakfast buffets daily for four if you book through the numbers above. They're clearly targeting families with amenities such as an 18-hole miniature golf course (kids are $3.75). Targeting families is good if you have kids, less desirable if you're looking to get away from 'em. The pool is huge (they claim the pool area covers an acre), and it has a pretty waterfall. They also have a gently sloping 60-foot water slide geared toward smaller tykes.

They have numerous parrots in the lobby. Alex is quite the flirt and has eyes only for the ladies.

All rooms are suites and very roomy at 820 sq. ft. The layout allows both the common room and the bedroom to be on the outside, so they both access the private lanai, and bathrooms are large with deep soaking tubs and separate showers. The closet is a walk-through (not walk-in). Rooms have been remodeled in 2006 and are very elegantly furnished. Though they have no stoves, you can order a hot plate for your room. They have two flat screen tvs, stereos and dvds. Each 1/1 suite can accommodate 4 people for the same price--a nice touch. The building orientation means that views aren't as good as some of the neighboring properties, especially the resorts to the south.

They have two restaurants--the fine dining North Beach Grille and the Ohana Grill and Bar. The latter is a good lunch place, and they also have pizzas you can take back to your room.

The sandy beach is less rocky offshore than the Ka'anapali Shores next door. Though there's no tennis court, you are apparently free to use Ka'anapali's.

In all, this resort works well. Many of the units are timeshares, but they don't seem to be as aggressive in pitching them to you as other resorts we've seen. 1/1 suites are $440-$669.