Uniquely nestled in a neighborhood with houses on either side, the condos at Maui Beach Vacation Club offer a home away from home where you’ll soon feel part of the local community. Bells and whistles can be noisy: trade them in for peace and quiet at this Kihei resort on the west side of Maui. Once you get settled into your condo, get changed into swimsuits, grab goggles and pool toys and slather everyone head to toe in sunscreen before going for a swim in the outdoor pool. Hours in the pool will make the little ones so happy you’ll begin to wonder if they are part fish. Grab a lounge chair and get comfortable; I have a feeling that you’re going to be here for awhile. When it’s time for lunch, take advantage of the bbq grills and have a family cookout. Recruit the kids to help carry burgers, hot dogs and side-dishes. Then lay out the condiments and toppings and let everyone go to town. Visit the concierge to find out about free group activities available at the resort including lei making and bracelet weaving.

One- to two-bedroom condos sleep four to six guests. A family field trip to Times Supermarket is definitely in order – your full kitchen won’t stock itself. Recruit the kids to help bake your famous chocolate chip cookies (not that they’ll need convincing). The in-suite washer/dryer will come in handy for post-chocolate cleanup. Don’t feel like cooking? No problem. Maui Beach Vacation Club has an on-site Sushi Restaurant. After dinner, head back to your condo for family movie night thanks to your Flatscreen TV with Cable and DVD player. Bring favorite movies from home and gather everyone on the couch with their blankets and get ready for a fun night in.

If you're a beach person, the resort is just a short drive to Kalepolepo Beach Park. For the visitors who come to Maui for whale watching, the Humpback Whale Museum is within walking distance of Maui Beach Vacation Club and is a must-do activity. Maui Nui Golf Club is a short drive from the resort. This Bill Newis-designed 18-hole course is suitable for any player or skill level. Maui Ocean Center, known as “The Aquarium of Hawaii,” is less than fifteen minutes from the resort. It features over sixty indoor and outdoor exhibits as well as a 750,000-gallon Open Ocean Exhibit with a fifty-four-foot walk-through tunnel. Animals include stingrays, sharks, sea turtles and tropical fish. Maui Ocean Center’s Seascape Restaurant serves island-inspired cuisine and is a Platinum-certified “Ocean Friendly Restaurant.”