Maui Guest House

This tiny bed-and-breakfast just north of the historic town of Lahaina has a warm, intimate, friendly setting that offers a unique alternative to the mega-resorts and tourist crowds of nearby destinations like Ka’anapali. Its location in a quiet, suburban neighborhood gives visitors a taste of Maui from a local’s point of view. It feels super homey, with just four rooms, each individually decorated and complete with a private “Softub” hot tub.

What makes this guest house unique is that it's set up like a large home with the four rooms surrounding the outside of the spacious common area. The shared kitchen and communal spaces are reminiscent of a hostel, however the owners and guests are typically a bit older. The open main area has vaulted ceilings and is very light and airy. The space consists of a nice kitchen, a living room, another sitting area, and dining room. Several couches and two large dining room tables make it very comfortable and offer plenty of room for all the guests.

The room features warm, earthy tones, exposed wood beams, and is decorated with seashells and other items collected from the beach. Handmade stained glass windows and doors depict scenes of whales and tropical flowers throughout the building. These personal touches, and the warm, friendly atmosphere, add the the feeling that you're staying at the home of family or friends, rather than a hotel.

Maui Guest House is located on a suburban street in a residential area just north of Lahaina, a popular tourist hub in West Maui. While it’s located just a few blocks from the beach, you have to cross a very busy highway to reach the ocean, so crossing at the nearest light is your best bet and makes it at least a 10-minute walk to reach the sand. There aren’t any restaurants, shops or much of anything in walking distance, actually. It’s a very quiet and peaceful neighborhood, away from the action of downtown Lahaina (for some, it might be too quiet.) A rental car is recommended, and will make it easy to reach the quaint, lively town -- less than a 10-minute drive away. It’s a 40-minute drive to the airport.

Each of the four guest rooms has a queen-size Tempurpedic bed, and some have an additional daybed. The spacious rooms have a full bath en-suite, with nice, updated finishes and a sunny walk-in shower. Every room has a large flat-screen TV, a DVD player, and built-in surround sound with hidden speakers mounted in the walls. The room also includes a large mini-fridge and freezer combo.

The decor features warm colors, including beige and sunny yellows, with some splashes of color in the bright stained-glass windows and hand-painted murals of beach scenes, but overall the decorations are simple and not overstated.

Each room has a private “Softub” hot tub, which is a very nice, strong inflatable unit with jets. The two rooms in the back of the house have a small screened-in lanai for the hot tub, while the two rooms in the front have the hot tub situated right in the room.

A lovely breakfast spread is set out early every morning in the communal kitchen. The offerings include fresh fruits, bagels, muffins, cereals, yogurt, coffee, juice and tea. Fruit, popcorn, cold drinks like lemonade or iced tea, and coffee and tea are also available any time of day. The full kitchen includes a dishwasher and all sorts of spices and cooking basics for guests to use.

A media center in one corner of the common room includes a computer and an extensive library of DVDs available to borrow. There is tiny a small laundry room, free to use. Outside on the large lanai and picnic area, there is a tiny saltwater pool and several tables and chairs, as well as a barbecue grill. There are a few games available including ping-pong and an air hockey! Stair lead to a rooftop sundeck with lounge chairs and great views down toward the ocean for sunset. Solar panels on the roof contribute 100 percent of the power for the guest house. Beach chairs, towels, coolers, and snorkel gear are provided.