Wailea Beach Villas, Maui, Hawaii

Upscale Maui condos where an opulent at-home environment helps families who want to play together, stay together.

Wailea Beach Villas on Maui’s south coast is a great choice for families who prefer condo and villa rentals to traditional hotels, as long as they are not looking for a drop-off children’s program. The property is actually a residential community of luxurious and eye-popping oceanfront penthouses and villas whose units go into the rental pool when not occupied by owners, many of whom are young dot.comers and early retirees from California.

Sharing Wailea Beach, which routinely wins “Best Beach” awards from various publications every year, with the Grand Wailea Resort, the Four Seasons Maui and the Wailea Beach Marriott Resort and Spa, the residences are situated in a private, gated community.

Home Away from Home Facilities

There are key-controlled gates at the main entrance and beach entrance to Wailea Beach Villas, and keys are required to operate the elevators, which are private to each floor. The intent here is not so much for safety — rarely an issue in Maui — but simply to keep non-guests from wandering the grounds. As a result, the resort feels exclusive and uncrowded, even in high season.

There are 98 two- and three-bedroom accommodations in all, ranging from 1,900 to 3,100-square-feet with huge lanais outfitted with built-in Viking barbecues, upscale outdoor furniture and, in some cases, private plunge pools. Residences all offer views of the ocean or of tropical gardens, and the in-room amenities include full kitchens with granite countertops, Sub-Zero refrigerators and wine refrigerators; bathrooms with walk-in showers and Jacuzzis; spacious living rooms and more flat screen TVs than you can count — one in each bedroom and an even bigger one in the living room.

Top resorts in Maui tend to be meticulously landscaped, but this one adds interesting design elements like rocky waterfalls and grotto-like swimming pools, including one with an infinity edge. The beach itself boasts fine, powdery sand and gentle waves suitable for boating, snorkeling and, of course, sunbathing. It’s a good idea to time your water sports and ocean swimming for the mornings, as the trade winds often blow in the afternoons, keeping guests cool and the air fresh and free of humidity.

Family-friendly activities, including surfing and canoeing/snorkel trips to see Hawaii’s famous honu or green turtles, can be arranged through the concierge. Kids can also borrow toys such as water noodles, boogie boards and sand pails from the complimentary Keiki closet. Adults can arrange babysitting through the concierge.

Access to Wailea’s Fine Dining & Shops Nearby

Plan to spend a day at one of the many championship golf courses nearby — the concierge will also arrange tee times — followed by an in-room spa treatment, ranging from a traditional Hawaiian Lomilomi Massage to a Kava Scrub and Maui Noni Wrap. There is a fitness center with Precor and Hoist equipment, as well as personal trainers on hand to help you make the most of your workout.

There is no restaurant at the property, but the concierge will contact guests before they arrive to see if they would like their residence pre-stocked with groceries. Room service also is available from Longhi’s restaurant nearby, and guests are eligible to receive a 10% discount at Mala, the new Mark Ellman restaurant at the Marriott next door.

Other options include private chef services, arranged through the concierge, or dinner at the Four Seasons new DUO restaurant. The goat cheese and crab cake appetizers, the surf and turf with Kobe beef and Maine lobster, and the colorful ball of cotton candy on departure are among the highlights.

As to shopping, The Shops at Wailea are literally across the street, where you can lighten the load in your wallet at Tiffany and Co., Fendi, Coach and the more affordable ABC stores, Crazy Shirts and Quicksilver. The Shops also include several restaurants, such as Tommy Bahama’s Tropical Café, Cheeseburger Island Style and Ruth’s Chris Steak House, a wine store and two deli/general stores with take-out food, snacks and drinks. Although you don’t need a car to shop or dine, all units come with a parking place.