Read this even if you’re not interested in golf for important timeshare exchange information.

If you’re a golfer and doing a timeshare exchange to Maui, make sure you play Royal Kaanapali, or the north course.

Maui’s first golf course was designed by renowned golf course architect, Robert Trent Jones, Sr. and has been know as the “Hawaiian Home of the Senior PGA Tour.”  Because of that, it has been known as a difficult course for us non-professionals to play and many of us ended up playing the much tamer south course or Kaanapali Kai.

Not any more.  Royal Kaanapali has been lovingly re-worked by one of the best in the business, Robin Nelson.  The course is much more playable and enjoyable and one of the best in Maui.

With sweeping mountain and ocean views you’re able to see whales breeching in the distance while enjoying a pleasant game of golf.  And an added bonus is the great weather in Kaanapali.  Just 6 miles north of Kaanapali is Kapalua, one of the prettiest, but rainiest parts of an already beautiful island, and home to 2 great golf courses.

Playing the Plantation Course of Kapalua, home to the very first PGA event of the year, the Mercedes-Benz Championship, is a must.  But be prepared for rain showers. 

Even if you’re not a golfer here’s what you need to know about doing a timeshare exchange to Maui.   Most of the timeshares in RCI and Interval International on West Maui are in that rainier section.  From the old Embassy Kaanapali timeshare, now called Kaanapali Beach Vacation Resort, north to the Gardens of West Maui at the entrance to Kapalua run a string of, and the majority of RCI and Interval International timeshares.  They are located along Lower Honoapiilani Road.

If the address of the resort you want to exchange into in either RCI or Interval International is greater than 3500 Lower Honoapiilani Road, Lahaina, expect more wind and rain.  Because there’s so little availability in Maui I still recommend the resorts in this rainier section.  It’s possible you’ll encounter good weather for the week you’re there. 

However, I was hit by rainy weather almost everyday in January and February this year while a few miles down the road, Kaanapali experienced much better weather.  The locals who’ve lived here for a while said that it was an unusual January and February.

Those of you that have good timeshares and apply the suggestions in my guidebook should request Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club and the Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort.

Right on the very edge of this rainier section is the Kaanapali Beach Vacation Resort a Sunterra/Diamond resort.  While the timeshare condos that I saw were very nice the resort itself needs some work.  It too is a difficult exchange but until it’s fixed up I’d rate it a 4 star rather than a 5 star like the Marriott or Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort.

When doing an Interval International or RCI timeshare exchange to Maui, don’t forget the golf clubs. Yesterday I played the North course at Makena carved from the slopes of Haleakala Volcano. 

Opened in 1993, it’s a challenging, beautiful and tranquil course from beginning to end and a lot less busy than the South Course.  The South course is more popular because it has two holes on the ocean but the staff and the locals like the North course better for the views. 

Although I didn’t see the South course, Ziggy the starter, told me that since it is lower and flatter, you don’t see much of the ocean except for the two ocean holes.  He gave me my choice of pairing up with some other golfers on the South course or playing as a single on the North. 

 Rather than hit and wait and take 5 1/2 hours to play the North I chose the South so I could take my time, a lot of pictures, play 2 balls and record my observations.  I never would have guessed that I could play on any course on a Sunday in Maui as a single.

The North course gains 900 feet in elevation and has incredible ocean views of the entire southern coast of Maui, with Molokini Crater lined up behind many of the greens.  With 3 sets of tees, this par 72 Robert Trent Jones, Jr. course ranges from 6914 to 6151 yards. 

The greens have a lot of undulations are very challenging.  The course had been aerated a month and a half ago so they were in nearly perfect condition.  The ball ran very true and smooth but it was like putting on a billiard table.

I was above the hole on the number 10 green and put a bit to hard and it went 20 yards off the green.  When in Maui, don’t miss this course.  It’s like a stroll through nature.

The 2 most distinct tourist areas in Maui are Lahaina and Kihei and both have a lot to offer.  Most of the island’s golf, and many of the islands attractions, are nearer the Kihei area. 

You can expect nearly an hour’s drive from Lahaina to get to most of the golf courses near Kihei.  The trade off is that many of Lahaina’s timeshares are on the beach where most of Kihei’s are across the street from the beach.

To really explore what Maui has to offer I’d recommend staying in Kihei at least once over the more popular Lahaina area.  From there you’ll be much closer to the summit of Haleakala crater for sunrise, the road to Hana, the beaches of Makena, La Perouse Bay to swim with dolphins, Iao Needle and the Up Country of Maui just to name a few.

The timeshares in Kihei are older and consist of a mix of full ownership condos, hotel rental condos and timeshare condos and don’t have the resort feel to them as do some of the newer ones near Lahaina.  So stay in Kihei for its location rather than it luxe.   I’ve stayed in the timeshares in Kihei several times and enjoyed the properties and the convenience of the town of Kihei.

In fact, the majority of timeshares in Lahaina, and all over the Hawaiian Islands are of mixed use as well, so if you want a “resort experience” make sure to consult with RCI and Interval International when placing a request.

In RCI you’ll find Kamaole Beach Club, Kapulanikai Vacation Suites, Maui Lea at Maui Hill, Maui Oceanfront Inn Vacation Club, Maui Sunset l and ll and Royal Aloha Village by the Sea in the Kihei area. 

In Interval International you’ll find Kamaole Beach Club, WorldMark Kihei, Maui Beach Vacation Club, Maui Banyan and Maui Schooner in the Kihei area.

Of course in order to do a timeshare exchange to any of the Hawaiian Islands, especially Maui, is one of the hardest timeshare exchanges you’ll ever attempt. To learn how to increase your chances of any timeshare exchange exponentially and to become a master of timeshare exchanges in both RCI and Interval International…

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