Wow thanks for all the replies already. I am having "condo overload" on all my research. My mom is actually in charge of this trip, but clearly being a Disboard freak you can know who will really be in charge of this trip. Ahem, that is to say that she's paying and I'm planning! Gotta like that.
Okay. Here's the deal. We want....
Last week in March 2009. Some flexibility here but that would be ideal. For about a week.
Three condos, ideally right next to each other so we can "be together" and have our own place to crash. Four of us will be in one, four of us in another, and five in the third. So, three two-bedrooms would probably work (if one could have a rollaway or a hideabed option for the family of five).
We need Ocean or Beach front accommodations. My mom has made it very clear that she does not like the idea of us having to drive to beach it. That will be the main focus of our "entertainment" as it were and with the huge group of us it would be nice to pop in and out of our condos (a short walk would be okay) to use facilities, get snacks, have part of the party go in when part of the party wants to stay at the beach, etc.
I would personally prefer the feel of a "low density" two or three story units set in a picturesque tropical grounds. Some people rave about a condo and I go to the website and it's some massive twenty-story monstrosity on the beach. Eh. No thanks. If we could have a ground floor room or at best a short walk down a few stairs from the second floor that'd be super.
Must have at least one decent pool.
Must have tennis courts. (This is my family's particular need, none of the rest of the group must have this but since I'm doing the narrowing down of the list this will surely help me find the right place.)
Finally, budget. Not really sure but I know my mom was thinking "a couple of condos" but realistically you can only do that legally if you group is six or less in each condo. With the thirteenth (unlucky number thirteen!!) we can't really do this. (Plus honestly this gets my family its own condo so I'm happy to say Gee mom we can't really share....
) So, I really don't know. We can't break her bank since she's paying for three rooms. I'd love to find rooms that are around $250-$300 a night. Is that possible??? Less would be better but we don't want anything dumpy.
Okay. In my research I have found three possible options. Open to more suggestions...Maui Kamaole, Maalaea Surf, Hale Kamaole. But that's limiting myself to South Maui...I know nothing about Lahaina or Kaanapali so maybe there's something there...most of what I see are those humongo condo operations though. Am I missing a gem? I will look into the suggestions already posted but thought I'd pop back in with what I've got so far.
HELP!! The Disney trip is SOOOO easy compared to this. Decisions, decisions!! Thanks you guys!!