Ed L.
Yelp
Never thought I'd stay in a real hostel before. In my travels before, I came close to a property in downtown Vancouver, BC Canada, but we had our own rooms with shared bathrooms.
I almost had to call this recent trip to Lahaina, Maui off because I couldn't find a decent hotel on the island, with hotel rooms averaging $225/night in Lahaina, Kihei, and even Kahului/Wailuku during January 2018. A friend of mine told me to check Airbnb and I saw a bunch of properties in the area till I saw this hostel property listed. It is in a prime location on Front Street and where I needed to be. The price was oh so nice, very much under $100, so I scored in that respect. But me in a hostel was a very real and new concept to me. I decided to take the plunge and sent the request for accommodations on Airbnb. It was accepted 12 hours later and they charged my credit card. I was anxious leading up to the trip, since as mentioned before, I've never stayed in a hostel. I figured I can tough it out for a night and the reviews on yelp seemed in favor for this place called Tiki Beach Hostel. I received an email reminder from Airbnb saying check out is 12 midnight the next morning. I freaked out, thinking I had to check out at midnight. I emailed the Tiki Beach Hostel for clarification, but they never emailed me back. I saw their website stating that check out is 11am, so that made me relax a bit. I'm glad I did make the trip and the hostel outlook seems to be better. I guess I've been spoiled with modern hotels and motels, so it was good to try new things.
The overall experience here at the Tiki Beach Hostel in Lahaina Maui was interesting. I kept an open mind and I was pleasantly surprised at what I found. This hostel definitely feels like a converted home turned into a hostel. There are beds everywhere on property, complete with bunk beds and a common areas to hang out with other people who are staying along with you. I'm sure the draw to come to this hostel is the price point and those budget travelers who want a good rate when they come to Maui for vacation. The Tiki Beach Hostel is located in the heart of Lahaina town @ 545 F Front Street. The shared driveway is directly across the tennis courts and 100 feet away from the free public parking lot. Prices here are very good, comparable to what the hotels and resorts do charge on Maui. Upon arrival, I parked at the free public parking lot and walked in. I noticed my name on the check in bulletin board, so that was kind of cute and intimate. The instructions was very helpful and there was someone at the desk to answer any questions you could have during your stay here on Maui. Parking here is very very limited. I was told that parking is limited to the spaces directly in front of the property, which is about 4 cars. Apparently you can't park in the free parking lot across the street overnight. If you park in front of the hostel, you need to sign your car in with the hostel.
First time I slept in bunk beds since I was a kid. I picked the bottom, since I saw the bedding wasn't disturbed or had someone else's stuff on it. The lady at the desk told me since, I was running the half marathon the next morning, I can shower afterwards while my stuff gets stored behind the front desk. Score! The bed itself isn't as comfortable as I thought it would be, but I'm not complaining, since the accommodations were super cheap, since it is Maui, after all. While this experience does not really reflect my view of hostels in general, it does make my views on hostels better. Sometimes, it's just the location and the staff that makes the place awesome. Tiki Beach Hostel caters to everyone and thought that it was a good night's stay on Maui at an affordable price. I did enjoy the common areas in the back of the property, complete with the lawn furniture and outdoor lighting at night. Feels like you're in a luau or a festive time at a friend's house. For the most part though, I gotta admit that the hostel experience was good and eye opening. While this hostel is good, sometimes the others elsewhere aren't so awesome. Thanks to Maui's Tiki Beach Hostel for being a good example.
Recommended if you are in the area and don't mind the Hostel experience. It's a departure from the usual hotel gig, but if price is an important factor for your trip to Maui, consider this property. It's pretty cool. I'm sold! 4.0 stars for the overall experience. 4.0 stars for the service and 2.5 stars for bed comfort, but the price makes this place a winner!
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*there is air condition and there's free wifi, but with code