Archive for the ‘Whaler Resort’ Category

CAN MY CONDOS IN MAUI IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH?

Over the past ten years I have owned six condos on all of the major islands in Hawaii…Maui, Kauai, The Big Island and Oahu. I originally went to Hawaii as I was recovering from two major operations on my spine and I needed a peaceful place to recuperate. I was nervous about being so far away from my doctor in New York City, but I decided that this was really what the doctor had ordered! Rest, peace and serenity! I stayed in one of my condos overlooking the ocean for over two months. My husband joined me in the middle of my stay for two weeks. I was nervous initially about being away for so long (not to mention giving up the income I would have received for that time). However, my health was so fragile that I knew I needed a place where I could get better. I live in Connecticut and had my surgery in August of 2000. I headed to Hawaii around the third week in January of 2001. I was scared because I really didn’t know what to expect and I had left all my support systems at home. However, my attitude was “I can do this” and if I couldn’t, I could always return home.

     I bring this topic up because yesterday I spoke to a woman who had been to my condo at The Whaler (661) last year. She told me that she had been sick this past year and so had her Mother. She proceeded to book one week for herself in May and another week in June for her Mom. When I asked why they were not going together, she said that each could only get away for one week in different months. She told me that the year before, she had found The Whaler 661 to be so soothing and peaceful and that because she was recovering from an illness, she wanted to go back to my condo, which had helped her previously. She said that since her Mom had also been sick, she thought this would be a good cure for her as well. You may be thinking “Well, only affluent people can afford this”. That is not the case. Over the years of talking to my clients, I have repeatedly heard that my condos and their locations have had an incredible effect on the physical and mental health of the people who rented them. I had decided when I originally invested in Hawaiian condos, that I would only buy oceanfront units that I myself found very relaxing. I also decided that I would decorate these condos in furnishings I really liked and that I would try to give people an experience that was 5 star, without the 5 star price! I had worked for 19 years as an interior designer and knew that you did not have to spend a fortune on furnishings to make the environment peaceful and relaxing. The location in and of itself would do that! I decided on a tropical looking bed that became my signature piece. The bed (which is very important when you don’t feel well) was equally important to me as was the location!. Clients often report that in Nohonani 204 on Maui, they find the sound of the waves gently coming ashore incredibly relaxing, while listening as they drift off to sleep. My guests in both units, The Whaler 661 and Nohonani 204 have found that just sitting on the lanai overlooking the ocean is in itself a wonderful cure for what ails them. Over the years I have had many friends visit and they all tell me the same thing:” They are a different person when they leave from what they were when they arrived.” Many have brought several books with them and have found that they have really enjoyed reading while perched on my lanai at the ocean’s edge and in many cases, found themselves not even reading, but just staring at the ocean for hours on end. There is something about the ocean that is amazing. It is always changing, fascinating and relaxing. For that reason, the locations I have chosen have always been very important to me. Sitting on the lanai, you can be partially shaded while also enjoying the warm sun on your body. I don’t really think there is any substitute for fabulous weather and the turquoise South Pacific. Many guests tell me that in as little as five days they feel renewed and re-energized. I think this same formula applies to one’s mental health as well. I can’t tell you how many repeat guests I have had who come back again the next year, for they report that their mini vacation allowed them to de-stress for the first time in a year. We all run in high gear and think we can’t afford a holiday or that we will just hang in there and somehow magically feel better. However, it just doesn’t really work!

     One of the things that have totally fascinated my guests over the years is watching the whales breach in and out of the water. If you have never seen it, it is really magical beyond belief! The area in which Nohonani 204 is located is nick named “whale alley”! This is where the whales come for the winter (and who says people are smarter than animals)! It is so amazing to watch the whales jumping and frolicking in the ocean. At The Whaler 661, we have a large mirrored wall directly across from the bed and you can see the whales happily splashing while lying in bed. Honestly, it doesn’t get much better than this!

     At this time, when so many of us are stressed out to the max about the economy, it might seem crazy to suggest that you take a vacation to Hawaii. But, in reality, in the ten years that I have been doing this, our prices have never been lower. We are really trying to work with our guests and offer them the best rate that we can, while still having the ability to pay our mortgages. We may not be making a profit right now, but we certainly are making a lot of people very happy! People from the West coast are flying to Maui for long weekends and report that they are so glad they did this and feel so much better. I sometimes think that while sipping that pina colada on our lanai, that people re-group and get more of a perspective on life and their own situation. Sometimes it takes getting out of ourselves and our environment, to realize that eventually everything will get better. It is amazing how fascinating it can be to simply watch sea turtles bask in the sunlight and the warm salty, glistening water. For those of us who live on the East coast, the winter seems endless. I know because this is the first year in ten years that I haven’t gone to Hawaii. My husband and I moved this year after selling our primary residence and I didn’t feel I could leave our home until I got it organized and everything into its new place. Although I love my new home, I definitely regret not getting my “dose” of Maui. I can feel that my body is not as relaxed as it is in Hawaii. Just not hearing the phone ring non-stop is one of the joys of getting away from it all. Although at home I wouldn’t dream of not reading the New York Times every day, I somehow make due just fine in Maui without knowing what is going on in the world! Sometimes when I am away, I feel as if I am in a world of my own and it is quite refreshing not to hear about one disaster after another.

     So, give yourselves a break! Plan a visit to one of my condos, Nohonani 204 or The Whaler 661 and do yourself a favor. Even if you can’t afford to eat out, somehow grilling fresh fish caught that very day on the communal barbecues overlooking the Pacific, tastes a lot better than the fish served at home. If you want to re-new your sprit, feel healthier both mentally and physically, spend a LITTLE and you will get A LOT. After all, the daily rate of staying in one of my condos is less than the price of a therapist, who in any case will probably tell you what you already know…that you need to take care of yourself, communicate in a more positive way with your spouse and have that honeymoon all over again, even if it is only for a few days! To book, simply book on line or call us at 203-783-9094 or 866-270-1499 and we will do it for you. After all, you only go around once in this life and you deserve to be good to yourself.

     As for me, I have already booked my time at both of my condos for next year. You won’t catch me missing out on Hawaii again. It is too important for my general well being and it will be for you as well! Remember, you can always justify the trip by telling your friends and family “It is just what the doctor ordered”!!!

Susan Kimmelman, owner

4/15/09  tax day!!!

I recently read an article in the NY Times that was talking about the economy and recession. Apparently, Whole Foods has a new ad campaign that uses the above logo “Sticker Shock…but in a good Way”. I thought this to be very interesting and applicable to my condos on Maui, as well. Normally, sticker shock means that something is incredibly expensive. Now, in this recession, it can mean the opposite.

I have lowered the prices of my gorgeous ocean front condos so significantly, that people are asking me, “What is wrong with them?” My answer is that nothing is wrong and that everything is right about them. As an owner of two condos in Maui, I speak to guests on a daily basis and listen to the stories of their lives. Many people out of work or retired, find themselves with their stock portfolios down 40% or more. There are others who are unfortunate victims of Bernie-Madoff-like-schemes. Suddenly, people find themselves in positions they never believed they would be in. You may ask, “What does this have to do with your condos in Hawaii?” My answer is that, because of the state of the economy and the troubling stories I hear every day, I have so significantly lowered the prices of our oceanfront condos, that they are often far less expensive than staying in a Howard Johnsons! I realize what is going on around us and have adjusted my prices so that people can still go on an affordable vacation or celebration. Because my condos have well stocked kitchens, many visitors are beginning to use them to bring down the cost of eating. In addition, there are great airfares from the West coast that make these trips possible. Many guests are also using their frequent flier miles to get to Maui. There are now direct flights into Maui, which also makes the trip less taxing. So, in reality, “Sticker Shock”, as it applies to my condos means that you are getting MORE FOR LESS! I think that may be part of the GOOD that has come out of this mess. So, if you can manage to cash in that big jar of coins you’ve been throwing nickels and quarters into every night, you may be surprised, as I was, that I had $421. This was like getting free money, as I didn’t really realize I had it! So, if you REALLY need a break or are STRESSED out to the max, you may want to think about visiting one of my oceanfront condos at a time when our prices have NEVER been lower. Get creative. Cash in your miles. If you are from the East coast, fly to the West coast and then take advantage of one of the many special airfares that are being offered. Use that loose change to do some grocery shopping and eat breakfast and lunch on our sunny lanai overlooking the shimmering turquoise blue South Pacific.If you don’t feel like cooking your own dinner, there are many places on Maui where you can get a great deal and don’t have to break the bank while doing it.The chain restaurant, Maui Tacos, offers delicious quality tacos that are incredibly inexpensive. Both of my condos have outdoor grills in the common areas where you can grill up a great piece of fish and meet some interesting people at the same time.  Another idea, that I have used in the past to save money, is to have drinks and appetizers on the lanai, while watching the fiery orange sun set into the water. Then, we can go out for dinner and share a main course, because most restaurants offer way too much food to begin with. If you are still hungry, split a desert or go out to Cold Stone Creamery and share an ice cream cone. In some ways, it becomes a challenge to see how LITTLE you can spend and still have a wonderful vacation. 

     So, I’ve given you all my hints to maximize your fun and minimize the cost. The silver lining in all this doom and gloom is that instead of looking at the glass as half empty, you may want to think of the glass as being half full. There has truly never been a better time to go to Hawaii. I like Target’s ad campaign that says, “Expect more, pay less”! It says it all. We really like getting those emails from returning guests who tell us how much they loved their accommodations and what a bargain our condo was, as it sits right on the edge of the beautiful South Pacific!

     So, what are you waiting for?. Call us at 203-783-9094 with any questions or book online, right NOW. It has never been a better time. As the Walmart ad says, “Save money. Live better”!

 Susan Kimmelman, owner of Nohonani 204 and The Whaler 661

I know, you probably are thinking, has she lost her marbles completely??? I’ve been wondering that myself. Every day I read the NY Times and The Wall Street Journal, looking for something positive to say about the economic crisis and looking for an answer as to how soon this will be over? I also watch NBC news and have been struck by Brian William’s segment on “random acts of kindness”. In case you have not tuned in, it is a hopeful piece of journalism about what people are doing during this time, as millions lose jobs and see their income disappear in 401K plans. One segment I found particularly moving was about an individual who drove people to their appointments (even for job interviews) mostly because they didn’t have a car or were too worried about paying for the gas. I know, by now you are wondering what does this have to do with Maui? Well, here is my answer.

The recession has forced us to think about our rates and how we are going to keep paying our mortgages. Consequently, we have considerably lowered our rates to reflect the recession we are now in. I own two oceanfront condos in Maui, Nohonani 204 and The Whaler 661. Both have breathtaking views of the South Pacific and wonderful sandy beaches. At this point, I’m sure you are asking “How can I possibly afford this?” Well, this is the good news about the recession. We are now offering gorgeous condos on the bluest of oceans at a rate less than a Howard Johnsons or an Embassy Suite. We are doing this for two reasons. #1 is that we want to keep our condos full #2 is that we want people to have the opportunity to stay at our condos at an unbelievable rate, so that something good comes out of this whole mess we all find ourselves in. Maui does not have to be expensive. Condos that in the good times go for $225 a night are now being offered as low as $125 a night. If you are savvy, check out the air fares from the West coast. There are some unbelievable deals. Or, like many of us, you may have saved up enough miles to get to Maui with 40,000 points. Use these miles and then take advantage of the lowest rates we have ever offered and do a little cooking (or really heating) in our well stocked kitchen. Many of our clients tell us they eat breakfast in the condo, go on the beach or go snorkeling and come back to the condo for lunch and a little snooze. Cocktails on the lanai at sunset are prettier than any restaurant view you will ever find. Look out to Molokai and Lanai and save the money by having a few hour d’oeuvres and drinks before dinner and watch the big ball of yellow disappear. You may even catch that green flash if you are lucky when the sun sets. If dinner is out, there are some alternatives to expensive restaurants. There are even early bird specials (many restaurants offer them or half- priced pupus at the bar) later in the evening. We often share an entrée and dessert and find that the portions are quite large, so that in addition to a much less expensive meal, we also have not gained 5 pounds by the end of our vacation. Leilani’s on the beach is great for people watching and serves a cobb salad that is enormous (enough for two people) and a to die for hula pie that is big enough for a party of four. Another favorite of ours is Maui Tacos. There is one at the Lahaina Square Shopping Center and another at Napili Plaza. Although the ambiance is nothing to write home about, the fresh succulent fish tacos and the meat tacos are really great and very inexpensive. There is also the Penne Pasta Café on Dickenson Street in Lahaina that offers pasta and pizza that are simple and tasty.

     So, what I am getting at is that this may actually be a GREAT time to visit Hawaii. The rates are fantastic, your miles are just accumulating (use them before the airlines decide they can’t afford to offer them anymore), and with a little ingenuity you can take advantage of these two wonderful condos and improve your mental health at the same time. Many guests say they feel refreshed after a visit to Maui. Even a four of five night stay seems to really change your perspective on life and the world. So, if things are tough at home (as they are for many of us), a dose of Maui is just what the doctor ordered. Get a little sun on your body, chill out for a week or so and you will find when you return that you are more refreshed and have a better outlook on life! So, is the recession good for us? No, but you can make it work in your favor and enjoy a vacation that you might otherwise not be able to afford. I like to think there is a silver lining in every cloud or in this case, in the bright, big beautiful SUN!

Please visit us at our condos on Maui …

As the owner of Nohonani 204 and The Whaler 661, I have had a few calls regarding our low pricing.” What’s the catch?”, asks a few of our potential clients, suspecting perhaps a not so nice condo. My answer has been that there is NO catch, we are simply responding to the economy and the world we are presently living in. We are now offering our oceanfront condominiums at a minimum of 25% off, so that we can give our guests the opportunity to go on that much wanted and needed Hawaiian vacation in these turbulent economic times. These condos rival the Ritz Carlton in Kapalua for views and spaciousness. Both condos are oceanfront buildings and in most cases have better views and more space, at a fraction of the price of its well known neighbor, The Ritz Carlton. Since I have worked as an interior designer for 19 years in NYC, I was able to bring a certain upscale look to both condos, while not breaking the bank. All furniture was hand selected by me personally. There are no “packages” of furnishings that are so often found in Hawaiian condos. At The Whaler 661, I have incorporated some wonderful photography, by the well known photographer Kim Taylor Reese. You can find his work in many galleries on the various islands. At Nohonani 204, I decorated with some interesting crafts by island artists that give a personal feel and put you in that “tropical mood” as soon as you enter.

     My personal philosophy, after having this business for the past 9 years, is to offer our clients a beautiful condo with lovely furnishings, unique and interesting art or hand crafted accessories at an affordable price. I have owned several condos on all four major islands, Kauai, The Big Island, Oahu and Maui. I have found that if we give our clients a little more than they expect, along with fantastic views and locations, then these clients will refer us to their family and friends, especially if we keep our prices low. So, if there is a catch, it is that a great price plus great location plus clean and personalized condo equals Success!

A happy clientele that continue to visit and refer us to their friends and families enables us to keep our prices low and our condos full. That’s our Secret!!

Construction at The Whaler is now down to a minimum. Our clients in Unit 661 report that the pool is gorgeous, with special night lighting that really heightens the feeling of romance in the air! Unit 661, besides being also very romantic, is still very peaceful and quiet, as it faces towards Whaler’s Village, away from any construction noise. The rates being offered are very recession friendly and we have had clients call to double check our very low rates because they seem too good to be true! They are as they appear on the internet, as we are trying to give everyone who has been battered by this economy an inexpensive vacation in Paradise!