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Holy moly I'm savin' up for a room here! I can't even imagine what the service and views must be like for those staying here...
My brother and I strolled over while waiting for our table at Sansei. The bell staff were handsome and cheerful, the lobby is simple yet decadent. You can grab a drink at the bar and then take a stroll onto the balcony to look at that fantabulous view of the pool and grounds. At night it's even more stunning with the colored stepped pools.
Simply as good as it gets...I'm already dreaming about my stay
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Awesome property, great views, easy access to beach, nice hammocks, pineapple flavored water by front desk.
Day visit for me.
Lotsa free parking.
Spotted a dead flat frog in the parking lot. (see pics)
I'm already daydreaming about my next visit. We changed hotels after being sorely disappointed with nearby Napili Kai Resort, and from the moment we walked through the doors, it was sheer heaven. True to Ritz standards, the service was excellent (employees stop what they're doing and say "Aloha" each time a guest passes), the location was prime (Kapalua, sitting on a cliff overlooking the ocean and world renown golf courses) and the hotel/grounds were impeccably maintained (not a rug stain or overgrown bush to be found).
The lobby is open air and sits above three pools. While checking-in, guests are given Kukui nut necklaces and offered a selection of two fruit infused waters (there were no trash cans, but without fail, an employee was there to pick up the cup the second it hit a surface). The decor is elegant and tropical - there's a pineapple theme in the carpets, curtains, comforters and woodwork. The rooms are spacious and very well done, with hardwood floors, Hawaiian artwork, flat screen TVs, iPods docking stations and super comfy bedding.
The pool area is huge and open 24 hours. There was never an issue finding open chairs, which is a problem at the Four Seasons in Wailea (the only other 5 diamond hotel on the island). There are lots of kids, so it's not exactly peaceful - my cousin got yelled at by a 10 year old for stealing his raft and I had a football land on my stomach while dozing. Nonetheless, it's pretty darn nice - pool attendants come by and offer sliced fruit, spritzes of water and food/drinks.
The food was good, but not to-die-for (with the exception of the amazing white cheddar and fried onion cheeseburger at the lobby bar). We tried two of the three restaurants. Banyon Tree is the poolside cafe/bar by day and fine dining at night. The turkey wrap and california rolls I had for lunch were pretty bland, but the ahi sashimi and lobster at dinner were delicious (but came in minuscule portions). The Terrace was good for breakfast, but cold and empty at dinnertime.
The bar area was hopping almost every night - which was nice because there isn't much nightlife on Maui. They had live music and a good crowd. The 2009 Food & Wine Festival was being held at the hotel during our stay, so that probably contributed to the liveliness.
The Spa was beautiful, but a bit dark and dungeon-like. My cousin and I took the last massages of the day, so they gave us passes to come back and use all the facilities another day. We got hour and half massages, but only payed for an hour, as we had found a coupon in Maui Magazine. We didn't end up saving much in the end because there was a 20% service charge they conveniently neglect to mention in the spa rates. Throw in the tip, and the damn massage is more than a room night!
There are some cons though:
- The hotel doesn't sit right on the beach, so you need to use the provided transportation or walk down there.
- Kapalua is the windy side of the island. The breeze is quite lovely when lying by the pool, but not so much when sand is blowing in your eyes on the beach.
- It's a big hotel (similar to the monstrosities of Kannapali), so you have to trek through loooong hallways to get from your room to the pool, lobby, gym, restaurants, etc.
I'm almost hesitant to spread the word about the rates for fear they will double once occupancy lifts, but our room was $299/night. They typically go for 5-6 hundy, but due to the economy and a recent renovation (which I guess deterred people from staying there), rooms are a steal (for a 5 diamond hotel in Hawaii).
I would go back in a second.
People thought this was:
Since the recent renovation, the Ritz Carlton has become what it was meant to be. It's gorgeous, with sweeping views of the ocean and Molokai across the water. I can't give it 5 stars because it's supposed to be the best (hence the price), but I can't say that it's as opulent as the Grand Wileah. For the money, and for the 5 star experience, stay at the Grand Wileah.
It's the Ritz so it can't really be bad ;)
The location was perfect! It a nice place to just relax. They had a nice pool, great kiddie pool, and of course there was the beach that you could walk to or take a shuttle to. We actually opted to walk since we needed extra exercise for drinking so much while in Maui ;)
There was also the "honolua store" that you could walk to if you needed to buy food or supplies, so that was good. There were also a bunch of restaurants that were close by.
Their staff was great. Well actually the front desk girls weren't as friendly as the rest of the people in the hotel :(
We would definitely stay here again!
ok its a ritz so you expect every little detail to be perfect!!
this place is starting to show its age. but overall its still gorgeous. the lush landscape is beautiful. the pool area definitely needs a makeover, some lawn chairs were broken, and the pool needs to be resurfaced.
the valet guys were super nice and probably the friendliest on staff they were always willing to talk and give advice or ask how your day went.
the beach area wasnt great, pretty rough waters and super windy. you cant put lawn chairs on the sand so you have to lay out on a towel.
kapalua is pretty far from most maui sites,, but its nice to be far away from it all and just disconnect!!
Just went on vacation in Maui, HI and we got a great deal on a room at the Ritz Carlton Kapalua for 8 nights. I've frequented many Ritz Carlton hotels in my day (Pasadena, SF, Half Moon Bay, Palm Springs, Laguna Niguel) and this one surely does not disappoint.
First of all, let me say that staying in Kapalua turned out to be perfect for us, it is remote and very chill, yet close enough to civilization for convenience sake. The climate was warm and only moderately humid...While staying there I didn't get a single mosquito bite. (We drove to Hana from Kapalua, and while there I got 4 nasty bites!) We visited many other areas in Maui, and I would have to say by far, Kapalua was the best fit for us (in comparison to Wailea, Hana, etc.)
Perks:
1. Gorgeous hotel. The room was awesome, they gave us a complimentary upgrade, it was clean, roomy, luxurious, well decorated, and they situated us on the golf course side which was very peaceful and quiet. Grounds were meticulous, the whole place was very well taken care of. All of the public areas were clean and tastefully decorated.
2. Hotel staff was very friendly, readily available and accomodating.
3. Great pool, hammocks available for relaxing, and very close to the beach.
4. 5 minute drive from Honolua Bay where we went snorkeling (FOR FREE!) everyday, we saw sea turtles (twice) and a ton of fish, coral, sea urchin, etc. LOVE!
5. Honolua store nearby, you can buy Maui Gold pineapples and have the deli slice and package for you to go, yummy!
6. Close to Old Lahaina and Ululani's Hawaiian Shave Ice (on Front St)!
7. Beautiful views from most areas of the hotel.
8. In the evenings they have a different Hawaiian singer (live) in the lobby bar nightly. There was one that was particularly good (super romantic voice). Really enjoyable.
9. At the end of our stay, we asked the front desk person where we could donate some gear we bought in Maui for use on vacation, and she gave us directions to the nearest Salvation Army! Really helpful.
10. Close to Napili Bay, more great snorkeling.
WTF?!'s:
1. They reserve $150/night on your credit card on top of the room charge for incidentals and sometimes *forget* to explain this to you, don't be surprised when you see your available balance shrink! (This hold is removed once you check out and pay for your incidentals).
2. We bought a vacation package and pre-paid for the entire hotel stay, but on top of that, the Ritz will charge you a $20/day resort fee. Didn't mention that either...
3. Brunch Buffet at the Terrace restaurant was a complete disappointment (we couldn't get a window seat, they sat us at one and then made us move later, waitress seemed annoyed with me, the food selection was weak, not much for vegetarians, it was $30/per person!) There are tastier breakfast spots (i.e. The Gazebo Restaurant). Definitely pass on the Terrace brunch...
4. Our preference is not to have our room serviced everyday, better for the environment to put up the DO NOT DISTURB sign, keep the room as clean as possible on our own, and only have the room serviced once or twice during our stay. The cleaning lady saw us one day and pressured us to let to her come in and clean for whatever reason...? She did a great job, but it was not really necessary.
5. If you want to sit in a cabana by the pool, you have to call and reserve in advance. We found an empty cabana to relax under and got kicked out b/c someone had previously reserved it. (No signs to indicate this anywhere...), furthermore it is TOO kid friendly, expect lots of kid noise. Luckily, we are not pool people, would much prefer snorkeling in the ocean, which we did.
All in all, the good by far outweighed the WTF?!'s, if I were to return to Maui I would definitely come back to the Ritz and Kapalua. No question.
P.S. They got super fancy fire hydrants at this place...Check out my pix.
People thought this was:
We spent 4 nights there in an ocean front suite as part of a company function. I personally prefer smaller boutique hotels that can provide better individual service. But for a large vacation hotel, this is the best I've experienced. The renovation is done nicely, and our room was top notch. The service is above average everywhere except in the breakfast restaurant as some have noticed. Their grounds and beach are beautiful and the little restaurant right on the beach is not something you find many places. We had perfect weather with no winds and the hotel wasn't full. I am sure that helped.
Somehow, everything on Maui is slow, even at the Riz. It is def. not 5 stars. maybe a 4 at best. The terrece breakfast buffet was good. At least there is no wait, as you can pick up your food. Every time we were able to get a window seat. Ask for the fish of the day. Its good. But fish at breakfast? I guess I had not acclimated to maui time. The aloha lounge and the cafe by the pool... took 35 minutes to get the food. bad bad. there were only 1 other group besides us. too bad the japanese place only opens for dinner. the housemaids are varied. some are parinoid about their managers..and some are feisty if you forget the tip.. they come 2x a day..so better rem. to put the do not disturb sign by 4pm lest they come in and hang for 30 minutes. If you want the view get the ocean front suite.
The biggest gripe is the pool. Coz its windy.. it nocks a lot of the clear plastic cups you get your water from the poolside. I must have stepped on 3 plastic cups in the pool. Gross. Well i guess its better than the ocean with all the brown outs from the marine life.
You get a great view with 2 decent sized balconies.. but it does get a bit pricey. But hey we gotta stimuate the economy... no? the only bad part is you gotta walk all the way down to end of the property. and take another elevator.. but then you are that much closer to the beach... if you want the most bang for the buck..get the residential suite (garden).. you get 900 sq feet and a kitchen.. w/o a stove/oven. If you want to cook your ahi catch better to get the larger suite..1200+ sq a full kitchen.. full fridge/dishwasher.. not a drawer fridge. And of course there is the bargain room 299 nite. its 440 sq. and feels tight. but hey thats what a honeymoon is for eh? 299 (bargain )vs 600 (garden) vs 775 (ocean view.) vs 1050 (ocean front) per nite?
Tried the ocean view before. So we went for the ocean front. Maybe with my raise can get the presidential one day. yeah rite.
If you want to go all out you can get the club level.(5 offerings of food and drink throught the day) but geez.. unless you are going to be there 24/7 its not worth that. But after its all said and done.. its prob. one of the top three places to stay on maui.
I think my next time round will try 4 seasons.. Ritz is a bit windy..but wayy fewer people.. And DT Fleming beach is top notch.
There is a tiny store Honulua store.. the people there are great. They sel all sorts of nick nacks for a decent price. They should charge more for being on the resort.. but they don't. ( i am a fan of market economics)
Its a quick walk up from the parking lot. Its right by the Sacred Heart chuch next to the pastors reserved parking space.
Check out my review of SanSei.. I hope the food is better at 630pm.
Because of the privacy.. dead quiet in the ocean front site.. and relative lack of people throughout the resort. it is worth the stay. Thumbs up. It is however not riz service on the mainland..but again this is Maui.
One star off cause it can be quite windy...
another star off cause of the ancient hawaiian burial grounds literally on the grounds of the Ritz.... a bit unnerving in the evenings.
Aside from that.... If I was a bride... this would be a place I'd have my hyman busted.... FO' SCHNIZZEL!!!
People thought this was:
We own a house in Maui in Wailea (South Side), so we only booked an evening at this hotel when my sister held her wedding reception at one of their ballrooms. Well, it was more of like a ballroom, then an outside lanai.
They flew in photographers and a DJ crew (Spintronix, from Daly City?) from the mainland and everybody pretty much stayed at the hotel. A group of over 100 total.
As for the hotel, no biggie. Stuffed shirt clientele, ugly, boring, uninspired hotel. Crappy customer service! OMG, you don't even want to get me started with the INCOMPETENCE!
People thought this was:
After the quick little drive from Kahalui airport we arrived in our paradise for the week, also known as the Ritz Carlton Kapalua.
They raised the bar on attentive service by phoning us at home a week prior to see if we needed help with any details or reservations. We'll take a poolside cabana thank you. Pampering prior to arrival certainly raised the bar and the warm welcome we received as repeat guests made me feel like Norm walking into Cheers. They jumped on our luggage and began us on our walk all the way in the front. I swore they were about to bring us to the same room we occupied on our previous trip. My bad, we got the hookup next door with the rock star suite. Why yes, I'm with the band. This pad was an enormous layout with a double wide ocean front Lanai and about the only things missing were Vinny Chase, E, Turtle and Drama. The Ritz was redone since our last visit and our suite had all the modern touches with an aloha feel. Dark hardwood floors throughout, granite island kitchen with stainless appliances that included a Wolf range and Subzero fridge and wine cooler. Huge plasma TVs in both rooms and a little side door that opened up to charge any gadget in your batbelt. Rugs and drapes had a nice pineapple motif. The huge walk-in closet even had a little adjacent room for luggage. The modern bath had marble throughout and a mosaic tile that surrounded the double sink, shower, bath and toilet.
Our lanai offered gorgeous views of Molokai and DT Fleming beach down below. When they broke ground on this resort they discovered ancient burial grounds along the shores, so that area is walled off and the hotel is set back a bit up on the hill. I included a bunch of pics so check them out.
We were able to walk right out and up to the pool, which is nice because this complex is big. Pool was spacious with many levels and waterfalls. No shade or umbrellas, so you may want to go with said cabana lest you end up red like all the people you will see. Really thought they would promote sun safety, but I guess you need to shell out for it. The next resort on our visit (FS Manele) had tons of umbrellas and shaded areas surrounding the pool and the attentive staff was more than happy to move them to get you covered. A few dropped balls service wise, like waiting forever for someone to set up our cabana and drinks poolside or the curt service at the Plantation course. Great service, but the FS had them on that one.
We also went to their spa, which was great. All of the typical pampering you get used to at a top spa. Broken steam room for the ladies was a bummer for my wife. I felt for her on that one because the steam room was great. Outdoor hut for couples deep tissue massage. So relaxing.
Our package included rounds at their championship golf courses and breakfast Buffet at the terrace, that was a sweet deal so check into it. Great restaurants at the Plantation House and throughout the resort which I've reviewed separately.
Kapalua is a huge resort so check out all that it offers. You can hop their shuttles to get anywhere on site. The service, as you would expect, was superb. Our room keeper even left us notes thanking us for tips. Please tell me that everyone else is not stiffing her!?! Felt that the resort tax and business center nickel and dimed a bit, but in this economy I won't fault them for that. You've got to splurge if you are going to Hawaii, so treat yourself. Also try to repeat at the places you like. You will be remembered and maybe even given the rock star treatment.
Mahalo Ritz!
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This review is for the Spa at The Ritz Carlton Kapalua.
I was not staying here :( , but decided to treat myself for a day at the spa. Aaaaah! What a day! Let me back up a bit though. First, we drove to the property just to check it out to see if I wanted to go here or The Four Seasons for my treatment. The Ritz property just underwent a major renovation last year where they actually closed up the resort for a good six months and boy did they do a good job! As expected from any Ritz, the entire experience was first rate from the get go. From valet (complimentary) to the entire staff at the spa and pool, everyone was as pleasant as can be! When I went to the spa for a tour before deciding, upon entering, I was warmly greeted and the receptionist was genuinely enthusiastic about encouraging me to visit the spa. She gave me all of the tools I needed to decide-brochure, helped me select which service, advised me that I would have full use of the spa facilities all day, AS WELL AS access to the beautiful pool! SOLD! They were also having a promotion where if you booked a 50 min massage, you would get an extra 30 mins added on complimentary-SOLD, SOLD! She even gave me a day pass to the spa so we could come back another day to use the sauna, steam room, and jacuzzis!
Torn on which massage to book, I settled on a good ole deep tissue (to recover from the flight over in cramped coach class!) and was lucky enough to have the Lead Therapist, Casey work on me. He was wonderful, using just the right amount of pressure. I actually fell asleep momentarily and woke myself up when I started to snore!
The facilities were bountiful with a tranquility room, steam, sauna and a coed indoor/outdoor relaxation area complete with jacuzzi and sunning chaise lounges. Having access to the pool was awesome as I sunbathed for a couple of hours and had lunch by the pool before receiving my massage.
Will definitely return on my next visit to Maui!
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I have been to an incredible number of American hotels in my life; LA, San Diego, New York, San Francisco, Phoenix, Vegas, Washington D.C., Florida, Hawaii ...Tulsa... OH MY GOD for Tulsa and others. Never been overseas though but I could have gone on SEMESTER AT SEA when I was in college but I had a really, really serious girlfriend at the time and just couldn't leave her, so I didn't go. My first big life mistake because at the end of the year, her dad refused to pay her tuition because he was a total jerk and she had to leave me and school to go to work. It changed everything for the worse. Oh well, you can't change the past so just keep smiling no matter what.
I'm really not much of a longterm hotel travel person though, (resorts are another story) too transitory for me and all the packing and unpacking, cabs and restaurants, are nice for awhile but I guess I am a homebody, most comfortable with my bed, my friends and family, my movies and books. However, I am going to do a lot of travel with my future wife because being with someone while you are traveling will make things so much better. Plus, I need to have my comfortable haunts that I visit, like Puerto Azul and Andale's for excellent Mexican food. Round Table for pizza. And the Hwy 1 drive must be done at least monthly for the soul recharge.
Basically, after all of that searching, I have come to realize that Hawaii is my favorite place in the world to stay and be. If I could sell my business for what I think it is worth, (HA) I would retire, play the stock market, move to Hawaii for 6 months out of the year and San Jose for the other 6 months. That way I would have the best of both worlds (not hannah montana).
And within the Hawaii islands, I would move to Maui. To me, Maui is THE most beautiful place in the world. The mountains, the restaurants, the sailing, the sports, the weather, the closeness back to the mainland if you need to get back in a hurry, the water, the beaches, the community college to possibly take classes or teach English/business and on and on ... What can I say, I'm in love with Maui. To be able to wake up in 75 degree weather everyday, smell the beautiful air, walk across the street to the farmers market in my Polo shirt, Hurley boardshorts and thongs, pick out a fresh papaya and avocado, walk back to the condo and eat a delicious, healthy breakfast is just my way of living.
The last time I was there, I started to almost cry when I was sitting at the airport because I knew I was going to miss the place so much. By the way, CONDE NAST has rated Maui the world's best island 14 times. Yes, I wrote 14 times. That's just plain amazing.
And within Maui, you also have the most beautiful hotel I have ever been at in my life. The hotel is in one word - UNBELIEVABLE. Wonderful. Superb. Spectacular. Unique.
The Ritz's buildings, the decor, the service, it's all incredible. And because it is all off by itself, it actually has its own little beach. But what people don't know is that it is a public access beach and is the most beautiful baby beach I have ever been at in my life. Small, uncrowded with the best view ever. I went snorkeling and saw the most beautiful fish and I was the only one in the water I think. Heaven on Earth.
http://www.ritzcarlton...
Plus, the golf course at Kapalua is eye popping hard. I almost got killed there one time but that's in another story/review. I don't really play golf any more but if I did I would join Kapalua, live in one of the beautiful condos nearby at Napili and play every day. But because of work, I just can't get here any more and it makes me very sad. And I could go ANYTIME I want and for free too, how frustrating is that?
I have an aunt and uncle that own a beautiful 2 bedroom condo in Wailea and they are always telling me to stay there for no charge for as long as I want. "No one is using it, why don't you? AAARGH! Total frustration but work has to come first I guess or all the bills will pile up and then my retirement in Maui dream is over. Gotta be practical.
Anyway, back to the Ritz. All around the hotel are wonderful little shops to shop at, all very expensive but hey, it's the Ritz.
You literally do not have to leave the grounds once you are here. It's that all inclusive. After finding it and walking around the lobby and grounds I made the decison that I want to go on my honeymoon here, it's that special. But after all of the honeymoonin' you must rent a car and see the rest of the most beautiful island in the world, MAUI.
MAUI, I love you and want to live with you. Some day, that will happen.
People thought this was:
Easily one of the top places in the world to stay on a vacation. Any Ritz property in the world is going to be world class. The amenities and the service are always second to none... The drive from the airport was long but well worth the wait. This hotel was a secluded piece of heaven on earth. The pool was a tri-level retreat with a side passage to a private beach with three outdoor restaurant/grill/bars in between... I mean come on, you don't have to leave the resort and your in Maui! Haha
There are a lot of long reviews here and I'm betting a lot of people don't want to hear my life story so I'll try to keep this brief and useful:
LOCATION - 4* Sure, you're on Maui but, you need a car to do anything off site
SLEEPING ROOMS - 5* though admittedly I was upgraded to a condo. The in-room kitchen was awesome, an actual FULL kitchen with a fridge drawer.
POOL - 5* loved the multi-level pool including one huge pool, several jacuzzis and great service from staff
BEACH - 5* for quality, it was magnificent and fairly large. It's a walk from your room, though, because they had to build uphill from the burial grounds
FOOD - 5* they clearly focus on quality rather than quantity/portion size, a trait I wish more restaurants would catch on to. Beachside cafe has fair prices and they'll give it to you "to go" so you can picnic on the sand!
SPA - Tucked into an odd area of the resort, but lovely nonetheless. They have indoor treatment rooms as well as outdoor areas. My Lomi Lomi massage was outdoors during the rain and absolutely sublime.
SERVICE - 5* which is expected from the Ritz
CULTURAL EXPERIENCE - 5* especially if you want to learn about the native culture. There is a Cultural Ambassador (native Hawaiian culture expert) on staff who needs to approve every facet of the hotel's operations. He leads a morning retreat and also an evening cultural tour at the resort a few days a week. Both are worth checking out.
WEATHER - I didn't experience the winds that many here did, but there was a downpour one day, which cleared up within 2 hours.
SUMMARY - If you want to stay in luxury and get a true Hawaiian cultural experience and don't mind renting a car to access off-property activities, this is the perfect place for you.
If you're looking for a place to just relax and kick back, this is it. Lucky me to have friends who got married here!
The property is pretty much self-sufficient and consists of condos, a Ritz Carlton Hotel, church and a couple of stores. Of couse the hotel is very grand and their pride and joy is their pool that looks like something you see in a magazine or a movie. There's also a permanent outdoor tent fixture for huge parties rave-style. The golf course is everywhere and I almost wished I was a golf player when I was here but decided that I would fit in better at the pool.
Ahh yes, my day at the pool was the best. What's not to love about pool people bringing fruit skewers and cold towels to you? The pina coladas were awesome, too--made with soft serve ice cream!
Most of the villas had great views but the resort wasn't that close to the beach. We were lucky and rented a really nice updated condo--Gold level. Our friends weren't so lucky--we got a kick out of the funky decor with lots of plastic plants.
My favorite place in this mini-town was the Adventure shop. They offered a bunch of "adventures" that I didn't take advantage of. This was a total hang-out vaca for me so I would come for my Mayan Mocha and check email and read the paper.
People thought this was:
Forget everything you've read here on Yelp based on stays prior to December 2007.
The entire property was shut down for six months and had a face lift and renovation . While the beach is no closer and the property is still isolated from anything outside of Kapalua, it is a wonderful, magical resort with plenty of privacy and quiet.
Did I just call it magical? Compared to the usual Maui resort property, the Ritz is adult, mature, and sophisticated. Yes there are kids, but there's also golf galore, plenty of places for long walks, a pretty, isolated beach, and good (albeit expensive) options for drinks, snacks, and meals. The rooms are comfortable, the bed linens are perfect, and the housekeeping service still does turndown service. Make sure you do not stay on the lobby level, or you'll find that your corridor is a pass-through for guest from other floors.
We came here after a disastrous evening in a rental condo. The moment we stepped into the lobby our stress melted away. From the lobby level there are wonderful views of the ocean, a cooling sea breeze, and a comfortable place to sit down and take in the property.
Food options are par for the Ritz: overpriced but delicious. We loved the appetizers at Kai, enjoyed our lunch at the Pool, and were satisfied with the buffet breakfast (though we only did it once owing to its high price). Near the property are a number of less expensive food options, including the versatile General Store up the street and the busy but good Sansei Japanese fusion joint a mere 5 minute walk from the hotel.
Make sure you have a car when you stay here. You'll want to explore the island and, on rainy days, take in the less rainy parts of the island.
And note: the property isn't built on the burial ground. It is built away from the burial ground, hence the walk to the beach.
People thought this was:
Hands down a true 5 star experience. Reopening in January after a major face lift. The staff is what makes the Hotel. A staff member overheard us talking about the NY times and we had copies of it every morning for the rest of our stay.
This is a place to go for a week and not leave. Yes, its a small beach, sure kids go on vacation with there parents. Its a Golf and tennis Paradise, with plenty of good walking and cheaper eats a short walk off grounds. The Spa is 5 star all the way. Have a couples massage outside.
If your catholic, try and attend mass at the church near bye. It was a great experience.
FORGET ABOUT DRIVING TO HANA. You will waste a day of R&R and not be happy.
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Breakfast buffet review only.
What an unpleasant experience for us. Paphooey. Unless you're already stuck at the hotel, don't bother.
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This is for their Terrace Breakfast Buffet.
We stayed at the Ritz in Vegas...they have a fantastic spread. Freshly seared scallops, sushi, exquisite desserts. So we thought - the Ritz in Kapalua surely would be up to par if not exceed it.
WRONG.
It was average. Like a Marriott buffet breakfast... although less good than the Marriott Ko'Olina one.
Don't go - not worth it.
People thought this was:
This is a nice hotel, but note the following:
- We stayed in 2004, and some parts of the hotel looked like they needed a face lift
- The hotel was quite a ways from the beach (somewhere between 5 and 10 minutes). We only went to the beach once in a week.
- Rain, rain, rain. Wow, did it rain. It rained a lot. We'd get in the car and head to Kaanapali (literally a 5 to 7 minute drive) and bask in 80 degree sun
The resort itself was not bad at all. Just in need of a minor face lift and a move to a warmer part of the island.
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Un. Real. Seriously. This is the place for you if you want to be pampered, cuddled and fed. Seriously. You will feel like the rock star you are when you're here, and the staff is truly at your beck and call. I know the Aloha Spirit is a wonderful thing, but nowhere will you feel it like here. This is truly opulent, and we were spoiled happy here.
TIP! If you are done with the hotel food, and don't mind taking a morning walk, there's a company store where locals get their plate lunches and their oh so yummy spam breakfasts. You'll miss it if you just keep going to the resort but it's on the right hand side of the main road leading to the hotel. Stop here and load up on your snacks for your day trips. You won't regret it.
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This is a truly wonderful and luxurious hotel. It's expensive but I really can't fault the hotel itself. Lovely rooms, great service, great food, etc. Last stayed there in 2003.
So why 3 stars? 3 reasons, all related to location:
1. It's a long way from the beach. Like a 5-minute walk, and even then it's just a surfing beach, not a snorkeling beach.
2. It's in Kapalua, on the NW side of the island, where it rains a LOT. Be careful of this. It makes for great golfing but not great poolside lounging if you have the wrong weather.
3. It's in Kapalua, so if you want to go anywhere on the S side of the island (for instance to go snorkeling or to where it's not raining) then you have to go through Lahaina, which has really bad traffic at times.
If your big emphasis is golf then maybe you'll love it. But I don't golf.
If you go during the dry season then it might be better too.
Summary: great luxury hotel in mediocre location
People thought this was:
I highly recommend the Ritz. This is a great, relaxing resort for adults. I have been to the resorts in Wailea and Kaanapali and they are too over crowded and too many kids running around.
The beach is a nice 4-5 minute walk and is fairly secluded for Ritz customers.
Only had breakfast and lunch at the Ritz. Prices are high. $30/breakfast buffett. Sansei (best sushi in Maui) is a 5 minute walk from the hotel. Went there twice. Drive to Kaanapali/Lahaina is only 10-15 minutes for dinner.
I truly enjoyed our stay at the Ritz Carlton. The swimming pools are incredible, and if you rent a pool side cabana, you'll spend a wonderful day lounging, reading, drinking, eating in one of the most amazing place on the planet!
Their breakfast buffet is incredible: probably the most luxurious and decadent buffet that you will find in North Maui. At $25/person, it's not cheap, but you can fill up for the day: fresh mango or orange juice, coffee, eggs benedict, custom made omelettes and waffles, salmon, bagels, croissants, sticky buns, fruits of all kinds: mango, melon, papaya, pineapple, hmmm... beautiful meats as well, including bacon, ham, oh.... a cheese plate... Absolutely beautiful! You'll walk out of there and head straight for a lounge chair by the pool to nap the meal off. :)
The *HUGE* disappointment: The rooms. The rooms, or let's say the "entry-level" rooms suck, suck and suck ever more! We paid less when we stayed at the Hyatt and got much nicer rooms! Also, almost no services are included, so you end up having to shell out an extra $100 or $200 per day on "incidentals"... Cabana rental, WiFi, you even paid if you drank the water bottles that they "conveniently" left in your room. You know what? Tack on an extra $5 on every room in the resort and give me free fucking water, ok?
I wouldn't stay here again, though I would definitely come and visit because they have such an incredible breakfast buffet.
Sure the furniture and decor looks like it has not been changed in 25 years, and that is because it hasn't. The hotel is shutting down in July 2007 to undergo a $90,000,000 renovation. And maybe they have been skating on reduced maintenance for a little while because of it. So, go now if you can get a great room rate because it is sure to be no great bargain after the renovation.
If you like long leisurely walks this is a great hotel because it is big and the distance from the Valet to your room is a good 7-10 minute walk. The walk to the beach is at least 10 minutes too. Many of the rooms do not actually face the ocean even if they are "Ocean View". I say this even after we were totally styled with an upgrade to a one bedroom Ocean View suite.
I did have some special requests for he concierge while we were there which she handled with a plumb! The hotel staff was friendly and very accommodating as you would expect of the Ritz.
There is a beautiful surfing beach with large waves (not safe for children). The location while being expansive, beautifully landscaped, and lush is often windy and rainy. Two out of six days (end of February) were warm enough to lounge by the pool. My fiance, son and I had to sneak into the pool at the Four Seasons Hotel, which isn't easy, and feels a little weird when you are staying at the Ritz.
This is a better golfing destination than anything I am pretty sure. Basically, this place is really special. It's just not for everyone. We got a killer deal on Expedia and don't regret a thing. Just don't go there for all the wrong reasons.
Not a fan at all...
-Beach is way too far
- Too many kids
- Far from any real activitiies
- limited food options, all we did was order room service
- We had a person jump onto our "private" balcony, after I kicked him out of our room, security didn't really care or write a report.
- It's built on an Ancient Indian Burial Ground
People thought this was:
i've stayed in many great hotels and the ritz in maui is one of the best. First the down side. it takes forever to get to your room. the lobby is on something like the 4th floor so to get anywhere its a far distance. I personally like to lay out by the pool under an umbrella but that isn't possible here. To get shade you have to reserve a cabana which costs $75. The other issue is they aren't located on a private beach. That really isnt a problem because the beach is 2 min away and you can get a free shuttle to a great little bay. the pool water is colder than the ocean which is pretty stupid but i guess some people like it. The service is amazing and lives up the ritz carlton standard.
People thought this was:
This property is one of my ultimate favorite. I like that its so quiet and so clean. The Staff are nice and all friendly. We enjoyed our stayed here and the property is very clean and peaceful best place to do a honeymoon or just plain R&R. The very best Ritz we stayed at.
Paradise, true paradise. Or as the staff says, the Aloha Spirit lives here. What ever lives here needs to include me forever!
OK, the guy from Maui Revealed was partially right, the Ritz was a mild disappoint to me. It was not their fault it rained 4 out of 7 days of our vacation, it was January...although I would not stay on this end of the island again. What I liked was the beach...amazingly beautiful, and the grounds were very spacious and well kept. We went to a luau (not usually my thing) and loved it. As far as food was concerned, the hotel had several good choices, but they were very expensive. We were isolated from inexpensive off-site alternatives. One plus was Roy's was just down the street, not cheap, but my favorite Maui place for dinner, save room for the chocolate souffles!! Our room had a serious noise problem from the adjacent room, we were separated by doors. This was awful...you could hear the people next door sneezing, and I am sure it went both ways!! Without much trouble from the staff, we were moved to another room, which for 2 women on vacation was a chore. Housekeeping did a wonderful job, and the hotel in general was spotless. Given the location, I would not go back to the Ritz, and like Maui in the summer much better.
This place is simply unreal! I went here with a fellow teacher for spring break on a "steal of the century" package and was nearly in tears when the trip came to an end... The resort is a bit windy (because of its location on the island) but the gorgeous view distracted me from the sometimes strong breeze. They'll pretty much do whatever they need to do to meet your needs... I'd like a brownie sundae? Of course! Do you have a running trail suggestion? Of course... how about a bottle of water to go with the map? I cannot rave enough about this place... One of the concierges, KC, is perhaps the most helpful person on the island! Food and drink is pricey but amazing in quality and taste... Check out the poolside Kapalua Dive Company... they have an amazing intro to diving course for about $100 that includes a one-on-one lesson in the pool before a 45 minute dive in Kapalua bay... down 30 feet to swim with turtles!
Wailea, HI
Category: Hotels
Lahaina, HI
Category: Hotels
Lanai City, HI
Category: Hotels
Kapalua, HI
Category: Asian Fusion
Maui, HI
Category: Hotels
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