The Ultimate Guide of Where to Stay in Maui

Wailea:

Located on the southwestern coast of Maui, Wailea is jam packed with luxury resorts, shops and restaurants. It’s buzzy, vibrant and sunny. All of the resorts sit alongside one another and a beachfront path allows you to easily walk between the beaches and nearby shopping centers with high end dining and shops.

Fairmont Kea Lani

Sitting at the southern end of the Wailea resorts, the Fairmont Kea Lani is fresh off a full renovation and the result is quite breathtaking. The design feels unique and is breezy and contemporary. This is an all-suite property meaning even your entry level room gets you a true one-bedroom suite with a separate living room with sofa bed, small fridge and microwave. For more space, suites can connect a King Suite to a Queen or Queen suite. They also have a collection of two and three-bedroom villas steps from the beach, each with a full kitchen, laundry and a small private pool. The hotel sits on Polo Beach which is surrounded by rock on both sides, giving it a more remote feel than some of the other stretches of Wailea beaches.

Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea

With 383 rooms and suites, this resort is smaller and more compact than some of its Wailea neighbors. The Four Seasons Maui is a great option for those who want the convenience of Wailea but with a bit more zen and polish. The resort is a u-shape with their Garden and Ocean View Rooms facing some combination of their well manicured courtyard and ocean beyond. Some of their suites are real stunners if you have the means to splurge — yes, even the infamous Pineapple Suite from The White Lotus Season One. This is one of the few resorts in Wailea to offer a Kids Club, and the Kids For All Seasons is included in your rate.

Grand Wailea, a Waldorf Astoria Resort

With nearly 800 rooms and suites, this resort is giant. It can be overwhelming to navigate upon arrival but the grounds are really quite extraordinary. All rooms were renovated in October 2023 and there are several different towers to choose from. The Napua Suites are on the Club Level and get guests an upgraded experience with Club Lounge access and a dedicated concierge. The Kilolani Spa was recently renovated and is worth a visit, no matter where you are staying on the island. It’s huge and gorgeous with a truly impressive circuit and facilities to enjoy with or without a spa treatment. Grand Wailea is also famous for its pool complex which is a gigantic series of connecting pools, slides, lazy rivers, waterfalls, Tarzan swings and more. It’s great for big kids who can confidently swim without supervision but for younger kids, you can’t really keep an eye on them without swimming with them for hours on end. Families who want more space but the convenience of resort amenities should consider the Ho’Olei Villas across the street. Book through a Fora Advisor to ensure you get access to the Grand Wailea and your perks like free breakfast.

Wailea Beach Resort - Marriott, Maui

Just steps from The Shops at Wailea shopping mall, Wailea Beach Resort has 547 rooms and suites spanning 22 acres. Much of this sprawling resort actually sits closest to a rocky stretch of the water’s edge compared to other Wailea resorts, with sandier stretches of beaches just a short walk away. Guest rooms are set to be refreshed in 2024 and will get some new touches with updated rugs, furniture and other small improvements. The Sundeck Rooms are ground floor rooms with larger outdoor patio areas and a romantic outdoor bath. There are five pools at the resort, two dedicated to adults-only. The new Olakino Wellness Experience is one of those adults only pools, which offers a serene atmosphere with culinary and wellness activities throughout the day for an additional fee. Families will love the Nalu Adventure Pool, a separate pool complex with the longest water slide in Hawaii, a splash pad and food trucks. There’s something for everyone at this resort, which can sometimes be available at a more affordable nightly rate than its neighbors.

Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort

Another smaller, more compact resort with 320 rooms including 35 suites and 30 villas. Standard rooms are on the smaller side, starting at 380 square feet with very simple and modern design. They do have a collection of various villas great for groups or families. With a more contemporary design, including a cascading series of infinity pools towards the ocean, this is a resort that seems like it caters more towards adults, although there were plenty of families there when I visited. One neat program they have is an Artist in Residence. Welzie is Hawaii’s premier resin surf artist and offers classes for both children and adults at the Andaz Maui.

Kapalua:

Kapalua is located in Northwest Maui and is home to the Ritz-Carlton, Montage, two beautiful golf courses and shops and restaurants. It’s a bit greener, quieter and more spread out than Wailea, nestled in one of Hawaii’s largest nature preserves.

Montage Kapalua Bay

The Montage is a residential style resort, meaning all of its accommodations come with a full kitchen and laundry. They have 56 units ranging from one to four bedrooms and they are all quite spacious and comfortable. Despite the obvious appeal of staying here as a family, this resort felt peaceful and serene with a beautiful series of pools cascading down to a grassy area perfect for children to play. Access to Kapalua Bay Beach is down a short path from the main pool area. The Paintbox Kids Club is available for children ages five to 12 for an additional fee and there is a spacious and zen spa.

The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua

This is the larger of the two Kapalua Resorts, with 467 rooms and suites spread across 52 acres. There are two wings; one with rooms and the other with more spacious residential suites — all with living space and small kitchenette. Most rooms here have a nice view with plenty of golf and greenery views in addition to ocean views. Club Lounge access can be added onto any room or suite to get all-day access to their Lounge with dedicated concierge, and complimentary food and beverage offerings throughout the day. The beach is a five-minute walk downhill and they have a great Burger Shack restaurant down at the beach area.