I visit Hawaii pretty frequently (and used to live there) so I’ve stayed in a lot of different hotels and condos on trips (and staycations) plus visited so many more and done a LOT of research.

Like, a LOT of research. I’m kind of a hotel person.

It’s hard to complain much about any hotel in Hawaii (it’s paradise!), but some hotels definitely make more of an impression than others.

So I’ve rounded up my FAVORITE hotels in Hawaii, plus the ones that are on my wishlist.

But first, here are a few things you need to know:

My tastes (and therefore my recommendations) skew high end to luxury. I’m not really a budget traveler. Although I do like to travel hack my way to a lot of stays.
Hotels in Hawaii are pretty $$$ (especially since COVID). So if you’re out of touch with current hotel prices (everywhere really, not just Hawaii), you might be shocked. You’re probably not going to find something beachfront (outside of Waikiki) for under $300. And really, a lot of places start at about double that. You can definitely find places to stay (even right on the beach) for way less, but you’re going to be looking at a condo. I’ve got a ton of recommendations here, but this post focuses on hotels and resorts.

This post may contain some affiliate links, which means I’ll make a little money on anything you choose to purchase. But of course, I only recommend my absolute favorites to you. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Mousin Around possible.

My Favorite Hotels in Hawaii (I’ve Stayed at Them All ; )

Best Hotels in Maui

Let’s start with Maui…it’s my favorite ; ) When I’m booking a “vacation,” the Wailea resort area on Maui is my #1 pick.

Everybody has different opinions and things they like or don’t like, but having stayed at all the big resorts in Wailea, here is how I would rank them:

#1 Four Seasons Maui

I think the Four Seasons is the gold standard, the cream of the crop, the yardstick which all other luxury resorts are measured against…especially in Wailea.

The whole place just has an “air” about it that’s hard to put your finger on but it’s the perfect intersection of over the top luxury and casual friendliness.

The adults only serenity pool is probably the best pool anywhere in Hawaii. I love a good infinity pool, but this one is over the top with the swim up bar and amazing view of Wailea Beach.

The service here is what really sets it apart. I’ve never experienced anything like it in my life.

This is also the only resort in Wailea that doesn’t charge a resort fee (or charge for cabanas around the pool-they’re first come first serve), but the overall price is $$$ and other amenities and the food options here are more of a premium than at other resorts.

Read my full review of the Four Seasons here.

You can book the Four Seasons Maui here.

#2 Andaz Maui

The Andaz just might rank as #1 if we’re talking about the actual property, but their service isn’t quite up to par with the Four Seasons so I think that bumps it down to #2. But the style of these two resorts is so radically different that I would probably go with whichever one you’re more drawn to. The Andaz is very modern and the Four Seasons is much more traditional.

The Andaz feels a bit more out of the way since it’s down at the end of Wailea. If the beach is important to you, I think the Andaz is on the best beach in Wailea. The snorkeling is good, it’s not as crowded as others like Wailea Beach, and it’s a really long beach that’s perfect if you like to take walks.

For me, the pool set up also wins as overall best. There are three infinity pools plus a lagoon pool and a separate adults only pool over by the spa. One of the infinity pools even has a hot tub in it.

While the Four Seasons’ infinity pool is my top pool spot to be, it’s adults only and generally has limited seating for the number of people who want to be there. The Andaz infinity pools aren’t quite as good (mostly they don’t have prime views of the beach itself), but there are three of them and seating is a lot more plentiful. None of the main pool areas here are adults only but in general the Andaz attracts a lot fewer kids than the Four Seasons so it’s not super necessary.

Read my full review of the Andaz here.

You can book the Andaz here.

#3 Wailea Beach Resort

In my mind, while the Four Seasons and the Andaz are very comparable and within a stone’s throw of each other, there’s a lot more separation as we move down the list.

I would rank the Wailea Beach Resort as my #3 pick, but I just want to be clear that while I don’t think there’s a ton of separation between #1 and #2, there is a lot of separation between #2 and #3, if that makes sense.

Aesthetically, the Wailea Beach Resort has a modern vibe that’s more in line with the Andaz than the more traditional properties in Wailea (Four Seasons, Grand Wailea, Fairmont Kea Lani) and while it’s definitely a very high end resort, I wouldn’t call it luxury.

The property is beautiful and built on a very big scale, but it’s designed to be more of a self serve/fend for yourself set up instead of being service oriented which I think is what usually separates high end from true luxury.

I’ll be honest, what I love most about the Wailea Beach Resort is that it’s a Marriott property and since I have status with Marriott I can either cash in points to cover a very expensive stay, or at least get a nice chunk of points for my stay if I pay cash.

If the beach is of utmost importance to you, the Wailea Beach Resort isn’t directly on the beach (it stretches along a rocky bit of coastline) but it’s a short walk to two great beaches and they do chair setup at Wailea Beach.

Since it’s not “on” a beach though, they’ve got more oceanfront real estate than pretty much every other in Wailea. Pretty much every pool (except the Nalu Adventure Pool with the slides and waterfall) has ocean views which I LOVE.

The biggest draw back of this resort are the rooms. I’d rank them dead last in Wailea. They’re not bad, but they’re not good. Definitely not what you’d expect from a $1000/night resort on Maui.

Read my full review of the Wailea Beach Resort here.

You can book the Wailea Beach Resort here.

***Want to save major $$$ on your trip to Hawaii? I get asked ALL the time how I’m able to travel so often to Hawaii and stay at really nice resorts. Well, my favorite travel hack is cashing in points to score free airfare and free nights at some of Hawaii’s most high end resorts. Read my full guide on the exact system I use to max out credit card rewards here. Seriously, it’s going to save you soooo much money.

#4 Fairmont Kea Lani

In many ways, the Fairmont has a much stronger understated luxury vibe than the Wailea Beach Resort, but overall I’d still rank it below.

Let’s start with the strong points…I think the Fairmont Kea Lani has the best rooms in Wailea. That is, the best standard price, entry level rooms (I’m sure if you’re paying $$$ for a suite or a villa at the others they knock it out of the park). EVERY room at the Fairmont Kea Lani is actually a suite with a separate living area and that is a pretty big deal. They’ve also ALL been renovated in 2023 and they are NICE. AND pretty much every room has an ocean view or partial ocean view (except for low level rooms that aren’t going to be high enough for a view…basically, every room faces the ocean).

While I LOVE the rooms at the Fairmont, I don’t spend very much time in my room (even when I’m spending most of my time at the resort) so that doesn’t quite mean enough to me to bump it up higher on the list.

What I don’t love about the Fairmont is the pool situation. Yes, there are several pools including a water slide two of them, a swim up bar, and an adults only pool, but all of the pools are tucked up back into the resort and the resort grounds aren’t really terraced so when you’re at the pools, you’re just kind of looking up at the resort, not out at the ocean and beach.

You actually have to stroll down towards the beach pretty intentionally before you even see it.

It’s not awful, but just not my favorite. And while they’re doing a lot of renovations on the property, it’s just not quite up to the standards as some of the other places in the area. It’s definitely built in the same traditional style as the Four Seasons and the Grand Wailea, but it just doesn’t really compete with them in terms of luxury and service (Four Seasons) or scale and amenities (Grand Wailea).

But depending on the price and how much you value the room setup, it can be a very good option.

Read my full review of the Fairmont Kea Lani here.

You can book the Fairmont Kea Lani here.

#5 Grand Wailea

I know so many people are going to be screaming at me for putting the Grand Wailea close to the bottom of my list when it’s usually talked about as “the” place to stay on Maui…but I’ve got opinions ; )

First of all, the Grand Wailea and I go waaaay back. Like, back to childhood. I used to watch this show on the Travel Channel with Samantha Brown called Great Hotels and she went to Hawaii (the most exotic place I could imagine at the time) and stayed at the fabulous hotel called the Grand Wailea and I was sure it must be the nicest hotel anywhere in the world.

Fast forward to when I lived on Maui (way before I started this blog) and I got the chance to stay here with some friends and honestly, it probably was the nicest place I’d ever stayed at the time. By a long shot.

But fast forward more to now, when I’ve made it my job to stay at luxury resorts and I just have more perspective.

So here’s the scoop…the Grand Wailea is the most famous (let’s call it the flagship) resort in Wailea partly because of its size and “grandeur” and partly because it was the first.

Grand really is the best way to describe this resort. It’s one of those places where your jaw is on the ground as you enter the lobby and walk around the property. The architecture, design, and layout is just over the top.

It’s got everything you could want in a resort, but its strong point is the pool area. It’s practically its own waterpark and it’s an absolute paradise for kids. There is just so much going on at this place. Aulani (the Disney resort) on Oahu is widely regarded as the best resort in Hawaii for kids, but when people ask me where to stay on another island that’s similar…this is the place.

But here’s the deal…I don’t usually travel with kids so that’s not a huge selling point for me personally when I’m picking a place to stay.

I will be completely honest…I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with this resort. I LOVE a big, comfy resort with a lot going on.

But I’ve always found their service to be pretty lackluster.

Most of the employees are friendly and helpful when you directly cross paths with them, but this isn’t the kind of place where they go out of their way to be friendly and helpful. And it’s also one of the few “high end” properties where I’ve actually had a few less than stellar experiences with staff members.

From the valet to restaurants to shops to lobby concierge, I’ve had a few run-ins where it was pretty obvious that they don’t really care whether you’re there or not. And at THE MOST EXPENSIVE hotel in Wailea, I don’t love that.

Also, while it’s very “grand,” parts of it can feel a little dated. In complete fairness, I haven’t stayed here since 2014 (although I’ve been there quite a bit for dining, shopping, luau, strolling through, etc) and they’ve been hitting the renovations pretty hard lately so I’m making it a priority to go back for another full stay in 2024 to give it another shot.

So anyways, the Grand Wailea definitely has the “wow factor”, but for me, when I’m comparing this place to the Four Seasons next door or the Andaz (or even the Fairmont and Wailea Beach Resort), the customer services pales in comparison (but the price doesn’t ; )

So when I’m traveling without kids, this is not really an option that I’d consider in Wailea.

You can book the Grand Wailea here.

#6 Ritz Carlton Kapalua

**While the above resorts are all ranked in the order that I would recommend them (since they’re all in Wailea and more easily comparable), I’m breaking from the “ranking” here since we’re moving over to Kapalua. This is apples and oranges from the resorts in Wailea.

I’m not going to lie…I’d never been terribly interested in staying in Kapalua because it’s so isolated from the rest of the island and it tends to be a little cloudier/rainier than even Kaanapali just a few miles south, but a few months ago I found a really good point redemption through Marriott Bonvoy so I booked a five night stay.

I loved it so much!

Kapalua has a natural beauty that I think is hard to beat. It’s actually one of the greenest and lushest parts of the island and it makes for some truly beautiful scenery. It’s also a lot quieter and less crowded than Wailea

The pool area is great with three terraced pools plus a large hot tub and a separate pool that’s great for toddlers, but there always seems to be plenty of chairs around no matter what time of day you show up.

One of the best features of this resort is all of the seating areas in the lobby. While at a lot of resorts, the lobby is just a place you move through while you’re coming and going, the lobby area here is a real gathering place. And with views overlooking the whole resort and ocean, it’s a great place to hide away during the inevitable afternoon rain showers.

The other big feature of staying here is the prime access to the Kapalua Coastal Walk. I think this is one of the best hikes/walks on Maui and there’s not a ton of parking to access the trail. But the Ritz Carlton sits at one end of the trail so if you’re a walker, you could do this as a morning walk EVERY MORNING.

One of the major drawbacks to this resort is the beach. I’ve heard people complain that it’s a long walk to the beach, and I wouldn’t say that’s true (it’s 2-5 minutes from the pool) but the beach just isn’t that great. Honestly, if I was making a list of my 5 least favorite beaches on Maui, D.T. Fleming Beach would probably be on it. The water is often rough and the whole time I stayed here there was a lot of run off and it was pretty brown.

The photo below is what it looks like on a “perfect” day.

Kapalua Beach and Napili Beach aren’t far away, but you’d have to take the shuttle and have your own beach gear.

I would probably put the rooms in the “could use improvement” category. They’re just okay. They’re adequate but nothing to give you a wow factor, which honestly isn’t super uncommon at Ritz Carlton properties but should be standard in this price range.

Ritz Carlton is part of Marriott so you can use your Bonvoy points here, which I think is a BIG deal. This place and the Wailea Beach Resort are the two big dog Marriott resorts on Maui. Being able to stay free (or rack up a bunch of points on a cash stay) at a place that often is $1200/night is a big deal. Again, read how I stayed here for free on points here.

You can book the Ritz Carlton Kapalua here.

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Best Hotels in Maui WITH KIDS

While I don’t personally have kids, I do have a lot of kids in my life and often travel with them. So I get travel with kids. And here’s the deal…if you’re traveling with kids, my ranking pretty much flips on its ear.

#1 Grand Wailea: You just cannot beat the Grand Wailea if you’ve got kids. This place is practically a waterpark. With nine different pools spread across different levels that are connected by a lazy river with rapids and currents, it’ll keep the kids busy for days. There’s a pretty serious water slide (must be 48” tall) plus a pool complex that includes smaller (but still pretty significant) slides, a rope swing, a white water rapid slide, a sandy beach, swim up bar, caves and so many waterfalls.

#2 Wailea Beach Resort: I think the Wailea Beach Resort has the most low key “accessible” vibe in Wailea (i.e. people who don’t regularly stay at luxury resorts or might feel uncomfortable at a place like the Four Seasons are going to feel right at home here) and that translates well to traveling with children. They’ve got a great kids pool area with the biggest/tallest/fastest slides on Maui plus a whole water play area and other “normal” pools besides the kids pool and the adults only pool.

#3 Fairmont Kea Lani: Every room at the Fairmont is actually a suite with a separate living area which is GREAT if you have kids. There’s a large pool area with a pretty good waterslide and a small market near the pool with grab and go snacks, drinks, breakfast, sandwiches, etc.

#4 Andaz: The Andaz isn’t necessarily kid friendly but it’s not not kid friendly. I’ve noticed mostly people with younger kids staying here (let’s say under 3 or 4) that are content to splash in the pool (the lagoon pool has a zero entry side) but don’t necessarily need a whole waterpark to keep them entertained.

#5 Four Seasons: Generally speaking, the Four Seasons is a very family friendly brand and the resort in Maui is no exception, but I’ve still ranked it at the bottom of the list just because they don’t offer a lot of the same amenities that appeal to kids that other places in the area do. There’s only a small waterslide (like, for babies) and the main family pool is just a little dull compared to what they’ve got going on over at the Grand Wailea and the Wailea Beach Resort.

#6 Ritz Carlton Kapalua: Like the Four Seasons, the Ritz isn’t unfriendly towards kids, but there’s always not a lot to attract kids here. Plus it’s so isolated from the rest of the island and doesn’t have a great swimming beach.

Maui Hotels on My Wish List

Montage Kapalua: They say if anything compares to the level of luxury at the Four Seasons, it’s the Montage Kapalua. I’ve strolled around the grounds and it looks pretty great. It’s on my list. For when I can pry myself away from Wailea ; )

Hotel Wailea: Hawaii’s only Relais & Chateau property is tucked away in the hills above Wailea. It’s adults only and such a cool little hideaway (their restaurant is one of my favorites on the island), but I haven’t pulled the trigger yet since it’s not on the beach. Soon though!

Westin Maui Resort (Hokupa’a Tower): As part of a huge renovation, the Westin added a new luxury tower that not only offers more upscale rooms, but also exclusive access to amenities like the Lanai (a gathering area with a private pool and lounge). It’s the only thing like it in Ka’anapali (and I do love Ka’anapali) so I definitely want to check it out. It’s just not super high on my list since it’s in the same price range as luxury resorts in Wailea.

Hana Maui Resort: I’ve only ever done Hana as a day trip, but someday I want to spend a few days off the grid at the Hana Maui Resort. I’ve been waiting for the promised “top to bottom” renovation since Hyatt took over though because reviews on the standard level rooms aren’t super stellar.

Maui Hotels on Points

If you’re a “travel hacker” and you play the credit card points game, here’s a little more info:

Marriott Bonvoy has the biggest presence on Maui. The Ritz Carlton Kapalua and Wailea Beach Resort are the most aspirational properties, but the Westin and Sheraton on Ka’anapali Beach will get you the most bang for you…points. Also, the AC Hotel in Wailea isn’t on the beach, but it has views, a great location, and sometimes the price or lower point redemption makes it a tempting option.

For Hyatt…the Andaz is one of the top aspirational Hyatt properties in the world. But the Hyatt Regency on Ka’anapali Beach is where your points will go the furthest. And the Hana Resort is now owned by Hyatt.

For Hilton…options are slim, but Grand. The Grand Wailea is a Waldorf Astoria (Hilton) so if you win the points jackpot you could cash in here. And when the transfer/renovation is complete (either 2025 or 2026??) the Maui Seaside Hotel (joining the Tapestry Collection by Hilton) will be a GREAT basecamp for exploring the island).

***I’m working on adding my recommendations for Oahu, Kauai, and the Big Island here and they should be up in the next couple of days!

Want to read more posts about Maui? I’ve got plenty!

Things You Can ONLY Do on Maui // 4 Day Maui Itinerary // My Favorite Road to Hana Itinerary // Things to Do Upcountry // Tips for Sunrise at Haleakala National Park // Snorkeling Molokini Crater // Whale Watching

My Favorite Hotels on Maui // Where to Find Condos on Maui // Wailea vs Kaanapali // Every Resort in Wailea Ranked // Four Seasons Maui Review // Andaz Maui Review // Fairmont Kea Lani Review // Wailea Beach Resort Review // Four Seasons vs Andaz Maui // Andaz Maui vs Wailea Beach Resort

Best Restaurants in Wailea // Best Breakfast in Wailea & Kihei // Mama’s Fish House // Best Luaus in Wailea

My Favorite Things to Do in South Maui // Best Beaches in Wailea & Kihei // Road to Hana Tips // Driving the Backside of the Road to Hana // Where to See Turtles on Maui

Maui vs Kauai // Everything You Need to Know BEFORE you go to Maui