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.

I just spent 5 nights at the Ritz Carlton Kapalua on Maui, and I can’t wait to tell you about it.

I will confess, I’m very partial to the Wailea area in South Maui. But since I don’t normally spend much time in West Maui and I wanted to investigate what it’s like since it reopened to tourism after the wildfires, this was the perfect time to give the Ritz a chance.

I cashed in some Marriott points (you can read about my travel hacking method here) for five free nights which was plenty of time to get a feel for the place, and boy I’m glad I did!

Ritz Carlton Kapalua Review

Located in West Maui’s exclusive Kapalua resort area, the Ritz Carlton’s most luxurious feature is its serene and secluded setting.

The 468 room luxury resort is set in one of the lushest and prettiest parts of the island. Yes, I love Wailea for soooo many reasons but the natural setting in Kapalua can’t be beat.

Normally when I write up hotel reviews, I’ll go section by section detailing the location, the rooms, the pools, the food, ect., but I decided to switch it up and just break down my stay at the Ritz Carlton Kapalua by what I really loved and…what could be better.

Things I Loved about the Ritz Carlton Kapalua

Since I don’t usually stay on the West Side, I always forget how beautiful Kapalua is. Yes, all resort areas on Maui are beautifully manicured, but 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.

Kapalua is also way quieter and less crowded than South Maui (Wailea and Kihei) and also nearby Kaanapali in West Maui. It still has all of the resort amenities, restaurants, things to do etc, there are just way fewer people.

The lower crowds also translates to the pool. 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.

The coffee shop/casual eatery is located here and there is so much seating that overlooks the resort and ocean. It’s an amazing set up for breakfast and coffee in the morning before you leave for your day’s adventures, but the seating areas are also the perfect place to hang out during the day when a little rain shower is passing through.

Seriously, it’s probably the best set up I’ve ever seen at a resort, and I think it’s a major selling point for staying here.

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.

Also, I think the drive up north around the island towards the blowhole is one of the prettiest drives on the island and not to be missed. The road gets SUPER sketchy once the state highway ends, but that’s way past the blowhole. This section of road is reminiscent of the Road to Hana without the crowds.

You can walk from the Ritz through the resort area to Kapalua Bay and Napili Beach. I love walking to breakfast at the Sea House or the Gazebo on Napili Bay and hiking the Kapalua Coastal Walk back to the resort.

There’s also a Kapalua Resort shuttle that will take you throughout the resort area. We used it to go to dinner at Merriman’s one night. It’s nice to have an option to go places that are a little farther than you’d want to walk but too close to justify getting the car out.

Kapalua is a golfer’s paradise (the PGA comes through to play the Plantation Course every January) but there’s also a pretty decent tennis and pickleball program at the Kapalua Tennis Garden. You’d probably want to drive or take the resort shuttle to get there, but there are also a couple of onsite courts at the Ritz.

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.

***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.

Things that Could Be Better

It’s true…it really does rain more/is cloudier on this side of the island than the south side. Even more so than Kaanapali just a few miles south. It’s not 24/7 but it’s noticeable. It’s why it’s so green. And I think it’s why the hotel has so many great covered places to sit and hang out. It’s not gloom and doom all the time, but if SUN is your priority, it’s definitely something to consider. That being said, if you’re sensitive to full sun and high temperatures, it’s actually much more pleasant in Kapalua than in South Maui.

While Kapalua is lovely, it’s pretty remote from the rest of the island. It’s a pretty good drive to get to the main part of the island (south side, Haleakala, road to Hana, etc) so if you’re planning a trip full of exploring, this may not be the best home base.

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 the 5 worst beaches on Maui, D.T. Fleming Beach would be on it. The water is often rough and the whole time I was here there was a lot of run off and it was pretty brown.

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.

And I would say the same for service. It’s fine but not amazing (definitely behind competitors like the Four Seasons and the Andaz). We struggled getting any service at the pool half the time. The staff was friendly, but you may have to be more proactive about getting anything you need.

Food and beverage prices seemed even more expensive than I’ve come to expect at luxury resorts on Maui. Drinks at the pool were small, lackluster, and pretty expensive. Breakfast at the sit down restaurant (Ulana) was mediocre at best and the Burger Shack has good views but really limited hours (and $$$). Also, a big draw back to the isolated location is you have to make more of an effort to leave the resort for food.

There also aren’t many umbrellas at the pool (maybe more clouds means they don’t think they need them) but there are plenty of cabanas to rent ($$$ of course ; )

 

Side Note: If you’re looking for a rental car for your trip, I LOVE Discount Hawaii Car Rentals. They’re seriously the only company I ever use. They’ll give you the very best prices, you don’t have to reserve with a credit card or pay until you show up, you can cancel and re-book anytime if you find a better rate, and they usually have a special that adds additional drivers for no fee. It’s a no brainer. Click here to check rates for your trip.

Overall

The Ritz Carlton name is synonymous with luxury, but it’s nowhere near as nice (service and the hotel itself) as what you’ll find in Wailea at the Four Seasons and Andaz or even nearby at the Montage.

The Ritz Carlton may compete more directly with the Andaz on price but the two vastly different locations differentiate each property. The Montage is the Ritz’s closest geographic competitor (but the Montage is far more expensive) so if you’re looking for a luxury resort in Kapalua, the Ritz is the most affordable option.

If you go to Maui somewhat regularly, I think staying at the Ritz in Kapalua is a great option to switch it up. But if you’re planning a once in a lifetime trip, I think I would stick to a resort in Wailea – they’re a bit nicer for the money plus have a more convenient location for exploring the island.

You can book the Ritz Carlton Kapalua here.

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

Things You Can ONLY Do on Maui // 9 Things to SKIP 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