South side Maui (Wailea) hotels, in
order of my preference:
Grand Wailea (808) 875-1234
In my opinion, the Grand Wailea is the best hotel on Maui, and in many
people’s opinion it is certainly the most spectacular hotel on Maui. The
Grand has nearly all ocean-view rooms, good service, and numerous SUPER
elaborate pools and water slides. No matter where they stay on Maui, most
people (especially kids) want to use the amazing pools at the Grand, so to
keep out intruders the Grand uses a colored plastic bracelet on hotel guests
to know who is allowed in the pools. My only minor complaint about the
Grand is that it is in the Wailea area, which I do not like as well as
Kaanapali. And some people find the Grand too busy and noisy, especially
during school vacations when many families are there. Opened in 1991. 787
rooms. For photos and more information, click on
this link:
Grand Wailea Maui Resort Hotel
Four Seasons (808) 874-8000
Well what can you say? This Wailea hotel is the Four Seasons, so of course
it is luxurious and the service is fabulous. They even come around and ask
if you’d like to be sprayed with Evian water while you bask by the pool.
You might spot a celebrity there. But to me it is too quiet and the pools
are not anything as wonderful as those at the Grand. Opened in 1990. 380
rooms. For photos and more information, click on
this link:
Four Seasons Resort Maui
Fairmont Kea Lani (808) 875-4100
The Fairmont has the best rooms on Maui. They are all suites and
are very well
furnished. The outside of the hotel has distinctive white
turrets that make it stand out from the other Wailea hotels. Opened in
1991. 450 rooms. For photos and more
information, click on this link:
Fairmont Kea Lani Maui
Maui Prince (808) 874-1111
The Prince, opened in 1986, is not as expensive (or as
luxurious) as the above three Wailea hotels. It’s
in a more isolated location in Makena, several miles south of the other
Wailea hotels. You have further to drive for restaurants, shopping and
sightseeing. 300 rooms. For photos and more
information, click on this link:
Maui Prince Hotel
Wailea Marriott (808) 879-1922
This hotel became a Marriott a few years ago,
after having started in 1976 as the Intercontinental and then spending a
couple years as the Outrigger. Rooms and grounds
were extensively renovated in 2006-2007. Don’t confuse this with
the Maui Marriott on Kaanapali Beach, an hour’s drive away from here. 546
rooms.
Wailea Marriott
Renaissance Wailea (808) 879-4900
The Renaissance closed in September of 2007, to be torn
down. It will be replaced by a new Baccarat hotel
and condos, planned to have 193 rooms and scheduled to open in 2010.
That Renaissance (formerly the Stouffer)
was an older hotel in Wailea,
opened in 1978. Like the Wailea Marriott, it was
less expensive and less fancy than the newer top four hotels above,
and had 347 rooms.
