The Best Wailea Hotels: Your Ultimate Guide to Luxury Resorts in South Maui
If you're headed to the Hawaiian Islands and looking for a relaxing beach vacation in a 5-star resort, the chances are high that you're headed to Maui. While there are several spots to stay while on Maui, Wailea has some of the best resorts and luxury hotels, most of which have incredible views of the Pacific Ocean and the smaller islands of Moloka'i, Molokini and Lanai.
We're going to take you through each luxury Wailea hotel to help you pick the Wailea resort that works best for the occasion you're traveling, the group you're traveling with and your personal travel style.
We'll also outline some of our favorite dining options and things to do while visiting South Maui.
PLANNING A TRIP TO MAUI?
The Citrine Compass is able to get members of our community VIP perks such as complimentary room upgrades, daily breakfast for 2, welcome gifts, hotel amenity credit, early check-in/late check-out when we book your hotel room.
Reach out to us here to access our insider connections for hotels on Maui!
GETTING THERE
Everyone visiting Maui will fly in through Kahului airport, which is just a short drive (30 minutes) to Wailea. If you plan to embark on any excursions like driving the Road to Hana, spending a day in Lahaina or heading up to Haleakala for sunrise or to see the stars (a magical experience for the adventurous souls), we suggest renting a car.
If you plan on staying in South Maui, you can also easily grab an Uber instead of renting a car. The path that connects the beachfront properties in Wailea provides easy access to walk to other hotels for dinner or drinks as well.
WAILEA HOTELS
Andaz Maui
The Andaz Maui has to be one of our favorite resorts in Wailea. Under the Hyatt group, the Andaz is relatively new (built in 2013), is in a prime location on a gorgeous stretch of Maui beach, and features contemporary rooms, suites and villas (the real star, each with a spacious lanai and multiple levels), stunning ocean views and many with private lanais and balconies.
The resort also has four outdoor infinity pools, built on different levels so guests so can spread out and enjoy uninterrupted views of the ocean, a spa and several restaurants that are top notch. Morimoto sushi is located next to the lowest pool area and (pro tip alert), reservations are not required for the bar and guests can often walk right in and enjoy a fantastic meal last minute. We are also huge fans of Ka'ana Kitchen's breakfast buffet, which will fulfill all of your foodie fantasies. Next to their highest infinity pool is Lehua Lounge, which features live music, sunset views and another option for our last minute diners that didn't make a reservation.
Andaz Maui is part of The Citrine Compass’s partner portfolio and we are able to get members of our community VIP perks such as complimentary daily breakfast for 2, a welcome gift, $100 hotel amenity credit and early check-in, late check-out and a room upgrade, confirmed within 24 hours of booking and all subject to availability. Reach out to us here to access our insider connections!
Four Seasons Resort Maui
Another classic option, the Four Seasons Maui is a 383-room beachfront stunner. It caters to an upscale, prominent crowd and the hotel is romantic enough for a honeymoon and versatile enough to be a good option for families as well. The resort has a world-class spa, fitness center, tennis courts and three saltwater pools, all with pool attendants at the ready for any needs that arise.
It is consistently voted one of the best hotels in Maui and has the price tag to show for it so be prepared to drop coin when staying here. The hotel boasts Spago and Duo, two fantastic high-end restaurants as well as a lobby bar that has great bites and live music (although you do need a reservation to eat at the lobby bar as well).
Four Seasons Resort Maui is part of The Citrine Compass’s partner portfolio and and we are able to get members of our community VIP perks such as complimentary daily breakfast for 2, $100-$200 hotel amenity credit as well as early check-in, late check-out and a room upgrade, all subject to availability. Reach out to us here to access our insider connections!
Fairmont Kea Lani
The Fairmont Kea Lani is the hotel that sits furthest south in Wailea and we love it's location because not as many visitors make it to the end of the beach path (which means a more peaceful paradise for you as a hotel guest). The design of the hotel is a blend of Middle Eastern and Asian inspiration and was built in the late 80's so it does feel a bit dated from the outside. That said, the hotel just did some major renovations and we like the way it's looking.
Set on 22 acres of Maui's southern coastline, the hotel boasts 243 spacious suites and villas, the largest being 5-bedroom villas perfect for families or groups. The property is expansive so guests can take their pick of spacious swimming pools and have access to AMA, their poolside bar that guests can swim up to. The resort feels high end but does have a lot of amenities for kids including water slides, a koi pond where hotel staff help children feed the fish, hula lessons and a kid's camp.
Fairmont Kea Lani is part of The Citrine Compass’s partner portfolio and we are able to get members of our community VIP perks such as complimentary daily breakfast for 2, $100 food + bev credit and early check-in, late check-out and a room upgrade, all subject to availability. Reach out to us here to access our insider connections!
Hotel Wailea
Hotel Wailea is a Relais & Chateaux - adults only property perched 300 feet above the ocean in Wailea. It's not as talked about as the other resorts in Wailea as it's not an option for young families and the property does not have direct access to the beach, although they do have their own lovely pool and hot tub that are open 24 hours a day.
As the only Relais & Châteaux property in Hawaii, it has the highest standards in hospitality and culinary excellence and their restaurants live up to the hype. The Restaurant at Hotel Wailea has an incredible ocean view (especially at sunset) and offers guests a 3-course culinary experience as well as a much-awarded wine list, and The Bird Cage, which shares a kitchen and has an amazing ambience, great cocktails and is walk-in only for guests to imbibe anytime.
There are 72 guest rooms (all of their rooms are suites that start at 750 square feet with a deep soaking tub, Nespresso machine and complimentary soda, sparkling water and locally-made snacks and treats) set on 15 acres of exquisitely landscaped grounds and a very cool open-air fitness room that is open 24 hours a day.
While being away from the beach isn't everyone's cup of tea, their luxury house cars can escort you wherever you need to go and we love this relaxed property as a high end boutique option in Wailea.
Grand Wailea Maui
The Grand Wailea Maui is a Waldorf Astoria Resort and is gigantic (over 750 rooms) so guests have access to pretty much anything they can dream up. Features of the Grand Wailea include not one but nine outdoor pools (including one resort pool that is adults-only) and ten restaurants and bars. They revamped all of their rooms in 2023 and their brand new Kilolani Spa (which is replacing Spa Grande as of February 2024) offers hotel guests some incredible spa treatments such as massage and body treatments and wellness, skincare and “beauty rituals" inspired by native ingredients and experiences.
We think this is an amazing option if you have active kids that need a lot of stimulation as there is a water park and water slides, a lazy river, kids camps and a game room with flat-screen TVs where they can let off steam and play video games. Keep in mind that if you’re looking for something quiet or intimate, this probably isn’t the best option for you.
Grand Wailea is part of The Citrine Compass’s partner portfolio and we are able to get members of our community VIP perks such as complimentary daily breakfast for 2, $100 hotel amenity credit and a room upgrade, all subject to availability. Reach out to us here to access our insider connections!
Wailea Beach Resort
The Wailea Beach Resort, which is a Marriott property, is a solid option in Wailea. It underwent a $110M renovation in 2016 and offers guests six swimming pools including two infinity pools with cabanas that are absolutely gorgeous. It’s family-friendly with a Keiki Club and kid’s pool with waterslides and a splash zone but couples can find refuge at the adult-only pool.
The Wailea Beach Resort has spacious rooms and beautiful amenities but (to our team) it doesn’t feel like the most special property in Wailea - maybe it’s the Starbucks that is throwing off our island vibe or maybe it’s the fact that their main restaurant, Humble Market Kitchin, doesn’t catch a lot of accolades but this hotel is still is a great option for Marriott loyalists and/or those that have some Marriott points they want to use. It’s also priced a bit more competitively than the other beachfront properties along this stretch of oceanfront in Wailea, which can make a meaningful impact if you’re traveling with your family or with a large group.
Wailea Beach Resort is part of The Citrine Compass’s partner portfolio and we are able to get members of our community VIP perks such as complimentary daily breakfast for 2, a welcome gift, $100 hotel amenity credit and early check-in, late check-out and a room upgrade, subject to availability. Reach out to us here to access our insider connections!
Luxury Condos in Wailea, Maui
An option for groups or families who wants a bit more privacy, space and/or full kitchen are the luxury condos that Hyatt operates on this fabulous strip of beach in Wailea - some notable ones are Wailea Elua Village (in between the Andaz and Wailea Beach Resort) and Wailea Beach Villas (in between the Wailea Beach Resort and the Grand Wailea) but you can see their full portfolio of properties on their site here.
While you won’t get the flashy additional amenities like a spa, business center, room service, etc., many of their properties have a pool area with a BBQ grill, a poolside pavilion, fitness center, paddle tennis court, golf putting green, a parking lot for your rental car and more. Note that some of their properties have a 30+ day minimum so not all are short term vacation rentals.
WAILEA RESTAURANTS
Breakfast + Brunch
Ka’ana Kitchen at the Andaz | Decadent breakfast buffet
Akamai Coffee | Delicious coffee + light bites
Ko Restaurant at the Fairmont Kea Lani | Sunday brunch only
That’s a Wrap Cafe | Casual spot in Kihei for fresh fare
Lunch + Dinner
The Restaurant at Hotel Wailea | 3-course menu that is to die for
Birdcage at Hotel Wailea | No reservations needed and great ambience for cocktails or dinner
Spago at the Four Seasons | You can never go wrong with the poke cones
Morimoto Sushi at the Andaz | Pro tip: The bar is first come first serve if you can’t get a reservation
Lehua Lounge at the Andaz | You don’t need a reservation + great sunset views
Oao Sushi | New sushi spot in Wailea that is getting rave reviews
Monkeypod Kitchen | Upscale casual dining outside of a hotel
WAILEA ACTIVITIES
Snorkel + Diving
The stretch of ocean around and between Mokapu Beach (in front of the Andaz) and Ulua Beach (in front of Wailea Ulua Village) is known as one of the best places to snorkel and dive on Maui.
Depending on the time of year, you'll hear the haunting underwater songs of whales and see groups of green sea turtles, all species of native fish, moray eels and other marine life. Anyone can snorkel but remember you need a certification for diving - the Grand Wailea has a scuba training pool where you can get certified through DIVE Wailea, a third party provider.
Water Sports
Between Wailea and Kihei, visitors can find plentiful spots to surf, stand-up paddle board and kayak. Many hotels rent out SUP boards and kayaks by the hour or for the day, however it's best to rent a surfboard in Kihei (north of Keawakapu Beach) as that's where the closest surf spots are to the luxury resorts we're highlighting in Wailea.
Get on Island Time
The beach at Makena State Park is a pristine strip of beach over 2/3 of a mile long without any resorts or development to mess with your Island vibes. It’s a wonderful spot to post up at the beach and just relax.
You will, of course, have to come prepared with beach chairs, water and snacks and will need a car or ride to access the beach but it's a fabulous way to spend the day if you want to feel like you're away from it all. If you don't want to venture that far, Polo Beach is a short walk from the Fairmont Kea Lani at the south end of Wailea.
Golf
If you’re in the mood to get out on the green, there are plenty of spots to golf in Wailea and the weather is usually perfect for a day on the course. Wailea Golf Club is a popular one as it boasts a trio of award-winning courses, Wailea Gold, Wailea Emerald and Wailea Blue, each offering a distinct golfing experience for everyone from the seasoned player to the casual enthusiast. They offer club rentals if you don’t want to ship yours as well as caddy services and a clubhouse. Just be sure to reserve a tee time well in advance, especially during peak season.
