This hotel is on the most beautiful part of Maui. I can’t imagine what kind of expectations some of the previous reviewers had that made them give this property a negative review. I think it is important to separate fact from preference or tastes. So here are the facts (and some preferences):
LOCATION:
Kapalua is adjacent to multi-million dollar home sites on rolling green hills overlooking the ocean; this area of Maui is one of the lushest and green parts of the island. It differs from Kaanapali because it is on a Plantation style setting, where as Kaanapali is a beach resort setting. So if you are looking for a mile-long beach with hotels, some restaurants and shopping, go to Kaanapali. If you are looking for a Garden of Eden adjacent to a quiet, smaller beach, come to Kapalua. PREFERENCE: I prefer the contrast of the green landscapes of Kapalua adjacent to the blue ocean. It is much more peaceful and relaxing at Kapalua. Kaanapali looks just like any other beach to me although with a better view thanks to the island of Lanai.
Kapalua is a self-contained resort. You can come here and not need leave to find restaurants, golf, spa and endless jogging/walking paths. There is a shuttle that will take you anywhere on the resort you want to go. There are a few shops, but not many. The Kapalua resort is considered Plantation Style because it WAS a former Pineapple plantation. I think the website at www.kapalua.com is a good overview of what to expect.
ROOMS:
Much larger than an average room. Huge bathrooms. Huge lanais (balconies). PERSONAL TASTE: I found the beds extremely comfortable.
WEATHER:
Yes, it is a bit cooler here. That means that instead of 89 degrees, it was 82 or 85 degrees in late August. The wind (which only picks up after noon) was a definite plus in my book (preference). I still had to get wet every so often to keep cool, so by no means was it cool or cold.
It only rained for 20 minutes on 1 day during the week that we noticed. Again, this was the end of August. If you love the non-stop heat and want to bake in the sun, go to Kaanapali, if you want occasional cool breezes, come to Kapalua.
SERVICE:
I can’t imagine the staff being anymore accommodating. They were pleasant and always asking if there was anything that we needed. If you notice the negative reviews, the reviewers often compare it to other Ritz Carltons. Since this is the only Ritz on Maui (and on Hawaii for that matter) I don’t see the logic in comparing it to the service at the Ritz Carlton Central Park.
COST:
No one that considers staying at this hotel should be pinchin pennies. It doesn’t get much more expensive than this. Some reviewers have indicated that it isn’t ';worth'; the money. In all honesty, I don’t think ANY hotel is worth $400-600 a night. But if you expect to spend a week in a neighborhood where people spend $8 million for a condo, then I can understand the nightly rate.
If you expect to eat, golf or go to the spa, expect to pay top dollar. That means $20 for a burger and $5 for an iced tea, $185 for golf, and $140 for a massage.
GOLF:
#1 golf location in Hawaii. This is virtually undisputable. Home of the Mercedes Championship that kicks of the PGA Tour every January. You can pay about half-price for green fees if you play after 2:00 PM.
FAMILIES:
Although there aren’t slides or children activities at the pool like some other resorts, we saw many small children (including our 1-year old) on the resort. I guess the smaller the kid, the less need for activities.
I would expect that pre-teens and teens would prefer resorts with more activities. I would recommend the Hyatt and Marriott on Kaanapali or Grand Waimea in Waimea for older kids. The Ritz does offer children activities called ';Ritz Kids'; activities for a price. Also, there is a small playground at the Ritz.
Ritz Carlton Maui Kapalua
There is no disputing the fact that the location, grounds, etc. are great, with stunning views etc. The hotel is great, I actually prefer the area due to the isolation (vs. Kaanapali for example) Stop in often to grab a bite to eat/drink since it%26#39;s conveniently close to my favorite snorkeling areas and there aren’t too many other places to eat without driving south. Have stayed a couple of times at different times of the year and frankly, nothing really stood out in comparison to some of the other properties on the island. The rooms (regular and club level, didn’t spring for a suite) were just average sized and I wouldn’t call them huge. Ocean views are more like partial. Cost is comparable and often less than comparable places on the island for the same rooms. However, some of the rooms are getting a bit dated. The place has been around since 1990 and some could use a little ';freshening up'; This alone can be disappointing for some who expect a lot more because it%26#39;s the Ritz. I%26#39;m really low maintenance but I did notice.
I was there before and after the time you were (stayed at a private residence in Kapalua and yes, everything around the hotel is in the millions of $$$) Peace and quiet is bliss, no Disneyland atmosphere. A week before that, the weather was strange and one day, it was completely overcast for most of the day. You were lucky that the weather was clear the whole time you were there because it%26#39;s not always like that.
There is a reason that they built it so far from the water (sacred Hawaiian burial ground) at the level that it is on the hill, the wind is even worse than at beach level (which often feels like a sandstorm) Even the main restaurant is glassed in unlike most restaurants there where you can dine al fresco. I%26#39;ve even heard (not experienced firsthand) that the Luau is often held in a tent due to showers and wind. Again this is not out of the ordinary for the area and this is the reason I personally cannot recommend the hotel for a first time visitor. The weather is too unpredictable and varies greatly at different times of the year --even in the middle of summer. I don’t mind a little drizzle or less sun but for others who are visiting for the first time, it can really be a damper on their whole trip.
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