Maui Revealed - Four Seasons Resort Maui

380 rooms, 3 pools (including a keiki pool and adult pool), 4 spas, day spa, 24-hour fitness center, valet-only parking, child care program, 2 lighted tennis courts, game room, hi-speed or Wi-Fi in rooms and resort-wide, 3 restaurants, 5 shops, 24-hour business center, 8 conference rooms, 24-hour room service, wedding coordinator. Oh, my, where do we start? We’re fearful of sounding like drooling stooges for the Four Seasons, but this is our favorite resort in Wailea. When you walk in, you can actually feel the tension falling from your limbs. It soon becomes evident why. Here, they did everything right. The resort is immaculate and lovingly cared for. The smallest details seem to have been anticipated. The grounds are impeccable. No dead leaf or blade of grass in sight. The staff here is the most professional we’ve seen and seem genuinely concerned about your happiness. There are 2 1/4 employees for every room. (It’s getting harder and harder to find those 1/4 employees.) While you’re at the pool, they’ll come by and spritz you with Evian water, offer chilled towels, fresh fruit, popsicles and even wet the beach sand with water so you don’t toast your tootsies. The pool area doesn’t feel as packed as some other Wailea resorts. Their adult-only pool has bubble loungers (a flat area to lie on with jets under your body) and a swim-up bar. Also, private permanent cabanas (for up to 4 people) at pool’s edge with flat screen tv, sofa and fridge are truly the ultimate in luxury—albeit at $300–$450 per day! Oh, yes, you have arrived, and you’ll weep when you have to leave. The number of complimentary services is way too long to list, but includes a free child care program that goes from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (you only pay for their lunch), free cabana chairs (4 chairs under cover) and casabella chairs (2 chairs with a folding cover) at the beach and main pool (other resorts charge up to $350–$395 per day for those simple cabanas), free snorkel gear for an hour at the beach each day, free SCUBA demos, free daily aerobics and yoga classes, free access to their indoor-outdoor fitness room, free Kona coffee in rooms, rooms safes, etc. They even have a free game room with free video games, billiards, etc. It goes on and on. It’s clear that they’ve made a decision to not nickel and dime their guests. We were a bit surprised that they charge $20 for valet-only overnight parking (that used to be free), that Internet access is extra (but they have free computers sprinkled around the resort) and local calls are a buck. Laundry services are valet only. They have an extensive and excellent collection of contemporary Hawaiian or Hawaiian-influenced artwork and a is tour available.

Rooms are very large (600 sq. ft.) and the bathrooms are fit for a king—lots of marble, deep tub, separate shower and tons of wiggle room. Rooms are elegantly furnished in keeping with the rest of the resort. They were renovated in 2007 with very pleasing results. The housekeeping staff would make an operating room nurse proud. Dirt is simply not tolerated and is dispatched with extreme prejudice.

Their beach, Wailea Beach, is one of the best on the island, an absolute dream.

The Four Seasons doesn’t give many discounts, but they do offer promotional rates and package throughout the year. Their rack rates start lower than most of their competition in the area, and with all the freebies it’s actually a good deal. Rates are $485–$1,395. Suites (1,000–3,700 sq. ft.) are $995–$15,000. The $485 mountain side rooms are actually a very good deal as the rates increase a lot with better views.