AC Hotel by Marriott Maui Wailea

Hotel Description

You know what? I wasn’t expecting much from another Marriott property in Wailea – I mean, the area’s packed with resorts that all start to blur together after a while. But the AC Hotel actually surprised me in the best way possible. It’s got this sleek, modern vibe that feels more European than typical Hawaiian resort style, which honestly was refreshing after seeing so many places trying to do the whole tropical maximalist thing.

The location puts you right in the heart of Wailea without the crazy price tag of some of the mega-resorts down the road. You’re maybe a five-minute walk to Wailea Beach Path, and here’s something most people don’t realize – you can actually access the Grand Wailea and Fairmont beaches pretty easily from here since all Hawaii beaches are public. The staff mentioned this casually during check-in, which I appreciated because they could’ve easily kept that little secret to themselves. Speaking of check-in, it was surprisingly smooth even during what they told me was their busy season (apparently March is nuts here – who knew?).

What really won me over were the small details that actually matter when you’re traveling. The rooms have these floor-to-ceiling windows that frame the ocean views perfectly, and the blackout shades actually work – crucial when you’re dealing with jet lag and that brutal early morning Hawaiian sun. The air conditioning runs quiet, which is huge because I’m one of those people who notices every little sound at night. The shower pressure was solid too, and look, I know that sounds boring, but after a day at the beach, you want a proper rinse. The pool area gets busy around midday, but if you grab a spot early morning or after 4 PM, it’s pretty peaceful. They’ve got this infinity edge thing going that looks great in photos, but honestly, the real selling point is that it doesn’t feel like you’re swimming in a fishbowl with hundreds of other guests.

Here’s the thing though – don’t expect a full resort experience with kids’ clubs and luaus and all that. This place skews more toward couples and business travelers, which worked perfectly for us, but families with little ones might find it a bit sterile. The restaurant situation is decent but not mind-blowing – you’ll probably want to venture out to Monkeypod Kitchen or Mama’s Fish House at some point. Parking is included (thank god, because $30 a night adds up fast), and they’re right off Wailea Alanui Drive, so getting around is pretty straightforward. The whole property feels fresh and well-maintained – apparently it’s one of the newer builds in the area, and it shows. For the price point and that solid 8.4 rating, it delivers exactly what it promises without trying to be something it’s not.

Early hotels booking in Hawaii is essential during major events like the Ironman World Championship, as accommodations fill up quickly with visitors eager to experience the islands’ renowned surfing culture and tropical beauty.

Rooms

• Guest room with king bed, sofa bed with 1 extra-large double bed and 1 sofa bed for 3 adults, 2 children
• Guest Room with 2 queen beds and balcony with 2 large double beds for 4 adults, 3 children
• Guest Room with 1 king bed, sofa bed ocean view and balcony with 1 extra-large double bed and 1 sofa bed for 3 adults, 2 children
• Guest Room with 2 queen bed, ocean view and balcony with 2 large double beds for 4 adults, 3 children
• Suite with 1 King bed, ocean view and balcony with 2 × 1 extra-large double bed for 3 adults, 2 children
• Suite, 1 King, Sofa bed, Ocean view, Corner room, Balcony with 1 extra-large double bed for 3 adults, 2 children
• King Room with Sofa Bed and Balcony – Hearing Accessible with 1 extra-large double bed and 1 sofa bed for 3 adults, 2 children
• Queen Room with Two Queen Beds with Adapted Tub, Balcony and Ocean View – Mobility Accessible with 2 large double beds for 4 adults, 3 children
• Queen Room with Two Queen Beds and Balcony – Hearing Accessible with 2 large double beds for 4 adults, 3 children
• Queen Room with Two Queen Beds, Balcony and Ocean View – Hearing Accessible with 2 large double beds for 4 adults, 3 children
• King Room with Balcony and Adapted Tub – Mobility Accessible with 1 extra-large double bed and 1 sofa bed for 3 adults, 2 children
• Queen Room with Two Queen Beds with Adapted Tub and Balcony – Mobility Accessible with 2 large double beds for 4 adults, 3 children
• King Room with Sofa Bed, Adapted Tub, Balcony and Ocean View – Mobility Accessible with 1 extra-large double bed and 1 sofa bed for 3 adults, 2 children
• Corner King Suite with Sofa Bed, Roll-In Shower, Balcony and Ocean View – Mobility and Hearing Accessible with 2 × 1 extra-large double bed for 3 adults, 2 children
• Queen Room with Two Queen Beds with Roll-In Shower and Balcony – Mobility Accessible with 2 large double beds for 4 adults, 3 children
• Queen Room with Two Queen Beds with Adapted Tub and Ocean View – Mobility Accessible with 2 large double beds for 4 adults, 3 children

Reviews

• Caron from United Kingdom (9/10)

  Great location – really close to the shops and town
  Lovely modern hotel with great amenities
  Staff couldn’t do enough to help you

• Luis from Switzerland (9/10)

  Great Location, clean and modern facilities, excellent service, great food.

• Henry from United States (9/10)

  The location was ideal, close to the beach and shopping. The hotel staff were outstanding. We thoroughly enjoyed celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary their.

• Caroline from Austria (9/10)

  Perfect size of the hotel, great breakfast, big rooms, nice staff, beautiful pool area from where you can watch the sunset

• Frankie from United States (9/10)

  We did not have breakfast. Location was great.

• Shaun from United States (9/10)

  Stylish hotel with a great little courtyard, bar, and pool area to hang out – also a stellar view of the ocean and west side of Maui. You can walk to Wailea beach, coffee shops, and outdoor shopping mall.

• Alina from United States (9/10)

  I liked how small the hotel was in comparison to the larger resorts in the area. This one was charming, intimate, and lovely all the way around.

• Erika from United States (9/10)

  Breakfast is amazing. The view 😍

• Jie from United States (9/10)

  Modern boutique hotel, beautifully designed with a lot of modern and considerate features

• Susan from United States (9/10)

  Water view

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities