Hotel Wailea, Relais & Châteaux – Adults Only

Hotel Description

Look, I’ve stayed at a lot of places on Maui, and Hotel Wailea is honestly in a league of its own. The first thing that hits you when you pull up the palm-lined drive is how quiet everything gets – you’re only about ten minutes from the Grand Wailea and all that Wailea Resort buzz, but it feels like you’ve entered this completely serene bubble. The property sits on these perfectly manicured grounds with views that stretch across the coastline, and I mean, the sunset views from here are pretty much unbeatable. What really got me though was the level of service – it’s Relais & Châteaux, so you expect good hospitality, but the staff here actually remembers your name and your coffee order by day two. The adults-only policy means no screaming kids at the pool (sorry, parents, but sometimes you need that), and the whole vibe is sophisticated without being stuffy.

The suites themselves are gorgeous – I’m talking about spaces that feel more like luxury apartments than hotel rooms, with these massive bathrooms that have soaking tubs overlooking the ocean. You know what impressed me most? The little details. Fresh orchids replaced daily, a personal concierge who actually knows the island (not just the tourist spots), and turndown service that includes these amazing local chocolates. The restaurant is fantastic too, though honestly pretty pricey even by Maui standards – but the chef sources everything locally and the wine list is incredible. I actually ended up eating there three nights in a row because the sommelier kept suggesting these perfect pairings. The spa is small but ridiculously good, and they use all these native Hawaiian ingredients in their treatments. Pool service is on point – they’ll bring you frozen grapes and chilled towels without you even asking.

Here’s the thing though – this place isn’t cheap, and it’s definitely more of a romantic getaway than a family vacation spot. The location means you’ll probably want to rent a car if you plan on exploring the island much, though honestly, I found myself not wanting to leave the property half the time. It gets busy during whale season (January through March), so book early if you’re planning a winter trip. The check-in process is seamless – they actually greet you with champagne and handle all the paperwork while you’re relaxing on the terrace. If you’re looking for that classic Hawaiian resort experience with the big pool complexes and activities everywhere, this probably isn’t your spot. But if you want something intimate and luxurious where you can actually relax and disconnect, Hotel Wailea delivers in a big way. That 9.3 rating isn’t just for show – this place genuinely feels special, and I’m already planning my next trip back.

To book a hotel in Hawaii during the famous winter whale watching season, visitors should make reservations well in advance as the islands attract tropical paradise seekers and ocean lovers from around the world.

Rooms

• Partial Ocean View One Bedroom Suite with 2 × 1 extra-large double bed for 2 adults
• Ocean View One Bedroom Suite with 2 × 1 extra-large double bed for 2 adults
• Garden View One Bedroom Suite with 2 × 1 extra-large double bed for 2 adults
• Celebration Ocean View One Bedroom Suite with 2 × 1 extra-large double bed for 2 adults

Reviews

• Katherine from United States (10/10)

  Everything about Hotel Wailea is amazing. The food is incredible – The Birdcage, The Restaurant, and even the poolside food. We also did the luxe picnic and that food was fantastic as well. The hotel really goes out of their way to provide a quiet, romantic, and unique experience. The suites are large, well furnished, and comfortable. There is even a small kitchen with nespresso, a toaster, microwave, plates and utensils, refrigerator, freezer, cups. No, it’s not on the beach… however, if you want to go, let them know which beach and they’ll provide you chairs and an umbrella and they’ll drop you off and come pick you up. It’s absolutely worth the price for the serenity: nothing is crowded, no fighting for pool chairs or dinner reservations.

• Designtiger from United Kingdom (8/10)

  When we arrived there was a wedding reception going on and we were told the restaurant/bar wasn’t open. Due to many rooms being occupied for the wedding we had to stay in a "celebratory suite" close to the busy road. Thankfully, we could move to another room further away from the road the next day which was acceptable, otherwise we would have checked out. In principle, these suites are nicely appointed and felt very comfortable, the terrace gave a great view, just it was a little annoying that the bar was closed and the restaurant plus the inconvenience with having to move… The architecture and grounds of the hotel are lovely (i.e. not being one of the massive blocks) and the breakfast area was nice. The staff, especially the bell boys were very friendly and shuttle service to/from restaurants is provided.

• Benjamin from France (10/10)

  Unique personal touches from the staff made our one night stay truly special. The boutique-like hotel is an oasis of tranquility, away from the crowds of the similar luxury options. We would come again

• Shannon from United States (10/10)

  Size, good restaurants, amenities

• Michael from United States (9/10)

  Amazing hotel gym, great pool, and tranquil and quiet accommodations. I particularly like that the hotel and pool were 24-hours. An adults-only hotel where guests respect an ambience of relaxation and Zen is hard to come by! The snacks in the room were also great.

• Amy from United States (10/10)

  Extremely accommodating and personable staff. The staff made us feel very special. We had an exceptional stay.

• Tara from United States (10/10)

  Best hotel in Hawaii

• Dan from Latvia (10/10)

  Well, this is was a real and very pleasant surprise, since I didn’t expect the hotel to be so good and luxurious. The are is so green and lush with waterfalls, trees, intimate lighting. Small buildings with 2-3 rooms in each are located far from each other to give a really secluded feeling—we never felt like we’re in a huge resort facility with tons of other people. The pool is spacious, yoga and fitness center is very good, plus, you have free yoga classes every morning.
  Valet parking is free, and the staff will take you to the nearest town in their Mercs and Range Rovers, if you want to have a drink in a bar or a restaurant.
  The room had all the amenities, including a very fancy Dyson hairdryer, with a ton of free sodas and snacks (that were restocked daily).
  The service and the attention we got was beyond any expectations. You do feel special here.
  The hotel restaurant was superb. We had a chance to compare it to the famous Mama’s Fish House, and just trust me on this, the latter is too overpriced for the quality and the service you get.
  We also got to visit the Four Seasons that was nearby, the one where they filmed the first season of The White Lotus, and boy oh boy was it disappointing. Four Seasons is an enormous anthill without any feel of a luxurious resort. So trust me on this, if you travel without children choose Hotel Wailea.

• Nicolas from Canada (10/10)

  The best hotel with the best food and service. The rooms are incredible they have everything you need including complimentary coffee,soft drinks and snacks. The staff is friendly and so helpful. The pool is open 24h and the shuttles to the Wailea area are super convenient.

• Anthony from United Kingdom (10/10)

  Comfort and cleanliness of facilities, professionalism and friendliness of staff, excellent cuisine.

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities