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The Best Luxury Hotels in Maui, Hawaii

Offer yourself a vacation to remember with a stay at one of Mauis best oceanfront resorts
Offer yourself a vacation to remember with a stay at one of Maui's best oceanfront resorts | Courtesy of Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea / Expedia.com

On Hawaii’s second-largest island, many of the most impressive hotels sit right by the beach – with spas, bars and restaurants that take in the coastal views.

Maui’s wide selection of high-end luxury resorts possesses a perk that many on sister island Oahu only dream of: being directly on the beach. The bulk of the resorts are situated on the northwest and southwest sides of Maui, so a road-trip resort hop is a great idea. Whether you’re planning to treat yourself, go on a honeymoon or have an extended vacation with the family, these Maui resorts offer a stay to remember.

Hotel Wailea

Boutique Hotel, Independent Hotel

The rounded wood ceiling, light fixtures, and lobby area at Hotel Wailea
Courtesy of Hotel Wailea / Expedia.com

Utterly romantic and a stone-cold stunner of a property, the Hotel Wailea knows how to make its guests feel extra special. From the Mercedes-Benz limo that shuttles you to and from the beach club to the one-bedroom suites decorated with wicker chairs and Hawaiian ohia-wood furniture and the private chef menu at the Treehouse – it ticks all the boxes for a coupled-up break for two. And did we mention it’s adults-only?

Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort

Luxury, Chain Hotel

Unique seating and a sandy floor in the lobby at Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort
Courtesy of Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort / Expedia.com

As with all Andaz’s properties, the design brief is all about clean lines and a monochromatic palette with eye-catching amenities like the four-tier ocean-facing pool. Located on pristine Mokapu Beach, the resort’s backdrop of sparkling azure-toned sea and tropical flora makes it a honeymooner’s hideaway. Inside, the rooms, suites and villas maximize the ocean or garden views: you might find the bed in the center of the room, or an oversized love seat positioned beside the sliding balcony doors. Of the dining concepts, make a beeline for Morimoto Maui for a taste of Japanese fusion cuisine washed down with rounds of cocktails or aged sakes.

The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua

Resort, Chain Hotel, Hotel, Luxury

Couches and seating looking out to a balcony at the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua
Courtesy of the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua / Expedia.com

Away from the resorts that line the sandy shores of Wailea and Ka’anapali, this secluded stay is primed for a romantic getaway with a side serving of golfing action. Home to two 18-hole courses, which face different sides of Kapalua’s picturesque coastline, if pressed to choose one, opt for the Bay Course for its over-the-ocean 17th hole. Beyond the greens, the luxe, understated rooms are spacious and modern in design. The spa is another highlight, with its aromatic cedar saunas and treatment menu offering oxygen-infused facials. At night, you can regroup at the Banyan Tree Restaurant, where the Hawaiian-influenced coastal cuisine is some of Hawaii’s finest.

Fairmont Kea Lani

Resort, Chain Hotel, Hotel, Luxury

A table and seating area, leading to a terrace, in a room at Fairmont Kea Lani
Courtesy of Fairmont Kea Lani Maui Villa Experience / Expedia.com

Sun-seekers will relish the opportunity to spend a few days just steps from crescent-shaped Polo Beach – one of the more private beaches on Maui. Switch between lazing on the fine peachy sand and lounging beside the pool (there are three, including one with a water slide and another with a swim-up bar). Or, simply spend the day at the ultra-pampering Willow Stream Spa. At night, the hotel’s open-air restaurant Kō serves creative Hawaiian cuisine, and there’s fresh-caught lobster at Nick’s Fishmarket. Sleep off the inevitable food coma in the comfort of your oversized bed before waking up to do it all over again.

Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea

Chain Hotel, Luxury

A couch, chairs and a table in a hotel room at Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, with a balcony looking out to palm trees and the ocean
Courtesy of Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea / Expedia.com

Staying at any Four Seasons presents a travel Catch-22. Do you luxuriate in comfort – think 600sqft (56sqm) rooms in bright, cream hues and sizable, furnished lanais (verandas) – or venture outside and explore? At Four Seasons Resort Maui, you can do both, without having to travel too far. Positioned directly on the tawny sands of Wailea Beach, staff happily lay out chaise lounges and cabanas so you can snorkel and whale-watch in supreme comfort. When you tire of the beach, retreat to the adults-only Serenity Pool overlooking Ma’alaea Bay and complete the experience with a poolside massage and/or a round of sunset drinks.

Grand Wailea Maui, a Waldorf Astoria Resort

Luxury, Chain Hotel

A lake surrounded by palm trees, with a view to the ocean and another island, at Grand Wailea Maui, a Waldorf Astoria Resort
Courtesy of Grand Wailea Maui, a Waldorf Astoria Resort

Everything is bigger, and well, grander at the Grand Wailea Maui. The nine different pools with water slides, grottos, fountains and a water elevator are reason enough to book a stay there. Need more? The 40-room spa has an all-out hydrotherapy circuit that combines Roman, Japanese and Swiss therapeutic practices. There’s no shortage of resort swag elsewhere: from a cave-like swim-up bar, a weekly luau show, daily yoga and snorkel lessons and, especially for adults, the iconic mosaic-tiled Hibiscus Pool that looks like something out of an F Scott Fitzgerald novel.

The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas, Ka'anapali

Luxury, Chain Hotel

A fire pit and seating next to the pool at the Westin Nanea Ocean Villas, Kaanapali, at sunset
Courtesy of the Westin Nanea Ocean Villas, Ka'anapali

Located on 16 acres (6ha) of Ka’anapali Beach, the contemporary-style Westin Nanea Ocean Villas is the most relaxing of the four Westin properties on Maui. There are 390 villas, each equipped with a full kitchen, an L-shaped couch, in-unit laundry and Westin’s signature Heavenly Bed. While the beach out front isn’t the widest, there’s plenty of space poolside, and on rainy days, hit up Nanea, the cultural center, to learn more about Hawaiian traditions and culture, beyond merely drinking tropical cocktails.

Ho'olei at Grand Wailea

Luxury, Boutique Hotel

Couches and a TV in a seating area at a hotel room in Hoolei at Grand Wailea
Courtesy of Ho'olei at Grand Wailea / Expedia.com

If only for a week, treat yourself to a stay at this luxe condo property. Here two- and three-bedroom villas start from a dinky-only-by-Kardashian-standard 3,200sqft (300sqm), with expansive views of the Pacific, a garage and access to all the amenities at the Grand Wailea. Staying here offers privacy (and a level of quiet) that other resorts aren’t privy to. The decor differs throughout the rooms, but a well-heeled aesthetic weaves through them all. Sliding walls help create that all-important indoor/outdoor island vibe, and there’s a pool with waterfalls and hot tubs to relax in for all, plus adjoining Grand Wailea’s nine pools and water slides are a short walk/golf-cart ride away.

Sheraton Maui Resort and Spa

Resort, Chain Hotel

Seating and tables in a large lobby at Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa
Courtesy of Sheraton Maui Resort and Spa

There’s no shortage of distractions at the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa on Ka’anapali Beach. From the nightly cliff-dive ceremony to the massive lazy-river pool and choice of five restaurants, everyone can have their Hawaiian fill. All rooms come with the expected mod-cons, while the grounds sport charming local touches, like a traditional canoe and drums. Its location, 10 minutes’ walk from Whalers Village, offers convenience and access to Black Rock Beach, known for its snorkeling and turtle sightings.

Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa

Resort, Chain Hotel

Couches, a coffee table with flowers and a TV in a hotel room at Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa
Courtesy of Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa / Expedia.com

Located on the quieter, south end of Kaanapali Beach is the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa. One of the first full-amenity resorts in Maui, it’s since been refurbished with open closets, glass details and cool wall art. It’s well worth upgrading to an ocean-facing suite, so you fall asleep to the sound of the waves. Frolic in the freeform Lahaina pool or brave the 150-foot lava-tube water slide in the Napili pool. Come nightfall, dine at any of the five restaurants (especially Japengo for its Pacific Rim cuisine) or simply enjoy being right on the doorstep of Maui’s finest stretch of beach.

For more incredible stays in Maui, check into one of the top hotels or best boutique properties on the island – now bookable on Culture Trip. Alternately, discover the top luxury resorts in Oahu.

If you click on a link in this story, we may earn affiliate revenue. All recommendations have been independently sourced by Culture Trip.
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