Review: Four Seasons Maui
Share

Blog

Book A Stay

We have reviewed the best Four Seasons hotels in Hawaii, which includes the stunning Four Seasons Maui in the most exclusive resort on Maui, Wailea.

Four Seasons Maui is the most resort-based Four Seasons hotel on the Hawaiian Islands, being situated in the exclusive resort area of Wailea. I reviewed the best way to get deals and special offers at Four Seasons Maui. The key is to book your next Four Seasons stay via our luxury travel concierge, as we can give you free loyalty-style benefits, room upgrades, and perks while matching the rates on the Four Seasons Maui website.

I was previously blown away by Four Seasons Maui when we stayed at the Wailea Beach Resort – Marriott, Maui. We had walked up the beach boardwalk, and we enjoyed a beer and wasabi nuts in the piano bar of the Four Seasons at Wailea, Maui. At this point, I realized that I must fully experience the Four Seasons by staying there.

The best time to visit Maui is in Hawaii’s off-season when the rates are cheaper and the islands are less crowded. Ideally, travel is spring (April to June) and fall (September to November, excluding Thanksgiving). Winter in Hawaii can be slightly cloudier and wetter from December to March, but it is a popular time to travel simply because the rest of the Northern Hemisphere is so miserable and cold. If you choose to stay in Wailea on Maui, you have the most chance of sunshine as Wailea is on the sunniest coastline on Maui.

Resort Fee

Most resorts in Hawaii charge a resort fee, even if you are paying on points. Book the Marriott in Wailea, and you get your room rate for “free” (on points), but you are still charged an additional resort fee, which makes a point booking here quite a bad deal.

Unlike the nickel-and-diming resorts across these islands, Four Seasons Maui does not charge a resort fee. It is the only hotel on Maui that does not charge a resort fee, and yet it still offers a bunch of complimentary extras, such as the use of cabanas, resort car service (to golf, tennis, shopping, and dining in the Wailea area), free sunscreen, introductory fitness classes, free of snorkel equipment for the first hour, free introductory daily scuba lessons, and Hawaiian outrigger canoe paddling excursions.

Location

Four Seasons Maui is located in Hawaii’s most exclusive resort enclave of Wailea. From the outside, the U-shaped, low-rise building is quite similar to the other large-scale Hawaiian resorts, but the interior is refined and luxurious with an open-air design where halls lead to the open side of the building. From here, you can enjoy ocean breezes and panoramic vistas.

Style & Character

When we arrived, we were greeted by name with leis (how do they do that!). The open-air marble foyer is just stunning and adorned with sweet-smelling flowers. You can literally smell the luxury when given a tour around this beautiful resort, where the cream hues and intricate marble pillars form a backdrop to the magnificent ocean views.

The large lobby has a glorious open design that brings the tropical outdoors in. Communal areas are also always immaculate, and the staff are always welcoming and often address you by your name. Four Seasons Maui also houses hundreds of incredible art pieces by Hawaii-influenced artists throughout the property.

The Four Seasons Maui has a wonderful garden that stretches down to the beach. The entire resort is beautiful. The hotel is built in a U shape around numerous pools and fountains, framed by beautiful Wailea Bay. It reminds me of a giant creamy wedding cake with a frothy fountain filled with white icing. You certainly can’t fault the look of the grounds and will find an array of loungers and pristine white marquees to choose from for your days lazing.

Service & Facilities

The pools at Four Seasons Maui are beautiful, some are for kids and families, and the stunning infinity pool with a bar is for adults only. We used the loungers on the beach and around the pools (spritzer anyone? don’t mind if I do) as well as the snorkeling equipment. I did notice that although the feel around the pool is very casual, the men, in particular, were wearing a lot of Rolex watches, so do remember your designer swimwear and accessorize with watches and diamonds. They will be appreciated!

There are actually three separate pool areas. The resort’s central pool is called the fountain pool because of a giant picturesque fountain that emerges from the heated waters of the pool. This pool, which has two whirlpools at both ends, is surrounded by plenty of cabanas that can be used free of charge (one per room). This pool area is open 24/7 and is very popular with kids, but opens up to a more tranquil lawn with plenty of loungers that overlook the beach.

The waterfall pool is a free-form lagoon-style pool that is located next to the fountain pool and draws its inspiration from the ponds of Maui. Two parts of the waterfall pool are linked together with a short slide. This pool mainly attracts families with younger children, and parents can relax in one of the cabanas while keeping an eye out for their kids. Food and drinks are also available poolside, both here and around the fountain pool.

Both the fountain pool and waterfall pool can be crowded during the school holidays, so for adults, there is a third pool area, the serenity pool. This pool is located one level above the other two pools at the resort’s southernmost edge and has two hot tubes and four bubble loungers on its side. The pool is an infinity pool offering panoramic views of the ocean and beach and plays underwater music.

For a complete splurge, you can pay for one of six private luxury cabanas ($450 USD per day). While this might not be the best deal on the island and is certainly not a way to save money, these cabanas offer a great place to relax if your budget will stretch that far.

Let’s not forget that this resort is also right on a beautiful beach in Wailea, which is also kitted out with luxury padded loungers and Four Seasons service. Paddling here is a dream!

Rooms

All rooms here are a similarly good size (600 ft²) with the signature Four Seasons bathroom and a large balcony. The view is the deal-breaker here. The cheapest rooms are the rooms with Mountain views. These rooms are the same size and quality as the Garden view rooms. Mountain view rooms are on the outside of the U and overlook the car park and mountains behind.

The Garden view rooms sit towards the back of the inside of the U with very distant sea views. Your lanai (large balcony) looks over the garden in these rooms.

The Partial ocean rooms and Ocean view rooms are also identical. The rooms and their beautiful Lanai are virtually identical. It is the view that varies, and you pay more for a better view.

It’s worth mentioning that even the cheapest room at the Four Seasons Maui is a great room. You are just facing the wrong way so won’t hear the crashing of the waves as you fall asleep, but I’m very sure you will have a similarly great holiday, whichever room you choose. If you book via our concierge, we can bump you up a room level for free, subject to availability (as well as offering our other free benefits!). My main tip is to request a high floor for better views.

The Club Floor

One particularly attractive feature of this property is that guests who book into a Club room or Club suite enjoy complimentary access to the hotel’s exclusive Club Floor Lounge. The ‘hotel within the hotel,’ Club Floor, has its own concierge team solely dedicated to the 26 rooms and suites on the top level. Here, guests enjoy complimentary all-day refreshments, a full-service bar, and other appealing extras. Once you have entered the Club Lounge, everything is free, which can actually bring down the cost of your vacation.

Club floors often offer the best possible deal because, although the initial price is higher, you do not need to pay resort rates for food and drinks, which can save you hundreds of dollars daily.

Food & Drink

The best restaurant at Four Seasons Maui is Master Chef Wolfgang Puck’s Hawaiian outpost (and Forbes Four Star and AAA Four Diamond restaurant). Sit down to a fusion of Hawaiian and California cuisine paired with panoramic ocean views. I recommend booking this restaurant before your stay. Our concierge team can connect you to the concierge at Four Seasons Maui to do this, as it can be fully booked.

I also particularly like Ferraro’s Bar E Ristorante, which is alfresco and right on the waterfront. In fact, this is Wailea’s only oceanfront restaurant, and you can dine under the stars, perfect for special occasions. Savor contemporary Italian dishes featuring fresh Maui ingredients as well as artisan pizzas from the wood-burning oven.

There are also more bars and eateries, including the poolside restaurant, to keep you topped up wherever you are in the resort.

Conclusion

Would I return? To Wailea, yes, in a heartbeat. Wailea is my favorite resort area on the island. Would I recommend the Four Seasons Wailea? Absolutely, Yes, 100%, for the gorgeous rooms, stunning views, amazing beach, and just participating in the magical Four Seasons experience.

Four Seasons Maui also features in our best Four Seasons hotels in North America.

Note: Benefits & upgrades subject to availability. Benefits offered correct at the time of writing. Terms & conditions apply. Enquire for more information. Benefits offered correct at the time of writing but may be amended at discretion of the vendor. Posts may be sponsored by the proprietor or brand being appraised. All opinions remain our own & are in no way influenced.

Location