Brad

I'm taking the family to Maui and staying for free at Embassy Suites. But would love to take a secret trip away from family with wife for 1 day/night to best resort on Maui for a anniversary surprise! We have walked the grounds of the Grand Wailea and loved the beach and pools. Is there something anybody can suggest that is better?

ezron

Better than the Grand Wailea!!! You must be kidding. Although you can probably get a quick plane to India for an overnight at the Taj Mahal.

Joy

I will suggest The Rennaissance. This is a beautiful hotel - no flashy, pretense. The gardens are beautiful. Food in the restaurants is wonderful. There is an excellent beach there. Many snorkelers.The staff could not be nicer. We would not go anywhere else.

KT

Brad:
If you really want to get away at a fabulous place, how about a Sea Ranch Cottage at the Hotel Hana Maui? It is our absolute favorite place to be a couple. The hotel has lovely grounds, a serene pool, and spacious accomodations with a jacuzzi on your cottage deck. With expansive grounds, the hotel never feels crowded and you won't be competing with others for a place of your own. The hotel restaurant has great food with entertainment twice a week, and music in the bar every evening (I believe).

I do like the Wailea resorts alot, the Four Seasons being my favorite there, but for something really special, the Hotel Hana can't be beat.

cathy

Brad, by taking the family do you mean children? Who will take care of the kids while you and your wife sneak off? Even if the kids are teens, would you want to leave them alone in a strange location and not know where you and your wife are?

If you mean parents or other adults as your family, go for it, but leave a contact number just in case something happens.

brad

Thanks for the parental advice. You must be a great mom! Unfortunately this is Fodor's not Parents Magazine. Has anyone been to the spa at GW?

Cathy

Brad, I don't have kids. I was a "latchkey kid." HATED, HATED, HATED being at home alone. Also hated it when my parents had "grown up" parties and I had to stay in my room.

xxx

While it's a long drive to Hana, I definitely have to say that the Hana Resort is the most romantic hotel I've ever stayed at. Let's just say that you can't beat the private jacuzzis overlooking the ocean. The price is steep, but well worth it for a very memorable evening.

Jim Lloyd

The Kea Lani resort is in Wailea and I think it is great! It recently was rated with Zagat Travel Survey, and I think it was equal with the Grand Wailea resort also in Wailea. The Kea Lani has complete two room suites just like Embassy Suite's rooms although they are much nicer considering they are rated the highest on Maui. In addition, you may want to look at the Kea Lani's villas. Each villa has their own pool and is right on the beach almost. The Kea Lani also has two pools and a seperate adult pool located far enough away from any noise. They also offer a complimentary limo anywhere in the Wailea area!

I hope this helps!

Laurie

The Grand Wailea beautiful. We enjoy it for several reasons...there is a pool/slide/river canyon system that is great fun (be sure to discover the sauna accessable from the pool near the bar/grotto). There is also an adult only pool, inlaid with tiles and gold, with private cabanas when you want to be away from the activity at the other pool.Massages are offered poolside.

The spa is the best I have been to. They offer a wide variety of services but their basic "Terme", a series of different baths, showers, etc. that can take an hour to work through, is a treat by itself and quite affordable.

If you want to splurge, a room in the Napua Tower is great! The rooms are larger, lanais bigger, breakfast and evening cocktails are included. A favorite of ours.

We choose to stay at the Grand rather than the Four Seasons or Kea Lani for several reasons. The ambiance at Four Seasons is not stuffy but very quiet. I am always aware of the absence of laughter, etc. and the cell phones are annoying. The Kea Lani is more family oriented and I have not found their rules for the adult only pool to be enforced. If this is a get away for just the two of you, you may want to think about that. Have fun!

ezron

Great post above from Laurie, I would have said it that way myself if I wasn't such a smartass.

xxx

Brad-What an ass you are...."This is not parents magazine! NO KIDDING!! Why the hell take your kids at all??? Is it to make you look good to your boss or what??? Why don't you leave your precious bundles of joy at home if you don't want to bother with them?? People like you should be sterilized!!!

brad

[email protected] I love you. I took your advice and got sterile. Wow your such a well versed person. Are you male or female because it doesn't matter!! I want you!!!

Ick

Brad, are you sure your wife wants to go away with you at all? You don't sound very nice.

brad

I asked a simple question - and I got a few good simple answers. What's up with all the idiots out here throwing insults and trying to get people angry? Make a post - I have no life! - and all you people go over there and insult each other.

just answer

You could easily solve the bashing against you by saying, "I don't have kids and I don't plan to leave them alone in Hawaii." Even if you do have kids and do plan to leave them alone in Hawaii, just reassure us that you don't plan to do something that would require us to call social services on you.

Tom

Brad - Maybe it would solve a lot of the trouble, if you just posted the ages of the children and if they'll be staying alone or if you plan to make arrangements for a babysitter. What many people don't realize is that often an older relative is taking along on fanily vacations and can serve as a guardian for one evening. I don't blame you for wanting to get away alone with your wife for a few days. But just don't sacrifice the safety of your children.

anon

Brad,

Some of these responses are really cracking me up! I'm glad you can keep your sense of humor with these amateur psychologists, who obviously need more counseling themselves than a TRAVEL board can provide!
Don't worry about leaving your kids alone! Before you leave them,
1)Make sure the minibar is fully stocked--and unlocked
2) Leave them the car keys; you wouldn't want them to get too bored at the hotel
3)Give them a phoney hotel name and phone number so they can't find you if any "emergency" comes up (hilarious!)
4) if your kids are boys, hire a stripper to come to the room to entertain!
And make sure to leave out lots of prescription medication, spread tacks and razorblades all over the floor and hide rabid squirrels and rats in the closets! And for heaven's sake, if there is another adult family member available, give them $50 and tell them to go out and have a good time! After all, isn't it their vacation, too?

Fred

Gee Brad, maybe if you hadn't responded to Cathy in a rude, insulting, sarcastic way people would leave you alone!!! IMO, you have an attitude and an ego to match!!! You reap what you sow....

Camilla

I'd have to agree that Brad's rude response was what set this whole thing off. Many people were pleasantly sending some helpful advice, but when he read one thing he didn't like, he jumped all over it. Mellow out Brad and try and enjoy your vacation.