Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea Review

Reviewed by Russm from St Simons Isalnd, GA on 4/28/08
We frequently stay at Four Seasons in the US and Internationally. We were very pleased with the room size, location (ocean view) and appontment. The service throughout the hotel, and the food at each venue was great tasting and served promptly. Always helpful staff provided high quality service with a smile. The creative services by staff at the pool was a most pleasant surprise. Turning chill out time by the pool into a pampered experience is more than we would have expected.
This would be on the top of out return to list.

Member Rating: 4.8
Ratings details: Room: 5.0 Atmosphere: 5.0 Service: 5.0 Value: 4.0

Reviewed by sbla from Menlo Park, California on 3/24/08
If you’ve stayed at lot of high-end hotels worldwide (other Four Seasons, Ritz, Obreroi) this one gets a B+. If you are comparing it to other vacation hotels in Hawaii on a strip it would have gotten an A (except for the disingenuous marketing of its rooms.) It has all the great things you expect from a Four Seasons – most noticeably a gracious, caring staff (even during the Easter Break.) Unlike some of the other reviewers I was pleasantly surprised by the restaurants – we ate in all of them. Spago, Duo, Ferraro’s and I must say that Spago’s – overpriced as it is – was a wonderful experience. Every dish at Spago’s was terrific, service was attentive yet transparent and we ate our appetizers as the sun was setting. The other restaurants were also fine. BTW, if you get a chance leave the premises one evening and have dinner at Sansei in Kihei (a 15 minute drive) one of the most innovative Sushi restaurants on the islands.

The rooms themselves were quite nice, but nothing extraordinary for this class of hotel. They were large, comfortable, with a nice bathroom and balcony, etc.

One of the downsides is nothing they can change easily. The pool area is just too small to handle holiday crowds. The staff handles all poolside requests with panache, but you are packed cheek to jowl with your neighbors. Same with the sand beach below.

This is a physically large hotel like the Four Seasons Hualalai on the Big Island. But on the Big Island that hotel had enough property to design the hotel layout so most of the rooms face the ocean. Here in Maui, the property is much smaller, so the hotel is designed as a U-shape, with the majority of the rooms facing the courtyard with a small view of the ocean (if you crane your neck.) Hence the hotels biggest downside – if you’re in your room you’re looking at the other rooms across the courtyard.

The good news of course is that if you’re in Hawaii your not hanging out in the room much. So that would have been fine if they tell you what you’re getting. However, having never stayed at this hotel I called by phone and asked reservations for an ocean view room. They said they had one and would I like an ocean view prime room. What a surprise in checking in to find out that a $1000/night “ocean view prime” room is a room with a view of the courtyard with a small peek at the ocean if you’re angled correctly or sitting on the balcony. (In fairness to the hotel the website describes the room view honestly, but the phone reservation people never mentioned it and I was nowhere near a web browser.)

My suggestion to Four Season management is that this is a great hotel offering a great product - you don’t need to market the hotel like the Marriott. There is nothing “Ocean View Prime” about these rooms. It tarnishes the brand and makes the Four Seasons seem like another over hyped Hawaii experience.

So if you know what to expect room-wise or don’t care, this is a five-star hotel for a Maui resort experience.

Member Rating: 4.0
Ratings details: Room: 3.0 Atmosphere: 5.0 Service: 5.0 Value: 4.0

Reviewed by C6PVP from Los Angeles on 9/14/07
My wife and I were looking forward to staying at the Four Seasons, Maui having stayed at a Four Seasons before. We were not disappointed.
We reserves an ocean view room. The room was located near the back of the hotel facing the inner courtyard of the "U" shaped building. We did view the ocean, but were not as close as other "ocean view" room that we have stayed at other hotels. Never the less, the balcony are well laid out providing privacy. The room itself and bathrooms are well appointed. Wife loved the bed while I looked forward to every shower. Room was serviced twice a day. It was magic with the bed turned down, lights turned on, and favorite music playing every night we returned to the room.
Pool area seem relatively small for all the guest. Finding a pair of chairs can be a challenge. Pool staff is extremely helpful in finding a location and setting them up for you. Once you find a chair, the experience is heaven. Beautiful view of the pool or the ocean, with attendants bring around water, cool towels, and Evian mists. Food was also very good, strongly recommend the pineapple ginger ice. It sounds weird but it's really good!
Four Season, Maui experience was everything we hoped for. Service is impeccable, always anticipating your needs. Hotel facilities are wonderful, although it can feel a little crowed at times. Overall experience changes your perception of what a hotel should be, clearly raising the bar. We can hardly wait to go back.

Member Rating: 4.8
Ratings details: Room: 5.0 Atmosphere: 5.0 Service: 5.0 Value: 4.0