I can't decide between the Ritz or Four Seasons in Maui. We're going on our honeymoon in January.
Also, going to Kaui, Big Island, and Maui. Any suggestions on how to plan the itinerary? How many nights in each place? We have 11 nights for the trip.
Thanks!

I've been to a few places in Maui. From my perspective, you can't find a more comfortable and more luxurious property than the Westin Maui on Kaanipali Beach. It's just a short bit away from lahina. I rented a road bike from a shop in town and used it to get around locally. Great fun!

Four Seasons in Maui is a no brainer baby! January is the rainy season so if you go to the Ritz bring your umbrella! Four Seasons is in Wailea on the dry side of the island, and Jan. this year was one of the rainier winters Maui has seen. We stayed at the Four Seasons for 1 wk. and experienced sunny weather, but the rest of the Island had to come south to see the sun! Same thing with Kauai; head south. Kauai was also wet in January this year. We stayed at the Hyatt. We had 2 days of rain, 3 days of sun, and 3 cloudy days. We had a great time, and the weather was still 100% better than the east coast in Jan.! Good luck!

Beach at the Ritz is not very good and will be rough during that month. Property is beautiful but I would go to Four Seasons. Spend the least amount of time on the Big Island.

Please avoid Kapalua in January if its's your honeymoon.

thanks for all the advice. i was also looking at timeshares near lahaina, but i guess that's the rainy side too?

It's so funny...before I spent my honeymoon in Jan. at the Ritz, I thought:

a) the beach was unswimmable
b) Kapalua was a rainforest
c) I was screwed and should have stayed at the 4S.

Incredibly, the beach at the Ritz (D.T. Flemming) is beautiful--great swimming, nice surf but not too bad, and lovely service by the Ritz attendants including menthol wash cloths regularly handed out. Also, you're 5 minutes from Kapalua Bay, arguably the best beach in the US and certainly better than Wailea!

b. We had sun everyday, low winds, etc.

c. I was unimpressed with the 4S--Wailea Beach is nice but too crowded with the hotels stacked up on top of each other. No nice golf nearby. And from reading about the construction there, who knows what's up?

Jessica, Buy yourself the book, "The Unofficial Guide to Hawaii." It will tell you in there that Kapalua weather is not as good as Wailea's weather especially in January. I think the previous poster was just lucky. And by the way Wailea's beaches are beautiful.

January is the rainy season in Hawaii? I've been there 3 separate times in the month of January and never seen a drop of rain (Kaanapali, Wailea, Kauai and the big island). Good thing I didn't know it was rainy season!

Please, people, stand back and get the big picture about the weather issue in Kapalua.

Even during the rainy months it doesn't rain THAT often.

January is the rainiest month of the year, but in Kaanapali there is only 3.2 inches in January.
Anyone care to guess how much rain Seattle gets in January?
5.1 inches.
Miami gets 2 inches in January.

The point is that since Wailea gets less rain and wind and more sun, and a vacation to Hawaii is usually a pretty big deal for people, why not maximize your odds of having good weather?



"Monsoon season" in Phoenix peaks in August. Gee, a whole 1.0 inches of rain in August on average. Heat aside, you won't hear anyone suggest avoiding Phoenix because of the risk of rain in August.


Of course you can get great weather in Kapalua. But I also know a couple who honeymooned there and had rain and clouds EVERY DAY for the 7 days they were there.
If you're spending big $$, why take the chance?


The point is that