My husband and I are going to Hawaii in June for two weeks. We love the Four Seasons on the Big Island and are thinking about the Four Seasons or the Ritz Carlton on Maui. How do you get a better rate than the one on the hotel's website?
Thanks for your help!

Virtuoso ised to offer a free category upgrade on Four Seasons properties but that was discontinued as of January because the hotels no longer need to give incentives. If you check the 4S BI it is almost sold out for the rest of the year. Discounts are much harder to get. Try pleasantholidays.com for the Ritz but don't be surprised if you end up paying rack rate. Good luck. Also June will be very busy with families.

I think its nearly impossible to get a discount at the 4S on the BI. I am going in May and paying Rack Rates. That place is sold for the next 2 years during peak. Demand this high = higer rates and NO discounts. Im just happy I even got a room .

You should do a search on the Ritz, which gets mixed reviews in terms of location, living up to Ritz standards, etc.

You'll probably have better luck with rates at the Ritz than at 4S. We really liked staying in the Wailea area...Kapalua is a hike from most everything else on the island. You should also consider the Fairmont Kea Lani, also in Wailea, which we loved. You can check out my trip report at http://traveldiva.marsik.org.

Check with the Four Seasons to see if they discount for Entertainment Cardholders. I know the Santa Barbara, CA location does, on weeknights.

Then you can purchase your membership at entertainment.com

Thanks for the advice. I have found that the 4S BI is sold out the entire two weeks we will be in Hawaii!
any comments on the Ritz on Maui?

We spent 4 nights at the Ritz maui in November 04. We booked a package of a garden view room with 2 golf for both of
us for $475 a night,directly with the hotel, which I thought was a very good deal.I had mentioned when I booked that it was our 20th anniversary,and when we arrived , they upgraded us to club level, which was an oceanview room, with complimentary food and drinks in the club lounge. We would have stayed for a month if they had let us. It was definitely the best value we have ever received from a hotel. Cheers, Al

You may also want to try pricing for the Ritz through www.classiccustomvacations.com and creativeleisure.com. You will need a travel agent to get quotes from those two consolidators. I like the Kapalua area because it is less congested with tourists but it is a bit of a trek to town, about 25 mins. Some complain that it is more windy and rainy in Kapalua but I don't mind it. We stayed at the Kapalua Bay hotel and loved it, the views of the neighboring islands are unsurpassed. The Ritz is a beautiful hotel, though I can't comment on service

We called the 4S Maui and the 4S BI this morning and were able to find availability (althought pricey!). Still considering the Ritz on Maui.
Thanks for all the advice!