Hyatt vs Ritz
 

My wife and I are in our 40s, and are going to Maui for a week in early Feb. We like to hang out, read, like cool pool areas and beautiful beaches. We want to snorkel with some turtles as well. We will have a rental car. Any preference between these hotels? Any known construction going on? Any other hotels preferred over these? Thanks!

The Ritz wins hands down over Hyatt anytime! I think a better comparison would be Ritz versus Four Seasons on Maui (in which case it's a draw for me).

Snorkel at Honolua Bay (near the Ritz) to see some turtles.

If you are stuck on a Hyatt, then the one on Kauai is fantastic.

I also wouldn't put the Hyatt in the same category as the Ritz. (And we thought the 4 Seasons was an exceptional property).

Any resorts comparable to the Ritz in the drier Southwest of Maui?

I didn't care for the Ritz. It sits akwardly on the top of a bluff, because they originally were going to build it on a sacred burial site (which it now overlooks). The whole thing is very over-the top, but in a vaguely annonymous way. The rooms are decorated in chintz fabrics, and it just doesn't have a Hawaiian vibe to me. It could be the Ritz anywhere. The beach is down a hill from the hotel, and they have a golf cart to take you there, but it's not the same beachfront setting as you can find in other Maui hotels.

The Hyatt is busy, busy, but I enjoyed the pool with the swimp-up bar and waterslide. The beach is more accessible, although it's not the best swimming because of seagrass.

I much prefer the Wailea-Makena area hotels for beachfront luxury. Yes, the Four Seasons (and Grand Wailea) have a much better beachfront ambiance. I always liked the Maui Prince because of it's quiet and private beach and great snorkeling, but someone mentioned that they had some construction issues.

I would advise you to check out the Wailea area resorts. I also mention that the Kapalua area is much windier and rainier in winter, and their beach gets much rougher winter waves, so it is less useable in February. That is a big issue for me.

4 Seasons Jeff!