Stayed at the Four Seasons for 3 nights and the Grand Wailea for 3 nights. Ate at Sansei in Kapalua, The Waterfront, A Pacific Cafe, Nick's Fishmarket and the sushi restaurant at the Grand Wailea. Let me know if you have specific questions on any of the above.

Which hotel did you enjoy more? Also, did you check out the Ritz while you were in Kapalua and what did you think?

Four Seasons is a much smaller hotel that provides outstanding service to its guests. Grand Wailea is massive and fun to wander around (the pools, waterslides, etc.) but it's a bit more expensive and they charge you for additional items. At the Four Seasons, once you get there, everything is free -- snorkel equipment, mountain bikes, vcr rentals, cabanas, etc. Also, since the Four Seasons is so small, they are able to provide much better service. They even strive to get to know your name and what you like -- too difficult to do at the massive Grand Wailea. When I go back, I will certainly stay at the Four Seasons.

We did visit the Ritz Carlton and it's a very nice hotel but doesn't really take advantage of the fact that it's in Maui near a beach. It's a very long walk to the beach -- and it's not that nice once you get there. The pools are nothing special either. It's a classy hotel with traditional formality of a Ritz-Carlton but between the somewhat cooler (and much windier) weather in Kapalua and the fact that it doesn't really feel like a resort hotel, I wouldn't recommend it.

Steve,

We're staying at the FS in Maui and the Big Island in July.
Concerning the Maui location---can you talk about the rooms--I think we have an Ocean View Prime. What are they like and does the hotel sit too far back from beach? Also, describe beach, golf, scuba, and resturants if you can
Thanks in advance!

CU -- Let me answer all of your questions . . .Rooms at the Four Seasons are all very nice. It does sit back slightly from the ocean, but if you have a prime ocean view, I imagine it will be very good. Maybe try their website for an exact location. Their hotel is shaped like a horseshoe with the tips facing to the ocean. My guess is that the prime room will be on the tips of the horseshoe facing out, but you can always call the front desk and ask.

Regarding golf, Wailea has 3 golf courses (Gold, Emerald and Blue). I played the Wailea Gold Course. It's a nice course, but is overpriced ($140) for the layout. Pretty simple but it does have nice views. None of the holes are directly on the ocean. The Emerald is also supposed to be OK. The Plantation course in Kapalua is the best course on the island, but it's also the most expensive and is very very windy (play early).

The beach in front of the Four Seasons is small but good. It has decent snorkeling and the attendants will drag the chairs/cabanas for you. Didn't go scuba diving. Ask at the activity desk in front of the hotel. A better beach is a short drive to Makena (called big beach) where the locals go -- snorkeling is good.

Finally, we didn't eat at any of the formal restaurants in the hotel. Ate at the poolside cafe -- good, but overpriced. Ate at the buffet -- very good, but pretty standard buffet options. Price was reasonable. See my earlier posting for the restaurants we went to, but I would highly recommend Nick's for overall dining experience. If you like Sushi, eat at the Grand Wailea (called Kincha). Pacific Cafe is also good but the location is not. Waterfront is unique and has a relaxed atmosphere with a nice view of the bay. We we actually saw whales from our table. Let me know if you have other questions.

Steve,

We've booked a FS package from their website ... mountainside room, car and breakfast.

Was curious if the mountainside rooms overlook the parking lot. Do they charge for parking? Also wondering if you had the buffet breakfast in the Pacific Grill and if so, how was it. I called the hotel in Maui and asked what they charge for the buffet breakfast and they said it's $20.50/person.

Also, someone else on this board mentioned the pool area was crowded...said try to get a lounge chair. What was your experience.

One last question, how were the beds. I had an experience recently at a top rated hotel where the beds were so hard that we had trouble sleeping.

Thanks for your help.

Katrina -- now we're really getting into detailed questions. I thought the buffet at the Pacific Grill was $25 but it's close enough to your quote. It was good -- the made to order waffles, pancakes and omelettes were very good. Fruit was fresh. It's a pretty simple layout, but we ate there twice and enjoyed it. We also had a mountainside room and the foliage was so thick that we didn't have much of a view from our room. Some of those rooms do have views of the parking lot. If you want a view, then get the garden side room or the ocean view room. Try to get upgraded. I had a good friend that was there last month and got upgraded from a mountainside to a garden view (very pretty garden). We asked but they were full because of spring break. Beds are fine -- comforter is very comfortable. Don't remember them being extra hard or anything.

Also, the pool area chairs do get reserved early in the AM. Depending on where you're flying in from, you'll wake up very early. There are actually people that show up at the pool area to get a chair when they open -- at 6 am!!!! You don't need to be right by the pool. We would go down and reserve a lounge chair near the kiddy pool (it was actually pretty quiet up there) with a nice view of the ocean at around 7:30 am. We came from California so we were usually up by then. We'd go workout, have breakfast and be back at our reserved lounge chairs by 9:30 am. What a life. I want to go back. Let me know if you have other specific questions (like how fresh was the pineapple at the pacific grill?)

Thanks Steve for all your input.

Concerning the pool, that won't be a problem for us------when we go to the beach we want to be on the beach. Question: is there the same problem getting a cabana on the beach as there appears to be at the pool?

I take it the gold course is the best one in Wailea for golf?

Also, did you do the sunrise thing where you getup at 4am and see the sunrise at Hana(I think thats the place). It sounds neat---but it sounds like it'll blow a large portion of a day. If you've gone----can you tell me if its worth it?
Thanks in advance!!!

May I but in? The sunrise is at Haleakala, and it is gorgeous. Do it when you first get there, and you're waking up early anyway. On the way down, have Eggs Benedict at the Kula Lodge. Yes, it does take a big part of a day, but worth every minute. When you're driving up that mountain at 3:30, the stars are as breathtaking as the sun will be when it comes up! Also, all three golf courses at Wailea are top notch - my sister & hubby must spent 5 weeks there, and played them all! Which is not to say that people don't have their favorites - don't miss eating at A Pacific Cafe - it's my very favorite on Maui, though there is no view. Aloha, Lani