Please Please Please Help Choose Hotel for Maui Honeymoon
 

Do we go with the Ritz or the Hyatt in Maui?

We are staying for 6 nights in Maui and then 4 nights in Kauai at the Hyatt. (Do you think that's enough time in each- We are traveling from Long Island)

We can't decide.... We have heard good and bad about both-

Which has more to offer- better beach and so on... I just want it to be perfect.... We have been away so many times that I want this trip to be a step above the rest...

Would you consider one of the above hotels to be "better" than the other? I want the tropical feeling and beautiful, clean romantic and friendly atmosphere...

Thanks so very much!

What time of year? The beach at the Ritz is pretty, but way down the hill from the hotel and the water usually fairly rough. Beach at the Hyatt is closer and calmer. Best beach, particularly for snorkeling is at Kapalua Bay hotel. It is near the Ritz, but faces a different direction and is reef-protected to provide calm water. Kapalua is low-rise and casually elegant. A very special place. They have a point of land surrounded by ocean where they seem to have a wedding just about every other day.I have photos is you'd like to see them.
If it's November thru March, though, that part of the island is rainier and windier that the Wailea area, where you'd want to be for best beaching and tropical feel.

we stayed at the ritz on our honeymoon. it had it's good points, but the beach is not near the hotel, it's down a big hill, and is rough, so we were at the pool mostly. (that was ok to us b/c we'd also been to Kona Village Resort on the BI, and were on the beach every day there.

also, i felt it to be kind of formal, sort of had a colonial/tropical feel, as opposed to a casual tropical feel if that makes sense.

i did like being so close to lahaina and one day we drove north of kapalua and saw some great sights.

overall, i could do without maui, perhaps it's b/c i didn't LOVE the hotel? i don't know.

for the ultimate hawaii feel, go to kona village...it's beyond any expectations.

We are planning on going the first week of August- this year!

Do a search on the Hawaii forum "Maui hotels". You will get alot of threads that talk about Honeymoon Hotels. Traveldiva wrote an excellent trip report, and they stayed at the Kea Lani and loved it. We will be going for our anniversary in June and decided on the Wailea area for 5 nights and Kaanapali area for 4. Have fun!

VitaAnn,
I stayed at both in Feb and the Ritz wins hands down. The Ritz is a much better enviroment for a honeymoon. The food, the service, the property...

I hate when life is full of tuff decisions:)

We stayed at The Ritz in February. I think it would be a wonderful resort to spend a honeymoon. Beautiful area, great service. The beach isn't that hard to get to and it is a beautiful beach. I haven't stayed at they Hyatt, however, we did stay at the Westin, which we enjoyed. Personally, if I were going on my honeymoon, I would choose the Ritz.

ediegirl, we've been to kona village 3 times-first 3 days, then 5 days then 6 days-now we are going back to maui (due to money constraints and we are really looking forward to it, but you are so right-there's no place like Kona Village

I just returned from a 4 night stay at the Ritz Cartlon Kapalua this morning. The hotel and grounds are beautiful, with stunning views from the rooms. It is true that the beach is a walk from the hotel itself - however, the walk is on the Ritz Carlton grounds and it is very picturesque. If you don't want to walk, though (the walk takes just a few minutes), there is a "shuttle" that will take you there and back.

The pool area - also very nice - three separate pools, each a level below one another but connected by a waterfall between each level.

If you want a really special experience, try to book a room at the Club Level - which gives you access to the Club room that has five food and beverage presentations throughout the day. The food and service at the club was excellent.

The only problem with my stay was the weather. We happened to arrive on the day a cold front was passing through, Unfortunately, it didn't pass through too quickly - we had about 2 1/2 days of rain. I don't mean a passing shower - I mean rain and wind. The third day it improved enough to go to the beach and pool. I heard from one of the employees, that this happens 3 or 4 times per year, mostly in Jan -March. It was a little frustrating.

That being said, I think this is a fantastic resort in a very dramatic setting - the view from my balcony included the pool area, the ocean, the mountains and Molokai!