The Ritz-Carlton Kapalua

The Ritz-Carlton Kapalua, hidden within the folds of Maui's verdant landscape, is the picture of posh. This decorated AAA Five-Diamond Award beachfront resort, which recently underwent a $180-million transformation, sits on a 54-acre expanse and is more magnificent than ever. From the airy guest rooms to the half-dozen restaurants, The Ritz-Carlton Kapalua will amaze even the most seasoned of travelers. Its stylish rooms boast new furnishings and amenities, including dark wood floors, flat-panel televisions, sleek marble bathrooms with showers and separate tubs, spacious lanais, and island-inspired artwork. Insomniacs will enjoy the convenience of the 24-hour ocean view fitness center and yoga studio. Perhaps the resort's piece de resistance, though, is the addition of a new 17,500-square-foot spa retreat boasting 15 plush treatment rooms, private outdoor shower gardens, a pair of al fresco couples cabanas, plus relaxation areas fashioned after volcanic stone grottos and outfitted with whirlpools, steam rooms and saunas.

The resort, framed by a pair of championship golf courses, offers savory restaurants including the new Japanese destination Kai Sushi. You will also enjoy direct beach access, cultural offerings and the resort's own eco-adventure program. Unwind in the 10,000-square-foot tri-level swimming pool, surrounded by a sun deck twice its size, or spend time with your family at the new children's pool. Stay close to home as you explore the island's western edge with its collection of bays and trio of sandy beaches. Nature lovers can traipse along winding trails brushing past an abundance of fragrant flowers and native trees planted centuries ago by ancestral Polynesians and Hawaiians.