The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua

Rented ground floor lanai room for 30th anniversary. First two nights loud wedding receptions 300 yds away from room until 10 made enjoying patio difficult. Took 3 days to repair and make fire pit operational. Two nights awakened by fire alarms in middle of night. Club access not much better than airport lounge. Was not the high end experience I expected and paid for.

Room was ready for check-in at 3:59pm despite having Marriott Titanium status + booking with Amex FHR. I used SNAs to upgrade to a 1 bedroom residential suite (garden view) and it’s very spacious with a full modern kitchen (dishwasher, microwave, etc.). If you turn to the side on the balcony you can still see some of the ocean. This is a family friendly resort so lots of children running around. The beach is beautiful but very windy (with sand blowing everywhere) / rough waters & no service. The resort fee gets you 2 very basic beach chairs + an umbrella. I asked one day if we could get a 3rd & the answer was it’d be $100 😑 There’s nothing I hate more than being nickel & dimed at a 5 star resort. Pros: Large rooms / a large portion of rooms are suites with a sofa bed, Gym is small but well equipped with TechnoGym Equipment, Tonal Workout Systems + Pelotons, Breakfast buffet is plentiful & very fresh options, property is picturesque with coastal ocean views, golf cart rides are offered to the beach as it’s a bit of a trek otherwise, once engineering came to override the A/C, it was working fantastic cooling to 62 degrees!! There’s a Honolua store conveniently located walking distance from the hotel (just a few min) with lots of snacks/drinks etc. Cons: No turndown service (they don’t offer it), No house car or shuttle service, valet is the only option and is $65/night, water bottles they provide to reuse are PATH aluminum (nothing special), service is inconsistent at best (took 45+ minutes one day to get drinks at the burger shack), they’ll hand you towels for beach/pool chairs but don’t offer to set them up for you, bathrooms in rooms/suites are tired & could use a refresh (stained wood, super tiny shower, etc.) Net net, for a property that boasts a $1,200++ per night price tag in the summertime, it was okay but there wasn’t one part of our experience that was exceptional & I definitely wouldn’t return given other options. There’s virtually 0 benefits for elites (besides the ability to redeem SNAs) — there wasn’t even a separate check-in line when things were backed up.

From check-in, to check-out, this hotel exceeded every expectation. Friendly service at every turn; large, comfortable, quiet rooms; peaceful yet lively vibe; gorgeous setting; serene and beautiful beach, and more.

There is such a peaceful vibe at the Ritz in Kapalua. It definitely feels like you're in Hawaii unlike some of the big resorts. There's a feeling of old Hawaii with the dark wood, grass cloth wallpaper, and art work and soft Hawaiian music is always playing in the background. This is definitely one of my favorite properties on the islands. Service is outstanding and you never want for anything or wait very long. Several times when I was waiting at the front desk for something, someone would come over to see of they could help me. Gracie at the front desk was very helpful and welcoming upon check in. The valet were helpful with great recommendations for lunch & dinner. The rooms are spacious with plenty of closet and storage space. Love the hardwood floors. Baths are roomy as well as two separate closets. The grounds and pool areas are beautiful also. We really need to stay longer to really enjoy the hotel and its amenities.

We rented chairs & umbrella from Ritz Carlton at DT Fleming beach. Josh & Tim provided the BEST service ever. Very friendly and extra helpful sharing local information to us and our teenage boys we had with us! Mahalo guys for sharing the Aloha spirit with our family and giving the boys the time of their life at the beach!