Montage Kapalua Bay — Hotel in Maui

Easily the best pool on the island of Maui, but this isn't fair to limit it to that, because everything else they are doing is reaching levels of service and hospitality that aren't really accomplished at other properties.

But the pool is so fun, and that comparison includes Hana, any of the Wailea properties (tho that Four Seasons adult pool is incredible), and possibly even the Four Seasons Lanai. They have an infinity pool on the south side of the property, which is a little more calm, and quiet. But the main pool has so many hidden spots, fun areas, waterfalls, and little places to hide and splash and play. The weather isn't always the best, but it does drive away families and the throngs of crowds that can ruin an intimate, and charming, Maui experience. If your weather isn't too your liking, a short ten minute drive to Kaanapali beach will remedy that issue.

Their staff is the definition of Aloha, and their amenities will not leave you wanting. The size of the suites is better than anything on the island, and the value (even vs an AirBnB) is not even negotiable. The amenities and how the suite is appointed is superb, and you will fall into thinking you are at your dream home, almost immediately. The kitchens are outfitted with everything, down to martini shakers and glasses, so you won't have to wont of anything, and if you do... they'll get it for you. =)

It's hard to think when we might not stay here during one of our trips. If you are worried about value, stop worrying. If you are second guessing the rate, it's because you don't really understand what they deliver, and how they execute their mission statement of pampering and making everyone feel absolutely amazing. It is very difficult to deliver luxury, and the "concept" of Montage, while still letting employees be themselves. You feel like Ohana here, and it's really divine. The pool area employees and bartenders are all earnest and genuine, and our favorite room service attendant is one of the highlights of our stay... she certainly rises above and beyond the call of duty with focusing on every little detail to make your meal perfect.

Their restaurant, and bars, are wonderful. We were really surprised by Cane and Canoe, both dinner and breakfast. We had made a culinary trip of this vacation, with Star Noodle, Sansei, and Lahaina Grill, which was our mistake... we should have eaten dinner at the restaurant a few more times.

The Spa is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen, and the intentional design and layout is one of the most operationally pleasant I've ever experienced. I also had not only one of my best massages here, but I also had one of the most stimulating philosophical conversations I have ever had with my therapist, and it is something that will reverberate for the rest of my life. That's how you know someone is doing hospitality right... it isn't about a few nights in a bed, but an experience that will alter your life, and something that you learn from, and carry with you for the rest of your life. I highly recommend visiting the spa just to use the facilities... they have a private area, and a co-ed area, so bring your partner and relax in a quieter atmosphere if the pool gets too busy.

The nearby trail walks and hikes are fantastic, and it's likely one of the most romantic places I have ever seen. In fact, search for Montage and "The Oldest Pier", which has the production quality of a movie, and will possibly move you to tears... it really delivers precisely what Montage Kapalua is accomplishing. It's a place that will immediately capture you, and you'll be figuring out how to save and come back time...

My wife and I spent 4 nights at the hotel in a one bedroom residence. There is much to like about this resort, but it also has limitations that should be understood. ||The property was originally developed as a Ritz Carlton club and residences in 2009 (which means condos), and was remodeled and rebranded as the Montage in 2014. It is a lovely property with great swimming pools. Because it was built as condos, all the units are large and really comfortable. Our one bedroom unit was huge and included a great kitchen, laundry facilities, and a big deck. There is a nice public beach at the edge of the property that allows you to bill your room for chairs and equipment. Maid service is twice per day, and really efficient and professional. The main restaurant, Canoe, is quite good and destination dining for the area (though be warned - you need reservations so plan in advance). The spa is one of the best things about the property. It is expensive, but it a beautiful facility with wonderful treatments.||And the downsides.... I would not consider this a 5 star hotel, as it lacks the service and attention to detail. The entry lacks the grandeur of similar hotels, I think because it was built for condos. Service is very friendly, and everyone is doing their best, but it often feels understaffed and undertrained. When we checked in I had to explain to the woman at the desk that they were a member of Preferred Hotels. When we asked the concierge for assistance she referred us to a rack of brochures. Many of the poolside chairs are reserved for "residents" - I assume people own many of the units, and these chairs were mostly empty. Poolside service is very poor (it took 45 minutes to get a drink, so you end up getting it yourself). Food options are very limited. Aside from Canoe, the only other option is bar food. There is a nice bar next to the pool where you can order lunch, but the downside is that they store all their garbage next to the structure, and with the right breeze it smells like a sewer.||The biggest issue is the construction. One of the towers is undergoing a complete renovation, and it is not only noisy but ugly to look at. Our deck looked out on a wrapped building, and they were unable to move us to a unit with a better view. While sitting at the pool you are treated to stereophonic cacophony, as it appeared one of the residents was remodeling with a jackhammer on one side, and the tower construction was on the other. ||Overall the energy of the place is more like a condo or timeshare development. There is not much going on at night, and many people go next door to the Ritz to enjoy more food options and a good bar and music scene. ||I think this is a good choice for people with kids that want big rooms (and there are a lot of kid activities), and are not looking for a lot of dining or cocktail options. Or it would also be good for people travelling in a group and want big rooms to entertain. The big kitchens and lack of dining options make it ideal for people that want to cook, but if cooking on your vacation is not your thing this hotel has drawbacks.||A couple hints....||Try to get a room that does not look out on the construction.||Make your reservations in advance, as they do not appear to give preferential treatment to hotel guests at Canoe. The best restaurant in the area, Merrimans, is walking distance from the hotel, but reserve...

After spending 4 nights at the Montage Kapalua Bay in April 2018, I was left with a very mixed experience. First, their rooms and property is beautiful. Their rooms were huge, much larger than any other hotel room we’ve ever stayed in, which was wonderful. Room service was 24/7, and excellent. We had a massage at their spa which was beautiful, and a great experience as well. Also, their pools and beach area is very nice.

Now, on to the negatives.

1. Customer service was pretty good. Not on par honestly with other resorts and properties we’ve stayed at, either in Maui (four seasons, hotel Wailea - both which had better customer service) or other parts of the world. Also, we overheard their staff making fun of our Uber driver for his route taken. Honestly, this was kind of rude in my perspective, and made them feel a bit snobby to me. Also, in regards to customer experience, when checking in, we arrived at 3pm and our room was still not ready for some reason, and were never offered anywhere to sit down, and they left me, and my 24 wk pregnant wife, standing while they tried to figure it out for 15 minutes. We ended up going to eat by pool and it was fine, but definitely not a great or exceptional customer experience when arriving at the resort.

2. Travel dates. Unfortunately, it seems we booked our trip when they were doing construction at the property and working on the lobby. What I dislike about this is not that they ever need to do work on the property, but that we received no advanced notice, or anything to compensate for this significant inconvenience. See point 3. Also, in regards to renovation, they closed the gift shop and blocked off part of the property, which became a pain when trying to navigate, as it seems their staff couldn’t even direct us properly or let us know exactly what was open or closed.

3. During the construction their breakfast restaurant was moved to another area, and was pitiful. Literally, their breakfast buffet was cheaper than the food I would imagine would be given at motel 6, was cold, and not even replenished, and cost $100/meal for me and my wife per meal. Apparently after 2 days eating at their breakfast area we learned they only were serving a partial menu and heard others complaining as well and told to just order room service, which we chose to do the following 2 days, and it was a slightly better experience. I would still say overall the food here was definitely worse than most of the resorts I’ve stayed at over the past 5-10 years.

The food was DEFINITELY sub par for hotels charging $1,000 plus per night. And I’m not talking only breakfast good, their bar side food and dinner was all mediocre - at best.

To summarize, overall, we had a fine trip. My wife loved the property and size of the hotel rooms, pool area, and size of resort, and in her perception, that made up for the other negatives we experienced. She would recommend their property. However, I would not, and would not be likely to stay at their property again given the price, food and customer service. Definitely not on par with the price in my perspective.

Ps I would probably give them 3.5 stars based on my experience honestly, and just rounded up because I’m assuming we would have had a better experience had construction not...