The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua — Hotel in Maui

I have stayed at quite a few 5-star resorts in my lifetime, but The Ritz-Carlton Maui is impeccable with their accommodations and services. I had a relative that had stayed here fifteen years ago before the remodel and said they preferred it over some of the other expensive resorts on Maui. I'd have to agree with them!||Upon arrival, everyone is warm and welcoming. We received our leis, warm wet towels, and welcome drink. Our room was 2431 during the first week of October and it was a bit of a walk to the lobby, but there was an elevator close by that took us down to the pools. The three pools are serene, open 24/7, and heated! My husband and I live in Vegas and the pools are rarely heated and closed before sunset. There are two hot jacuzzis, which were never crowded and great to be in after working out in their gym (also open 24/7). Of the three pools, one is dedicated to families and the other two are for adults. There is also a children's pool for toddlers. Never did we feel like anyone was rowdy late at night with the pools being open. So, if you want, you may swim at night with no one to bother you. ||Our room was the one bedroom suite with partial ocean view. With it being a bit of a walk from the lobby, I believe that made our suite more than just a partial view as we were on a corner and could see more ocean on the double balcony. The room was meticulous. Much more clean than some high end resorts in Vegas. In the entry way, there is a powder room with shower. I pretty much booted my husband to use that shower during our trip so I could have the bigger bathroom. More so, I could use the heated toilet seat in the master bath. The bathrooms came with sewing & vanity kits, makeup wipes, mouthwash, and the showers came with communal amenities. There is a walk in closet as well as a desk/vanity spot across from the closet with the Keurig machine. Both the living room and bedroom are very spacious. The king size bed comes with plenty of pillows along with a down comforter. There are reading lamps attached to the bed frame. Both balconies had a sliding glass and screen door. Plenty of outdoor furniture too!||Let's talk about the resort food. We both had A La Carte breakfast or buffet breakfast each morning at Ulana, which by the pictures, you know it's good! The A La Carte is very filling and the buffet has something for everyone (the healthiest and biggest one I've been to). Their juices are very fresh, especially the Guava juice. While I didn't have any pool food, their cocktails and wellness juices are delicious. I could have the Maui Dew all day long if I could afford it! The Burger Shack is a must go to! It's down next to the beach (the waves are rough). We got it to-go so we could eat at the beach instead of eating on their patio. My husband practically lived off of Mai Tai's the whole trip and said the Burger Shack had the best one! I had the banana shake and the Wagyu burger with bacon. Highly recommend! One night, we went to Banyan Tree for my Birthday and everything was delicious from the drinks to dessert.||Thank you, The Ritz-Carlton Maui, for making my Birthday vacation special and because of this, we do plan to stay at another Ritz resort next year for our honeymoon somewhere tropical. And even if a Ritz is not there, we hope to stay at a...

I had high hopes for this property, but it has some real glaring issues that one would not expect from this price category or brand.

First, check-in was easy and fast. Offered late checkout as part of my perks, but was not offered an upgrade, even though I was assured this request was notated. I didn’t bother to press the issue, as it was just for one night. That being said, the hotel was not busy at all, and upgrade-able rooms were available for my one night stay.

Moving on to the valet, they were prompt and courteous, although a bit aloof. They offered to have a bellman take our bags, I agreed, but then no such thing occurred. We rolled our own bags to our room, which wasn’t a problem.. it was just weird that they offered that and then never followed through.

The room itself was standard fare for a Marriott or JW in Orlando. Nothing special. Comfortable bedding, but fixtures and furniture seems worn and dated. It was very clean, so no complaints there.

Grounds were immaculate and beautiful. Pool was clear, temperate, and devoid of any combined-chlorine smells. Great work by the boots on the ground cleaning and maintaining cleanliness around the property. I noticed them all hard at work when I was walking around at 3am.

The Ritz Kapalua has a gym with awesome equipment (for a hotel). Very pleased to see the dumbbells go up to 75 instead of the usual 50, and there are plates to use with a smith machine.

My favorite amenity by far was the refillable water bottles with conveniently located filling stations. The water actually comes out ice cold and tastes great.

Staff tries to be helpful and courteous, but here, they seem to lack that intangible drive that RC properties are famous for. For example, after a long day of travel, we ordered two of the $30 Ali’i Mai Tai drinks at the lobby lounge. It was incredibly strong, and basically undrinkable. I brought this up to our server, and her response was that it’s very “rum forward.” (Failed to mention that when we ordered). Her attempt to try to rectify the situation was to suggest adding pineapple juice to make the $30 jet-fuel cocktail drinkable. At any other Ritz in the country, it’s taken away, comp’d, and there’s a suggestion and offer for a new drink. Not even a second thought.

That being said, I don’t really blame the individual employees for this lack of continuity with the brand’s vision; no, this property seems to have fallen victim to complacent management. The big picture items are tended to, but the personal touches that once set Ritz properties apart are nonexistent here.

We moved on to a competitor in Wailea the following night, and the difference is stark. Everything the Ritz Kapalua lacked was on full display by their competitor.

Perhaps I’ve fallen out of touch with the times, and perhaps the Ritz Carlton brand today is aiming to be more Buick than Mercedes Benz. Either way, I left disappointed and...

Playing the Plantation Course and the Bay Course at Kapalua was a highlight of our GolfAhoy golf cruise around the Hawaiian Islands aboard the Pride of America. ||From the first time I visited the island, the beauty of Maui and its world-class golf courses have always taken my breath away. ||After the cruise ended in Honolulu, we returned to Maui for a few days. Getting to Maui was a breeze. We booked an inexpensive flight on Hawaiian Air from Honolulu, and the 39-minute hop felt like no time. ||Once we landed, the drive to The Ritz-Carlton at Kapalua set the tone for an unforgettable stay. Nestled near the Bay Course and a short ride from The Plantation Course, the Ritz is in a spectacular location that feels both luxurious and close to nature.||Before tackling the Plantation Course for the second time, my wife took advantage of some Kapalua Golf Academy lessons. The PGA Professionals there are phenomenal. Their fine-tuning lessons made a noticeable difference in my wife’s game, and I noticed how popular the Academy was, especially with first-timers or partners new to golf. If you have the time, their three-day golf school program is worth considering.||After a day on the greens, nothing hit the spot quite like the Wagyu Burger and Fries at the Ritz’s Alaloa Lounge overlooking Honokahua Bay, and I can confidently say it was the most flavorful burger I’ve ever had in my life. However, I can’t say the same for the Salt & Vinegar Crispy Calamari – one bite was enough to know it wasn’t for us. Thankfully, our server was gracious and promptly removed it from our bill. My wife, always on top of her Bonvoy rewards points, mentioned that Ritz-Carlton staff are empowered to resolve guest issues up to $1,000 on the spot. That kind of service really sets them apart. ||Advice. Hang out for the sun-setting ceremony during the native Hawaiian prayer service.||One evening, we decided to splurge at The Banyan Tree restaurant. Yes, it’s pricey – this is Hawaii, but the $78 Seafood Curry was worth every penny. ||If you’re planning a GolfAhoy Hawaii golf cruise, here’s my advice: ask your GolfAhoy travel advisor to add on their post-cruise package at The Ritz-Carlton Maui. It includes transportation, accommodation, and golfer amenities. ||Advice. Another must? Upgrade to the Ritz Club Lounge access. Throughout the day, you can indulge in gourmet food and beverages, and the exclusivity of the experience is well worth the fee.||Maui, Kapalua, and The Ritz-Carlton were everything I dreamed of and more – the perfect end to an unforgettable Hawaii golf...