Review: Ritz Carlton Kapalua

The Ritz Carlton Kapalua is located on fifty-four acres on Maui's Northwest coast and is the only luxury resort featuring a AAA Five Diamond rating that isn't a Four Seasons.  It is the perfect luxury getaway offering year-round activities on the beautiful island of Maui. 

Resort Overview:
The Ritz Carlton Kapalua features elegant Hawaiian decor throughout and is a destination in and of itself offering the very best in service, dining, amenities and activities.

The resort is located on a hill above D.T. Fleming Beach, which many locals deem the island’s best.  It is a five-minute walk from the pool area to the beach.  The resort is different from other Maui resorts in that it feels very secluded and private, given the vast size of the grounds of the hotel.

Refer to the property map below for a visual of where everything is located:

On-property and nearby recreational activities include tennis courts, basketball courts, three-tiered swimming area, surfing, boogie boarding, sailing, kayaking, outrigger canoeing, stand-up paddling. Whale watching, snorkeling, hiking and more via the Ambassadors of the Environment program.

The Ritz-Carlton Spa features treatments inspired by ancient Hawaiian traditions and an array of body treatments, massage and facials.  There is also a fitness center with cardio equipment and daily fitness classes.

Accommodations:
There are 463 hotel rooms, suites and Club Level accommodations featuring dark wood floors, marble bathrooms, vibrant island-inspired décor and designs.  For our stay here, we were in a One Bedroom Garden View room on the Residence side of the resort. 

The one bedroom unit features a full kitchen, living room, separate bedroom, two lanai's and is perfect for families looking for a little more room to relax.

The view from the room had a partial ocean view, but featured more resort garden views.  Also, due to the location of the room, we had a great sunrise view every morning.

Dining:
The resort features six dining experiences featuring local ingredients from the resort’s sustainable organic garden, fresh seafood and Pacific cuisine.

Alaloa Lounge features light fare, appetizers and cocktails served Monday - Saturday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The Banyan Tree features fresh, seasonal, organic and sustainable ingredients from Hawaii's local farms and Pacific coastlines.

Burger Shack is located on the beach and offers cocktails and casual beachside dining offering signature burgers and shakes.

The Terrace offers a full breakfast buffet including an omelet station and bloody mary bar while overlooking manicured gardens, the resort's three-tiered pool and the ocean.  Breakfast is served daily from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Pool Bar and Cafe offers cocktails, lunch fare and towel service daily.

Club Lounge: If you have access to the club lounge, you'll have access to food and drinks throughout the day.

My Experience:

The Ritz Carlton Kapalua is a great hotel in an awesome location on Maui with easy access to the beach.  The available amenities here and activities are great for a family trip or couples getaway. The Ritz Carlton knows how to take care of its guests and the service here was top-notch.  The welcome amenity and extra treats for my birthday were much appreciated!

Everything from the valet service, check-in, welcome amenities, club lounge, dining choices and activities available here made our stay enjoyable and very memorable during our visit.  We especially enjoyed swimming in the pools and the club lounge food/drinks and service.

We had a great time during our short stay at the hotel and look forward to visiting again soon.

Lastly, given that rates here can be very high, keep in mind there are added expenses of a daily resort fee of $35 and daily valet parking fee of $30, which you can read more about here.

Related posts:
Review: Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay
The Club Lounge at the Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay
Review: Ritz Carlton San Francisco
The Club Lounge at the Ritz Carlton San Francisco
The Club Lounge at the Ritz Carlton Lake Tahoe
The Ritz Carlton Lake Tahoe Lake Club

Also, be sure to read more about the Ritz Carlton Stars Program and how you can gain a lot of extra value for your next stay at a Ritz Carton hotel!