Luxury Hotels - FS Maui or Hualalai on New Years Eve

Anyone ever stayed at FS Maui or Hualalai on New Years Eve? Wondering what kind of activities they have for adults and kids. Going to both properties in December and trying to decide where to be on dec 31.

Anyone ever stayed at FS Maui or Hualalai on New Years Eve? Wondering what kind of activities they have for adults and kids. Going to both properties in December and trying to decide where to be on dec 31.

Hualalai has a huge NYE party starting around 8 with live music dancing drinks and activities. They also have some nice dinner options earlier that are special for the new year. They used to have fireworks as well, but I believe that the State of Hawaii no prohibits this throughout the islands. Very nice event, no expense is sparred. Hualalai also has nice festive amenities throughout that period.

thanks. have you been to FS Maui on NYE? I talked to Maui concierge and she said that they have a kids NYE from 6-9 as well as an adult/family activity from 8-1. Hualalai concierge said they do not have a kids program on NYE.

Not a question. Hualalai.

http://www.sitinfirst.com/2012/01/christmas-in-hawaii-part-4-four-seasons-hualalai-the-experience/

My family likes FS Palm Beach and FS Miami more than FS Nevis. Based on that, I am thinking we will like FS Maui over FS Hualalai. Does that make any sense or is Hualali that special?

NYBanker, thanks again
halekulani report = ouch
reminiscent of FS maui discussion

i look forward to more mauna kea beach reports, for a beach option

My family likes FS Palm Beach and FS Miami more than FS Nevis. Based on that, I am thinking we will like FS Maui over FS Hualalai. Does that make any sense or is Hualali that special?

FS Miami is a city hotel, not a resort, so that really isn't a like-to-like comparison.

What aspect(s) of FS-PB do you like so much that put it ahead of FS-Nevis?

Unless you're looking for a 30 room or less boutique hotel...assuming you're looking for a high-end resort, I can't see any material drawback to FS-Hualalai. I've been to 20+ high end resorts in the US - Amans, most FS/RS resorts in the US...and would put Hualalai as the top resort in the United States. I've only visited FS-Maui (haven't been a registered guest there)...I can't think of anything there that would tip the scales over Hualalai. Maui has a Club floor...but that, imho, isn't a deciding fact.

From the Midwest, Nevis was too much effort (2 planes, slow immigration in st. Kitts, taxi and boat ride to Nevis). FSPB has better rooms, assuming you get an oceanfront suite with connecting room, than Nevis. Food quality at PB is superior, service is much better in PB all around from pool to restaurants and housekeeping. The beach and pools at Nevis are slightly better with more pool options, but I think the beach at FSPB is quite nice. Kids clubs at both properties are very good. Room service at Nevis was ridiculously slow and limited menu. Our experience is that FSPB will make anything for you and will also deliver food from The Restaurant if requested. We also like the additional restaurant and shopping options in Palm Beach. Nevis has very few options offsite.

I am certain Hualalai will be a step up from Nevis, but for now we are planning 10 days at FS Maui and 4 at Hualalai.

I've been to 20+ high end resorts in the US - Amans, most FS/RS resorts in the US...and would put Hualalai as the top resort in the United States. I've only visited FS-Maui
is Hualali that special?
From the Midwest, Nevis was too much effort (2 planes, slow immigration in st. Kitts, taxi and boat ride to Nevis). FSPB has better rooms, assuming you get an oceanfront suite with connecting room, than Nevis. Food quality at PB is superior, service is much better in PB all around from pool to restaurants and housekeeping. The beach and pools at Nevis are slightly better with more pool options, but I think the beach at FSPB is quite nice. Kids clubs at both properties are very good. Room service at Nevis was ridiculously slow and limited menu. Our experience is that FSPB will make anything for you and will also deliver food from The Restaurant if requested. We also like the additional restaurant and shopping options in Palm Beach. Nevis has very few options offsite.

I am certain Hualalai will be a step up from Nevis

wayzfam, im not sure how youve missed the discussion of FS hualalai in this forum, discussion which can be compared to the discussion of amanjiwo and FS golden triangle (and 3 city hotels, and thats it)

Yes, Hualalai really is that special. The Four Seasons Hualalai is far and away the better hotel experience; much much better than the Four Seasons Maui. If money is a consideration cutting short your vacation by two days at the FS Maui to get even one more day at Hualalai would be worth it.

We travel from Atlanta to Hualalai a couple times a year, and count the days in between, but wouldn't consider traveling back to the FS Maui but once every 5-10 years and then only to visit the island of Maui (not the hotel).

In between trips to Hualalai we enjoy visiting the FS Palm Beach and the FS Miami but again, the experience at the FS Hualalai is far far superior.

Thank you Goodmorning2U. I am curious if you travel to Hualalai with kids? We have three kids under 10. Unfortunately, Hualalai cannot confirm anything before Jan 1 right now, but I am hoping to add more dates so that we can do 7 nights at FS Maui and 7 at FS Hualalai, rather than the 10 at Maui and 4 at Hualalai. We are booked Dec 22-Jan 1 at FS Maui and Jan 1-5 at FS Hualalai.

wayzfam, there are other ways to view the kids NYE at maui - for example the parents there dont want to be around their kids...

interpreting it as hualalai being unfriendly to children would be an enormous misinterpretation, as discussed here. NYBanker's extensive report was with kids. Valveking is staying in residence this summer with kids.

if you havent looked at NYBanker's hualalai report, i couldnt recommend it more highly, because of festive/booking information and kids.

Have you thought about staying in a villa at Hualalai? As Kage mentions above, we have rented a 2600 square foot villa at Hualalai this summer that is not going to cost much more than a hotel room. You get full use of the FourSeasons and it comes with two golf carts to get around the area.

I would imagine that there are some still available for the holidays. PM me if you want some more information.

Valveking

I have talked to two mgmt companies about villas at Hualalai during festive. Rates range from $3,000 to $3,4000 plus $90 daily resort fee for use of the resort. We would also need to pay for the kids for all seasons, which would run about $150 per day. In addition, we would not have the FSPP breakfast and lunch credit which is worth at least $100 per day for a family of 5. Also, most villas require a 10 night minimum.

It is an option but I am still holding out hope we will clear more dates off the festive wait list.

two mgmt companies
$90 daily resort fee
pay for the kids for all seasons, which would run about $150 per day
family of 5

good info

was it these 2?

http://www.hualalaivillasandhomes.com/
interesting im pretty sure this is a change >
"Ocean View Prime Villas receive room service delivery"


independent rental manager >
http://www.pacificresortrealty.com/rentals
http://www.hualalairentals.net/


I talked to pacific and big island premier properties. $45 per day, per adult. No turndown service either. Kids club was about $70 per child for half day.

http://www.bigislandpremierproperties.com/

previously >

Unaccompanied Houseguests and Rental Guests $45
Immediate Family and Extended Family $0
Accompanied Houseguests of Member or Immediate Family $0

Complimentary Kids For All Seasons for immediate family
Access for teenaged immediate family members to participate in Ka Hui program during peak seasons
vs
If you are renting you pay the hotel $45 per adult per day which is up from $30 recently and you get access to the kids club for no extra charge

I talked to pacific and big island premier properties. $45 per day, per adult. No turndown service either. Kids club was about $70 per child for half day.

I talked to pacific and big island premier properties. $45 per day, per adult. No turndown service either. Kids club was about $70 per child for half day.

I've met families at the resort who are owners with 1 and 2 bedrooms. They were willing to rent them to us for 800 and 1200 respectively. I'd look at VRBO for better deals that what you have been quoted thus far if you are seriously considering a villa or home. I do not put a premium on space but on location (I know this is somewhat unusual) so staying at the hotel right in front of the King's Pond, even with a space 1/3rd the size compared to the homes, is a better value for us. And to answer an earlier question, the way this family treats all of its guests, including those with children, is exceptional.

I also prefer a prime location at the resort with less space than a villa, but more amenities such as room service, complimentary KFAS, turn down etc..

Just an FYI, the Hualalai festive rates we were quoted we're $1,100 for poolside, $1,195 pov and $1,295 ocean view. Based on these rates, the two bedroom villa at $3,000 is not out of the question. I still rather have connecting rooms at the resort with FSPP amenities.

Those hotel rates seem pretty good for Christmas. I agree with you about generally preferring hotel services, but in this case we preferred the bigger space for half the price since we are going for two weeks. Plus, my kids will love going to the hotel on the golf carts every day.

I am pretty sure that the Kids for all Seasons is included when you pay the $45 per day/adult fee. It says so pretty clearly on their website which Kage quoted in his post above.

As far as which of the two hotels to pick, I much prefer sprawling low rise resorts such as Hualalai and Punta Mita to huge 400 room monoliths on just a few acres. That is just my opinion but I would never consider the Maui property for that reason. It reminds me too much of a lot of Ritz Carlton beach properties which always seem to be built with 500 rooms all in one building shaped like a U.


Have fun. You really cant go wrong with the Four Seasons in general. It is by far my favorite hotel group.

Good points about FS Maui, but I am certain it will be substantially better than any RC. Our experience is that all FS properties are significantly better than RC. We have stayed at RC Orlando, laguna niguel, San Francisco, Phoenix, marina del rey, Naples and coconut grove. None of them compare to FS.