Luxury Hotels - Four Seasons Maui Valet Parking

I think this is an incredible property and am getting ready for another visit. But does anyone know whether they have continued their policy of REQUIRED valet parking if you have a car? Among the nickel-and-dime aggravations the FS can create this has especially rankled me. Even FS Hualalai allows self-parking, and it is a much higher priced property.
Anyone aware if the FS Maui valet policy has changed?

The resort still only offers valet parking Keith... still at $20.00 overnight.

Just announced too for stays in September 2012 Four Seasons is offering confirmed upgrades at Maui when you book via a Preferred Partner! New Bookings only... so that probably bums out you even more!

I usually do self parking but just returned from FS Maui and was pleasantly surprised at the $20 valet charge. As well, I certainly didn't feel nickeled and dimed there. I went in knowing what was complementary (all on their website) and what needed to be paid for. No different than any other high end resort.

I usually do self parking but just returned from FS Maui and was pleasantly surprised at the $20 valet charge. As well, I certainly didn't feel nickeled and dimed there. I went in knowing what was complementary (all on their website) and what needed to be paid for. No different than any other high end resort.

I feel the same way. No complaints here. Of course, it could have something to do with that complementary room upgrade which put me in a superb mood, but still. The valet staff does a great job at this property and I didn't mind tipping them each time I picked up my car.

Unlike Hualalai, the layout of the Maui property doesn't seem as conducive to easy self parking.

You are right about the Wailea layout not being as conducive to self-park. Don't get me wrong--while I find the mandatory valet slightly annoying they do a great job. And the assets of the property are worth the aggravation. I am going in November for 10 days with a FSPP booking by David Ourisman. He is absolutely top-notch!

The resort still only offers valet parking Keith... still at $20.00 overnight.

Just announced too for stays in September 2012 Four Seasons is offering confirmed upgrades at Maui when you book via a Preferred Partner! New Bookings only... so that probably bums out you even more!

Anyone who is a regular at the Four Seasons chain should never have a problem getting a room upgrade if there is an upgrade available. I know that I never have had a problem and I have never paid for an upgraded room. (Or internet for that matter). And I have stayed at dozens of their hotels countless times.

I know that I never have had a problem and I have never paid for an upgraded room.

You dug up a month old thread to tell us how you'd turn your nose up at a confirmed upgrade at time of booking? :confused:

I just returned from there. They still only have the valet parking. I don't know, but I would feel really funny self parking and schleping my luggage up to the bell desk in such a fine resort. We don't do it at any resort and figure that it's just part of the budget. It's like tipping people at every turn. You just account for it when you decide to stay at a five star resort. It is what it is.

We booked a Partial Ocean View and bought a double upgrade to Prime Ocean View for only $65.00 extra nightly. That was a bargain and a half. We were in the 05 series of rooms with the extra large lanai's and right up front. It was perfect. The whole stay was perfect. It is the cleanest resort I have ever stayed at. They were shampooing the hallway rugs twice a week! I put my sunglasses down on the dresser just as they came in for turndown. After they left I noticed that they had put a FS eyeglass cleaning cloth under my glasses. That is amazing. It's all these little things that sets it so far ahead of any other resort on the island. Our last stay there was 2007. I have seen a drastic change for the better since then. We made a few trips over to Manele since then, but when they enacted the new smoking law my husband found it too hard to find a place to smoke a nice cigar at the FS Maui. They have added smoking area's, so he was very happy this time.

It was extremely busy while we were there. Everywhere we went it was very busy. We went to the Kahala before Maui and it was very busy there too. We were originally at the Ritz, but do to some serious issues there we went down to the FS. We couldn't have made a better move. Our last eight nights were sheer bliss. At night you could see every room lit up. We have always gone in September and have never seen it so busy. We couldn't get near the new adult pool. All the honeymooners chose to stand in line at 7:00 AM and snatched all the seats up. They really need some other kind of system or another pool. I think they underestimated how many adut only couples would really use an adults only pool. At the old pool they had a lot of the chairs removed for grass repair, so it was pretty busy there too.

The Valet charges are just part of the price you pay. To us it's so worth it.

I just returned from there. They still only have the valet parking. I don't know, but I would feel really funny self parking and schleping my luggage up to the bell desk in such a fine resort. We don't do it at any resort and figure that it's just part of the budget. It's like tipping people at every turn. You just account for it when you decide to stay at a five star resort. It is what it is.

We booked a Partial Ocean View and bought a double upgrade to Prime Ocean View for only $65.00 extra nightly. That was a bargain and a half. We were in the 05 series of rooms with the extra large lanai's and right up front. It was perfect. The whole stay was perfect. It is the cleanest resort I have ever stayed at. They were shampooing the hallway rugs twice a week! I put my sunglasses down on the dresser just as they came in for turndown. After they left I noticed that they had put a FS eyeglass cleaning cloth under my glasses. That is amazing. It's all these little things that sets it so far ahead of any other resort on the island. Our last stay there was 2007. I have seen a drastic change for the better since then. We made a few trips over to Manele since then, but when they enacted the new smoking law my husband found it too hard to find a place to smoke a nice cigar at the FS Maui. They have added smoking area's, so he was very happy this time.

It was extremely busy while we were there. Everywhere we went it was very busy. We went to the Kahala before Maui and it was very busy there too. We were originally at the Ritz, but do to some serious issues there we went down to the FS. We couldn't have made a better move. Our last eight nights were sheer bliss. At night you could see every room lit up. We have always gone in September and have never seen it so busy. We couldn't get near the new adult pool. All the honeymooners chose to stand in line at 7:00 AM and snatched all the seats up. They really need some other kind of system or another pool. I think they underestimated how many adut only couples would really use an adults only pool. At the old pool they had a lot of the chairs removed for grass repair, so it was pretty busy there too.

The Valet charges are just part of the price you pay. To us it's so worth it.

Sometime you should try Hualalai. Its a whole different world, in a very good way, than the FS Maui. Its absolutely worth the premium. And, when you stay there you don't need a rental car because the property has so much to do.

Sometime you should try Hualalai. Its a whole different world, in a very good way, than the FS Maui. Its absolutely worth the premium. And, when you stay there you don't need a rental car because the property has so much to do.

We were just talking about the Hualalai last night. I would love to stay there. How would you say they are different than the 4S Maui? We were talking about hopping on the ferry to Lanai on our next trip because my husband promised me we could skip the inter-island hoopla next trip. We always visit at least two islands on each trip, but this time coming in from HNL was a zoo, so next visit it's just a ferry...I think. We go to the islands for almost three weeks at a time and I don't like to spend the whole time at one resort. Who knows, I usually change my mind a dozen times before I actually put my plans in cement. We walked through the Hualalai. It was very serene there.

very few properties are extremely consistent here - hualalai is one of them. the handful of regular visitors here have quite an ongoing discussion of details and updates.

2 newer major reports
ray1022 http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxury-hotels/1331037-four-seasons-hualalai-trip-report-photos.html
NYBanker http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxury-hotels/1191609-fs-hualalai-kona-recommendations-post17773280.html#post17773280

trojanman previously http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxury-hotels/875683-luxury-hotels-hawaii-post13680788.html#post13680788

It seems silly to me to compare the FS Maui and Hualalai. They are both spectacular in different ways. If there is ever a time to say apples and oranges, this is it. If you don't have a car at Hualalai you are very limited in food options--Beach Tree is good, Pahuia is okay, and they still don't know what to do with the Grille. But it is an incredible setting with astonishing service. Maui has more dining options nearby where you don't need a car, and the setting is likewise spectacular. But there can be a bit of a "too busy" buzz to the place. Especially when families descend on the place at Thanksgiving and other holidays. Still, they are so different they can't truly be compared. Maybe you like one--maybe you like the other. I like them both.