Luxury Hotels - Ritz Carlton Maui

Has anyone stayed at Ritz Carlton Maui? I've made reservations but reviews on tripadvisor.com and other places are quite mixed. Lots of talk about furnishings being old. One post called "roaches galore", with other reviews also mentioned bugs. Reviews of service seem to be good, there just seems to be facility issues. Any feedback would be appreciated.

I stayed there about three years ago, so don't remember it too well, but thought it was kind of medium. Nice grounds, average rooms for an R-C, I think the service was pretty good. Is this your first trip to Maui? I love going there and generally prefer to stay in the south near Wailea rather than the northwest where the R-C is. The Four Seasons and the Fairmont Kea Lani are both excellent choices and the cost would be similar. Just my two cents.

I have stayed there many times. We are going back on April 7th and staying at the Ritz for 9 nights of our stay. This is our favorite hotel on Maui. The rooms are a bit worn, but they are still very nice. The service is wonderful and the staff is very nice also.

The Kapalua area is so beautiful and peaceful, yet it is close enough to Lahaina that you can drive there in 10 minutes. The grounds are are very pretty and very well taken care of. We love the Banyan Tree for dinner. It's pricey but very worth it. The beach is stroll down a hill, but what a peaceful, serene beach it is. We are actually pool people. The pool area is peaceful and quiet with wonderful service. If you want low key elegance then this is the place for you. There are many dining options up in Kapalua and all of them are excellent. Kapalua is a golfers dream. This is the type of people you will see up there. Everything is immaculate in Kapalua. Many of the homes up there cost in the many millions. It's a mini Hollywood type of place. What time of the year are you thinking of going there? The winter months can be quite rainy.

If you have any particular questions, feel free to ask.

Was there in the summer two years ago. It was the first truly dissapointing RC stay I've ever had. From the cold greeting at the front desk, to the IHOP quality breakfast, to the room's view of the back of a mound on the golf course... they just couldn't quite get anything right (well, there was one bright-spot -- dinner at the Banyan Tree Restaurant was very good). Service in particular, however, was an issue... among the worst at any upscale hotel I've been to anywhere.

Oh, and the worst thing of all... the area -- perched high on the east side of the island -- has quite a reputation for bad weather, which I experienced first-hand. Had to drive down the hill into town each day just to find some sun and get away from the windy, cold and empty pool. I couldn't wait to leave each morning. Do yourself a favor, stay in Wailea, the FS is awesome if you have the budget for it or the Fairmont as a second choice.

Was there in the summer two years ago. It was the first truly dissapointing RC stay I've ever had. From the cold greeting at the front desk, to the IHOP quality breakfast, to the room's view of the back of a mound on the golf course... they just couldn't quite get anything right (well, there was one bright-spot -- dinner at the Banyan Tree Restaurant was very good). Service in particular, however, was an issue... among the worst at any upscale hotel I've been to anywhere.

Oh, and the worst thing of all... the area -- perched high on the east side of the island -- has quite a reputation for bad weather, which I experienced first-hand. Had to drive down the hill into town each day just to find some sun and get away from the windy, cold and empty pool. I couldn't wait to leave each morning. Do yourself a favor, stay in Wailea, the FS is awesome if you have the budget for it or the Fairmont as a second choice.


That's the RC Maui I saw. Left out big rollers on a closed beach, & a 15 min drive to anywhere.

Next to the Shangri-La in Hong Kong, the RC Kapalua is my favorite resort. Mrs. dchristiva and I have been twice, and received outstanding service both times. The last time we were upgraded to an oceanfront suite, which made for an even more spectacular stay. The pool and golf are great, though their beach isn't the best. However, within 10-15 minutes in either direction, you can get to some pretty wonderful beaches.

I've been the the FS, but I just don't see what all the fuss is about. To me, it's an equally long drive to anything off the hotel grounds, and their pool and beach are just so-so IMO.

:td:

Oh, and the worst thing of all... the area -- perched high on the east side of the island -- has quite a reputation for bad weather, which I experienced first-hand. Had to drive down the hill into town each day just to find some sun and get away from the windy, cold and empty pool. I couldn't wait to leave each morning. Do yourself a favor, stay in Wailea, the FS is awesome if you have the budget for it or the Fairmont as a second choice.

We stayed there 5 nights last September ( usually one of Maui's best weather months) . It rained every day for periods up to a few hours each afternoon. The winds were incredible. It was sunny in Kaanapali and Wailea. The Beach, while potentially nice, was so windy and the surf so rough, that it wasn't too enjoyable.

A real negative is that they won't let you use any of their beach chairs ON the beach. You have to stay up on the ridge above the beach.

This hotel books so many large groups, that if you're not with a group, you tend to get overlooked. :td:

Wow! We were at the Ritz from 9/1-9/9 last year and the weather was so hot and sunny it was hard to sit at the pool without taking a dip every 15 minutes. I feel so at home at this hotel. It is very unpretencious (sp) and has a real homey feeling for us. We have gotten to know people at this hotel and they couldn't be more gracious towards us. Joshua and Ian at the Banyan Tree gave us exceptional service each night we ate there. Chef Scholtmeyer came over to say hello and to ask if we had enjoyed our meal. Javier Cano, the General Manager is very genuine and wants to hear feedback. Housekeeping will go out of their way for you. What more could we ask for? We are so looking forward to our stay next week. Oh Lord, I hope I am not jinxing our stay by writing all these glowing words!

You also might want to check tripadvisor.com. They have honest reviews from others who have stayed there. You have to do what's right for you. Take any advice you read and split it 50/50, toss a coin and theres the truth. It's all a matter of opinion.

You also might want to check tripadvisor.com. They have honest reviews from others who have stayed there. You have to do what's right for you. Take any advice you read and split it 50/50, toss a coin and theres the truth. It's all a matter of opinion.

With all due respect, the rates at the RC are far too high to expect that one must rely on a coin toss for a good experience. I was seriously considering this property (despite the fact that there is no RC rewards/points program) but these reviews are not encouraging. Better to stay at an upscale chain property where I am certain to get bonus points if things are not satisfactory.

I just talked to someone at the Ritz in Kapalua two days ago. I had heard that they were going to start re-furbing the rooms next spring. It seems that they are putting it off until next fall.

I am a room snob and anyone who has been there lately knows the rooms are in bad shape, but there is just something about this place that keeps calling me back. I hate when it rains up there which is often, but the peace and quiet is wonderful. Call me crazy but we just booked it for next April.

They have also raised their rates like all the hotels in Hawaii have.

As strange as it seems, there is no perfect hotel in Maui. The pool at the FS is always mobbed, the service at the Fairmont can be spotty, and the Grand Wailea resembles a huge cruise ship. The Ritz is up on a cliff (2 minute walk down to a great beach) and is completely secluded. It is not on a “strip” of hotels like so many others. When we looked out of our balcony, all we could see was the cliff, the Pacific Ocean, two other islands in the distance, and the golf courses. Also, because all beaches in Hawaii are private, if you are next to a bunch of other resorts, the beach in front of your hotel swells up with people from all the other hotels. At the Ritz, the only people on the beach are hotel guests.

This seclusion is also a drawback. Although it is 15 or so minutes from the cute town of Lahina (with restaurants, etc), the hotel is an hour to an hour and a half from everything else, including the airport.

Also, Kapalua is known for wind, so although the pool is very spacious, if you are coming to Hawaii to sit by the pool all day, you might not be comfortable if you want to read the paper or something. Yet some people love the wind because it keeps you cool and lets you sit outside for longer.

It's been my experience that many people who stay at the Ritz regret it and tell others to stay at the FS next time, and many people who stay at the FS regret staying there and advise others to stay at the Ritz next time.

Bottom line: if you want to lay out by the pool all day, don't stay at the Ritz. Too windy. However, as the other posts have noted, the food is outstanding.

Kapalua can be cloudy, which I experienced in the Feb 2000.

I think the Faimont is the best overall bet of the Maui hotels. Sunny location, spacious "all suite" rooms, decent service, not as crowded as the GW, better pool than the FS.

Since it is seperated from the FS/GW by condos, it has the best beach in Wialea.