welch

May I ask where you're traveling from? How did you decide Four Seasons Wailea would be a great place to honeymoon?
This would help determine the "right" place for you and your fiancé.

Aventine

A very much debated resort in these forums.

aa213bb

francophile

This is still available:
https://www.fourseasons.com/maui/mee...accommodations

Cityflyer10

KatW

mike_la_jolla

FS Maui tends to start a flame war with speck and spittle flying everywhere. 'Mixed reviews' and 'rethink' are code phrases here on the FT luxury forum for 'some of us thought it sucked'. I've gone once and will NEVER return but that stay was well over 10 years ago so I expect to get brutally criticized for even participating in this discussion. You will find others here that, bizarrely, liked the place. There are several threads. Do a search and read the threads.

Here is my list of issues:
- There are actually very few 'ocean front' units. Look at the satellite view of the place here: Google FS Maui. The resort is U-shaped. The units described as 'partial ocean view' are on the inside and outside of the 'U' and the vast majority of the rooms fall in this category. 'Partial ocean view' is marketing speak for 'you can see the ocean from the room if you stand on the balcony and lean over'. I found our 'partial ocean view' room to be dark and depressing.

- There is simply not enough resources to properly support the number of guests at >50% capacity. During our stay, all, and I mean 'ALL' lounge chairs were gone by 7am. I watched as FS pool attendants held pool chairs for ransom. The trick was to get out to the pool before the attendants arrived and reserve a swath of chairs. Waiting times for the restaurants could extend to 2 hours, for both BK and dinner. They've added some resources such as an adult pool, but I am unconvinced it is enough to fix the shortage.

If you do book do it through an FSPP agent and not directly via the web page. Do not expect an upgrade at this FS unless explicitly guaranteed. This is a special event for you. I'd rather you tell us what you are looking for and your price range and let us recommend alternate properties. You risk spending your days in the sun on a towel placed over cement at this FS and waiting hours for the privilege of sitting in one of the restaurants.

bhrubin

I think it's important to note that our OP originally posted this in the Hawaii Forum--not the Luxury Forum.

My guess is that our OP is not accustomed to staying in luxury hotels and therefore is far more impressed with the Four Seasons brand in Hawaii than those of us who regularly stay at luxury hotels. I also would guess that the OP's budget is different from those of us who regularly frequent this Luxury Hotels Forum.

For our OP, it is true that Hawaii is not the place where most of us here believe that FS most shines. The FS resorts in Hawaii (as is true with most of the "luxury" resorts in Hawaii) are much larger, much more crowded, and therefore offer much less personalized service than might be true for FS properties located in other locations. Some people in this Luxury Hotels Forum don't believe there is any luxury hotel in Hawaii that really delivers based on the prices charged. The only exceptions might be the FS Lanai or the St Regis Princeville--but even those can be more expensive than what you might find at much nicer resorts in Mexico, for example.

For our OP, if I am correct in assessing that you don't have much experience with a luxury hotel, I would highly recommend you listen to the opinions of so many here in this Forum. For the prices you might pay to stay at the FS Maui, you can do a LOT better in other locations outside Hawaii.

If the OP absolutely wants to be in Hawaii, you could do far worse than the FS Maui. But the FS Lanai and even FS Hualalai are better.

But for the same $$$, the OP can do much better at luxury resorts elsewhere. If one is trying to stay in the USA, I'd wait to see if the St Regis Bahia Beach or Ritz-Carlton Reserve Dorado, both in Puerto Rico, reopen this fall as scheduled. if one is trying to stay in N America, I'd recommend the St Regis or FS Punta Mita or one of the Cabo resorts (Ventanas, Pedregal, Esperanza, Palmilla) over anything in Hawaii. If willing to go a little farther afield, I'd recommend Mukul in Nicaragua over any of those as an even better honeymoon destination with a lot of privacy, amazing beach, amazing food/beverage, excellent service, wonderful weather, etc.

scubadu

That would be me

And add me to the formal roll call of "no votes" for FS Maui for a special (any?) occasion.

Regards

bhrubin

ridefar

We can (already have?) agree to disagree on this. Not my favourite StR, and leaving it at that.

More to the point of the thread: Princeville may be a suboptimal location for some guests, depending on what you are looking for. There are fewer dining, entertaining, and activity options there than there are on Maui. By a large margin. Again, totally depends on what our OP wants out of his experience. But if they like getting out and nightlife, etc. that is the wrong location IMO.

bhrubin

I think your bias against the StR Princeville is playing out here. For value, a free award stay on points at the StR Princeville is unquestionably the best luxury value if ever there was one in all of ridiculously overpriced Hawaii--especially for a honeymoon.

The OP is going for their honeymoon. I assumed nightlife wouldn't be a priority. I would assume having a beautiful view with nice weather and lots of outdoor/romantic things to do would trump nightlife. I suggested Mukul in Nicaragua for the same reason. I also suggested many other locations, such as Punta Mita, Cabo, etc.that offer more nightlife.

Princeville--and the St Regis, in particular--has the most spectacular view of anywhere in the Hawaiian islands. Clearly, season will make a difference for the destination whether it be Princeville or anywhere in Mexico, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, etc. Princeville is rainy during the holidays; it isn't rainy during the dry season from April to October.

BESVISOR

I'm a FSPP Advisor and love FS but even I would avoid FS Maui...not just for Honeymoon but in general. FS Lanai, however, is a great choice for Honeymoon in Hawaii, if you're open to options outside of Maui. Especially now that Lanai can be reached directly via FS's own small charter plane from HNL airport for about $500 per couple.

KI-NRT

Agree 100%. There are quite a few world-class beach resorts across the globe, but Hawaii doesn't have any.

Why does Princeville make my list, then? Because of the unbelievable setting - it has jaw-dropping views, and the beach is decent, too. The hard product isn't too shabby, either, especially if you stay at least in the St. Regis Ocean View Suite.

Kauai also has some of the best hiking trails. We're big nature freaks, and have done numerous hikes on all of the islands, and Kauai is numero uno in this regard. Princeville lies in close proximity to the epic Kalalau Trail. Also, although they're much further afield, you can take a day trip and hike both the Alakai Swamp and the Kawaikoi Stream Trails, which are also awesome.

Beardedluck2

By all means, I appreciate the bluntness. That's what I am looking for in asking. Takes too long to go back and forth with some of the questions "how dd you decide on Maui FS, etc" Really appreciate your suggestions though. Will certainly look into Lanai. We decided on FS Maui to have something more "upscale" if you will because we are staying at Travassa Hana in an ocean front cottage for a few nights after leaving our initial stay at Maui FS or wherever that may end up being. After Travaasa Hana we are staying at the Grand Hyatt Kauai for 5 nights before heading home (Florida). Everything is booked with the exception of the FS Maui part of the trip.

To be 100% honest, I would be lying if I said I didn't have any reservations about FS Maui. Feel like there's a better chance to be let down than blown away when considering price and experienced among others. I know it's "upscale" and the popular place so to speak, but there is a part of me that feels it may come up short in the "honeymoon" experience department. Can't explain it.

May I ask your opinion on best honeymoon stay in Maui (outside of FS Lanai)? Is there any resort that has more of a honeymoon, Bora Bora/Maldives type feel (I know there are no over water bungalows). talking more atmosphere, attention, etc.