Frommer's Review
This classic, open-air, 1970s-style hotel in a tropical garden by the sea gives you a sense of what Maui was like before the big resort boom. It was the first resort built in Wailea (in 1976), and it remains the most Hawaiian of them all. Airy and comfortable, with touches of Hawaiian art throughout and a terrific aquarium that stretches forever behind the front desk, it just feels right.
What's truly special about this hotel is how it fits into its environment without overwhelming it. Eight buildings, all low-rise except for an eight-story tower, are spread along 22 gracious acres of lawns and gardens spiked by coco palms, with lots of open space and 1/2 mile of oceanfront property on a point between Wailea and Ulua beaches. The vast, parklike expanses are a luxury on this now-crowded coast.
The entire hotel (all rooms, the grounds, the restaurants, the spa, pools, and so on) has undergone a $60-million renovation, so it looks like it was just built. The small Mandara Spa offers a large list of treatments, from relaxing massages to aroma wraps to rejuvenating facials in a very Zen atmosphere. My only criticism is the lack (at this time) of a shower facility in the spa.
Facilities: 2 restaurants; 2 bars; outdoor swimming pools; use of Wailea Golf Club's 3 18-hole championship golf courses; use of Wailea Tennis Center's 11 courts (3 lit for night play) and a pro shop; fitness center; full-service Mandara Spa & Salon w/steam rooms and whirlpools; watersports equipment rentals; concierge; activities desk; business center; shopping arcade; salon; room service; in-room or outdoor massages; babysitting; same-day laundry service and dry cleaning.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
