Grand Wailea A Waldorf Astoria™ Resort Review

My first time in Hawaii me and my family stayed here. Beautiful resort. Amazing view . They had a mini beach right by the real one which was just perfect for my niece. Continental breakfast was good, not to die for, but definitely good. Would totally recommend.

*Just rating based off the spa*

This place was top notch! To be fair, I've never been to any other spa but I felt like a pampered god. Clothing is optional in the separate men and women's sections, which I enjoyed. I did literally everything they offered and it was expensive but worth it for special occasion.

A really beautiful hotel in the middle of the Wailea hotel district. Even if you are not staying at the hotel, you can go down for a drink at one of the bistro s or restaurants on the waterfront and watch the waves and clouds move in. Then you can walk around the hotel grounds and even catch a dancing Hawaiian. You have to valet your car, it cost $10 for four hours but if you eat or drink at the hotel you get reimbursed for that cost. Servers are very friendly and nice. They have a 50,000 square-foot spa with racquetball and squash court and gym. The hotel also has a large chapel on site for people that want to get married at the hotel. They have a very large grounds with many colorful plants and many pools for hotel guests.

Great stay. Great price. Beware of the forced $30/day valet service.

If you are ever here, make sure you get a chance to get a strawberry banana smoothie from the volcano restaurant, it is amazing. A good thing is the pool is only accessible for hotel guests, and there are never big crowds for the slides, the water elevator is a cool feature too. But on top of all of this there is a top notch spa on the bottom floor. This place is speedy, but it is worth it

This resort was fantastic. It is so well maintained and absolutely gorgeous. It is HUGE and it's easy to get turned around the 1st day or 2. But, we would love to come back. Our Suite was incredible. The staff is amazing and so very helpful. If I had any complaint at all, it would be the price food and drinks. Be prepared to spend $300 on dinner.

Absolutely love it here! 3rd time back. The grounds are beautiful and the workers are a pleasure to talk to. My husband and I love the spa! Defiantly a highlight! We will continue to come back for many years

Pretty disappointing stay. Ants in the coffee maker and a broken sugar bowl in the room. Unfriendly service. Super slow valet. Even when pressed calling the car. Front desk was super nice though.

Visited a friend here today! She got a smoking deal on rooms on Hotwire! Great property!

The restaurant (Humuhumu) is outstanding andwe visit it annually and despite the changes... It is still fantastic

What is there to say about the elegance, luxury and fine food that is the Grand Wailea?
Go there.
I said it. Go there and be glad you did.
I went there today and here's what I found. A wondrous buffet with all kinds of sweet and savory delights. A view of the ocean. Art and flowers and ambiance for days. And a duo strumming and singing while a Native Hula Woman, dressed in just the nicest evening dress for hula and flowers in her hair, danced ever so gracefully.
Go there. And be glad you did.

Just wow! I attended a medical conference at Grand Wailea just 2 weeks ago and what an absolute pleasant experience. I was impressed with the hotel especially with the staff, the amenities and the grounds itself such as the pool, the beach, the rooms, fitness facilities and even the conference area where my conference was held! The hotel was kept clean and was beautiful. Our view from our room was breath taking! Everything was top notch and I truly felt beyond relaxed on this vacation. I also had forgotten my north face jacket at the hotel (a side note this jacket was sentimental to me since I had actually gotten engaged in Maui during my trip while wearing this jacket!) when I had checked out, I had called the hotel when I had left and was already boarding for my flight and immediately was connected with a staff member from housekeeping and she had sent someone to check the room for my jacket and had called me back immediately and told me that she would mail me back my jacket with no shipping charge! I got my jacket in the mail wrapped securely in tissue paper and a sturdy box and I have to give them all the props and compliments in the world, the staff really knows how to treat their guests! I would highly recommend this resort if you plan on visiting Maui, it is absolutely exceptional! The best vacation I ve been on by far and I plan on definitely coming back in the future :)

When you hear distinguished labels like "Waldorf Astoria", "top 2 best resorts in Maui" and "one of top hotel pools in the world" (per Travel & Leisure), it is natural for one to expect to be totally blown away. Before getting there, we expected a level of luxury we had not experienced before. I guess, we had set our expectations too high. Although he resort is nice overall, there were many areas where their reputation far exceeded the reality.

For example, one will immediately notice that the buildings feel old and run down. You can tell that what you get today is the product of many renovations, many layers of paint and other aesthetic decoys in an attempt to conceal the fact that those buildings belong to a bygone era.

On the upside however, the rooms were very spacious and comfortable. Ours had a large patio and a spectacular view. The bathrooms in particular are adorned with marble, modern lighting and come with stand-in showers and jacuzzis. There was a mini-fridge and every item you would have at your home.

On another good note, the hotel grounds and pools are impeccable. They had a very elaborate and impressive network of fun pools, slides, underground waterways, man-made volcanoes, waterfalls and more. Like in any good tropical resort, there are many poolside and "in-pool" bars and eateries. Moreover, should you get tired of the man-made attractions offered, the hotel is built directly on Wailea beach with its memorable sunsets.

Another important aspect to consider is: the food. The Grand Wailea offers many eateries ranging from small coffee and snack boutiques to full-size restaurants. We didn't get a chance to try them all but overall, our experience was very positive. However, the menus were mainly composed of "mainland" classics. This can be a relief to some but the adventurous travelers that were were wished to see more local, truly Hawaiian dishes being offered. Nonetheless, the "American" items we had were good. We especially enjoyed the breakfast buffet they had every morning. One had endless choices there. They even served a classic Japanese-style breakfast with rice and miso soup. They also had fresh squeezed guava or sour-sop juices available. We splurged on smoked salmon every morning. I found these all-you can eat buffet prices
surprisingly affordable too. Last but not least: the bar. The main bar in the center of the lobby was always busy at night and served great drinks. We only wish they had some music playing there too (even at a low volume).

Overall, we had a great week at the Grand Wailea. However, we feel like we had an equally great if not better experience at resorts like the Hyatt Ziva in Jamaica or the Oasis in Cancun. The only difference is that those latter resorts cost us 2 to 3 times less than the Grand Wailea...This brings the essential question of value: could your money be spent better somewhere else? Our answer is a resounding yes !

Absolutely gorgeous. Beautiful presentation from top to bottom, inside and out. The unique lobby and main area take advantage of the gorgeous Wailea scenery, and the property is immaculately maintained. Service was top notch with a friendly and dedicated staff. Activities onsite were fun. Evenings here are exceptionally romantic, with torches illuminating the landscape. We were certainly impressed and will be back.

Attended the Luau. Overpriced for what you get. Open bar was great but at 3 figures pricing it was just more than I'd ever decide to spend again.

This is a beautiful hotel and everything is wonderul

Unreal luau...I really dig da Soryteller and the curtain climber.

Absolutly amazing, if there's a nicer resort than this, I haven't seen ir heard of it. Ecen the Stars stay here and if you check it out, you will understand why.

Beautiful resort! Grotto bar is amazing! Friendly staff. Amazing food and beverages. Room service is great!

I love that place! We went for our first luau and it was out of this world! I will love to go back it was great!

Such a beautiful resort! We didn't stay here, we only attended for a luau they were doing that night. We arrived early and were able to walk around and just beautiful scenery everywhere. They have a huge garden that feels like it engulfs you and benches everywhere to sit and enjoy. I hope next time we are in Maui we are able to stay at this resort.

Why stay anywhere else if you are visiting the Island? Awesome experience for the whole family

Beautiful hotel great service, big clean rooms,excellent food

Highly recommended for families with kids between the ages 5-15

Had an amazing time!! The staff was incredible. I do wish that they would put info out about the sunscreen killing the coral reef and not sell those sunscreens at all at the hotel. I also wish there was more info about the wildlife on the island and in the ocean a little guide or something.

Reserved a duo massage with complimentary terme hydrotherapy circuit at Spa Grande for me and my girlfriend. It was an amazing experience with stellar service. We'll definitely be back to do it again.

Amazing out door area and pools. 7 connected pools by water slides. Even as adult still tons of fun with a swim up bar.

Very good resort where everything is of the highest level.

Terrible experience, toilet broken and the room and repeatedly forgot to clean our room

Service was excellent. The staff is so helpful and nice. They even unloaded our groceries for us and put it in the fridge. It was all of the little things that they did that made our stay pleasant.

Grand Wailea has always been one of my parents favorite getaway destination. Located in Wailea, Maui, it is gorgeous and a must see even if there is no way around the $30 valet parking.

Loved this resort. The staff were so friendly and attentive. There are so many pools to choose from or you can always find a spot on the beach.
The resort provides complimentary lounge chairs and umbrellas on the beach - first come first serve basis. Check in at the beach cabana to grab your towels and request your chairs & umbrella. Get there early to get a spot in the first row. If you plan on staying in the water for more than an hour at a time, make sure to leave a book or a personal item (other than the beach towel) on your chair so people know you're coming back otherwise they assume you've abandoned your chair and will take it from you.
The food was okay here. We opted to have breakfast included in our stay and the buffet was pretty average. One great thing that the hotel offers is a packed breakfast to go if you're planning on an early morning venture prior to the grand dining room being opened at 7am. This is offered to those who have breakfast included in their hotel stay. This came in very handy the morning we left for our trip to Hana. We got an early start and our to go bags were delivered to our room at 6am in a rrally cool reusable cooler bag tote. Three breakfast options to choose from and all have sooo much food included both my husband and I couldn't finish everything.
Overall this was a great place to stay. Hospitality was excellent. We will definitely be coming back.

You need a wristband to enjoy the larger water slides, but as a non-registered "guest of a guest" you can usually enjoy all the wading pools.

The Grand Wailea was absolutely gorgeous and the best place I ve ever stayed. Service & staff were exceptional. I didn t want to leave!!!

This resort is definitely incredible. 9 pools connected to each other by slides and a lift in the water to start the tour again. Fine rooms and truly luxurious space at the entrance. Super recommended.

Beautiful and expansive resort. Spa is second to none and the deluxe ocean views are worth it. Staff are all prompt and friendly. The beach fills up in the AM, but opens back up after lunch. Either way, they have a great system in place to get you a chair and umbrella setup asap right on their beach. If you can't get right on the beach then the massive maze of interconnected pools are terrific to explore. Breakfast buffet is busy but we never waited more than 15 minutes for a table and it never felt cramped. The variety and omelette station make it worth the price (considering island resort pricing in general and especially if you're a Hilton member and qualify for the $19 buffet upgrade). The hotel is older but looks great for its age. Good mix of tech, sophistication, and timelessness.

We found tiny ants all over the bathroom!! - we stayed for a week and they got worse as our week progressed. Further, upon arrival, we were told the lobby bar was open till midnight, we checked in and went to the bar for a drink at 11:20pm only to be told by a dismissive bartender that they were doing last call. This was our first indication that our stay was not going to be anywhere close to the 4.5 star reviews.
Each morning we were woken at 6:50AM by the yoga instructors as they rounded up the awaiting class attendees - not sure why they picked a meeting location so close to the rooms?? Once falling back asleep, we were hounded by the housekeeping staff at 8:30AM - and when we said we would be gone in an hour we were met with a irritated groan by the staff. One morning we had 3 separate housekeeping staff knock on our door all within 5 minutes! If you are not out of your room by 8:30AM be prepared to be bothered or, make use of your "do not disturb sign" and forego having your room serviced - this was not an option for us as the ant situation was appalling.
We booked the ocean view king room which does not mean ocean view, if you want a true ocean view you have to book the deluxe ocean view.
For a family, I can see this resort being appealing as it's commonly referred to as Chuck E Cheese - lots of pools and slides and things to keep young kids entertained. However, the resort hosted an event on the Saturday night with a live band that went until 10PM - didn't bother us much but it was loud enough that I'm sure it kept kids awake.
Prices are comparable to the Andaz, yet quality is not even remotely what it should be. Other than the encounter with the bartender and housekeeping, all other service staff were lovely. With all that being said, we won't be back.

If you stay here and don't try the spa, you've wasted the trip.

Great hotel, amazing location. Would definitely stay again!

Fantastic time at this report. Beautiful property and lots to do. Food is so expensive and coffee makers in the room are not good.

Love the grand Wailea! Excellent service and staff is so fun and hard working. Not one bad experience here. Many different restaurants on campus and the vibe is very chill.

It's a pleasant resort but it's really showing it's age. The lobby is gorgeous but the rooms have never been update. The furniture is banged up and the fabric on the chairs and couches within the room is very worn. The staff is wonderful. For the rate we paid and free upgrade to a suite, we were overall happy.

Absolutely amazing experience. Right from the beginning we received his and hers lei from the valet, Gilbert at the front desk was a true gentleman, professional & helpful. He took the time to explain the resort layout and was just wonderful to say the least. If management reads this give that man a raise. He set the tone for the rest of our stay which was one of the most memorable experiences of our lives. Moving on.... The rooms are great, the grounds are meticulously maintained and beautiful, the pools are, well, I'm 35yrs old and I sure didn't behave like one just ask my wife. So much fun and the Groto Bar that is in a cave underneath a waterfall leaves me at a loss for words. Finally, when it comes to food my wife and I are Vegan and while their website does not show many vegan options we were pleasantly surprised by how many options they actually had. Hibiscus bar by the adult pool area had a few very good options and Humu restaurant (the only one we ate at) had a whole vegan menu for us which was great. Shout out to Christina! She was great at Humu, give her a raise too. They are very accommodating and my only advice to management is to advertise these vegan options better on social media platforms. So all that to say 5 stars easily and would come back in a heartbeat, just might take a while to save up our nickels and dimes to afford it! You get what you pay for!

Awesome, beautiful place. Great beach, plenty of swimming pools. Fantastic water falls and little waterways and ponds.

Here on my honeymoon. Very nice hotel with beach access. Nice pools and plenty of resturaunts (all very pricy). Recommend staying in the Napua Tower for all of the extra amenities, it is worth it.

From the moment you enter this resort the staff makes you feel welcome. Excellent, kind and thoughtful the staff makes this beautiful resort 5 stars. The grounds are beautiful and well maintained. The food is excellent, with casual and fine dining options. There is a poolside area to eat and a swim up bar. This is a place you come to relax. Beach is small and private to the hotels in this area. Great walking path. Good for families with both an adult and kid's pool, water slides and activities for every age. Worth the money. We will definitely return.

Beautiful grounds and superlative staff. Pricey even for kamaaina. Can't beat the pools though.

This is absolutely one of the grandest hotels I have had the opportunity to rest in.

This is a beautiful property with an amazing pool area that kids will love. We stayed in the Napua Tower which includes a tasty breakfast and gourmet appetizers in the afternoon. Love our stay here. Only issue is finding a place to sit by the pool area. Cabanas can be rented but they are $600 a day. Pricier than some rooms!

Grand Wailea was unlike any other property I've experienced before. Lush, vibrant, incredible luxury, and world-class hospitality. Our tenth anniversary stay there was hands-down the best vacation we've ever had. From being welcomed at the front with a lei, to our extremely generous room upgrade (thank you Giulia!) for the occasion, and the friendliness of every staff member there, everything was on point from the very start.

Our intention was to visit Maui and experience the island, but after just a few hours at Grand Wailea we knew that would not be happening. This resort has everything you need on-site, and at the end of the day you'll be both fulfilled and relaxed and feeling like you're actually on vacation instead of rushing around trying to do it all.

Incredible pool system with cascading watersides connecting them all. The water elevator for extra fun with a fascinating history behind it. The jaw-dropping beach that provided the best sunsets we've ever seen. All of it is Grand.

Every staff member was down to earth, friendly, and ready to help out with anything at all. Our room service, the staff and servers at the breakfast buffet, everyone at the front desk, the valet, the landscapers, the lifeguards, the pool and beach staff -- they were all amazing - always offering a friendly hello or aloha, and made the overall experience that much better.

Grand Wailea is one very special place, and one we'll visit again. It's just as beautiful as every posted picture makes it appear, and even better in person.

One of the nicest Hotel Resorts I have ever been in my life. Lots of places to eat on grounds. Beach is nice for kids. Snorkeling nearby for turtle watching. Maui is awesome to boot.

Lots of room, paths, to get around, great pool, great water park on site. Medium sized rooms are OK but your not in the room that much, views are great.

The brunch buffet was delightful. I would eat too much there again.

Everything about this resort is awesome. Staff are friendly, there are tons of pools and the view is incredible. Most everything is super expensive, like breakfast but as long as you have a car, there are plenty of other options.

This is the best hotel by far n they have some of best employees working here. Rachelle and Lisa in the spa were awesome and everyone is so friendly and Brandon is the best snorkeling instructor this side of the equator. I will definitely be coming back here again.
We stayed in 6080 and the room attendant took care of our room and respected our belongings.
Thank you for a great time and we'll see you soon

Everything here is beautiful. The resort is well cared for, security is high, but we'll hidden. The sad parts are the adult swim up bar closes at 5 pm.

I had a relaxing stay at the Grand Wailea. I went with family during Mother's Day and ordered flowers to my mom's room ahead of time and they were delivered without any problems, so excellent service. The food was really good, the highlight being the breakfast buffet. The beachfront was also perfect and relatively close to the rooms.

Very caring and sweet staff, gorgeous views, in a very laid back space!

Beautiful resort. The rooms could use a bit of an update.

Our group stayed at the Grand Wailea. It was a beautiful resort with lots of things to do and a private beach. It was beautiful and so many areas to take photos. They also have a pretty large water park on site for families. My only complaint about the place was the parking. Not sure how the other places are, but with what you're paying for the stay, you'd imagine the parking was included. Also, in addition, the resort is a bit far away from a lot of other things. For families, who stay on site their whole trip it's great, but for someone who likes to explore, it was a pain that I had to drive back each night after a day of exploring.

Not as nice as in the past. Rooms aren't as clean as they should be.

Location was nice except our room was not ready until after 7:30 PM for check-in!?? Supposed to be guarantee check-in at 4PM. They didn't notify us there was a problem until after we tried checking in. The front desk staff was not proactive at all in resolving our issues. I had to call multiple times to get this resolved. We wanted to get ready before we went to the Luau which started at 6. Gran Luau was also a disappointment. Is Teriyaki chicken and Beef Brisket authentic Hawaiian cuisine? I don't think so. Luau was basically a kitty show for 1-5 year old kids. My 9 year old daughter wanted to leave during dinner so we did. Suffice to say our experience at the Grand Wailea was anything but grand. I thought the name "Waldorf Astoria" stood for something special but I know better now. Save your money and book Marriott.

It's a beautiful resort with outstanding service. A vacation within its self.

The service was terrible! I couldn t even open my slider because the construction noise was going outside my deck all day!
I would leave my room by 7:30am their time and would come back between 2-3:00...my room had not been touched. Waiting in line for the breakfast buffet was always a 30+ minute wait and was $46.00 EACH! I always had to ask for towels, wash cloths and then request a turn-down service because they never made it to my room while I was gone for 7.5 hours:( There were 2 complimentary waters in the refrigerator the first night although one was sparkling, and then never a complimentary water again.
The pull-out bed was extremely uncomfortable. When I asked at 3:00 the first night to have the pull-out bed made, I came back at 8:00 and still had to call and wait an additional hour for someone to stop by (after we made it ourselves),to say they did not have anything to make it softer.
There are NO servers at the pool, if you want a cocktail you have to wait at the grotto bar(21 and over only) and wait for the ONE bartender to help you. Keep in mind each drink is $17!!
There is absolutely no one serving on the beach...or watching others drinking excessively (next to toddlers) out of their backpacks.
For the price we had to pay to stay at this resort I couldn t be more disappointed. As we stand at the light under the elevators there are dozens of spiders and webs that have made their home there for MANY months. The beach IS extraordinarily soft and the water temperature is to die for...but come down for the day...don t stay at the Grand Wailea...Save your money!