MANELE BAY HOTEL Reviews

Lovely Facilities, Grounds, and Restaurants located on the most.beautiful Island in Hawai'i

Edit: I am editing my review up to 5 stars because of the immediate and extremely genuine response by David the resort manager. (and removing some things because I've hit the character limit with this edit). He tracked us down on the beach to apologize and ask what he could do to make our last night amazing. We really, really appreciate the effort made to fix things and also believe our experience was at the very least unacceptable to them, if not a complete outlier. Definitely made us feel more welcome and gave us a new perspective that made us feel better about everything that happened. Thanks so much for finding us!

Beautiful grounds and helpful staff were marred by the incessant upselling (on our room, activities, dining... Everything) on top of already exorbitant pricing on it all. Staying at a fancy hotel at this price point shouldn't feel like being hustled. "Because it's your anniversary" we were offered two upgraded room options, and at this point I was expecting maybe a single step upgrade for free, or possibly a bottle of wine, or some small thing... But no, one room at $150/night extra... and the other at an extra $900/night! We get to the first upgrade room option and our ambassador says "Oh this is not a very good room, want to see the other room?" Uh, no thanks. If we were interested in spending another $900/night we wouldn't have booked the lowest Garden view for $750/night. And that was after coming off an exhausting multi-plane trip to get here. We also weren't told there are free hourly shuttles to town and ended up spending $150 to rent a Jeep to visit the town - only to find out the "shopping area" is an art gallery and a couple normal touristy shops. (Still cheaper than buying sunscreen at the hotel shop - $48 for spray sunscreen!) And then we find out a day or two later about the free shuttles. We are used to inflated prices at nice hotels, especially in semi-remote locations, and are happy to pay for a great vacation but all of it together definitely rubbed us the wrong way. I think the upselling was what really put everything else in a negative light. We did receive a happy anniversary cake the night we arrived (not our anniversary) which was very nice... And another one on our second night (also not), with a bottle of wine. We felt bad wasting it but didn't want another chocolate cake :/

The food options, especially for dinner, are very limited and pricey for the quality. They advertise 5 restaurants, but only a few are open for any given meal. There is another restaurant at the golf course, only open for lunch, and we didn't get a chance to try it. Nobu and Malibu Farms at the pool are exceptions - highly recommend the soy ginger steak sandwich at Malibu and doing the omaskase at Nobu. And Eunice at the pool is a delight!

Skip the mountain biking unless you plan on bringing gloves and bicycle shorts - they are bare bones, alright-condition bikes. We had a good time biking to Garden of the Gods but I'm still bruised from the rock hard tiny seat 4-5 days later. I assumed this would be a more tourist-friendly activity. Definitely shell out for the snorkel sail, truly the best snorkeling I've done in Hawaii and the boat crew was great. Same for the UTV rides - one of the most fun things I've done. Uncle Bruno and the parrots on site are also definitely a highlight.

Overall, maybe best for a shorter trip. I hate leaving reviews like this. It was really nice and I feel bad that our view of it seemed unfortunately skewed - but I do feel like if you're considering spending this kind of money on a vacation you should know all of it. We are leaving tomorrow after 9 nights and feel a bit taken advantage of because there are so few accessible options.

This is a pros and cons review. 2 stars because for us, the cons out weigh the pros. I have stayed and many resorts. I also have worked for RCI resort and time shares.



Pro/con. Not much to do. The ultimate in laid back. If you like hussle and bussle with activities and shopping. You will not like this place. If you want to be left alone to vegitate, you will love it. Again, a true ALOHA lifestyle

Cons. There are not 9 restaurants. There are only 3. Very over priced. $140 for breakfast, and not very good. Poke, sushi, and ahi are main foods. None of which cater to western tastes. Plan on a 20 min (one way) shuttle ride into town for food 3 times a day. We were here a week and did not once see wait staff or pool attendants at the pools. (Except bottled water you are not allowed drinks at the pools) I called front desk for safety pins for my dress, they did not know what they were. I called housekeeping and had them within 5 min to my room. After a great day in Maui from the ferry, I had a small injury and requested (at front desk) Neosporin or antibiotic ointment. The young man didn't know what it was. I asked if he had a first aid kit. He got the kit, and then got a big box from behind the counter. We looked thru the box and found a tube neosporin. He said $15 please. Um, no. I realize this is not an all inclusive resort. The nightly price of $1400 There should be more inclusions. It is not a cruise ship, but they will charge you like it is one.
~leaving hungry~

The resort on Lanai, and the island itself, are great places to relax and enjoy. The resort itself seems smaller and more intimate than other Hawaiian resorts we've stayed at, and the staff customized our experiences to meet our family tastes and needs.

There aren't any stoplights on the island, which tells you how sparsely populated and quiet it is. There are still lots to do, including skeet shooting, archery, horseback riding, snorkeling, SCUBA, boating, fishing, hiking and more.

I'd recommend Lanai to any family that wants a truly unique Hawaiian vacation experience.

grounds, staff, spa, its on next level. If you enjoy skeet shooting, the range is an absolute must. Highly trained staff, great equipment and even if you are a first timer, they will walk you through the process. Make sure to have lunch at the golf course of r a breathtaking view

First and foremost, this is an AMAZING and BEAUTIFUL property. The overhaul that was done under Larry Ellison's eye is completely worth it. We were told that this is the nicest Four Seasons in that world... I can see why. The landscaping and the unique plants and foliage add so much to the personality of this property. The staff is wonderful and goes above and beyond (as one can expect from a Four Seasons). Food - There is a Nobu at this property and a Malibu Farms - both are independently run. There are great options for all dietary needs at both spots. I'm a vegetarian, and this was an important detail for me. The attention to detail and the focus on privacy and creating an experience for each guest, is what makes this property stand out from the rest. The price point for this hotel is quite steep, but it's meant to attract a certain type of patron - honeymooners and those celebrating anniversaries. For the sake of filling up the hotel and watching it succeed, I hope they figure out that the price point doesn't quite fit for many honeymooners.

In my whole life, this is the best spot that I slept in. 5 stars without any cons.

Everything about this resort is extraordinary! From the technology to the ecology! It's one of the most peaceful resorts in Hawaii. The food and service is five star! This is an experience that should not be missed!

We only passed by, but it looked absolutely beautiful!

I wasnt a resident at the four seasons, but the food and pool service were impecible

Great quiet clean place enjoy nice views and great food

It is so nice, comfortable and very good that you can express it as a paradise on earth.
The staff is very friendly and very friendly. A sample of a hotel resort I thought in my dreams is the Lana Ipo Seasons Resort here :) Please come and experience it. And dolphins often come out on the beach in front, and I was snorkeling with dolphins :) But beach sea condition is not good recently and I recommend not to snowcoat on high waves or overcast weather. If you go a little farther, there are many corals and lots of fish but it is not seen on cloudy days :) Recommended ^^

Words cannot describe how simply amazing this resort is. Food, service, rooms, grounds, staff, spa, its on next level. If you enjoy skeet shooting, the range is an absolute must. Highly trained staff, great equipment and even if you are a first timer, they will walk you through the process. Make sure to have lunch at the golf course of r a breathtaking view. By far the best Four Seasons Resort in the Hawaiian Islands!

Awesome place newly renovated and great views and staff

Omg!
So cool!

Beyond beautiful....i liked the food at Malibu farm Market the best

amazing ice cream sandwiches . Homemade ice cream and cookies . The ginger snaps are so good.

Rooms are so amazing...felt very pampered staying here....would come again Anna highly recommend!

Gorgeous views, gentle and warm services, top notch hospitality.

Love this Resort...!!! One of my favorite places to stay on Maui... or to host an event...!!!

So spectacular!! Only did a day trip here from Maui, but enjoyed every moment. Service of staff was wonderful and the beach was really awesome! I will make sure to book some pretty night stays at this resort next time.

A spectacular place, all the facilities are perfect and the staff very friendly and attentive

Awesome ambience. Veg food options can be better. Lovely gym, great beach, lots of activities around, wonderful staff.

There's not much to say other than if you are considering coming to Lanai don't question it, just book it. Best vacation I've ever had in the most beautiful resort I've ever been to. The smell of the flowers and trees throughout the hotel is intoxicating. The food is all world class and you will not be disappointed. Every restaurant is incredible. Where else would you find a Nobu Teppanyaki on a remote island with only 3000 people. Make sure to eat as much local fish and local venison while you're there. The beach is absolutely gorgeous, but please beware that the break is very close to shore and if you are not a confident swimmer or you haven't swam in a wavey ocean be very careful or stick to the pools (there are two - adults only and family friendly). Also, while you're down by the beach and pool do not miss the Kona Coffee iced Mocha -- trust me it's bloody delicious. All of the staff on the island are some of the best in the world and are so kind -- special shout-out to Bruno who takes the best care of the hotels birds. He is such a good soul and loves those birds more than anything. Make sure you check out the hikes around the hotel if you're fit and able and leave early in the morning before it gets too hot. There are so many activities to do on the island and there is so much to see. You will not be disappointed.

Excellent!!!
Although very expensive, it is an amazing resort, the staff are extremely helpful and the facilities are amazing.

The service was amazing! Right when I walked in they put a lei on you and there was a ukulele player playing music they also gave you a nice cold towel to cool off with. There food was amazing!! The pool is marvelous and they had fast efficient service. Flora was such a helpful and kind employee who was always making sure I was ok and had everything situated. The best hotel!!

Secluded setting for travelers wanting nothing but the the best. It is obvious Ellison s team put a lot of thought into the renovation and guest experience. Lots of fun activities! We escaped from Oahu for the weekend to celebrate our anniversary. We ve traveled to many hotels throughout Hawaii and the world. Have historically been SPG loyalist (platinum for 10+ years). This hotel is definitely top tier in service and quality. Don t expect any freebies or special treatment though. Despite knowing it was our anniversary, there was no recognition not even at Nobu for dinner. Not a big deal, but thought it would have been a nice gesture as is typical for many five star properties.

Would likely visit again. Lanai is a true getaway!

Celebrated a special family moment at it was beautiful!

This place is a 10, excellent resort, even better service.

The nicest place I have ever stayed in. The attention to detail and friendliness of the staff was really special. Thank you.

High end
Great rooms
Friendly staff
Nobu great

OMG. This is HANDS DOWN the nicest resort I ve ever stayed at.

Impeccable service. Gorgeous property. Stunning views. Feels like you're in a tropical jungle paradise! The transformation from the renovation is absolutely amazing... It's a whole new place. Kind of odd that they now have Nobu and Malibu Farms (a little mainland vibe), but had a great drink and very friendly service at the bar so I can't complain! Lanai is the best hidden getaway, even for a quick day trip. And grabbing a drink at the hotel makes it even better. Didn't have a chance to order food, but from my experience, Malibu Farm is aware of and helpful with gluten free options.

This is what separates us from the plebs, this is spectacular.
Ultimate facilities and the service first class.
Will be back with the kids next year

Simply awesome! Awestruck by the detail and beautiful views combined with the very gracious staff.

All I know about is the bar. We stopped in after a day on Lana'i for a drink, some hummus, and the Cowboys-Saints game. The staff was extraordinarily gracious, the drinks were great, the decor is beautiful, and the TVs in the sports bar are huge. It was very quiet, with only a few others there.

It's a lovely place, and I'm sure the rooms are wonderful, but we ferried back to Maui to our two bedroom at the Westin, which is itself a lovely place.

BEAUTIFUL OCEAN VIEW - and public spaces. Tennis on site. Check out the video of my daughter with the parrots. The keeper was so nice. Thanks for the memories Four Seasons!

Restaurants are awesome. The setting is spectacular. Room 1104 is a scam, they call it Garden few but really what you're looking at is the back of a restaurant with a loud air conditioner thinly-veiled buy a banana tree. Had they put me in any other room I'd give them at least 3 stars. The kids club is really good. My other knock on this property if you rent a car from them aside from it being extremely expensive much like everything else of this property, not only will they charge you an arm and a leg to come and help you but they took their sweet time It took them 2 hours to get there but when the B Team that came to help us got themselves stuck in the sand they made a phone call and help arrived the form of three cars in 30 minutes... which tells us that when guests get screwed no matter how much they're paying, the property doesn't actually give a damn and I'll keep you sitting on the beach in the Sun for 2 hours.

Beautiful and very peaceful place, amazing service.

Wonderful and relaxed place. The staff has a real gift of making guests comfortable. The lack of pretentiousness in a highly rated property is both rare and welcomed!

Fantastic hotel. Here are pros and cons.

Pros: remote and quiet island. This is the only hotel. Nice beach. Tons of activities. Awesome golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus. Super friendly staffs.

Cons: there are 3 restaurants. NOBU, a steak house, and a casual restaurant. Casual restaurant opens on weekends only. And for a week, you are stuck with a steak house or a pricey Japanese restaurant. Local town is far away.

Rooms are quite spread out and my room was so far away from the lobby and the pool area. Swimming pools are quite lame for a hotel like this. Good thing they open 24 hrs.

Beautiful place great place to have a drink and lunch. Highly recommend

This place on this island is in one word amazing. If you are a person who enjoys the outdoors but also wants to stay in the most beautiful resort look no further.

Best resort to get away from city life. Small island, quiet, friendly people, lots of water sports.

The staff, accommodations, architecture, and service are absolutely exceptional. This resort, above all other resorts has been my favorite to date. If you re in Maui and can escape to Lanai (even for a couple nights), staying here is worth it. Be sure to rent a four wheel drive vehicle if you want to explore the island.

Every employee we interacted with should receive regular bonuses for their positive and upbeat energy!

We ate at Nobu, the menu selections were very tasty and well done but portions were too small for the cost $$$$$ and serving only three items with the option to add on a forth is a bit distasteful.

We also ate at the Bar and Grill located above Nobu, we shared a cheeseburger and fries and were very happy. Plenty of food at a much more affordable comparable cost and the service was great.

The pool staff was very friendly and helpful.

Prior to staying at Four Seasons, I downloaded the app. It never reflected our spa appointment, and the app was generally pointless.

Customer service is outstanding and incomparable. Very nice room, only two complaints, small refrigerator and outside...untidy lanai, sprinkler lines totally uncovered and ugly to look at.

I would also have liked to find an easily accessible trail to follow along the coastal cliffs.

Overall, excellent, peaceful, beautiful and definitely a spot to go to again.

Great customer service. Nice location. Breathtaking views.

I am actually doing some specialty work for them. What a beautiful resort.

View from bar restaurant was unreal. Great lunch dining and cocktails. Outstanding service.

Beautiful Hotel, most friendly staff on earth and you will experience four seasons standard everywhere. Aloha to all..and must visit.

Five stars all around. Views, ambience, service, food, amenities. Wow. This is what paradise looks and feels like.

A tropical Oasis on the secluded beautiful island of Lana'i, HA. You feel instantly at peace and unplugged from the hussle of everyday life.

I can t say enough about this hotel and staff. A special shout out to Flora who went above and beyond contacting the rental company after hours trying to reach anyone regarding our ferry tickets we left in the rental. This hotel exceeded my expectations!

Absolutely beautiful. Had an amazing time. The restaurant service was not impressive. Waiters/waitresses seemed annoyed and uninviting. We saw a hula performance, which was amazing and we loved hanging out on the beach. The snorkeling is so fun and we enjoyed all the island has to offer. ATV rides and Clay shooting. Everyone on our adventure was so pleasant and full of information. Besides the main bar. We started to order food to our room instead of going out.

Four seasons is a spectacularly beautiful resort. The service for the majority of the visit was as incredible as the views and grounds. The rooms are also incredibly nice. The only negative I can really bring up is that you really feel nickle and dimed after the massive price tag for the rooms. A 2 min shuttle ride is exceedingly expensive which makes little sense to me. Also experienced a couple small service set backs at the restaurants and instead of offering to fix they just expected you to take it as is. For a high level resort I just expect better. All that being said it's still exceedingly nice and something that was special to see/experience.

That whole island was beautiful. The golf course was the nicest I've been on and the food in the clubhouse was pricey, but worth every penny.

This is a beautiful hotel on an Island where virtually everything is owned by Larry Ellison. It is very expensive even for a Four Seasons.... this is the only downside.

Beautiful environment, super staff can't wait to go back to this place

Located ocean-side on L na i, Four Seasons Resort Lana'i boasts views of the Pacific Ocean and lush gardens. Featuring two swimming pools with views of the ocean, a spa and in-room dining is also featured.

Each elegant suite provides a private terrace, bathrobes and tea and coffee-making facilities at the Four Seasons Resort Lana'i at Manele Bay. Styled in elegant dark wood furnishings, each cream coloured room features bright white coloured linens. Select rooms feature panoramic views of the ocean.

Twice-daily housekeeping service is made to each room as well as an evening ice delivery. Featuring eleven different massage rooms, the onsite spa offers a variety of massages, facials and salon services. A golf course and three tennis courts are featured for guest s enjoyment.

Guests can enjoy views of Hulopo'e Bay, while tasting dishes made from local ingredients at One Forty. The Sports Bar serves cocktails and lite bites in an open air atmosphere. With views of the Pacific Ocean, guests can dine at Nobu Lanai, which showcases Japanese cuisine of chef Nobu Matsuhisa. It offers a variety of sushi selections as well as small and large plates that pair Chef Nobu s culinary style with locally grown ingredients.

A private lounge at Honolulu International Airport is provided for Four Seasons L na i guests waiting for connecting flights. Wi-Fi access, food and beverages, iPads, charging stations and concierge services are available.

This hotel is a haven. It's beautiful. I flew from the big island directly to here on the FS plane and was greeted at the airport by name and whisked to this beautiful place where I was assigned a check-in staff member who took me to my room and acquainted me with the many advanced technologies available.

They have a big beach bag and hat for you to use, very nice bathroom amenities, electronic bidet toilets that automatically open and keep the seat warm, Dyson hair dryers, automatic blackout shades, mood lighting options, and room/resort keys that are a rubber bracelet and can be worn to swim, and much more.

The resort is very zen and has tons of lush greenery, a huge pool designed in rock formation sections that don't make it feel so crowded, it's almost like you have areas to yourself, and coy fish ponds everywhere (my favorite).

Food here was excellent, they had a few shops (I think 3 or 4) to browse and had 3 restaurants.

Breakfast was delicious with a view of the sea and Lilikoi sauce for my fluffy coconut pancakes.

They have a shuttle that will run you into town and if you purchase a package that includes it you can do many resort activities. I did a sunset sail with dolphins, a snorkel sail the next morning, and a four-wheel adventure.

The friendly local staff were excellent, remembered my name, and treated me like Ohana.

Wow amazing and beautiful. But trust me, you can't afford it. Don't feel bad I can't either

By far the best Hotel and Resort I have ever been to. Their new rooms are spacious and functional. The scent in the rooms are amazing. You can purchase the scent spray from the gift shop.

The beach is a little rough to get into, but once you get past the first few waves the reefs are amazing to snorkel around. There is lots of fish from dolphins and whales to turtles and colorful fish.

The people in the resort and the town are so friendly. They really make you feel like you're part of the family.

EDIT: Came back in 2019

Based on our amazing time last time we were here, we decided to come back with family. And it was certainly the right choice. I would recommend the catamaran activity that they advertise. We were boated out to a remote area and the snorkeling was great! We saw even saw some octopus! Their beds are "heavenly", we decided to buy one back home. Thanks again!

This. Is. Luxury. A marvelous experience. Gorgeous luscious green filled resort, amazing food, amazing staff, amazing beach and easy excursions into town and the island. The island by the way, that is 98% uninhabited. It's expensive yes, so be prepared for the prices and don't complain if you commit to it, but the service and experience is worth every penny.

Stopped by for lunch at Malibu Farm. Though pricey, the appetizer, sandwich and lemonade were all delicious!

Fantastic resort in every way. Accommodations, staff, food and facilities were above average as expected for a Four Seasons. Island is quiet, uncrowded, safe and old Hawaii laid back. Very relaxing enjoyable experience on all levels. Thank you Four Seasons for a wonderful vacation.

I had the best time ever here!! The staff was very attentive to the guest needs! Such beautiful landscaping through the whole resort!!! I did yoga on the beach ,which I think was my favorite part. It helped me relax my mind and body and really get my vacation started right! Take a Jeep to the garden of the gods. If your brave drive all the way down to the beach! It was so beautiful, but a tough trek. Going into town you will really get a feel for how awesome the island is. You really get a feel for the simplicity of the place. Coming back to the resort theirs Nobu if you want a fancy dinner , if you want something a bit more casual then the sports bar. I didn t get a chance to try the steakhouse but I did have desert which was excellent! Thank you everyone here for helping me melt away the stresses of the hectic city life!