The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua Review

My husband and I came to the Ritz to end our trip after four nights in Wailea. Since it was our first trip to Maui, we thought it would be interesting to break up our time in two spots. The Ritz was nice, spa amazing, but not so great food options at the restaurant and pool area. We were upgraded to a partial-ocean view which was basically a full ocean view, so that was impressive. The weather in Kapalua (which is no fault of the Ritz!) Is just way different than Wailea as they get more wind and it was much cooler feeling in Kapalua. I wasn't impressed with having to pay for chairs on the beach and parking while already paying for a hotel daily rate fee (our hotel in Wailea was free self parking and no charge for beach chairs). There is also quite a musty smell in the hotel, and when we went to breakfast one morning in the restaurant, there was a huge leak in the ceiling dripping right in front of our table. Overall, it was great, but I would recommend Wailea first.

As you walk up it's just like what you would see in a movie. No doors here, and the team greets you with a lei. Everything here is service-oriented, and the rooms are spacious and all have great views. The location is secluded but not too far from the action.

The pool is beautiful and spacious, with areas for both families as well as adults looking to relax and escape the noise. Stop by the spa, as the amenities are plentiful and worth the expense. The Banyan Tree restaurant has killer food and cocktails.

Everything is pricey, so head down the street (3 min walk) to the grocery for coffee and breakfast, or visit the nearby, high-quality restaurants (also 3-5 min walk).

Hard to imagine staying anywhere else!

People here are super welcoming and hotel is super clean! I was impressed. Y their service from the valet to the housemaid! I would highly recommend staying here while in Maui

Best hotel I have ever stayed. They made the visit special. The pools are awesome, they have a great beach, the rooms are beautiful, and the staff is extremely nice. You will have to pay quite a bit for anything there, but if one is willing to splurge, it is well worth it.

Amazing view over the beach. Great service they have 4 small stores and the rooms are food size I enjoyed the stay.

5 stars for the beautiful property and a nice room. 3 stars for the issues with our room. We had to be moved to a different room late at night. Unfortunately, It put a damper on our stay.

Top of the line on Maui. Kapalua everything at your feet.

Really bad location on the island. This is not my kind of place at all in Hawaii. The staff were not as attentive as they should be. Not a great stay here. Plus the hotel shows it's age. There are much better resorts in Maui in better locations. My next stay will be elsewhere for sure

We went to the Banyan Tree restaurant at the Ritz Carlton. We had one of the best dinners in past 10 years that we've been going to Maui. $$$

The last Ritz we visited was impeccable in every way. The food was incredible, the property was so elegant, and the service was second to none. Needless to say, I had super high hopes for this Ritz property and unfortunately it didn't quite deliver. For example, we called the front desk to request additional hangers upon arrival and later in the stay housekeeping took our robes but didn't replace them so we had to call the front desk for robes. Both times, we waited for over an hour and had to call back or physically go down to the front desk to remind them. Same with concierge - she was going to follow up on dinner reservations for us and admittedly forgot until we visited her the next day to remind her. Not a huge deal, but not the level of service you'd expect from the Ritz. Similarly, I went to the pool on multiple days, but I was offered towel service only once (where they come over and set your chair up with towels). Again, no big deal, I can grab my own towels. But compared to other Ritz properties where they wait on you hand and foot, this just wasn't the same. There were also no super fine dining restaurants on the property, they required you to pay extra for beach chairs, and the required valet was often super slow (sometimes they didn't even answer the phone when we called to have the car pulled out). Lastly, the resort was always packed with little ones running around. This is great if you're taking a family vacay, but it definitely didn't offer the quiet, romantic vibes we expected. (Not ideal for honeymooners IMO) The positives: Veiws - The hotel is situated in the middle of paradise and the landscape is spectacular. We saw a rainbow over the mountains with the ocean just beyond it everyday! Location - Awesome restaurants (like Sensai), exciting excursions (like ziplining), and a shop for necessities and souenirs are all a two minute walk off the resort. Very convenient. Spa - You can purchase a service and you'll have access to spa amenities (whirlpool, sauna, relaxation room, etc.) all day! So worth it! Golf - Husband said it was the prettiest course he's ever played. Overall, we had a wonderful vacation, but the resort itself (albeit beautiful) just didn't have the level of service & luxury I expected.

What can I say it's the Ritz Carlton, everything was beyond great more than what I expected. When you visist Maui plan to stay at this placr you wont regret one bit at all.

I had much higher expectations for the Ritz Carlton. When you pay this much a night, you expect excellent service. The service here was way below par in my opinion. I have stayed at Travelodge hotels that provide better customer service.The best service was provided by the valet staff. The rest was mediocre. When we arrived we waited two hours for our room. They kept saying it would be ready in twenty minutes. This was just the beginning. We ate at the Beach House, Pool Bar and The Terrace while we were there. All three provided us with the same service, not good. We spent two hours dining because of how slow the servers were. The rooms were nice and the view we had was good. We could see the pool and the ocean from our room. If you want to be close to anything dont come here, plan on staying here unless you have a car. The grounds were nicely kept.The food was not worth the price. If someone paid for me to go again I would but wouldnt waste my own money.

Awesome hotel, very up to date and clean. The staff are all very friendly and helpful. The pool is gorgeous and are room had a great veiw of it! The beach also had a great veiw with a good slice of ocean. On the subject of beach, it was a little hard to find, they could have better signage. The enterance also could use a better sign, the hotel and enterance are hard to find because the sign is dark and not well designed. Last, the food available from the hotel, all three had really great food and drink, top notch, but it was all quite overpriced. I understand it's Hawaii, but it was boderline unreasonable; there are better option out there for a much more reasonable price. Overall, I would recommend staying here to a friend and I would make sure to give them a detailed map so they don't miss the enterance, but, I would be hesitant to recommend eating here.

I've been to better hotels... Layout of hotel is confusing. View from lobby to the pool area was unimpressive. No easy way to get to pool area. Long-ish walk to beach. Have to drive to get to places (not close to any shops, etc.) Views from rooms are limited with the Cook pines blocking views (golf course view). Meh! Don't buy into the name!

Great service and a lot to do. Came during a fully booked time, so pool area was always very busy. There's a basketball court and tennis courts nearby, for which you can check out balls and racquets to play with. I was very pleasantly surprised that staff seemed to remember us with just one encounter! Beach is also just a very short walk away. There are at least three restaurants where you can order food and drink - which were delicious - but of course they are Maui hotel pricy. There are also a couple great restaurants nearby. If you don't feel like eating food at the hotel, there is a small convenience store right next door where you can get breakfast, lunch, snacks, or anything you may have forgotten to bring with you.

Fun place to shop if you want to buy Hawaiian novelty items at a great price

Absolutely beautiful and stunning views. Very close to Beach.

Very noce and clean but dont expect much service. Took 5 hours to get a kettle and the concierge didnt get a taxi reserved for us even when we asked the previous night so that we can get going right away in the morning

Amazing attention to detail and outstanding service. We received a warm and unexpected wonderful reception upon arrival and check in.

We stayed 1 night at the Ritz-Carlton in Kapalua and it was excellent, nice room and great facilities. The breakfast buffet is outstanding (a lot better than at the four seasons in Wailea, where we also stayed). The Kapalua Coastal Trail is close by and offers a nice morning walk.

Highly recommend

Beautiful hotel- room and bathroom was nice and the workers are all extremely professional/friendly. Wish the food was better and don t think you should have to pay for a lounge chair on the beach if you re paying $750 a night.

Very nice resort at swanky north Maui. Family friendly with lots to do for kids. No kiddos for us and we thought it was very quiet for the number of families here. Food is great but very pricey - hey it's the islands.. what do you expect.

Wildly overpriced and watered down cocktails. Great atmosphere though.

The best place on Maui. I was on heaven and did not want to come home from my vacation. I wanted to stay there and live there

It is a beautiful location, with amazing food and great ambiance. A few minor room problems that were immediately addressed.

Beautiful property, friendly staff. It is quite windy at this location. But still enjoyed my time here!

Sadly, we didn't have a 5 star experience.
At check in, they failed to honor our teenagers room with two double beds. Instead my son & daughter shared a king. While this isn't a huge deal, it started the trip out on the wrong foot.
The hotel looks dated and worn out. It is in desperate need of a deep cleaning and fresh paint. Unfortunately, they begin working on these much needed repairs at 8 am. I think this is too early for a vacation destination/hotel to begin using power tools in the next room and hallway.
Pool service for towels, cocktails and food service was slow. On numerous occasions I witnessed guests waiting for service at the unoccupied service cabanas.
The biggest disappointment was the cuisine. If you do stay here, make reservations at the Montage just a few minutes away. The quality and the service at Cane & Canoe are what you expected at the Ritz.

Beautiful but not physically located on the beach. Outside of that a wonderfully manicured grounds. Attentive, kind service. Great views, pools, tennis courts, golf and great shuttle service throughout Kapalua.

Great hotel, nice location, rooms are nice and neat.

The Ritz lives up to it's pedigree. Staff...grounds - it was all simply supurb.

Great customer service and wonderful pools and beach

The best service we have ever experienced for a long long time.

We head up North 15 min from Lahaina to the Ritz Carlton Kapalua . The short drive puts you in another wonderful fresh area of Maui. The Honolua Store perfect place for breakfast or lunch

We stayed here for 10 nights and booked two rooms. The property and location are stunning. The service is phenomenal. We had a trip of a lifetime and we are grateful to the Ritz Carlton staff for making our stay so memorable. Special thanks to Simon, Mary Jane, Pam, Jesse, Ashley and Daisy.

Food - great restaurants on the property. It is also close to Lahaina where there are superb restaurants.

Pool / Ocean is great.

Gym is excellent

Spa is great

Highly recommend this property.

Amazing rooms and amenities. Spa is impeccable both in appointments and service. Views are amazing, service is second to none. My third time here, I'll be back!

The Ritz Carlton is a solid okay. There was nothing spectacular about the property. The property definitely catered to quantity and not quality which we ve come to expect when staying at a Ritz Carlton. Nothing besides the price was any different than staying at a Westin. Very disappointed all around.

The service was great, friendly people. Will visit again.

I could spend all of my time here! It doesn t get better.

This place is great!! I'm in Maui for my sisters wedding and it's just beautiful here.

Would it be too much to ask that if you do not correctly number the floors that they at least have button markers to delineate the Spa the pool
The restaurants etc???? The pool floor is actually floor 4. Makes no sense!

Well I will start off with a complement, the breakfast buffet is awesome , but pricey. I stated in this hotel in 2001 and because of exceptional service I received I wanted to go back and try it again BIG MISTAKE!!!! The opulence and service the Ritz Carlton is noted for is no more. Also from what I was told this hotel was renovated to the tune of 30 million dollars I have no idea where the money was spent other than the lobby that looks like your grandfather's basement from 1970 dark and dingy. They once had a fire place that is now a coffee shop. The pool needs to be cleaned and re tiled Service at the pool you will wait 30 to 45 min for a drink. Wayyyyy understaffed, you can tell the Marriott took them over lean and mean on the staff. I booked a ocean view room for three people on 09/18/18. I dont know how many times I told them two beds. Needless to say the 1st two nights I slept on a cot. I sent an email to General Manager Mike Kass on the day I checked in on 12/23/18 today is 1/5/19 still nothing. Dinner stay far away, I have to say it again, dinner stay far away. xmas night you know your limited as far as what's open especially on that side of the island ,it was a pre fixed menu. I had the foie gras and the lamb and one glass of wine, my wife had the same. My daughter had the kids chicken When I tell you it was the worst meal I have had in my life!!!!! not kidding then to the tune of $480.00 are they insane, I have to say I don't mind paying for a good meal, after all I live in NYC I would say home of the best restaurants in the world. Lunch if you share an appetizer they charge you an additional 3.50. I guess the resort fee of 35.00 per day isn't enough and the valet of 30.00 per day isn't sufficient. So they have to make it up somewhere. I checked out on 12/30/18 because I was disgusted with the overall service and stay. I checked in to the Four Seasons for New Years and what a difference night and day. I will leave off with this if you stay in Maui dont stay here. If you want to see that part of the island DRIVE............

Excellent service, nice grounds. Weather tends to be windy. Food, drinks and spa are stupid expensive. I'd do an all-inclusive instead next time.

Stayed at the villa and proposed at the restaurant. Best week ever.

Wowzer. This place lives up to the Ritz hype. They have their own first drop nespresso pods. Great location- walk out to where the waves crash... we saw whales and had a great time trying to not get hit by the surf. Beach is blah... but it's usually to windy to swim here anyway. Happy hour at the Banyon Tree was excellent.

I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at this resort. The staff are thoughtful and kind. They definitely treat you with the utmost respect. The resort itself had so much to do and a comfortable space to sleep.

Went for Duke breakfast joint, food was so fresh and macadamia pancake were so good

I was going on a trip of a life time, and I wanted my family to stay at the best hotel when we went to maui. I made reservations at the Ritz Carlton about two weeks before we left. The advertised shuttle service was non existent and they cost me $100 to taxi over to the hotel. This should have been a red flag for the rest of the experience. I called to have the hotel hold my room. When we arrived, we were greeted warmly but they did not have my reservation, however they found a room for us that was just vacated. The room were absolutely filthy, hair in the sink, towels were used, we were put in the worst section of the hotel. We called down to the front desk to tell them, and they changed us into to another filthy room. I paid good money for for a slum room. Our complaints fell on deaf ears and our patronage was taken for granted. "what are they going to do, complain online?". No actions were taken to correct the problems and make our experience right. Very expensive, very poor. I will remember this hotel stay and never give my money to another Ritz location again.

Fantastic customer service and an overall experience.

Came here for Easter brunch and it was amazing. They still treated us like royalty even though we were not staying there. The general manager, Andrew, was so kind and helpful (toddler lost a stuffed bunny, literally the end of the world for her). One of the concierges gave my little girl the beaded necklace he was wearing. Felt like guests even though we just visited.

Amazing service and fantastic views. Rooms, food and drinks are great. Highly recommended!!

Nice hotel would have been 5 stars but the service road for the beach was outside our room and traffic started at daybreak .Terrible design

This place was absolutely gorgeous. However, it is family friendly so there are kids all over. For me this gives it a chaotic vibe, but I guess parents need to be able to enjoy nice things too. I wish there was a way for resorts to accommodate families, but separate them from adults trying to have a nice quiet time.

We stayed at the Ritz Carlton Kapalua during our recent trip to Maui after spending a week at the Ritz Residences in Waikiki. The location and friendliness of the staff was exceptional, but that's where the positives end for me. I have stayed at much nicer Marriott brands that offered true perks to rewards members. Even paying for Club Level access at this resort was not worth the money. Breakfast and lunch were average with scrambled eggs and sandwiches for lunch. Basically the same thing every day. As mentioned, most Marriott brands I have stayed at around the world have had better breakfast spreads, including omelet bars and that was all part of the normal rewards lounge that I get as a courtesy, not pay for. Also, appetizers in evening again were minimal and not up to standards of what other major resorts provide. The room itself besides the view was nothing special. In my room in Maui, I had a suite with a living room and bedroom and i didnt have to pay additional money for that, however in Kapalua to have the priviledge to be on Club Level and use the lounge it cost alot more every night, and it was just a basic hotel room. I still had to buy dinner nightly as food at night was not enough. Even with drink prices at hotel which are extremely expensive, I could have bought drinks myself and wife and for gone the club and still have been cheaper. Very disappointing to see this level of greed, especially for Bonvoy Ambassador members who are loyal to the brands and expect more.

Beautiful resort, right in the heart of Kapalua. Rates are high, but its a beautiful place. Great weather, but it does rain quite a bit more here than a few miles south. Beautifully manicured, great access to golf and beaches, great whale watching in the winter, and great access to golf. Includes a small convenience store and gift shop that are worth visiting.

The grounds were beautiful. We were there for a Medical Conference but stayed in a Condo due to having many family members with us.

This hotel is absolutely amazing but the food is extremely expensive.

We have spent many weeks here over the years... Beautiful resort with outstanding views and service with access to all the fun places Maui has to offer..

Amazing hotel. Amazing service. What more do you want?

This is my first time in Maui, and after my stay at the Ritz-Carlton, I will certainly be coming back. The hotel staff are amazingly friendly, the pool area is awesome, and the views are excellent. The restaurants serve really good drinks, and the food is well prepared. I just wish the breakfast buffet had a larger selection of fruits and juices, but it's still very nice.