We Spent a Weekend at Maui’s Exclusive Grand Wailea Resort (What We Loved & What We Didn’t!)

Thinking of booking Maui’s Grand Wailea for your Hawaii vacation? Here’s my honest take on the rooms, the pools, and those pesky resort fees.

If you’re researching Maui resorts for your Hawaii vacation, the Grand Wailea has probably already crossed your radar.

You’ve seen the photos. The sprawling pool complex, the beachfront location, the sheer scale of the whole thing.

Fun fact: From the air, the resort is shaped like a giant sea turtle. I’m not making that up.

My husband, Dave, and I have stayed here twice on weekend trips over from Oahu, and I can tell you the reality mostly lives up to the hype. But there are a few caveats worth knowing before you book.

Note: This post may contain affiliate links. If you choose to book through these links, I receive a small commission, which I will likely blow on mai tais, poke, and shave ice.  All of this internet voodoo takes place at no additional cost to you. 

This is a big, busy, unapologetically extravagant resort, and it’s probably not for everyone. But if it’s the right fit for you, it might be one of the best resort experiences you’ll ever have.

Let’s get to know it!

Overview & History 🏨

Opened in 1991, the Grand Wailea Maui was built by Japanese developer Takeshi Sekiguchi for a reported $600 million. That was an almost incomprehensible sum at the time.

But as you walk through the lobby today, taking in the custom artwork, the towering floral arrangements, and the fountains, that number starts to make sense.

Sekiguchi wanted to build something that felt more like a destination than a hotel, and I’d say he nailed it. The resort sits on 40 acres along Wailea Beach on Maui’s sunny south shore, with the kind of heritage most newer resorts can’t manufacture.

Today it operates as a Waldorf Astoria resort, which puts it under Hilton’s luxury flag. That matters for two reasons. You get a consistent luxury standard and polished service, and you earn Hilton Honors points, which is important if you care about hotel rewards as we do.

I’ve stayed at many Waldorf Astoria properties over the years, and the Waldorf brand is a good fit for this unique property.

The Grand Wailea has always leaned grandiose, and a recent top-to-bottom renovation, the biggest since it opened more than 30 years ago, refreshed the rooms and public spaces without stripping away the original character.

One more thing you should know. This place is enormous. I’m talking 750+ rooms and suites, nine pools, seven restaurants, a world-class spa, and direct access to one of Maui’s best beaches.

On our first visit, we spent half of day one just figuring out where everything is.

The Art Collection 🎨

Something that sets the Grand Wailea apart from every other big Hawaiian resort is the art. The property is home to Hawaii’s largest private art collection, with roughly 80 museum-quality pieces scattered across the grounds and interior spaces.

The centerpiece is a set of nine bronze sculptures by Colombian artist Fernando Botero, clustered around the lobby bar that’s named for him. You’ll recognize his style right away, all exaggerated curves and larger-than-life figures.

There’s also a rare collection of 18 Fernand Léger bronzes, said to be the largest set outside France, plus glass work by Dale Chihuly and pieces by celebrated Hawaiian artists like Herb Kane.

The whole thing is refreshingly un-museum-like. Nothing is roped off or behind glass; you can walk right up to it. If you care about the art, ask at the front desk about the complimentary guided tour that runs every Tuesday.

There’s also a chapel on site, the Seaside Chapel, which is a popular spot for weddings. The stained glass on the chapel is beautiful, and it’s especially photogenic at sunset with the ocean as a backdrop,

Location & Getting Around 📍

Wailea is one of the best areas to stay on Maui. The weather is reliably sunny, the beaches are gorgeous, and it’s far enough from the crowds of Kaanapali to feel calm without feeling remote. That’s why it’s my favorite area to stay when we visit Maui.

Read More: Where to Stay in Maui: The Pros & Cons of Wailea, Kaanapali, & More!

Located on Maui’s dry southwest coast, Wailea sees far fewer cloudy days than Kaanapali or the north shore. If your priority is pool-and-beach weather, Wailea is where you want to be.

The trade-off is that you’re basically in a resort bubble.

Wailea is a planned resort community, which means it’s a bit removed from Maui’s more local towns like Paia or Makawao. That’s perfect for some visitors and a little isolating for others.

For logistics, you’re about 20 minutes from Kihei, 30 minutes from Kahului Airport, and roughly 45 minutes from the start of the Road to Hana. The Shops at Wailea are a short walk away, and you’ll find plenty of shops and restaurants there.

Aside from that, the resort isn’t walkable to much beyond the other Wailea resorts. Rideshare availability on Maui can be spotty, so my advice is definitely to rent a car. Having your own wheels gives you the freedom to explore the island, which is the whole point of coming to Maui.

The Pool Complex, the Real Star of the Show 💦

The pool complex is the real reason a lot of people book the Grand Wailea, and it deserves top billing. It’s called the Wailea Canyon Activity Pool, and calling it a pool is like calling the Grand Canyon a ditch.

This is a nine-pool system spread across six levels, connected by water slides, waterfalls, a lazy river, and a swim-up grotto bar.

With the possible exception of Disney’s Aulani Resort on Oahu, nothing else in Hawaii comes close to this.

Each pool has its own personality. Some, like the Hibiscus Serenity Pool, are quieter and for adults; others are built for maximum kid chaos.

The Grotto Bar is a highlight. Located in a cozy lava grotto, it’s dim and cool, with the sound of water everywhere and bar stools so you can order a drink without leaving the pool.

Tip: Get to the pool early during peak season or holidays. The best chairs near the slides and lazy river fill up by mid-morning, and after that you’re hunting.

Wailea Beach 🏖️

Located right in front of the resort, Wailea Beach is one of the best beaches on Maui. It has soft golden sand, calm, clear water, and good snorkeling near the rocky points at either end.

Read More: 5 Unforgettable Maui Beaches (Don’t Leave Hawaii Without Seeing #3)

The water here is generally calmer than the north shore, which makes it great for families and less confident swimmers. Visibility is usually great for snorkelling, and you’ll often spot fish and the occasional turtle near the rocks.

The resort runs a beach activity desk with snorkel lessons and gear rentals, which is handy if you’re new to it or didn’t bring your own equipment. The beach attendants are great and will get you set up with chairs and umbrellas.

Bonus: In the winter months, you can often spot whales from shore.

Read More: The Everything Guide to the Best Maui Whale Watching Tours🐋

Rooms & the Napua Tower 🛏️

Rooms at the Grand Wailea are spread across the main resort and the Napua Tower, and the range is wide.

Standard garden-view and ocean-view rooms are lovely and well-appointed, with quality linens, well-designed bathrooms, and the breathing room you’d expect at this price point.

On our most recent weekend visit, we splurged on a Napua Club room, and I think it was worth the extra $200-ish per night (for us). The Napua Tower is the resort’s club level, and the big draw is the private lounge.

The lounge serves daily breakfast, afternoon snacks, and an evening happy hour. We’re hotel lounge people when we travel, so this was a worthwhile splurge for us.

And the breakfast is not a sad continental breakfast. It’s a full hot-and-cold spread with nearly everything you’d find in the resort’s main restaurant. We looked forward to starting our day here each morning.

The robust evening happy hour included cocktails and a wide, rotating variety of heavy hors d’oeuvres. We got a lot of use out of the lounge during our weekend stay. It was a great way to close out a busy day exploring the island without committing to a full dinner reservation.

When you consider that your average resort breakfast is easily over $50 per person and a cocktail will run you $20-25, the math makes sense if your schedule allows you to get the most out of it.

However, if you’re the type who skips hotel breakfast and bolts out the door early to explore, you won’t use the lounge enough to justify the premium.

But if you like a slow morning and a glass of wine at sunset, the way Dave and I do, it’s absolutely worth it. For us it’s the single upgrade that makes the Grand Wailea feel less like a giant resort and a little more intimate. The service in the lounge was also top-notch.

Kilolani Spa 🧖

The spa here is world-class, and it recently got a refresh. Formerly Spa Grande, one of the largest resort spas in the country, it now operates as Kilolani Spa, named for the ancient Hawaiian stargazers who read the night sky to navigate.

Even if you don’t splurge on a treatment, the facilities themselves are worth it. Roman-style baths, steam rooms, saunas, and relaxation lounges that feel like a destination rather than a hotel spa. Day passes are available if you want the facilities without booking a service.

It isn’t cheap. Treatments are priced right at the top of the market, so budget accordingly.

Dining 🍽️

The Grand Wailea has multiple restaurants on property, which is both a convenience and a financial trap if you’re not careful.

The Botero Lounge is a beautiful spot for an evening cocktail, set among those larger-than-life Botero sculptures. The drinks are well-made, and the setting is dramatic, and yes, the prices reflect all of that.

The signature fine-dining restaurant is Humuhumunukunukuapua’a, named for Hawaii’s state fish, and it sits over a saltwater lagoon. It’s a special-occasion kind of place, both in atmosphere and in price.

But honestly, if you’re going to spend that kind of money on a meal, make a reservation at Mama’s Fish House.

Read More: Maui Confidential: Is the Legendary Mama’s Fish House Worth the Hype?

One of the best things we ate during our stay was the lobster salad club sandwich at Wailea Surf Haus down by the pool. It was completely delicious.

The restaurants are good, convenient, and expensive, which describes resort dining just about everywhere. Wailea and nearby Kihei have excellent restaurants that cost less and often serve more interesting food.

Camp Grande and Family Activities 👨‍👩‍👧

If you’re traveling with kids, the Grand Wailea is one of the most family-friendly resorts in Hawaii, and Camp Grande is a big part of why.

Camp Grande is the resort’s supervised kids program, packed with activities and programming that keep younger guests entertained during the day. More to the point, it buys parents a few hours to enjoy the spa or a quiet adult pool without herding children every five minutes.

Pair that with the Canyon Activity Pool, and you’ve got a resort where kids are entertained, not just tolerated.

Cost, Resort Fee & Parking 💰

Let’s talk about the part nobody enjoys. The Grand Wailea charges a daily resort fee of $55 per night, per room, on top of an already-high nightly rate.

The fee covers things like WiFi, morning beach yoga (which was terrific!), cultural activities, beach cruiser bikes, and a few other odds and ends. If you use those amenities, it softens the blow a bit. If you don’t, it definitely stings.

I won’t pretend Hawaii’s resort fees don’t bother me. They reduce price transparency, and I think you deserve to factor them in when comparing hotels.

So just know that the true cost of a night here is the room rate plus $55, plus nearly 20% in Hawaii’s exorbitant hotel taxes and fees.

Speaking of costs, there’s one more you need to know about because you probably will want to rent a car for your stay. There’s no self-parking; valet is the only option, and it runs a ridiculous $80 per night. On top of everything else, that adds up fast over a week.

As for room rates, they swing widely by season and room type, but it’s difficult to find a rate less than (cough) $1,000 a night. Rates for ocean-view rooms and suites climb well past that.

This place is a major splurge, no way around it. The real question is whether the experience earns the price, and for the right traveler, I think it does.

Pros and Cons ✅

What We Loved ❤️

• The Wailea Canyon Activity Pool is truly spectacular
• Wailea Beach access is excellent
• Napua Club access added real value to our recent stay
• Reliable Wailea sunshine means pool days rarely get rained out

What We Didn’t ❌

• The $55 daily resort fee piles onto already-high room rates
• No self-parking, and pricey valet
• On-site dining is convenient but overpriced compared to what’s nearby
• The pool area crowds up fast, and the best chairs go early

Is the Grand Wailea Right for You? 🏁

The Grand Wailea is a massive, spectacular resort that does the big things extremely well. The Waldorf Astoria service elevates the whole thing beyond what you’d expect from a resort this size.

It earns its reputation, and it earns its price tag, so go in with clear eyes about what you’re spending.

For budget-minded travelers, or people who’d rather spend their days off-property exploring the island, your money is probably better spent somewhere else.

For couples who love resort life, have some room in the budget, and are eyeing the Napua Tower upgrade, this is one of the best hotel experiences on Maui. Bonus: the sunsets are truly something special.

Dave and I came home from both stays feeling truly pampered. For us, it’s worth the splurge every now and then.

Looking for more fun things to do on Maui? Start here:

Bucket List Maui: 40 Awesome Things to See, Do & Eat! 🏖️🌺🍹

Maui’s Road to Hana: Iconic Adventure 🌈 or Risky Road Trip? ⚠️

You Haven’t Really Seen Maui Until You’ve Explored its Stunning Upcountry🌿