THE RITZ-CARLTON KAPALUA - Jessica Litras

The RITZ-CARLTON, kAPALUA Review

Featuring The Ritz-Carlton Kapalua, a wonderful, magical and luxurious haven in Hawaii. You can never go wrong with a Ritz property, everyone knows that. They’re known for having the utmost reputation when it comes to luxury, beauty and pristine service. If you want to experience Hawaii with an ocean-front view, stunning architecture/decor, amazing meals and impressive amenities, The Ritz in Maui is the way to go.

The 54 acre property resides along the edge of the Pacific Ocean. And has absolutely everything you need. They offer modern amenities like guest rooms and suites, golf courses, sophisticated dining options, event spaces and spa treatments. This resort is perfect for honeymoons, family getaways, and conferences. There’s something for everyone!

The Ritz-Carlton Kapalua Photos

what to expect

location

1 Ritz Carlton Dr, Kapalua, HI 96761

Located 16 miles away from the airport.

Parking

On-site hotel parking for $30 USD daily.

Hotel Details

“A luxury resort inspired by the dramatic beauty of Kapalua.”

Kapalua translates to “arms embracing the sea.” The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua surely embraces guests with island luxury nestled among 22,000 acres of pristine wide-open space. Miles of hiking trails, natural sanctuaries, six golden sand beaches, locally inspired menus and exclusive experiences are a few things to look forward to here.

Price PER NIGHT

Lowest average cost is $659 per night and can range from there to $1,500.

Can be booked with credit card points.

Vibe Check

A high-end, tropical and elegant atmosphere that feels extremely cozy and comfortable at the same time. As fancy as The Ritz may be, this particular resort feels more laid-back since it’s right on the beach. It also has some of the most stunning holiday decor I’ve seen. The floor plan is extremely open so the resort is fully immersive with nature. Allowing you to explore the indoor and outdoor areas easily and seamlessly.

Comfort Level

On a scale of 1-5 (5 being the best), the comfort level is at a 5. The bed was amazingly plush and large. The room layout was ideal and the private balcony made for an enhanced experience. And the resort didn’t feel overcrowded whatsoever and there was always someone around to help/assist.

Views to expect on Property

Some of the best views can be seen at this resort. Especially if you have an ocean-front balcony from your room. You can see the all the outdoor lounge areas, pools and hot tubs, outside bars, outdoor restaurant and the ocean as the sun is setting. Truly stunning.

Dining

The Banyan Tree

Vibrant outdoor restaurant with coastal cuisine. (One of my favorite spots for the food, decor and live entertainment at night.)

Ulana

A scenic, breakfast-only restaurant overlooking the gardens, pool and ocean.

Alaloa Lounge

Enjoy Kapalua sunsets with live entertainment, appetizers and specialty cocktails.

Burger Shack

An outdoor laid-back, ocean-front restaurant with colorful cocktails, beer, milkshakes and burgers. (This is the furthest restaurant on property. So they provide complimentary golf-carts to take you back and forth.)

‘Olu Cafe

Outdoor restaurant perfect for appetizers and lunch by the pool.

‘Olu Poolside

Enjoy poolside service with sandwiches, salads, fresh cocktails and more.

Kai Coffee

Convenient grab-and-go cafe perfect for coffee, small bites and snacks.

Best Instagram Spots

The lobby, the middle of the main pool of the resort, closer to the ocean down by the Burger Shack and the in-room private balcony.

Accommodations & aMENITIES

Amenities include redesigned guest rooms and suites, accommodations with local art and design, six distinctive restaurants, private dining & locally sourced cuisine, spa treatments, golf courses, tennis facilities, pristine indoor gym, free workout classes including a beautiful sunrise yoga class, family-friendly facilities, and indoor/outdoor meeting spaces.

Preferred Partner Program with exclusive benefits

Enhance your experience during your stay at no extra cost to you. When you book through the preferred partner VIP Hotel Booking Request Portal, you get exclusive access to amazing benefits during your stay.

The Ritz Carlton Benefits when booking through the portal:

Local Culture

Since the property is private, local culture is to be found a few miles out by car. Maui is known as a very laid-back, warm and friendly place to be with locals who have strong sense of kinship, cooperation and diversity. There is no dominant ethnic majority in Maui.

Best Season to visit

The best time to visit Maui is April to May and then September to November. Highly recommend staying closer to the summer month to avoid as much rain as possible for your trip.

Things to do in the area

Like I said, you’ll have to drive or Uber off-property for local culture and activities. An insider tip is to rent a jeep at least for one day to get the full-Hawaiin experience.

Here are a few suggestions for when you visit Maui:

Have breakfast at The Gazebo with waterfront views.
Do the Road to Hana. A truly iconic and memorable drive with some of the most breathtaking views and trails you’ll see. Make sure to dedicate an entire day for this as it’s a very long journey.
Bask in the sun at Ka’anapali Beach.
Visit Maui Brewing Company.
Spend the day in Lahaina. Some suggestions for restaurants include Down the Hatch for fun cocktails and tiki drinks, Fleetwood’s on Front Street for a more elegant yet laid back vibe + entertainment, Kimo’s for some of the best fresh seafood you’ll ever have and finally Lapperts Ice Cream & Lahiana Dole Whip for dessert.

LET'S EXPERIENCE WHAT THE WORLD HAS TO OFFER

If you have a hotel you’d like me to review, whether you are a reader or a hotel/property, please reach out to me so we can set something up.