Nov 30, 20223 min read

Maui and Wailea Beach Resort - A Review

Hawaii is a magical place. The smells, the colors, the feel. It is just so lovely. I am lucky enough to have been able to visit Hawaii so many times, I can't even count. As a kid, our family would go to Maui every January. As a young adult, I traveled there with my dad, my older sister, and my younger sister (three times), families I nannied for (Maui and the big Island several times each), all in separate trips. As an adult, I ventured to Kaui for my older sister's wedding, I took my kids to Oahu for their first trip to Hawaii in 2021, and this past Thanksgiving, I went back to Maui with my family. It never, ever gets old.

Hawaii hit a bit different this time. I was there with my family, but without my kids. My mom, my dad, my older sister and her husband, my little sister, her husband and their three kids, and me. Solo. All by myself. I had mixed feelings about this. I wanted my kids to have cousin time, I wanted to spend time with them, but a last minute mix-up meant they couldn't come along. I debated whether I still wanted to go. I weighed being there without my kids versus being at home without my kids. Ultimately, palm trees and beaches won out, but it was a close race. Really!

I'm very glad I went. I was able to spend valuable time with family, to have meaningful conversations, to relax, to work a bit (I sold a house from the beach), to explore and to take care of me.

We stayed at the Wailea Beach Resort.

While this is a beautiful resort, in a great location, and a Marriott hotel (POINTS), this would not have been my first, second, or even third choice had I been in charge of booking for the family. It really is a fabulous resort, and I am not here to complain, but if you are reading this, you, too, might be a mom who is looking to book a trip to Maui and looking for a great kid-friendly hotel. If you are looking for: a kid-friendly, luxury Marriott resort, then this is probably your best choice, but if all of those don't matter, there are better options, in my opinion.

Here is my PROS/CONS list.

PROS

Great location. Literally right next door to the Shops at Wailea (which, I guess could also be a con if you don't want to be lured to shopping)
Beautiful grounds
Variety of pools (kid-friendly, adults-only, and regular pool)
Great dining options, including a Roy Yamaguchi restaurant, Humble Market Kitchin (order the chocolate soufflé, you're welcome)
Good gym with several Pelotons

Great exercise class options

Beautiful views

Breakfast buffet at Humble Market Kitchin

CONS

Not beachfront. Although it is called, "Wailea Beach Resort," it does not have direct beach access. You do have access to two great beaches, Wailea Beach and Ulua Beach, and there is a great walking path connecting it all, but there is direct beach access in front of the hotel. I think this hotel is better names, "Wailea Ocean Front Resort," as it definitely is in front of the ocean.
Although it has a fun kid's pool with several water slides, there are better options on the island.*