[Hotel Spotlight] Ritz-Carlton Kapalua on Maui

Maui has easily become our favorite of the four major Hawaiian islands.  We fell in love with the island during our first visit, back in 2015.  That trip was fast-paced and filled with adventures.  For our return trip to Maui, we decided to slow things down and look for the most relaxing and luxurious accommodations.  We would also be traveling with our 9-month-old daughter for the first time, so the resort had to be kid-friendly.  We found all of this, and more, at the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua. 

• Cash & Point Expense – Hotel costs in terms of cash, points, or both.
• Hotel Overview & Rooms – Overview of the property and room choices.
• Service & Conveniences – Service and amenities offered by the hotel.
• Restaurants & Dining – Restaurant and bar choices in the hotel.
• X-Factor – What sets this property apart from others.

This was our first-ever stay at a Ritz-Carlton property.  Even the name alone exudes luxury, which was precisely our goal with this booking.  With an infant along for the trip, we didn’t want to leave the resort much, if at all.  We booked the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua with this goal in mind, and we are so glad that we did!

Cash & Points Expense

News flash!  The Ritz isn’t cheap, but you do get what you pay for.  Now that Marriott Rewards, Starwood Preferred Guest, and Ritz-Carlton Rewards have consolidated under the Bonvoy program, we were able to use our Bonvoy points for this booking.  As a Category 7 property, the nightly point cost ranges from 50,000 to 70,000, depending on dates and availability.  Bonvoy recently announced category changes, and this property will be moving up to Category 8 on March 4, 2020.

For our trip, we took advantage of the 5^th night free promotion.  Our 5-night stay ended up costing 240,000 points, for an average nightly price of 48,000 points.  If we could have moved our trip back a week, the price for 5 nights was only 200,000 points.  Always use the flexible calendar to look at all available dates when booking.  If you can be flexible with your travel dates, you can save a lot of points!  If we had booked our room with cash, the total for our stay would have been $9,370+tax (approx. $10,700).  That gives us the phenomenal redemption value of 4.5 cents per point!

In addition to the nightly rate, you will also be charged a $35+tax (approx. $40) resort fee per night.  If you plan to park a car, plan for another $30 per night for valet parking (only option on-property).  Alternatively, you could take an Uber or Lyft from the airport, which will cost about $90 each way… still cheaper than paying for a rental car and parking.  The resort offers a shuttle service around the local area and an on-site car rental as well.

Hotel Overview & Rooms

The Ritz-Carlton Kapalua features 466 total rooms, with 130 suites, some of which have kitchenettes or multiple bedrooms available.  All of the guest rooms underwent updates and renovations between 2016 and 2018, giving them a clean, modern feel. 

Due to my Bonvoy Titanium status (formerly Marriott Platinum), we received an upgrade to an Ocean View Suite.  Our room included a separate living room space, along with two bathrooms and a king size bedroom.  We also had a huge balcony, with views of the resort pool and (you guessed it) an ocean view.  Every night, we got turn down service, complete with pillow chocolates.

The main bathroom in our suite contained a large bath tub, tiled shower, dual vanity, and even a heated toilet seat.  A full range of luxury toiletries are provided from Asprey London.  They also brought us a crib, along with a “Ritz Kids” bag, containing baby shampoo, baby soap, a Ritz-branded bib, and even a rubber duckie!

We had a chance to check out one of the residential suites, which included two bedrooms, a living room, and a kitchen area.  The kitchen had a two-burner stove, a sink, a small fridge, and a microwave.  This could be a really useful room for traveling with a larger family. 

Services & Conveniences

Pool

The centerpiece of the resort is the huge, three-level swimming pool.  In addition to the main pool, there is also a smaller pool for the kiddos, complete with its own waterfall and water jets.  Some reviews of the resort mentioned difficulty getting pool chairs, but we had no problems at all.  There seemed to be plenty of chairs available at all times.  Additionally, you can rent private cabanas.  Some even come with flat screen TVs and a fridge. 

Pool staff was very attentive, bringing towels and chair covers almost immediately upon arrival.  They also provide complementary sunscreen, tanning lotion, and after-sun lotion at huts around the deck.  For little ones, you can request pool toys or floats from the staff. 

Golf

Kapalua features two incredible golf courses – The Plantation Course and The Bay Course, which host professional golf events.  I had the pleasure of playing The Bay Course during our visit.  If you’re a golfer, you simply must give this course a try!  If you’re staying at the Ritz, you can walk to the club house in less than five minutes.

Designed by Arnold Palmer and built in 1975, the Bay Course was created to showcase the geography of coastal Maui.  The course gets its name from the signature 16^th and 17^th holes, which include sweeping views of Oneola and Honokahua bays.  You can literally see both bays from the picturesque 16^th green.  Every detail of the course was meticulously maintained.  Not a blade of grass seemed out of place. 

The Bay Course itself is a lot of fun to play, with its share of scoring opportunities and challenges.  A few long holes give you the opportunity to swing away with your driver, while other holes require a well-placed iron shot from the tee.  The coastal holes are particularly challenging, as hole #16 includes a sharp dogleg left and hole #17 is the only hole on Maui that plays over the ocean.

If you don’t prefer to pack your golf clubs, the course offers some great rental options.  I got a set of Titleist clubs, including spinmill Vokey wedges, and a Scotty Cameron putter.  They even printed a custom bag tag for me, free of charge. 

Spa

No resort stay would be complete without a trip to the spa.  This spa is not to be missed!  We weren’t able to get a couples massage, since one of us had to stay with the baby.  We did get individual massages, and we both agreed that they were fantastic. 

As soon as you walk in the doors at the Ritz Spa, you will feel a sense of peace.  The space is thoughtfully designed, with flowing stone walls and elegant light fixtures.  After checking in, an attendant showed me to the locker room and facilities.  They recommend that you arrive 30+ minutes prior to your massage, to enjoy the hot tub, steam room, dry sauna, and snacks. 

After unwinding for a bit in the hot tub, munching on some pineapple and banana chips, and sipping on strawberry/coconut infused water, I was ready for my massage.  The spa menu includes lots of options, and I opted for the lomi lomi massage.  My masseuse did a fantastic job working on all of my sore spots, leaving me very refreshed.  Afterwards, I spent a few minutes in the steam room, showered off, and left, feeling wonderful.

Beaches

The Ritz Carlton Kapalua property sits between two beaches on the Northwest coast of Maui.  Before booking, we read lots of reviews, where people complained that the resort wasn’t “beachfront,” and that you had to walk “really far” to the beach.  Honestly, that’s ridiculous.  The beaches are very close to the resort.  At most, it should take three minutes to walk along a paved path, or you can request a golf cart to take you from the pool down to the beach.

In the winter, the water on this part of the island can be a bit rough.  If you’re into boogie boarding or surfing, this is your spot.  This is also a great place for whale watching between December and April, because the whales love to swim in the channel between Maui and Molokai.  During the summer, the water calms down quite a bit, making these beaches more kid-friendly. 

Activities

If you want to work up a sweat, the resort features a full fitness center, with lots of cardio equipment, weight machines, and free weights.  They also have tennis, pickleball, basketball, bocce ball, shuffleboard, cornhole, and more available.  Equipment can be picked up at the poolside huts.

Baby Beach (Nearby)

As I mentioned above, we didn’t really plan to leave the resort during our trip.  Unfortunately, a minor medical situation required a 15-minute drive to Lahaina for treatment.  Since we were already there, we spent a few hours checking things out.  We found a place called Baby Beach… yes, it’s actually called that.  This stretch of reef-protected coastline, just north of Lahaina, has calm, clear, shallow water.  We took our daughter there, so she could happily splash around in the water and play in the sand, without getting thrashed by waves.   Highly recommended, whether you bring a baby or not.

To access Baby Beach, drive to the location on Google Maps. You will find yourself in a private cul de sac. Turn around, and look to your right as you exit the residential street. You will see a small sign and a path for beach access. Park along the main road and follow that path to the beach.

Restaurants & Dining

The Ritz-Carlton Kapalua has many dining options on the property, ranging from fine dining to an actual burger shack.  We sampled food from as many places as we could.

Banyan Tree

Banyan Tree is the fine dining restaurant at the resort.  It sits on the western edge, overlooking the ocean.  We enjoyed an incredible multi-course meal here, complete with cocktails, wine pairing, and dessert.

Our server, Nick (he’s the best), started us off with a couple cocktails and an order of Hawaiian sweet bread with salted butter.  My cocktail was whiskey-based, with chili-pineapple syrup and amaro, and my wife’s cocktail was rum-based, with coconut, passionfruit, pineapple, lime, and whipped egg whites.

For appetizers, we selected a half-dozen oysters and the fresh catch ceviche.  The ceviche includes the daily catch, mixed with papaya, serrano chiles, red onion, and cane vinegar.  It is served in a coconut, with sweet potato and taro chips. 

Our main courses were the mahi mahi and the filet mignon with lobster.  The mahi was cooked to perfection and served in a heavenly coconut curry sauce, on a bed of zucchini noodles.  My filet was thick and juicy, with a side of fingerling potatoes, and a buttery half lobster tail.

We finished up with a couple desserts – banana spring rolls with chocolate sauce and mixed pot of chocolate gelato, ganache, and yuzu caramel. 

Ulana Breakfast

Unfortunately, Ritz-Carlton is one of the few brands in the Marriott portfolio that does not offer free breakfast as an elite member perk.  None-the-less, we had to try the opulent breakfast buffet at Ulana.

This buffet is crazy!  It included an omelet station, mini waffles, pancakes, assorted pastries, lots of fresh fruits, eggs, bacon, cheesy potatoes, sausage, noodles, fresh fish, cereal, and much more.  Beverage options included a virgin bloody Mary bar, assorted fruit juices, lilikoi kombucha, coffee, tea, and water. 

Our favorite items were the waffles with coconut syrup, loaded omelet, crispy bacon, and papaya with lime.  You certainly won’t leave this breakfast buffet hungry.

‘Olu Poolside Café

While lounging by the pool, it can be quite a burden to get up and go somewhere for lunch.  Fortunately, you can simply flag down a server from Olu and order from your pool chair.  You could also download the Marriott Bonvoy app to browse the menu and order while you lounge. They offer a variety of frozen cocktails and light bites.  We shared a delicious chicken pesto sandwich, with thick cut fries and a frozen mojito.  If you’re not feeling too lazy, you do have the option to eat at a table in the open-air restaurant.  They also have TVs for sporting events. 

Kai Café

The Kai Café is perfect for a quick bite or to grab a jolt of caffeine at the coffee bar.  They offer all kinds of snacks and some breakfast sandwiches.  Swing in and grab a salted brown sugar donut and a Hawaiian Latte (coconut and macadamia nut syrup), and thank me later!

Burger Shack

Down by D.T. Fleming Beach, you will find the Burger Shack.  Here, you can grab a fat, juicy burger or sandwich and sweet potato fries.  We split the pulled pork sandwich with Maui onion marmalade, and a side order of chicken lumpia.  Finish your meal off with one of the decadent shakes, like the Hula Girl – a pineapple/coconut blend, topped with whipped cream and a mounds bar.

Alaloa Lounge

The Alaloa Lounge was the only dining option that we didn’t get to try.  It’s located right in the main lobby, and is set up like a sports bar. They serve light fare, appetizers, specialty cocktails and beers.

Merrimans Fish House (nearby)

While not technically on the property, Merrimans Fish House is just on the opposite side of Kapalua Bay.  The hotel shuttle will take you there in just a couple minutes.  If you want to eat here, be sure to make a reservation well in advance.  We heard that reservations were booked out at least a few weeks.  If you can’t get a reservation, you can still go and enjoy happy hour at the Point Bar from 3-5pm, overlooking the bay.  You may even get lucky and see a whale or two.

We set up a 5:15 dinner reservation a month in advance.  (We have to eat early, so the baby can get to bed on time.)  The early time actually worked quite well, because we came in a little earlier for happy hour.  They offer a couple cocktails at half of the menu price.  We sat on the back deck, enjoyed the live music, and watched for whales. 

At dinner time, we headed inside and were seated at a table with a fantastic bay view.  We ordered our meals and watched as whales started to pop up in the bay.  We enjoyed the Diver Scallops in a coconut-creamed corn sauce and the Kona Kampachi with truffle ravioli. You must make a point to dine at Merriman’s! Don’t miss the sunset after dinner either!

Honoloa Store (nearby)

Just outside the main entrance to the resort (3-minute walk), you will find the Honoloa Store. If you’re looking to grab a (relatively) cheap bite to eat or pick up some beer, snacks, or other essentials, this store is a great option.

We bought a 12-can variety pack from Maui Brewing Company for $24. Compare that to $9/beer at the resort. Meals here include poke bowls, acai bowls, burgers, wraps, breakfast items, local dishes, and daily specials. You can get made-to-order, or pre-packaged meals. They also have a full-service coffee shop. The average meal ranges in price from $8-$12.

X-Factor

This is a resort that you really never need to leave during your visit. It’s got everything for you, right on the property – pools, beaches, golf, spa, great food, and friendly staff. I met with the Director of Marketing during our visit, and she summed up the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua in three words: Luxury, Relaxation, and Adventure. I couldn’t agree more.

If you’re seeking luxury, the Ritz-Carlton brand brings it in spades. Every aspect of the property is high-end, and no detail is spared. From fresh flower leis at check-in, to high end toiletries, to friendly staff, you will feel like a VIP.

If you’re seeking relaxation, you’ve found it. You can post up in a pool lounger and have food/drinks brought directly to you. The spa is an immersive, peaceful oasis to help your stress melt away.

And, if you’re seeking adventure, you have plenty of options. You can surf at the beach, walk the coastal trail, watch whales breach, and even book a zip line tour.

Final Thoughts

We loved our time at the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua. It was a welcome break, and a nice change of pace from our usually fast-paced trips. If you plan to visit, be sure to book now, before the price goes up on March 4, 2020. This resort is an excellent redemption value, and I’m confident that you will thoroughly enjoy your visit. Aloha!