Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa A Waldorf Astoria Resort

The Waldorf Astoria is undeniably beautiful, and our kids loved the variety of pools. There are several large swimming pools spread throughout the property, which felt a bit like a maze at first but turned into a fun adventure once we got the hang of it. The kids especially loved the water slides. That said, a few things made the stay less relaxing than we’d hoped. The resort was very over crowded and largely not ideal for a family with three kids. Pool seating is extremely limited unless you claim chairs early in the morning, and there aren’t great alternatives for stashing your things. Slow poolside service and wait times for valet added to frustration given the cost of the resort. Dining was another challenge as kid-friendly food options were limited and very expensive for the quality. Plus, if you don’t make dinner reservations well in advance, your options on-site are slim. For a resort at this price point, we expected more ease and availability. Also, no flower leis on arrival… just a small touch we missed. Overall, our kids had a great time and the setting is gorgeous, but the crowds, dining limitations, slow service, and lack of seating warrant a much lower rating than I hoped to give.

We’ve been looking forward to our stay at the Grand Wailea for quite some time, and while the property itself is beautiful, the overall experience has fallen short—especially given the premium price point. Upon arrival, there was no warm welcome or traditional lei greeting that you’d expect from a resort of this caliber. Check-in felt transactional, and we were simply handed water bottles and told to refill them throughout the property. Service has been underwhelming so far. For example, the only place to grab a morning coffee is the Market, which typically has one cashier working, leading to long lines and extended wait times. It’s hard to relax when you’re spending more time waiting than enjoying. The pool area is stunning and just steps from the breathtaking beach, which made it one of the highlights of our stay. However, be cautious when reserving pool chairs and umbrellas. We left our towels and my son’s water toy on our loungers while we went to the beach for just 30 minutes. When we returned, everything was gone. I asked the pool staff, and while they said they’d replace the towels, there was no apology or effort to help us find another spot to sit. For a resort of this caliber, I expected a higher level of service and guest care. Just sharing this for others who may be considering a stay and have similar expectations for luxury service.

We recently stayed at the Grand Wailea Hotel in Maui and were very underwhelmed by the overall experience — especially considering its 5-star rating. The cabana prices are outrageously high, and to make matters worse, there is no poolside service at all. They’ve packed so many cabanas into the pool area that there are barely any complimentary loungers left for regular guests or families. If you’re not down at the pool by 7am, chances are you’ll find all the few available chairs already reserved — forcing you to pay extra just to sit down. The beach chair situation is no better. They tried to charge us for basic beach chairs, which is frustrating since there’s little to no alternative if everything around the pool is taken. The pool area feels cramped, and with no service and limited space to walk, it’s far from relaxing. The staff also didn’t seem particularly friendly, likely because they’re constantly having to deal with frustrated guests — which creates an overall tense and unwelcoming vibe. As for the rooms, they were fine — clean but nothing special or luxurious. There’s basic coffee and bottled water, but no real amenities to speak of. Aside from the beautiful landscaping, I honestly don’t understand how this hotel is still considered 5 stars. The Grand Wailea may have once been iconic, but sadly, it’s gone downhill. If you’re looking for a true luxury resort experience in Maui, I’d recommend looking elsewhere.