Grand Wailea Maui, A Waldorf Astoria Resort

“Eat at Humu for dinner but skip their buffet”

Beautiful property with pools that kids can only dream of . The staff were all so kind and hard-working , from the front desk , to valet , to housekeeping . The grounds themselves, however , couldn’t merit a 5 star review . We were a bit disappointed on a few things. The most important was … more

Beautiful property with pools that kids can only dream of . The staff were all so kind and hard-working , from the front desk , to valet , to housekeeping . The grounds themselves, however , couldn’t merit a 5 star review . We were a bit disappointed on a few things. The most important was the pool safety regarding the lounge chairs . They have crammed as many lounge chairs as possible, leading to guest safety . Within one hour of our arrival , I tripped on a chair and fell over a second chair. I have never been so severely bruised in my lifetime . I didn’t report at that the time because I didn’t want the hotel to think I was taking advantage of anything , which is why I choose to wait until checking out to review . I saw several other people tripping on the chairs. I found the most dangerous part of the pool to be between the rope drop and facing the beach . I kid not , there was a section of chairs with maybe 6 inches away from the pool water . Another thing I would have appreciated is more towel service stations, especially along the beach . At the price point , it is definitely an inconvenience to have to walk to the main pool area for towels or drop off . More hydro stations along the back area of the pool would also be appreciated . Overall a beautiful , pleasant stay but a few changes should be considered . PS: for parents of young children, skip the buffet - your kids won’t be able to eat $50 worth of food the buffet charges for them.

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“A Beautiful Property Marred by Frustrating Service and Absurd Policies”

My wife and I recently stayed at the Grand Wailea to celebrate her birthday. While the property itself is stunning and boasts some genuinely great amenities, the experience was a confusing mix of highs and deeply frustrating lows. The frustration started immediately. The valet was in a massive rus… more

My wife and I recently stayed at the Grand Wailea to celebrate her birthday. While the property itself is stunning and boasts some genuinely great amenities, the experience was a confusing mix of highs and deeply frustrating lows. The frustration started immediately. The valet was in a massive rush to get me out of the car without listening to my questions about early check-in. I was told temporary parking wasn't allowed without someone staying in the car - an odd policy for guests who might just need a restroom break after a long drive. Prior to arrival, I received an email stating that if my room wasn't ready, the bellman would store our luggage on the 4th floor and we could enjoy an "exclusive private check-in" at the 8th-floor Napua Lounge. None of this happened. The bell desk informed me the 8th-floor staff went on lunch break at 2 PM and never returned. I was forced into a massive, slow-moving line on the 4th floor with only four staff members helping about eight families. When I finally got to the front, I was handed keys without a room number and told to wait in the lobby for a text. I booked a 1 King Bed with Sofa bed, Ocean View. I was grateful they upgraded us to the Napua Tower for my wife’s birthday, but the room lacked an actual ocean view from the inside. I could only see the building across from us unless I went out to the balcony and look at the right corner. Worse, the room wasn't properly prepared. The bed and pillows were messy, and there was a white, crusty spill (coffee or food sauce) over the TV. Despite calling to request a cleaning while we went out, housekeeping remade the bed but completely ignored the dirty TV. This was arguably the most nonsensical part of the stay. The beachside shop closes at 3:30 PM - the prime time guests want to be on the beach for sunset! If you don't return your Tommy Bahama beach chair (which retails for about $100 brand new) by 3:30, they charge a $100 penalty to your room. Furthermore, to get two chairs for my wife and me, the staff demanded we both be physically present to check them out. If a family of 10 wants chairs, all 10 people have to stand in line. On top of this, everyone is forced to wear plastic wristbands. For a luxury resort, this feels incredibly cheap, wasteful, and poorly managed. You are forced into an $80/night valet with no self-parking option - which cost me more than four days of gas driving around the island. Add to that a $55 daily resort fee, and it feels like pure greed when you are already paying upwards of $1,200+ a night. To top it off, my checkout invoice was wrong. My property credits were not applied correctly, resulting in overcharges that staff dismissed by saying it would "calculate automatically" (it didn't). While email communication was okay, the chat feature on the hotel’s app and website is completely useless, taking forever to get a response. The pools and jacuzzis are exceptionally clean, well-managed, and expansive. There is more than enough space for everyone, so it never feels uncomfortably crowded. The poolside, lounge, and housekeeping staff were incredibly friendly and always willing to help with directions or questions. The beach right in front of the resort is fantastic. It’s a truly wonderful place to relax and watch the sunset. Although email responses were slow in the days leading up to the trip, the concierge staff was very supportive once connected and personally helped me re-coordinate a dinner reservation. The room itself (aside from the view and TV) featured a great sofa, nice decor, and a spotless bathroom. Ultimately, the Grand Wailea is a classic case of "all sizzle and no steak". The natural beauty and physical property are fantastic, but the exorbitant and hidden fees, lack of basic communication between departments, and insulting, restrictive guest policies severely detract from what should be a world-class luxury experience.

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