Ritz-Carlton Kapalua - detailed hotel review and pictures Latest Update:    Ritz-Carlton Kapalua is closed for renovation until January 7, 2008. No rooms will be available during construction. We recommend booking your stay at Hyatt Regency Maui, a very luxurious 5-star resort located in Kaanapali.    Table of Contents: 1. Location - On Maui's secluded North Shore 2. Rooms - Which rooms have the best view? 3. Restaurants - See 3 reviews 4. Things to do - Read about beach activities, children's program and on-site facilities 5. Rates - How you can get a good deal 6. Have you stayed at Ritz-Carlton Kapalua before? - Share your thoughts! 7. Not sure if this hotel is right for you? - Consider comparable hotels
1. Location    Ritz-Carlton Kapalua (also known as Ritz-Carlton Maui) is located on Maui's secluded North Shore. It sits on a bluff amidst Cook pines, ironwood trees and 3 beautiful white-sand beaches. This hotel is elegant in an old English way, with details like antique lamps and Middle-Eastern rugs. The service follows an immaculate formal European style that is rarely found in Hawaii.    Grounds are open and graceful, with plenty of tropical foliage and flowers. Beautiful open-air lobby opens to a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean. In the evening, there is always a singer in the lobby, so you can listen to relaxing music while having cocktails or walking back from dinner.    The ocean is beautiful, always in sight but a bit further away than at most oceanfront hotels. Originally, Ritz-Carlton Maui was planned right on the beach, but during construction, the burial site of ancient Hawaiians was discovered in the sand, and the hotel was moved up the hill. The setback improved hotel's outlook, which now has fantastic views of both Lanai and Molokai islands. The beach is just a short walk downhill from the hotel, and golf carts always roam the property picking up guests to give them rides to and from the beach.    Ritz-Carlton Kapalua is pretty secluded, you are definitely not in a hotel row. It has a very private feel about it, yet it is just 10 miles away from Lahaina (historic whaling town with shopping and nightlife activities) and Kaanapali (main resort area). If you get bored, there are always many places to go.    The nearest airport is West Kapalua (10-min drive), but it has very limited flight service, so it will probably be easier to fly into main airport, Kahului (about 45-min drive).   2. Rooms    All 548 rooms are upscale and well appointed. The bed is incredibly soft and firm, with a fluffy down comforter (if you really like it, you can buy one as a signature set to take home).    Marble bathroom has separate showers and double vanities, very soft cotton-blend Ritz Carlton bathrobes, hair dryer and make-up mirror. You can purchase a "butler drawn bath" with roses and chocolates.    The views are great, even if you are one of the lower-end rooms (garden view). Ocean front room is worth every penny you pay... at night, you can open the balcony doors and fall fast asleep to the gentle sounds of the waves. Each room features: 450 sq ft Beds: 1 king or 2 doubles Air-conditioning Private lanai with sliding door Fully stocked minibar TV with cable and many pay-per-view options CD player Potpourri atop the dresser (changed daily) Desk with stationery and postcards Hair dryer Iron and board Free in-room safe Twice-a-day maid service Nightly turndown service    Ritz-Carlton Club - book this if you want extra luxury and exclusivity! Club Level rooms are located on 8th and 9th floors of the Napili Wing. These 32 rooms and 4 suites are accessible via elevator key only. You will find the absolutely best amenities, from French roast coffee in the morning to lunch buffet to afternoon cookies to pupus and drinks at sunset served in private lounge with spectacular views of The Bay Golf Course and Pacific Ocean.     3. Restaurants    All of the restaurants at Ritz-Carlton Kapalua are overseen by chef Stephen Marshall who has created a different style for each one of them:    1) The Banyan Tree - this 4-diamond restaurant specializes in "eclectic Pacific cuisine". Food is really extraordinary, it is also a favorite for Sunday Champagne Brunch. Perfect spot for sunset cocktails and dinner - the views of Molokai and the Pacific are amazing here! You can also listen to Ranga Rae, a unique world-fusion duo playing exotic Pacific Island instruments 5 nights a week.    2) The Terrace - Start your day with their yummy Plantation Breakfast Buffet that includes lobster Benedict, Belgian waffles, macadamia nut pancakes and Kapalua pineapple. You will be greeted with a warm Aloha and freshly brewed coffee. Smell the ocean and feel fresh sea breezes while you are sitting outside looking at the manicured gardens, the 3-tiered pool and the Pacific Ocean.    3) The Beach House Bar & Grill - one of most famous restaurants at Ritz Kapalua. It focuses on innovative Hawaiian cuisine and has a private dining room. Try exotic dishes like braised uku and watercress with fresh island vegetables and coconut water.   4. Things to do    The Ritz-Carlton Maui is a complete universe, one of those resorts where you can happily sit by the ocean for 2 whole weeks and never even want to leave the grounds!   Beach Activities    Ritz-Carlton Kapalua is located next to the D.F. Fleming Beach, officially considered one of the best beaches on Maui. Like all the beaches in Hawaii, it is public, though a section of the beach is attended carefully by Ritz personnel.    The kiosk stocks ice water, towers and lotions, and the helpful staff will set up your lounge chair, if you like. There are seaside showers and changing facilities along with the Beach House Restaurant where lunch is served until late afternoon along with Maui's best "lava flow" cocktails. Grab a cabana and a Mai Tai and you have just reached heaven on earth!    There are many ocean activities available nearby, such as snorkeling in protected bays, scuba diving, kayaking, boogie boarding, sunset sailing, windsurfing. You will find scenic jogging and walking trails all over the resort, and great hiking just minutes away in the West Maui Mountains. During winter months (Dec-Apr), you can watch humpback whales play offshore.   Children's Program (about $50/day in 2004)       Ritz Kids program offers a variety of activities and is now free (covered by $15 daily resort fee) for half-day or full-day, though you still have to pay for lunch. There is also a special "Kids Night Out" program on Wednesdays, 5-9pm, where your little ones play games, have dinner and watch a movie while you are enjoying a night out.   Golf    Ritz-Carlton Kapalua is a dream resort for any golfer. It has 3 world-class courses and a golf academy with large staff of PGA professionals: - The Bay Course - par 72, designed by Arnold Palmer and Francis Duane. It is set among pineapple fields and breathtaking natural formations. - The Village Course - par 71, designed by Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay. First 5 holes sit high into the West Maui Mountains, surrounded by palms and hibiscus. Holes #4 and #5 are set on a lava peninsula that carves two sparkling bays. When you emerge on the 6th tee, you are greeted by a stunning panorama of the Pacific. - The Plantation Course - par 73, designed by Bill Coore and Ben Creshaw. This is a mountain course that climbs to 750 ft above sea level through centuries-old groves of eucalyptus and Cook pines. Enjoy panoramic views of a pristine lake, pineapple fields, lush green gorges filled with guava, passion fruit and grasses. Hole #7 is the most dramatic with a 150 ft drop in elevation from tee to green. - Kapalua Golf Academy: Hawaii's first state-of-the-art Golf Academy opened its doors in August of 2000. Designed by Senior PGA Tour Professional Hale Irwin, the Kapalua Golf Academy offers a wide range of instruction to benefit players of all levels, including clinics, one- and two-day golf schools, putting green, warm-up range and organized tournaments.   Other facilities include: 10,000 sq ft 3-tier heated swimming pool 2 hydrotherapy pools Large sundeck Complete Fitness Center and spa 10 oceanfront plexi-pave lighted tennis courts 9-hole putting green on site Croquet lawn Eco-tour hikes and activities Beauty salon Business center	Grounds: Beach: Beach cabana: Garden view room: Sitting area in the room: Bed: Beach House Restaurant: Kai Sushi Restaurant: Lobby Lounge: Swimming pool (2 pictures): Golf:
5. Rates Save $41-$195 per night when you book our wholesale rate, plus get 6th night free and daily breakfast.      Our rates are lower than Travelocity, Expedia and Orbitz.      Check rates and availability here! 6. Have you stayed at Ritz-Carlton Kapalua before? Share your thoughts!    Email us your comments about Ritz-Carlton Maui and we'll post them on this page!    Note: Your contact information will be kept strictly confidential.    We respect your privacy and we'll never sell or misuse your email address.    Your email:    Your name:    How did you like your stay at Ritz-Carlton Kapalua?            7. Not sure if this hotel is right for you? Consider comparable hotels    Here are the links to similar hotels: Kapalua Bay Hotel (5 stars) and Kapalua Villas (4 stars, condo).    Want to check out other hotels on Maui? See all 36 hotels and condos. home  |  plan your trip  |  specials  |  faqs  |  about us  |  contact us © 1999-2007 Hawaii Travel Bureau. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy. Terms and Conditions.