Fairmont Kea Lani review – The Points Guy

Fairmont Kea Lani supplied TPG with a complimentary three-evening keep in order that we may get an inside have a look at the resort and its facilities. The opinions expressed under are fully these of the writer and weren’t topic to review by the resort or any exterior entity.

The Fairmont Kea Lani initially debuted on Wailea’s Polo Beach in 1991, however after present process a multi-million greenback renovation, it is now mixing luxurious facilities with cultural significance.

The reimagined resort helps create one of many largest cultural facilities on the island — notably essential after the lack of Maui’s historic and cultural middle Lahaina. Residents of Lahaina in West Maui are nonetheless rebuilding after devastating fires tore via the historic city in 2023, however tourism to different elements of the island is important now greater than ever.

Those hoping to calm down and unwind in luxurious ought to think about reserving a visit to the Fairmont Kea Lani — here is why the property is a brand new TPG favourite.

Related: The 18 finest inns in Maui, from luxurious stays to household-pleasant resorts

What is the Fairmont Kea Lani?

Set on greater than 20 acres, the Fairmont Kea Lani boasts simply over 400 suites and villas on the pristine Polo Beach in Wailea, about half-hour south of Maui’s Kahului Airport (OGG). The resort has an off-the-cuff magnificence about it, detectable from the second you arrive within the foyer and once you enter your visitor room for the primary time. It feels acquainted, snug and like dwelling — solely fancier. (And my dwelling would not supply expansive ocean views from nearly each window.)

Designed as an all-suite resort, Fairmont Kea Lani caters to everybody from honeymooners to households and multigenerational vacationers. The villas are specifically designed for households, and so they function full kitchens, residing rooms, indoor and outside eating areas and laundry rooms.

The grounds are lush and delightful — precisely what you’ll anticipate for a tropical escape. One of the very best elements about this property is that you’re by no means a far stroll from something; the principle constructing homes the entire eating places, spa and health middle, and there is a brief path to the villas and seashore. With three swimming pools (together with one adults-solely pool), a 140-foot waterslide from the higher to decrease Lagoon pool, cabanas for hire and a full slate of actions, there are many methods to fill your days on the Fairmont Kea Lani.

How to guide Fairmont Kea Lani

The resort is an Accor property, so Accor Live Limitless members can guide and obtain reductions of 10% or earn and redeem factors for stays. Members get Classic standing upon signup, which (along with discounted member charges) supplies unique provides, free Wi-Fi, on-line verify-in and quick checkout. Bookings can be found instantly via the Fairmont Kea Lani web site, the place room charges begin at $899 per evening, together with taxes and costs. For Accor members (it is free to hitch), there’s member-particular pricing on the web site. Simply signal into your account.

And if you wish to redeem factors in your keep, Accor would not have an award chart however moderately a flat charge per level of two cents every. You can use this to offset even a portion of your invoice.

The resort can also be bookable by way of American Express Travel. Cardholders can earn 5 factors per greenback on pay as you go inns if reserving with The Platinum Card® from American Express. It is a Fine Hotels + Resorts® member, so the complimentary breakfast profit, 4 p.m. late checkout and different FHR facilities would apply to your keep. Remember, it’s also possible to get a as soon as-yearly $200 assertion credit score when reserving an Amex FHR or Hotel Collection property by way of Amex Travel. The Hotel Collection requires a minimal two-evening keep

Chase cardholders can earn 5 factors per greenback spent on journey booked via the Chase Travel℠ portal. Rates for stays booked via this portal begin at $1,078 per evening, together with taxes and costs. Capital One and Citi are each switch companions of Accor Live Limitless. You can switch your Capital One miles and Citi ThankYou Rewards factors to Accor at a 2:1 ratio, which means 2,000 miles or factors will turn out to be 1,000 Accor factors — so not the very best worth per mile. Additionally, Bilt Points switch to Accor’s program at a 3:2 ratio — a partnership that was introduced final October.

A panoramic beachfront location 

As beforehand talked about, the resort is about half-hour south of Maui’s Kahului Airport (OGG). You can hook up with the rental automotive middle from the terminal by way of a tram if renting a automotive. A rental automotive is a good possibility should you determine to enterprise off the resort grounds and expertise Maui’s Upcountry or its many different seashores and native eating places. The resort additionally has an Avis Rental Car outpost within the foyer for each day or weekly leases.

We knew we might enterprise outdoors of the resort, so we rented a Jeep Wrangler from the airport’s Avis rental location. We booked via Costco Travel, and a seven-day rental was solely $277 plus taxes and costs.

The climate in Wailea is just about the identical 12 months-spherical — heat and breezy. Even should you see clouds on Haleakala, they not often make their method towards the seashore. The Wailea space is inexperienced and luxurious, stuffed with luxurious resorts and championship golf programs. The Wailea Beach path connects the Fairmont Kea Lani, Four Seasons Maui, Grand Wailea, Marriott’s Wailea Beach Resort and the Andaz Maui, and it is very talked-about for morning walks or jogging.

According to the resort’s web site, valet parking is on the market for $40 per day per automotive. Self-parking is on the market on the resort and is included within the each day resort charge of $50.

The resort concierge will help arrange excursions with native tour operators if you need to expertise actions off-property or see different elements of the island however desire to not drive.

Arrival expertise

Upon coming into the plush oasis that’s the Fairmont Kea Lani (which we reached by way of a quiet driveway), a bellhop greeted us and supplied help with our baggage. Another visitor expertise workers member greeted us with leis and supplied our daughter a whale’s story carved necklace. The journey was already off to an important begin, and we hadn’t even stepped into the beautiful foyer but.

We made a rapid cease on the entrance desk and had been welcomed by the villa expertise workforce. They knowledgeable us that drinks can be replenished each day in our villa fridge and that breakfast was included as a part of the villa keep; in addition they defined that the workforce can be only a cellphone name away if we wanted something.

During the golf cart trip right down to the villa, a bellhop supplied a quick property tour, declaring areas as we went alongside. Once contained in the villa, he supplied an summary of the villa’s options and facilities.

Spectacular oceanfront villas

If you have ever puzzled what residing on the ocean in a villa can be like, that is your probability. We spent three superb nights in a newly renovated, expansive two-bed room, two-tub, 1,800-sq.-foot oceanfront villa with a personal plunge pool and lanai. This can be my perfect residing scenario — falling asleep to the sound of the ocean each evening and figuring out the water is simply steps out of your patio door. It was heaven.

Villa visitors get pleasure from sure resort facilities included with their keep, similar to each day breakfast at Kea Lani Restaurant and valet parking. The villa itself additionally included a barbecue grill on the lanai, two lounge chairs and an outside eating desk. The workers stocked the kitchen fridge with drinks and snacks, and the kitchen was absolutely geared up for cooking. The villa workforce also can help with arranging grocery deliveries.

A big granite eating desk was between the kitchen and residing space. The lounge furnishings included a sectional couch and cozy chair, a flat-display TV and a ceiling fan.

The major suite with a king mattress was on the villa’s higher flooring (the ground you enter from the skin stairs right down to the villa). The room additionally included a writing desk and chair, a chaise lounge and a small patio with a lounger.

Ample charging areas for gadgets had been constructed into the nightstands and TV stand, making it simple to cost a number of gadgets for a household (not that you will want them once you’re having fun with the resort!).

A decrease-flooring bed room off the kitchen and residing space supplied two queen beds, a full closet and a rest room. Each bed room included ample closet house (a big stroll-in closet was upstairs for the first suite) and a full lavatory with a bathtub and stroll-in travertine bathe.

Dual sinks with marble counter tops supplied loads of house for journey kits.

Alongside the Le Labo tub facilities had been bottles of ocean-secure Project Reef mineral sunscreen and after-solar lotion on the toilet counters — a considerate contact.

One of my favourite facilities was with the ability to do laundry in our villa midway via our journey (that is additionally how you realize you are over 40). The stackable washer and dryer had been within the utility room, together with an ironing board and iron.

Drinking and eating

Maui provides outside eating climate 12 months-spherical, so you possibly can really feel the ocean breeze whereas having fun with a cocktail, dinner and a beautiful sundown regardless of the season. The Fairmont Kea Lani has a number of choices for dinner, all with ocean views (along with room service). Overall, the meals high quality in every single place on the property was distinctive — even in case you are not a seafood lover, you’ll not go hungry whereas staying right here.

An added bonus is that children below 5 eat free when eating with a registered visitor via the resort’s Keiki (youngsters) eating program at Ko, Kea Lani Restaurant and AMA Bar and Grill (restaurant solely, no poolside eating). Kids 6 to 12 could order from the Keiki menu at common value or choose gadgets from the total menu and obtain 50% off.

Dinner in Ko Restaurant

Ko incorporates a fusion menu of Hawaiian, Asian and South Pacific flavors in an open-air idea house with principally patio seating. It’s on the bottom degree of the principle constructing overlooking the gardens, the grownup pool and the ocean. The restaurant is open for pleased hour, dinner and Sunday brunch.

To begin, we shared the crispy shrimp with a Maui lavender honey sauce, candied macadamia nuts and smashed sesame cucumbers ($30). The flavors had been an important complement to one another — it was savory and a bit candy on the similar time.

Our dinner selections had been the surf and turf particular of the evening ($57) and the Korean braised brief ribs ($58). The surf and turf was a bowl of Asian noodles tossed with bok choy, inexperienced beans, crimson peppers and sauteed shrimp. Perfectly cooked medium-uncommon slices of ribeye and a chimichurri sauce had been sitting on prime of the noodles. The Korean braised brief ribs had been served with carrots, child bok choy and kimchi fried rice. Both dishes had been stuffed with taste, and we had lots to share.

Breakfast buffet at Kea Lani Restaurant

A villa keep contains each day breakfast at Kea Lani Restaurant. The buffet was plentiful and catered to many alternative tastes — there have been shows of sliced meat, cheeses, artisan bread and pastries, together with Asian-style udon vegetarian noodles and miso salmon, hen potstickers and miso soup.

Each morning, a beneficiant choice was accessible, from waffles, pancakes and made-to-order omelets to bacon, Portuguese sausage, scrambled eggs and egg whites. Continental choices included cereals, yogurts, granola, dried fruits and contemporary sliced fruits.

Pilina ocean-view foyer bar

Serving lunch and dinner, Pilina is an open-air foyer bar with beautiful ocean views. The menu provides native drinks, contemporary seafood, sushi, and a number of meat and fish you possibly can prepare dinner at your desk on a sizzling rock. Just outdoors the doorway are swinging chairs which proved to be my daughter’s favourite spot to go to apart from the pool slide and seashore.

The drink menu features a world wine choice, regionally made and Japanese sake, a number of spirits from Hawaiian distilleries, beer from Maui Brewing Company and cocktails. Try the Mauka cocktail ($24) — which suggests “toward the mountains” — which mixes Fy Hawaii gin, Ohia Lehua honey, ginger, lemon, smoked Big Island bee pollen, angostura bitters and lavender from the Ali’i Kula Lavender Farm we visited earlier within the day.

For dinner, we loved a number of salmon sashimi ($27), rainbow rolls ($37) and edamame ($16) to begin, adopted by venison sliders with yuzu tomato jam aioli on Hawaiian candy rolls ($26). The particular sushi roll of the evening was really useful by our server and turned out to be our favourite — a lobster, avocado, cucumber roll with soy sauce poke on prime with ogo, cilantro microgreens and garlic chips ($37).

I adore it when resorts have superb foyer bars for an informal dinner, and Pilina undoubtedly checked all of the containers due to its stress-free ambiance, nice drink menu and scrumptious meals.

Cultural preservation and household-pleasant actions

In 2024, the resort unveiled a brand new cultural middle within the foyer, and it is appropriate for all ages. The Cultural Center on the Kea Lani is much more important now as a result of so many invaluable Hawaiian artifacts and historic paperwork had been misplaced within the Lahaina wildfires.

The middle provides courses similar to hula dancing and ukulele classes. Plus, it features a everlasting show of Hawaiian artifacts — similar to feather headdresses worn by royalty, jewellery created from seashells, ceremonial accompaniments and musical devices — that had been handmade by Maui artisans who replicated the standard strategies of making them.

Kamahiwa Kawaʻa, the pinnacle of the cultural middle, defined that every thing on show is supposed to be explored and used — permitting visitors to expertise the tradition and historical past firsthand.

We additionally had enjoyable experiencing the each day koi fish feeding at 9 a.m. (geared towards youthful visitors). Kids 10 and over may just like the stargazing occasion twice per week on the garden or the outrigger excursions supplied just a few occasions every morning.

Stargazing in Hawaii is especially distinctive since you might be on an island in the midst of the Pacific Ocean with little or no gentle air pollution. If you reside in an city space, you might need by no means seen the Milky Way or taking pictures stars. It’s price it to strive the excessive-powered telescope the astronomer brings to see planets and nebulae.

A swim with sea turtles is an effective way to begin the morning, and the outrigger tour (ages 10 and up, reservation required) was an informative cultural exercise that lasted about an hour. It started with an evidence of how the Hawaiian individuals historically used canoes for recreation and fishing.

After a conventional Hawaiian prayer and blowing of the conch, the outrigger shoved off Polo Beach and out into the ocean. We paddled in unison for about quarter-hour earlier than stopping to gaze down on the reef under and ease into the water with goggles for a swim. If you are fortunate, you may even get to see some turtles.

Cool off on the seashore or pool

The important pool (appropriate for all ages and households) is split into the higher pool and decrease pool, with a slide connecting the 2. Pool cabanas can be found in each areas, and rental charges begin from $350 per day. The AMA Bar and Grill on the higher pool serves informal Hawaiian fare and in addition provides pleased hour, a swim-up bar and patio eating.

The adults-solely pool is nearer to the principle constructing, dealing with Ko Restaurant and the Kea Lani breakfast patio.

Cabana leases include a bento field of edamame and contemporary pineapple to snack on, in addition to a tender-sided cooler stocked with ice, water, juices and sodas. Pool attendants commonly make the rounds checking on visitors and, within the afternoon, carry round frozen chocolate mochi bites for everybody to get pleasure from.

Pool facilities embody refillable bottles of mineral sunscreen, a retail store the place you should buy goggles, sun shades, pool floats and toys; there’s additionally a scuba desk the place you possibly can prepare classes.

Down at Polo Beach, there’s an expansive verdant garden for actions like watching the sundown, morning yoga or for youths to play. Guests who want to borrow kayaks or stand-up paddleboards can achieve this freed from cost from the seashore.

Relax on the Willow Stream Spa

Willow Stream Spa is a signature of Fairmont properties with distinctive customer support and coverings. The spa at this property — which is slated to be renovated later this 12 months — options 13 therapy rooms, a full salon and boutique, oceanfront and poolside spa cabanas, and a number of rest areas.

For my therapy, I selected the Natural Hawaiian Journey (120 minutes, $465), which options regionally grown substances that native Hawaiians use to take care of well being and effectively-being. I additionally selected so as to add on a Knesko collagen face masks ($55).

After my therapy, my pores and skin felt hydrated and relaxed. My therapist, Kellie, supplied professional suggestions for my pores and skin sort and methods to take care of my publish-spa glow.

Be certain to go away your self time to expertise the opposite elements of the spa, from the relief room to the therapeutic clay and steam room to the experiential showers — an “afternoon thunderstorm” bathe was fairly the journey.

Accessibility

The Fairmont Kea Lani is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, because it provides pool chair lifts, vast entrances and vast pathways. The important constructing has elevators for entry to the retailers, eating places, health middle and swimming pools.

Wide pathways join the principle constructing to the swimming pools, villas and seashore. A choose variety of single-story, ocean-view villas are accessible from the principle pathways with out having to navigate steps.

As all the time, TPG recommends calling the resort forward of your keep to make sure they will meet your accessibility wants.

Checking out

After having fun with our final sundown at Polo Beach, the villa workforce known as to rearrange help with baggage and a golf cart trip as much as the entrance of the resort for the subsequent day. When it was time to go away, we had been unhappy to say goodbye to our new oceanfront dwelling away from dwelling, however the aloha spirit of the Fairmont Kea Lani workers stays till our subsequent go to.

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