The 14 best hotels in Maui for a tropical hideaway

With its cloud-piercing mountains, lush forests and idyllic beaches, it’s hard to end up anywhere on Maui that feels like a bad location. Still, the Fairmont Kea Lani’s oceanfront locale is one of the most stunning you can find on the island. Located on Polo Beach, the resort offers stunning views of calm Pacific waters along with Kahoolawe and the Molokini crater in the distance. Best of all, the Fairmont Kea Lani doesn’t feel removed from the outside world. Instead, it incorporates local Hawaiian culture in vital and innovative ways—including with an on-site cultural center.

Mood? Oceanfront luxury
Location perks? Located on a three-mile Beach Walk that's perfect for an early morning jog
Budget range? High-end.

To experience authentic Hawaiian accommodation and hospitality, look no further than The Whaler Resort on Ka’anapali beach (voted America's best beach on numerous occasions, no less). Thanks to a large lanai (balcony) with every condo, the resort provides great views of the West Maui Mountains and the Pacific Ocean – access to which is direct, naturally. Sporty types will be delighted by the lit outdoor tennis courts, golf, sailing, snorkeling and swimming on offer. There's also a dry sauna, food court and, as hinted by the name, whale watching available. But honestly, sitting by the pool with a tropical cocktail—there's your holiday, people.

Mood? Tropical paradise.
Location perks? Beachfront access, need we say anymore?
Budget range? Mid-range to high-end.

Located on a private section of Wailea Beach, these tropical-styled two-to-five-bedroom villas come complete with modern kitchens, flatscreen TVs, and your own BBQ so you can grill while you lounge on the terrace. Kids and adults can enjoy the pools, with a family-friendly pool featuring waterfalls, and an adults-only infinity pool for downtime with drinks. Just 15 minutes from Kihei, Wailea Beach Villas is perfectly situated to explore the less touristy parts of the island.

Mood? Summer getaway.
Location perks? The beach is steps away – or the infinity pool if that's more your vibe.
Budget range? Expensive but worth it.

If you’re looking to switch off and completely dedicate yourself to authentic island life, you can’t do much better than the Hana-Maui Resort. This award-winning hotel of spacious rustic-chic cottages in the secluded eastern tip of Hana sits perched amid rolling grass fields and towering cliffs studded with palm trees, giving the sort of remote Maui experience that’s far removed from the rest of its tourist hubs. Want to see the best of Maui’s natural beauty? This resort is conveniently close to some of the island’s most famous wonders, such as Wailua Falls and the seven sacred pools cascade of waterfalls. Activities here include horse riding, bamboo pole fishing, and more. 

Mood? Sublime nature.
Location perks? Tropical vibes all round. 
Budget range? On the high end.

One of the best—and easiest—snorkeling destinations on the island is right in front of Sheraton Maui Resort. Guests can simply walk into the shallow surf to see tropical fish and sea turtles. Alongside this is the famous Black Rock, where nightly cliff diving ceremonies are performed by tiki light, while daytime hours see a stream of brave visitors trying out a cannonball (yeah, that kind of cannonball). The resort offers beachside s’mores kits to enjoy around the firepit, while daylight should be spent lazing about the massive lagoon-style pool. Then admire oceanfront views from your guestroom before enjoying dinner at one of five restaurants. 

Mood? Seaside bliss.
Location perks? Balconies overlooking the ocean and palm-tree-lined pools. 
Budget range? On the pricier end.

Set along the famous Ka’anapali Beach, Hyatt Regency checks off all the ingredients of an indulgent Hawaiian getaway; expansive pools, immediate beach access, an onsite luau, and a palate-pleasing variety of eateries day and night. You’ll also find a few surprises here, including resident penguins (yup!) and a rooftop astronomy program – which helped the hotel secure its name as the World's Top Hotels for Stargazing. Every single guestroom has a private lanai for enjoying magnificent views, and the restaurant offerings range from a steakhouse to an award-winning beach setting featuring authentic Hawaiian entertainment. 

Mood? Modern luxury.
Location perks? Endless sea views and beautiful sunsets.
Budget range? On the pricey side.

This five-star hotel perched on Kapalua bay boasts 24 acres and 70 one-to-four-bedroom luxury suites, making it one of the more intimate luxury hotels on the island. With four restaurants and bars (including a private dining room on the edge of a cliff) and a full-service spa inspired by the tropics with highly personalizable treatments featuring luxury Swiss skincare products, the Montage’s Kapalua enclave covers your resort bases without making you feel like you’re staying at just another cookie-cutter luxury chain outpost.

Mood? Luxury treatment. 
Location perks? All the amenities you could dream of – with a few more sprinkled in for good measure.
Budget range? Incredibly expensive but soooo worth it. 

On a prime site along Maui’s Wailea Beach, the Four Seasons is the place to head for a truly activity-packed holiday – making it a top choice for family hotels in Maui. Experiences on offer include a helicopter tour, swimming in lava caves and hiking a bamboo forest. You might almost be too busy exploring to notice how beautifully light and airy your high-ceilinged suite overlooking the ocean is. At the hotel, which in point of fact, you'd have every right to never want to leave, there are three swimming pools and three restaurants. Visitors are a mere mile away from the prime retail destination: The Shops. The hotel is also a two-minute drive from Wailea Golf Club. 

Mood? Contemporary opulence.
Location perks? The best Insta ops you could possibly find on the island. 
Budget range? Pricey but a really great choice.

One cascading outdoor infinity pool is pretty special. But four is… well, it’s what you’ll find at this fantastic beachfront hotel in Wailea. Along with the pools (one of which is reserved just for adults), visitors can also enjoy some of the island’s best restaurants, including Ka’ana Kitchen and Morimoto Maui. There is also a heavenly spa. Set on 15 beachfront acres, this luxury property offers direct access to Mokapu Beach, an onsite luau, and amenities like private hiking tours. If you decide to coop up in your room, you can enjoy the balcony and complimentary non-alcoholic drinks. If you want some activities, kayak and surfing lessons are available on-site. 

Mood? Five star energy. 
Location perks? Tbh, the infinity pool is that good, you'll never want to leave. 
Budget range? Spenny but great.

Home to famed Hawaiian chef Roy Yamaguchi’s restaurant Humble Market Kitchin, and one of the best luaus on this side of the island, the Wailea Beach Marriot’s luxurious beachfront location is an ideal base for immersion in the Wailea Beach scene. There’s great snorkeling at neighboring Ulua Beach, while the resort itself has three distinct pool areas, including an adventure pool with four waterslides. There are also golf courses, nature paths, and many more activities right on the doorstep along with retail galore at The Shops. Cabana candlelight dinners are also available by the pool for newlyweds or someone looking for the perfect proposal moment... 

Mood? Resort vibes, eat your heart out. 
Location perks? Peace, tranquility, and a whole lotta cocktails at the pool bar. 
Budget range? Well-priced for a resort. 

Located in Kapalua on the quieter side of the island, the Ritz-Carlton is all about understated elegance. Home to six restaurants, a private beach, a locally-inspired spa, and two of Maui’s most exclusive and renowned golf courses, the Ritz-Carlton is the sort of hotel that you never actually need to leave - unless you want to. Pro tip: no stay is complete without a fancy brunch (and a few guava mimosas) at the Plantation House, the golf course’s clubhouse restaurant. There are body treatments, facials, two tennis courts, a fitness center, and many other activities. If you do leave, there are plenty of nearby beaches, shopping resorts, and more. 

Mood? Island getaway. 
Location perks? Feel like you're on your very own island at this beautiful five-star.
Budget range? A great deal for all that's on offer – for those with a higher budget.

If you’re the sort of person who defines a Maui vacation as a whole lot of swim time, then the Grand Wailea is the hotel for you. Following a $4 million overhaul, it offers nine—count ’em—nine pools, connected by a lazy river and featuring a water elevator. Grown-ups will be pleased to know there's one adults-only pool, plus a swim-up bar. The hotel also boasts three golf courses, five restaurants, a spa, yoga lessons, a children's activity program and so much more.

Mood? Wet dream.
Location perks? Sea views, pool views, all the views.
Budget range? Very spenny.

Situated in the western part of the island, sandwiched between the mountains and the ocean, The Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas is unlike any sub you'll have. Hey, could you blame us? With views this delicious, they may as well be edible. And as you might expect for the steep price point (no shade), rooms are handsomely furnished with earthy and elegant interiors complete with a whirlpool bathtub, a flatscreen TV, a kitchenette, dining area, and balcony. From elegant crash pads and straight to the pool, well, whichever of the six you decide to take a dip in there are infinite ways to soak up this tropic paradise. 

 Mood? Tropic luxe. 
Location perks? Whether your vibe is snorkelling or cooling off under the waterfalls, you'll find it here.
Budget range? Budget blown.

Forget luxury, you're practically an A-lister when you stay at Hotel Wailea Relais & Châteaux. Why we love this place? It's perched on a cliff and shrouded by tropical forestland, so it feels cut off from the rest of the Island, all the while, you get the most serene ocean views from here. Each chateaux meanwhile, are elegantly dressed in pebbly and woody tones – very beachy and chill. Kick back and enjoy a romantic island to table dinner reservation overlooking the ocean at sunset. 

Mood? Peak of luxury.
Location perks? Views overlooking 15 landscaped acres, deep soaking tubs, ocean views, we could go on... 
Budget range? As luxury as it gets.