Travelers flock to Hawaii to enjoy balmy weather, pristine Pacific Ocean beaches, tropical gardens, and to get an up-close look at sea life and volcanoes. Visitors to the islands will have no trouble finding a first-class hotel in Hawaii--islands are home to some of the most luxurious hotels in the world. These hotels go above and beyond and offer complimentary amenities such as wireless Internet access, hula lessons, golf clinics and island tours. Guest rooms may feature marble bathrooms and plush bathrobes, terraces or lanais and outdoor lava rock showers.
"Travel + Leisure" magazine calls the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows one of the "top hotels in the world." It located oceanfront on the Kohala Coast and guests have views of both the mountains and the sea. When guests arrive they are greeted with a traditional floral lei and a tropical drink.
Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows features beach cabanas, snorkeling equipment, bicycles, a gym, lap pool, sand volleyball and tennis. The hotel spa draws on the natural beauty of Hawaii for its services and offers both traditional Hawaiian treatments and massage therapy as well as facials, manicures, pedicures and a hair salon. Shuttle service is available throughout the resort, and valet and self-parking is available.
Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows
68-1400 Mauna Lani Dr.
Kohala Coast, HI 96743
808-885-6622
maunalani.com
The western edge of Maui is home to the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua. The resort features lava peninsulas, three white sand beaches, PGA golf courses and a marine life conservation area. The hotel has more than 460 guest rooms, including residential suites. Rooms are decorated with dark wood floors and Hawaiian-inspired artwork and feature flat-screen LCD TVs, lanais and MP3 docking stations.
The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Kapalua is 17,500 square feet and includes private shower gardens, steam rooms, saunas, whirlpools and volcanic stone grottos. There is also a 24-hour gym and yoga studio complete with Pacific Ocean views. There is also a tri-level, 10,000 square foot swimming pool complete with a 20,000 square-foot sundeck. Restaurants include The Terrace, Banyan Tree, Kai Sushi and the Alaloa Lounge.
The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua
One Ritz-Carlton Dr.
Kapalua, Maui, HI 96761
808-669-6200
ritzcarlton.com
The Four Seasons Resort Hualalai bills itself as a tropical paradise. It's located on the Big Island's Kona-Kohala Coast and guests stay in bungalows with views of the ocean or the Jack Nicklaus golf course. There are more than 180 guest rooms and 51 suites, some of which feature steam showers. Rooms also offer granite bathrooms with soaking tubs and living areas complete with flat-screen TVs, CD players and down duvets and pillows.
Guests can relax in the hotel spa, work out in the Hualalai Sports Club or take a dip in the oceanfront swimming pool, where The Beach Tree Bar & Grill provides poolside snacks and drinks. Guests are also free to grab a complimentary lounge chair and head to the hotel's white sand beach.
Four Seasons Resort Hualalai
72-100 Ka`upulehu Dr.
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
808-325-8000
fourseasons.com
