96753 Travel Guide
Tags: Hotel Closings / Hotel Woes / Maui Hotels / Hotel Foreclosures / → All Tags
Maui Owie: The Maui Prince to Close Next Month
The first Hawaiian hotel casualty of the recession has been claimed--The Maui Prince Hotel and Makena Golf Course will close on September 16, according to news reports. The hotel's management company, Prince Resorts Hawaii, was forced to close the hotel after the owners defaulted on a mortgage of $192.5 million. And it wasn't just the mortgage the owners couldn't keep up with--they couldn't keep up with their end of the operation contract either.
So while a hotel in foreclosure usually doesn't affect the guest experience during their stay, once the hotel owners are unable to meet the demands of their contract with the hotel management company, then things really start to go south.
Tags: Snapshot / Hotel Pools / Maui Hotels / Four Seasons Hotels / Waldorf-Astoria Collection / → All Tags
Start Your Vacation By Waiting in a Line at the Grand Wailea Resort
Last month, we told you that the Grand Wailea Resort and Spa in Wailea, Maui might have the coolest pool amenities (little grottos, a kiddie pool with a beach, waterslides galore) but that the place was too crowded with children for anyone to truly enjoy.
Well, we thought you might like some photographic evidence of just how crowded the pool scene is: here's a snapshot of the line for beach cabanas that we snapped last Friday.
Guests (only hotel guests are allowed access to the resort) must wait in this line before obtaining one of the beach cabanas. As usual with pool chairs and the like, the early bird gets the coveted seat on the beach and by early bird we mean folks who rise before 7:30am.
Also, a quick word about those cabanas--they look ratty and old. We stayed at this resort back in 1996 and we're pretty sure those are the same cabanas in use then. Not surprisingly, the GWR is a part of the Waldorf-Astoria Collection, whose resort properties continue to disappoint with their old, run-down facilities.
Tags: Family-Friendly Hotels / Hawaii Hotels / Hotel Pools / → All Tags
Is the Grand Wailea Resort Like Las Vegas, But for Kids?
Upon hearing that Grand Wailea Resort just threw down $50M for upgrades and renovations, we wanted to give the property a quick before and after look-see while recently in Maui – especially since we were shacked up right next door at Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea.
We should have heeded our gut instinct to steer clear after watching a bajillion screaming kids bouncing and jumping off an oversized inflatable slide in the water directly in front of Grand Wailea Resort. Ick. We asked around and this air-filled atrocity doesn’t actually belong to Grand Wailea Resort; it’s simply a noisy eye sore that disturbs the hotel’s waterfront views. The kids l-o-v-e it.
Tags: Hawaii Hotels / Fairmont Hotels / Hotel Bars / Hotel Cocktails / Maui Hotels / → All Tags
We Go Cuckoo for Pupus at The Fairmont Kea Lani’s New Luana Lounge
Our most memorable childhood meals were bite sized delights served on a beverage napkin with frilly toothpicks, so it’s no wonder we swoon for the pupu. These island-style hors d’oeuvres are a staple of Hawaiian luaus and happy hours, every bit as much as the Mai Tai, Piña Colada, Blue Hawaii, and Lava Flow.
The Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui celebrates the pupu at its new Luana Lounge. (“Luana” is the Hawaiian word meaning to be at leisure, enjoy pleasant surroundings, to live in comfort and ease.) The new lobby bar features a new theme, new menu, new bar, new décor and new furnishings that create a more authentically local ambiance. We love all the new updates, none of which distract from the stunning, colorful South Shore sunsets.
Tags: Hotel Pools / Hawaii Hotels / Maui Hotels / Four Season Hotels / Hotel Construction / → All Tags
Coming Soon: The Most Scenic Place to Take a Dip in Wailea
We just spent a ridiculously relaxing week on Maui but we were able to do some hotel snooping while we there. We have oodles to report on the Hawaii hotel scene, but at this very moment, we’re most excited about the July 10th debut of Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea’s new infinity-edged swimming pool.
When we site inspected the hard hat area hole in the ground this past weekend, it looked like it had a ways to go, but Director of Marketing, Mark Simon told us that after several deadline extensions, what’s being dubbed as the "Serenity Pool" would finally be ready for hotel guests right after the 4th of July holiday weekend.
We sure hope so, because the weather was beyond perfect while we were there (as if there’s really ever a bad time to go to Hawaii weather-wise), and we’d hate to see summer vacationers miss out on what’s going to be a truly spectacular, upscale, kid-free pool experience.
Tags: Hawaii Hotels / Hotel Amenities / Hotel Spas / → All Tags
New Spa-Ah Additions at Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea
We don’t like to play favorites, but will confess that we’re totally smitten with Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea. If you’re not down with love, it’s probably not the best destination for you. Heck, if you’re not down with love, maybe you should steer clear of Maui, period.
The island embraces a laid-back, anything-is-possible vibe, and the Four Seasons’ poshy posh resort simply oozes romance at every turn. Its line-up of services and amenities, like Oceanside couples’ massages in a thatched hale (a romantic outdoor retreat), poolside Otter Pop and fresh fruit kebab service, and the rock star steaks at DUO (hello, Japanese Bobe beef!), is like a big fat “O” that keeps delivering eyes-roll-back goodness. It’s really that good.
Tags: Celebrity Scoop / Lindsay Lohan / Hawaii Hotels / Beach Hotels / → All Tags
LiLo Lays Low At The Wailea Beach Marriott
Occasionally, we take some time to sit around and think about the possibility that we may become famous overnight, and the possibility that such fame could lead to a Britney or LiLo-esque breakdown or, at the very least, a one-night meltdown that is not-so-epic but still notable. Said meltdown could be triggered by a bad breakup or one-too-many run-in's with paparazzi, and preceded immediately by a head-shave or an ill-advised, highly-publicized affair. But when we are famous and we do have that breakdown, which hotel are we going to retreat to?
Luckily, Lindsay Lohan is out in the field doing some research for us and — fresh off her highly-publicized bad breakup with girlfriend Samantha Ronson and, um, highly-publicized turbulent life as of late — has flown to Hawaii to kick it at the Wailea Beach Marriott. From the volumes of pap shots that continue to emerge, showing her chillin' by the pool and appearing to not be completely devastated, the big, grand breakdown may have already happened and she may be in recovery or on the upswing — which is cool too.
We've gotta admit we were a bit surprised that our Lindsay didn't select the way-posh Four Seasons Maui as her Hawaiian getaway destination of choice, but this is a good pick, too: the property is nestled between two beaches and boasts several pools on property, including a new infinity-edged "Serenity" Pool. Yes. Serenity is good for her. We assume she's staying in a suite here, and those start at $589.00 this summer.
[Photo: Bauer-Griffin via Defamer]
Tags: Hotel Woes / Baccarat Hotels / Barry Sternlicht / → All Tags
Baccarat Wailea Gets Postponed -- Hopefully Not Cancelled
While Barry Sternlicht and Co are busy starting up their new hotel management company, SH Group, another one of the initial Baccarat Hotel and Resorts has been postponed joining the Baccarat projects in Atlanta, Anguilla, and Water Cay which have also been postponed or canceled.
The Baccarat Wailea Hotel & Residences was originally scheduled to open in 2010, but currently they have not even started tearing down the existing hotel on the property - the former Renaissance Wailea Beach, and Starwood Capital came out with a statement this week stating that:
"We are going to take some time and pause to determine the proper course of action for our properties and evaluate some additional possibilities."
The Baccarat Wailea website has been deactivated and all mentions of Baccarat Wailea have been removed from BaccaratHotels.com.
In the mean time it's been reported that over $300 million in sales have been made since the project was first announced, but somehow that still didn't make the project successful enough.
No word yet if those who committed to a pre-sale are being let out of their contracts or if they are expected to wait for more news on the project; the General Manager of the Wailea Community Association said he expects an announcement within three weeks on the status of the project.
Even though most of their hotel development projects have been scaled back or canceled - the Baccarat Hotels brand (along with 1 Hotels and Crillon) will continue under SH Group, but when a location from one of these brands will actually open is another story. The formation of the management group can't come fast enough!
Tags: Hotel Closings / Maui Hotels / → All Tags
Run-Down Maui Hotel To Close, Finally
A few years back we wrote about the scary Aston Maui Lu hotel in which we cited a guest review calling the place, "an old hotel that needs to be taken down, it has outlived it's life, which is obvious because half of it is boarded up and falling down."
A year later, our Hawaii expert Alex Salkever called this place a bad rate and cited another guest review which called the place "unsafe."
Yikes. But fortunately, the hotel is closing down its operation as of November 10th. Maui News reports that the hotel will be leveled and in its place, time-shares will be built.
Actually, we started to feel bad for the Aston Maui Lu after reading a bit of the history of the place and its struggles to survive after the Wailea Resort went up in 1976. And even sadder, 41 hotel employees will lose their jobs.
That said, if you have some sort of retro-vacation hankering to stay here, just make sure you do it before November 10th.
Tags: Hawaii Hotels / Hotel Deals / Maui Hotels / → All Tags
Hawaii Deal Alert :: Hotel Hana-Maui Offering Deep Discount
[Ed Note: Alex Salkever is the founder of Hawaii travel blog Hawaiirama.com and specialized Hawaii search engine FyndHawaii.com]
The Hotel Hana-Maui is one of Hawaii's palaces of understated posh and it rarely offers killer deals.
Set just above Hamoa Bay in secluded Hana (celebs like Oprah love the solitude), the resort is run by the same smart hotel company that manages the Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur.
So, here's the scoop: rates for the hotel's most popular room category, the spectacular Sea Ranch Cottages, have dropped to $495 per night--a savings of $155 per night off rack. Add to that a $150 room credit for a total savings of $305 each day (per couple, natch).
The cheaper Bay Cottage Jr. Suite has dropped to $395 per night -- a savings of $100, plus a $100 credit, for a total savings of $200 per day.
If you still have cashola, you really can't beat this deal.
Tags: Hotel Deals / Hawaii Hotels / Four Seasons Hotels / Maui Hotels / → All Tags
Four Seasons Maui's "Suite Life" Deal
The people at the Four Seasons Maui are really keen to get guests in to see their grand new renovations, and after having a 6 for 5 special, they've now got a new promotion called the Suite Life, available for guests who book a suite for five nights or more.
As part of the Suite Life deal, you'll get quite a few nice inclusives: limousine airport transfer (or free parking instead), champagne and local snacks on arrival, and gifts like a Four Seasons beach bag full of beach towels and sunscreen. Throughout your stay you'll also be entitled to breakfast daily and (the bit we especially like) free WiFi in your room.
We're always thrilled by free WiFi (although we look forward to the day when it's standard), and that's one of the best features of the Four Seasons Maui renovations. All rooms also now have large flat-screen HD TVs and iPod docking stations, too. The Suite Life welcome gift should be encouraging us to spend more time at the beach, but with everything we need in our room, we may not want to leave it.
[Photo: afc76]
Tags: Hawaii Hotels / Hotel Deals / Maui Hotel Reviews / → All Tags
Skip the Art Galleries, Get 6 for 5 At The Four Seasons Maui
Over at the Four Seasons Resort Maui they're not only pretty happy at scoring well in the Conde Nast Readers' Choice Awards--they were rated the best resort in the US--but they're also glowing with pride over their recent renovations, and their special winter 6 for 5 deal.
The renovations have seen new Hawaii-inspired furnishings in all the rooms and suites, along with "new intuitive technology", which might be great, but we're not really sure what the heck it is. As part of the whole refurb deal, the Four Seasons Maui has also added a significant collection of museum-quality art, and reckons that in combination with the Four Seasons Hualalai, they actually are caretakers of the state's largest collection of Hawaiian art.
Their favorite deal at the moment is a sixth night free promotion running from January 6 to February 14, 2008, where guests who book five nights get one complimentary night. Rooms rates start at $620. Seeing all that Hawaiian art won't cost you a cent extra.
[Photo: drw_ok]
Related Stories:
· Conde Nast Readers Have Spoken [HotelChatter]
· Hotels in Hawaii [HotelChatter]
· Hawaii Travel [Jaunted]
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