We spent a week in Maui splitting our time between the Ritz and the Four Seasons. This was our first experience with the Four Seaons.

We loved our stay at the Ritz. For sheer beauty of the hotel and it's surroundings, you can't beat the Ritz. They had the advantage of building the hotel on large piece of land so they had room to put in a huge pool and the vistas from the hotel are breath taking.

The Four Seasons, on the other hand, seems to have been shoe-horned into a small piece of land that was available after the Grand Wailea had stopped expanding. As a result (I believe) they have a tiny little pool. Almost disappointingly tiny. The hotel seems to have recognized this, they told us they were planning another pool but from the map they showed us, the new pool will be small too.

That being said, the Four Seasons has the beach right in front of them. Unlike the Ritz, it's not a hike down to the beach. Choose your cabana right and you can take advantage of the beach and the pool all day long. From the pictures I saw of the beach on the Four Seaons web site, I thought I would be disappointed but I was not. It's a gorgeous beach.

The Four Seasons is also located in Wailea where the weather tends to be milder than up in Kaplaua where the Ritz is located. There were days when you would get wind and rain at the Ritz and see sunshine a few miles down the road in Lahaina. For that reason alone, we decided to try the Four Seasons.

The service at the Four Seasons is incredible. We were met at the front door with a lei and a bead necklace and guided to the front desk where there was no waiting. (We had to wait 15 minutes at the Ritz to check in). And the staff all seem to make an effort to remember your name and give friendly service. The beach and poolside service was what impressed us the most. I've never ever seen so many attendents working so hard to please you. The cabanas are free to use. At the beach, they set up a chair and an umbrella for you.

The Ritz is slighly less expensive (relatively speaking). And it offers one of the most beautiful hotels I've ever seen. The Four Seasons has the advantage of being in Wailea, and the service is outstanding but you do pay for it.

After comparing the two hotels, we plan on returning to the Four Seasons next time we are in Maui.

P.S. My wife loved Spago. I loved the steak at Duo.

My wife and I went to the four seasons maui for our honeymoon. We have stayed at several other four seasons hotel's and I must say that the service specifically at this hotel is above all that we have experienced.
Everything from our arrival, to our room which was a prime ocean view room on the club level(not worth the extra money if you ask me, our first room was not on the club level (789) and was around 1 thousand per night, the club level was basically the same room with a touch better view of west maui from our balcony and was almost 1400, needless to say both were great..... Duo was great in the morning, Feraro's lunch was good as well.

Poolside or cabana service was unreal, drinks on command, cold towels, evian spray, fruit, everything great.

Spago is a wolfgang puck restaurant which was very good, the sunset from the restaurant is breathtaking.

Actually went to the four seasons lanai, we were supposed to stay there for five days after we were at maui, it was such a downer that we left lanai and went back to the four seasons maui for our last 3 nights.

Overall, honeymoon was fantastic, great service, beautiful well manicured grounds, I would recommend the place to anyone.

After a 10 year hiatus, my return to the FS Wailea was long overdue. It was an absolute pleasure to arrive at this beautiful property after the long journey from New York. The entire property is immaculate, and very well maintained. It looks as great as I left it in 1998. A testament to the FS Mgt., and their staff.

We were met with the traditional lei greeting, and tropical juices in the gorgeous lobby. Valet and bellmen were right on point. (Overnight valet parking $18 a day). At the front desk we met Yarnell, a transplanted gem from the Bronx, NY. We were upgraded to a partial ocean view room. We stayed on the B&B plan which included the great buffet breakfast at $655 a night including all taxes and fees. (Note: If you book a few months in advance you could get this plan on the FS website for under $500 a night.)

Our room (#436) was very nice, large flat screen tv etc., and had a great lanai overlooking the putting green, and croquet lawn. With the ocean in the distance, the room actually faced in the direction of the main entrance of the hotel, but was obscured by the beautiful tropical foilage (very quiet). The sunsets from the lanai were breathtaking. The only issue with the room for me was the long walk from the elevators, but after a couple of days in Maui who cares. Room service was quick and delicious (burger and cobb salad). Twice a day housekeeping was excellent. Alert!***One room amenity the FS missed is the ol' "chocolate on the pillow" at turn down. Call me old school and a chocolate addict, but I did miss not having my nightly chocolate fix. Come on FS Mgt. chocolate please!

The bountiful buffet was great! Made to order eggs/omelets, pancakes, french toast, and all of the other breakfast staples. Service for breakfast at DUO was wonderful, quick and polite. There was a service charge included on the bill bringing it to almost $80 for 2, but covered in full with the B&B package. For those with kiddies, they even set up a kids buffet at the entrance of DUO so kids can share in the FS breakfast experience.

The pool, aaaah the pool(s). Main pool centered with a beautiful fountain, spa included. Waterfall pool, and adjacent kiddie pool. They may not be the biggest, but were never crowded and were a great place to lounge and relax. The pool service is second to none! Bright and early the pool staff awaited your arrival. Here we met Kanoe, and Javier. These great guys met our every need with speed and a smile. We loved the mini-macadamia muffins. Note: There were some guests that pulled the very, very early "put my towel and book" in the best cabana scam, but this was held to a minimum by the policing of the staff. Trust me, you don't mess with Kanoe! Try and land the seats on the mini-cliff facing the ocean...awesome view!

Food and drink at the pool was very good and service was fast. Some of my favorite pool fare were (veggy pizza, the burger and steak fries, and the chicken quesadilla). $7 dollar Heinekens, but Hey! your on vacation.

For dinner we dined at DUO, and Ferraro's...missed Spago.
At DUO we had the grilled catch of the day, and the filet mignon very delicious. At Ferraro's we had the fried shrimp and calamari (excellent), bruschetta and the signature lobster risotto, and the seafood pasta also very good. Service and ambiance at both restaurants were right on target.

The FS gym (accessed through the spa entrance) was very well equipped, with the ellipticals and treadmills (w/tv's) outdoors which I enjoyed. The Spa was modern with Hawaiian flair, enjoy a glass of the ginger blast water. The Men's steam room was awesome! the hottest I ever experienced...time to sweat out the pool cocktails. We really enjoyed our massages, ask for Giselle she was absolutely wonderful.

From Saimin (soup) to Macadamia (nuts), we truly enjoyed every aspect of our stay at the FS Wailea. I give the FS Maui 5 Hoku's (stars). The hotel property, and surrounding Wailea area is beautiful. Don't forget to check out the Shops at Wailea. There's a local ABC store for water, wine, sundries and souvenirs. Also, a Gap and Banana Republic to the high line shops Tiffany & Co, Louis Vuitton & Fendi theres something for everyone. I promise not to wait another ten years before returning to this paradise. Aloha!

I have stayed at most Four Seasons' resorts in the US and some abroad. I expected a comparable level of service at this hotel in Wailea, Maui because it bears the Four Seasons' name. I was sadly mistaken!

I reserved a "Club Level" room which I believed to be a significant step up from the luxury suite that was featured in all the literature with which I had been provided. Indeed, the "Club Level" room rate was 60% above any other room except for their special suites and I was assured that this room was the top-of-the-line room ranking just below the Executive Suites.

Imagine my dismay when I disovered that: (a) the Club Level room was about one third the size of the lower tier luxury room, (b) the Club Level room had hardly any ocean view compared to the panoramic ocean views of the lower tier rooms, (c) the Club Level room had just one small lanai (balcony) compared to TWO LARGE balconies for the lower tier room, (d) the Club Level room had no dining area versus a spacious dining/entertaining area in each lower tier room, (e) the Club Level room had just one TV set in the bedroom vs a total of two in the luxury room ... and the Club Level room cost 60% MORE than the lower tier "luxury" rooms!!!

Are they nuts!!

I asked to be downgraded (yes, DOWNGRADED!) to the lower tier luxury room. The Four Seasons front desk grudgingly agreed to do this (gee thanks!).. and I spent the rest of my stay in a decent suite for a fraction of the cost of their "superior" Club Level accomodation.

I get to Hawaii often, I thought I was treating myself but I'll never stay at the Four Seasons again!