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Hotel overview
Indulge in complete pampering and service during stays at this unforgettable Hawaiian gem. A honeymooner’s dream, it offers gourmet cuisine at the diverse offering of restaurants, exciting bars and a grandiose spa recognized as one of the world’s best, while families will enjoy the exciting activities pool where thrilling water slides, lazy rivers, white water rapids and the only water elevator in the world will keep little ones entertained throughout their stay.
Location
Wailea - BeachProperty information
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Hotel details
Hotel advisories
General policies & fine print
Hotel requires a credit/debit card authorization or cash deposit upon check-in for incidentals; this will place a hold on your funds.
Convention Policy:
Individuals attending a convention cannot book this property for their stay. If found attending a convention, guests may be subject to higher room rates upon arrival.
General Information:
Room taxes are included in vacation price.
Minimum night stay restrictions may apply.
Reservation changes may not be permitted unless authorized by the hotel.
Ratings & reviews
TripAdvisor traveler rating
9018 reviews
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Jul 13, 2025The Wailea was certainly Grand!
The hotel was beautiful!! The grounds were immaculate. All the people who worked there were friendly and accommodating. Only issue was the ocean view, which was mostly obstructed by the palm trees. For what we paid, a better view would have been nice. We would stay here again though the next time we visit Maui.
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Jul 12, 2025Not Worth the Hype or the Price
TLDR: We stayed at Grand Wailea over the Fourth of July. For over $1300 a night, the experience was underwhelming. You’re paying luxury prices without getting luxury service or amenities. Expect to wake up early to claim pool chairs, pay extra for beach chairs, and spend a fortune on mediocre food and drinks. We wouldn’t return. We visited the Grand Wailea over the Fourth of July, knowing it would be busy. Still, for over $1300 a night for a standard king room, we expected much more. Check-in was impersonal. No special greeting, no leis for adults or kids, just ID and a credit card. No bell service help was available when we arrived. We had to unload ourselves from our Lyft while the staff stood around. The room was clean and updated, but nothing remarkable. It was nice to have a fridge without a minibar so we could store our food. The property is massive. If you're traveling with anyone who has mobility issues, this resort is not a good fit. You’ll walk a lot. We mainly booked this resort for the pool and beach, but both were a letdown. If you want pool chairs, you’ll need to be in line by 7 AM when the rope drops, then literally rush to claim a spot. With over 800 rooms and maybe 250 chairs, it’s chaos. The chairs are zip-tied together, you can't move them, and the umbrellas are fixed in place, so you’re stuck wherever you land. If you leave your chair for more than an hour, staff will flip it up and bag your stuff. It became an exhausting game of checking your spot all day. To top it off, beach chairs cost extra. $150 for two chairs and an umbrella. And even with that, if you’re not in your spot for a while, they’ll move your stuff too. You can get re-seated, but the policy makes no sense. Despite the pool area being advertised as large, it feels small and crowded. The water elevator hasn’t been working for a long time, and poolside service is incredibly slow. The servers do their best, but they’re spread thin. It took about 45 minutes to place an order and another 30 for drinks to come out. Food and beverage prices were outrageous. A single lava flow cocktail was $29. We tried doing to-go lunch from Surf Haus, then noticed open tables at the same restaurant. When we sat down to eat, we were told we couldn’t sit there because we didn’t order through a server. No one else was waiting, so it felt unnecessarily strict. At the lobby bar Botero, we had two smash burgers (no sides) and two cocktails, and the bill was $117 before tip. Loulu Café sells items from Erewhon (if you know, you know), and the pricing is insane. A bottle of iced tea was $12. A basic cheese pizza? $35. The only dinner reservation we could get was Olivine. It was fine, but not worth the price. I had the $68 Wagyu Bolognese, and I would confidently say it was not Wagyu. I also asked for bread and got three toasted crisps for $5. We ended up walking to the Shops at Wailea for breakfast to get reasonable food. It’s close, but with how much walking you already do on the property, it felt like a chore. Overall, the staff was mediocre. You’d expect better attentiveness and service at a luxury resort. When asking for help or directions, most employees didn’t know where things were. We've been to the Fairmont in Scottsdale, and honestly, the team at Grand Wailea could learn a lot from how service is done there. This resort looks nice in photos, but the experience doesn’t match the price tag. It felt like we were being nickel-and-dimed at every corner. Nothing about the stay was relaxing — between waking up early to claim pool chairs, checking on them throughout the day, dealing with lines for towels, and overpaying for average food and drinks, we left feeling more exhausted than when we arrived. Would not return. Definitely not worth the money.
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Jul 10, 2025Beautiful but underwhelming
The grounds of the hotel were beautiful. We enjoyed the property, and it appeared well-maintained. Our room was spacious and comfortable. The pool situation was difficult. We searched for a chair to use by the enormous pool and surrounding lawn for about 45 min. None were to be found. We were able to grab one on the beach, only to be told they were $75 for the day. The slides that connects the pools are in dire need of repair. You can not slide down then and need to scoot. My kids wanted me to go with them, and by going down the slides I ruined a swimsuit. ( pilled and torn fabric). In general, the food and drinks were priced high, even for Hawaii. Overall, I think it was a good use of Hilton points, but I am not sure I would go out of my way to return.
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Jul 08, 2025Would not return
We recently decided to spend our honeymoon at the Waldorf Astoria Maui while island hopping, and had high hopes based on the luxurious reputation and amenities advertised on their website. One of the main reasons we chose this hotel was the promise of a serene experience at the “Formal/Adult Only Deck” pool, where we could rent a daybed for $300 and enjoy some relaxation as newlyweds, all I got was a headache. Upon checking into our daybed reservation, we were disappointed to find families with young children occupying the area that was supposed to be adults only. Throughout our time there, we were disturbed by a child having a meltdown for hours right next to us, which was absolutely not the peaceful atmosphere we were hoping for (or paid for). As a teacher who works with young children every day, I truly value the importance of adult-only spaces, and this experience really fell short of what was promised. It was also disheartening to see that many other poolside guests were clearly upset with the lack of care regarding this issue, expressing their frustrations over the false advertisement of the adult-only policy. Additionally, I was taken aback by the lack of cleanliness in common areas. There was garbage left on a table outside the elevator, which remained there from when we left for dinner until the following afternoon. Given the high price we paid for our stay at what is marketed as a “premier luxury beachfront destination,” it was disheartening to encounter such neglect. To make matters worse, the overall demeanor of the staff was not welcoming. The pool staff and bartenders all were visibly unhappy, which added to the overall disappointing experience. To conclude, while the setting is beautiful, it’s important to note that the advertised adults-only pool is misleading. The execution of their adult-only policy, attention to cleanliness, and staff attitude require significant improvement. I would strongly advise prospective guests to consider these factors before booking, particularly if a peaceful and exclusive pool experience is a priority for them.
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Jul 08, 2025
Good for families but a lot of room for improvement
We travelled with our family. From a kids point of view this place would be great. There are water slides, a rope swing, lazy river and a beautiful beach. For our kids this was paradise. For adults…….not so much: The pool- specifically the chair issues. First, to be paying for a first class resort I don’t expect to be up early in the morning just to secure a spot at the pool. Every morning has the feel of a low rate Carnival Cruise. One morning I saw the police there escorting someone out over a chair argument. Briefly, the chair rule is that if staff notices nobody sitting at your chair for an hour the place the back forward, you then have an hour to put it back or you lose your chair. One morning I took a picture of our chair as I put the back up to get a time stamp. 45 minutes later a family is in our chairs. When I asked them if they took the chairs with the backs forward they said yes. I notified the pool deck manager who got me a pair of chairs on the lawn rather than the chairs I had gotten up early to “save”. And the family was allowed to keep the chairs. It’s frustrating that I was checking those chairs every hour to abide by rules that were not enforced. In addition the chairs in the pool are insanely close together and crowded. Staff- I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt. I get the feel that they are more to enforce rules than focus on customer service and hospitality. None of them seemed like lazy or unkind people, it just always felt like they had more pressing issues that captures their attention. The bellhop staff was awesome. Cost- EVERY SINGLE THING costs extra and the prices are beyond “Hawaii high”. I never got the feel that I was receiving any amenities that are typical of a resort with this stature and reputation. I agree with another review that the general store on level 4(?) is insane. Fortunately there are other options nearby. Lastly, most flights to the mainland leave at night, it would be sensible to at least have a locker room facility so those enjoying their last day can shower before getting on a lengthy flight. They do store your luggage for you, but that’s it. We ended up spending several hundred more dollars just to get a room by the airport for a couple hours to shower and freshen up before flying 12 hours home. In summary, if you want a great time for the kids, they will, but it will cost you extra stress every day, particularly in the morning at the pool my advice would be not to bother and get (and of course pay) for beach chairs or better yet go get a couple and an umbrella at a store, it will be cheaper than renting for several days If you’re seeking a relaxing vacation where you are taken care of and not being beholden to the chair circus and a plethora of rules (wrist bands, checking in on your chairs you would a child). Do not come here. The chair checking is especially annoying when you’re on the beach and constantly checking the time to not lose your chair. Not ideal for a honeymoon at all. Also- when building a resort make sure that your pool and deck are appropriately scaled, this is the worst I’ve ever seen in regard to this.