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Which hotel is best, Fairmont Orchid on Big Island Vs. Fairmont Kea Lani on Maui? We think Fairmont Orchid has a more beautiful setting and feels less busy. But if you want a better beach, a selection of pools, including an adults-only pool, and a more upscale feel, Fairmont Kea Lani may be a better choice. We’ll go ahead and outline the differences in more detail below.
Book your stay at either hotel via our luxury travel concierge for extra benefits and perks at both of these hotels. We should be able to offer you a brilliant deal.
1. Location
Fairmont Kea Lani is located in the exclusive resort area of Wailea on Maui. It is just down the coast from Four Seasons, which is generally considered the best hotel in Wailea. You can walk between these hotels along an oceanfront boardwalk.
Fairmont Orchid is located on Big Island, which is more rustic and less developed than Maui, so this resort feels more remote.
If you are set on the location of Big Island but aren’t sure about Fairmont Orchid, we’ve also compared Fairmont Orchid Vs. Mauna Lani.
2. Style & Character
The Fairmont Orchid feels more boutique in style and has one big pool. The pool is close to the ocean, but the beach isn’t as good at Fairmont Orchid as the beach at the Fairmont Kea Lani in Maui. The Orchid has some great walking trails through the fish ponds and feels remote and a world away.
Fairmont Kea Lani is a big hotel arranged around a lovely bay, but the resort feels like a busy and gigantic resort hotel.
3. Beach & Pools
Fairmont Orchid has one primary pool, which gets pretty crowded with kids as the beach isn’t all that great. There is no adult pool area, and the beach is not as good as the glorious golden sand beach at Fairmont Kea Lani.
The pools at the Fairmont Kea Lani are beautiful, tropical, freeform, and surrounded by loungers and cabanas. The resort’s energy is centered around the main tropical pool and the beach beyond, and this area is stunning. There’s also an adults-only pool at the Fairmont Kea Lani in Maui, which makes it great for honeymooners.
The beach and pools are better at Fairmont Kea Lani in Maui than at the Fairmont Orchid on Big Island.
4. Rooms
Fairmont Orchid and Fairmont Kea Lani offer luxurious accommodations but differ slightly in room size. Fairmont Orchid, located on the Big Island of Hawaii, features spacious rooms and suites ranging from 640 to 2,000 ft², providing ample space for guests to relax and unwind.
Fairmont Kea Lani, situated in Maui, offers larger accommodations with suites and villas ranging from 860 to 3,100 ft², offering guests even more space and luxury. While both properties prioritize comfort and elegance in their room designs, Fairmont Kea Lani’s slightly larger accommodations may appeal more to guests seeking extra space and indulgence during their stay.
The clincher is their ft²age. The Fairmont Kea Lani rooms start at 860 ft²or 80 m² so even their base rooms are larger.
5. Club Lounge
If you book a Gold Club room at the Fairmont Orchid, you will be whisked off to a separate check-in area. The Gold Lounge has juice, soft drinks, water, coffee, and tea throughout the day. In the evenings, they offer wine, champagne, and spirits in the honor system. You simply note down what you have drunk, which will be charged to your room accordingly.
Evening appetizers are provided free of charge and usually include good cheeses, sushi rolls, olives, crackers, and fruit. In this lounge, there is one hot appetizer on offer, too. In the morning, there’s a complimentary continental breakfast with pastries, a hot entree, fruit, yogurt, granola, cheese and fruit.
What is really special about this club lounge is that you are not restricted to staying inside. This lounge offers balcony seating out in the sunshine with views over the resort. This is one of the best club lounges in Hawaii.
The other Fairmont in Hawaii, the Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui, does not have a Gold club lounge.
6. Food & Drink
At Fairmont Orchid, guests can indulge in culinary delights amidst lush tropical gardens and stunning ocean views. The resort’s restaurants offer al fresco dining options where diners can enjoy their meals surrounded by the natural beauty of the Big Island, with some venues overlooking the picturesque Kohala Coast.
In contrast, Fairmont Kea Lani boasts a more coastal setting, with its restaurants situated near the oceanfront, offering panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and Maui’s scenic coastline. Whether guests prefer dining amidst tropical gardens with ocean vistas or by the beach with the sound of waves in the background, both Fairmont properties provide memorable dining experiences.
7. Price
The best time to visit Maui is in Hawaii’s off-season when the rates are cheaper, and the islands are less crowded. Ideally, travel is spring (April to June) and fall (September to November, excluding Thanksgiving).
Winter in Hawaii can be slightly cloudier and wetter from December to March, but it is a popular time to travel simply because the rest of the Northern Hemisphere is so miserable and cold. If you stay in Wailea on Maui, you have the most chance of sunshine as Wailea is on the sunniest coastline on Maui.
Generally, Fairmont Orchid, located on the Kohala Coast of Hawaii’s Big Island, tends to be slightly cheaper than Fairmont Kea Lani, situated in Wailea on the island of Maui.
Fairmont Orchid often offers a range of room options, including garden-view, partial ocean-view, and ocean-view rooms, as well as suites, with prices typically starting at a moderate to upscale range.
Fairmont Kea Lani, renowned for its all-suite accommodations and luxurious beachfront setting, typically commands higher rates, especially during peak travel seasons. However, both resorts provide exceptional value for their respective price points.
8. Resort Fee
Both hotels have similar resort fees
9. Conclusion
Wailea is our favorite resort area in Maui. It is one of the sunniest areas of the Hawaiian islands, and this resort area offers numerous hotels, so there are loads of opportunities for exploration, restaurants, etc.
The Fairmont Kea Lani is the better hotel in most aspects, but it does feel like a busy resort hotel. If you are looking for a remote hotel with a boutique feel, you may prefer Fairmont Orchid.
If you can’t decide, you could always split your holiday between both!
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