Which hotel is best, Four Seasons Maui or Lanai? We think Four Seasons Lanai is a more unique resort than Four Seasons Maui. It offers one of the most beautiful and secluded beaches in the world, so much so that you can see all the stars if you go for a paddle in the evening, as there is minimal light pollution. This Four Seasons hotel, being on the remote island of Lanai, also feels more exclusive than Maui, and there is an excellent golf club right next door. We’ll 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, including free breakfast, resort credit, and a prioritized room upgrade.
1. Location
Four Seasons Maui is one of the most resort-based Four Seasons hotels on the Hawaiian Islands. It is set within the exclusive resort area of Wailea. The hotel is just down the coast from Fairmont Kea Lani, Grand Wailea, a Waldorf Astoria Resort, and the Wailea Beach Hotel by Marriott. The Andaz is a little further away but also located in Wailea. You can walk between most of these hotels along an oceanfront boardwalk, and we have compared Four Seasons Maui and Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort separately as these hotels are next door to each other and clients often have trouble choosing between these resorts.
Four Seasons Maui Vs. Grand Wailea: Which Is Best?
Which is the best hotel in Maui? Four Seasons Maui Vs. Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort? The good news is that we have stayed at both of these hotels, and I have outlined the pros and cons of each hotel below. If you don't have time to read this article in detail, the Four Seasons Maui is the best hotel, far better than the Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, in our opinion. It is more glamorous and more beautifully decorated. It even smells better due to the deliciously scented extravagant flower arrangements dotted all over the hotel.
The location is probably the biggest differentiator between Four Seasons Maui Vs. Lanai. On the one hand, you have Four Seasons Maui, which is brilliantly located if you want to walk to the Wailea Shopping Center, eat and drink at a different resort or stroll up and down the coastline and have a nose around different hotels. You can easily pop over to the Grand Wailea for a bite to eat or even the Wailea Beach Resort by Marriott, which is a little further down the same beach as the Four Seasons Maui.
Four Seasons Maui sits prominently on the shoreline of the lush, luxurious resort community of Wailea. This location has many advantages and, unlike Lanai, is fairly commercial. Traveling as a family, we found that the Wailea shopping mall was handy for picking up snacks to eat during the day, so it was good to have that close by.
On the other hand, Four Seasons Lanai sits on a wild coastline on a largely wild island. You have to take a plane or ferry from one of the other Hawaiian islands to get to Lanai, there are no direct International flights to this island, and the only resort hotels on this island are the two Four Seasons hotels.
But for unadulterated escapism, Four Seasons Lanai has to be your top pick, and I should mention at this time that we are comparing the beach resort of Four Seasons Lanai to Four Seasons Maui and not the hilltop Sensei by Four Seasons, which is a Spa resort without a beach and is a completely different kettle of fish.
What Is The Best Four Seasons Hotel In Hawaii?
Four Seasons has four hotels in Hawaii: Four Seasons Hualalai (on Big Island), Four Seasons Lanai, Four Seasons Maui at Wailea, and the Four Seasons Oahu at Ko Olina, which is the newest of the four. They are all gorgeous, and they are all pretty expensive. They all feature in our picks of the best Four Seasons hotels in the world. Four Seasons is a particularly outstanding hotel brand, and Four Seasons hotels are usually the best option in any resort area. My reviews of the Four Seasons hotels in Hawaii can be found below.
2. Style & Character
Both Four Seasons Maui and Lanai are some of the best Four Seasons in Hawaii. In Maui, from the outside, the U-shaped, low-rise building that makes up the Four Seasons is quite similar to the other large-scale Hawaiian resorts. However, the interior is refined and luxurious, with an open-air design where halls lead to the open side of the building. From here, you can enjoy ocean breezes and panoramic vistas.
When we arrived, we were greeted by name with leis (how do they do that!). The open-air marble foyer is just stunning and adorned with sweet-smelling flowers. You can smell the luxury when given a tour around this beautiful resort, where the cream hues and intricate marble pillars form a backdrop to the magnificent ocean views.
The large lobby has a glorious open design that brings the tropical outdoors in. Communal areas are also always immaculate, and the staff are always welcoming and often address you by name. Four Seasons Maui also houses hundreds of incredible art pieces by Hawaii-influenced artists throughout the property. As an aside, Four Seasons Maui is featured in many movies and series. It was the setting for HBOs “White Lotus”
The Four Seasons Maui has a wonderful garden stretching to the beach. The entire resort is beautiful. The hotel is built in a U shape around numerous pools and fountains, framed by beautiful Wailea Bay. It reminds me of a giant creamy wedding cake with a frothy fountain filled with white icing. You certainly can’t fault the look of the grounds and will find an array of loungers and pristine white cabanas to choose from for your days lazing.
Four Seasons Lanai greets guests with a huge double-height lounge area that looks out over the pool and beyond to the beach. Inspired by the surrounding landscapes of Lanai, the foyer combines contemporary design elements with traditional Hawaiian motifs to create a sense of timeless luxury.
The space features high ceilings adorned with intricate wooden beams, creating an open, airy atmosphere inviting guests to relax and unwind. Natural materials such as wood, stone, and local artwork add warmth and authenticity to the décor, while plush furnishings and subtle lighting create an inviting and comfortable environment.
Four Seasons Maui Vs. Lanai
Review: Four Seasons Maui
We have reviewed the best Four Seasons hotels in Hawaii, which includes the stunning Four Seasons Maui in the most exclusive resort on Maui, Wailea. Four Seasons Maui is the most resort-based Four Seasons hotel on the Hawaiian Islands, in the exclusive resort area of Wailea. I reviewed the best way to get deals and special offers at Four Seasons Maui. The key is to book your next Four Seasons stay via our luxury travel concierge, as we can give you free loyalty-style benefits, room upgrades, and perks while matching the rates on the Four Seasons Maui website.
Review: Four Seasons Lanai, Hawaii
We have reviewed the best Four Seasons hotels in Hawaii, but if you are looking for true escapism on the Hawaiian Islands, look no further than the Four Seasons Lanai. Overlooking Hulopoe Bay, this relaxing retreat offers the emptiest hotel beach on the Hawaiian islands. Four Seasons Lanai is the most remote Four Seasons hotel on the Hawaiian Islands. I reviewed the best way to get deals and special offers at Four Seasons Lanai.
3. Beach & Pools
The pool complexes at Four Seasons Maui are stunning. While some pools cater to families and kids, an exquisite infinity pool with a bar exclusively for adults offers a serene atmosphere. Guests can enjoy lounging on beach chairs around the pools or on the beach itself, with refreshing spritzers readily available.
The ambiance is relaxed yet luxurious, with some guests sporting elegant accessories like Rolex watches. Three distinct pool areas are available, with the central fountain pool, featuring a picturesque fountain and cabanas, being a favorite among families.
The waterfall pool is not far from the fountain pool and resembles Maui’s natural ponds. It is perfect for families with younger children and has a short slide. Both pool areas offer poolside dining and drinks.
The fountain and waterfall pools can be crowded during school holidays, so there is a third pool area, the serenity pool for adults only. This pool is located one level above the other two pools at the resort’s southernmost edge. It has two hot tubes and four bubble loungers on its side and this infinity pool offers panoramic ocean and beach views and plays underwater music.
You can pay for one of six private luxury cabanas (around $500 USD per day) for a complete splurge. While this might not be the best deal on the island and is certainly not a way to save money, these cabanas offer a great place to relax if your budget will stretch that far.
This resort is also right on a beautiful beach in Wailea, which is also kitted out with luxury padded loungers and Four Seasons service. This is probably the best place to lounge under an umbrella, and paddling along the shoreline on this beach is a dream.
The Four Seasons Lanai pool is tropical and freeform in design. It’s super pretty, although it lacks the segregated adults and kids areas you will find at Four Seasons Maui.
The pools are better at Four Seasons Maui, but the secluded, peaceful, and empty beach is pretty unmatched at Four Seasons Lanai. It is something to be marveled at and a reason to choose the Lanai property. When we stayed at Four Seasons Lani, we watched dolphins jumping out of the water from the shoreline.
4. Rooms
All the Four Seasons Maui rooms here are similarly good size (600 ft²) and have the signature Four Seasons bathroom and a large balcony. The view is the deal-breaker here. The cheapest rooms are the rooms with Mountain views. These rooms are the same size and quality as the Garden View rooms. Mountain view rooms are outside the U, overlooking the car park and mountains behind.
The Garden view rooms in Maui sit towards the back of the inside of the U with very distant sea views. Your lanai (large balcony) looks over the garden in these rooms. The Partial ocean rooms and Ocean view rooms are also identical. The rooms and their beautiful lanai are virtually identical. It is the view that varies, and you pay more for a better view.
It’s worth mentioning that even the cheapest room at the Four Seasons Maui is a great room. You are facing the wrong way so you won’t hear the crashing waves as you fall asleep, but I’m sure you will have a similarly great holiday, whichever room you choose. If you book via our concierge, we can bump you up a room level for free, (subject to availability), and other free benefits!. My main tip is to ask for a high floor for better views.
Rooms at Four Seasons Lanai reflect the unique character of Lanai, featuring elegant furnishings, wooden flooring, and breathtaking views of the ocean, gardens, or mountains from each room’s balcony. The spacious interiors are adorned with soothing neutral tones, rich wood accents, and Hawaiian-inspired artwork. Plush bedding, sumptuous linens, and thoughtful touches such as Nespresso coffee machines and luxurious bath amenities.
The last time we stayed here we booked a Garden view room, and we received a complimentary upgrade to a Partial Ocean View room that was to the side of the property and had views over a valley and the distant sea. If you book your stay via our concierge you will get a prioritized room upgrade, breakfast for two and more when you stay.
In retrospect, I think we should have booked the Partial Ocean view room to get the chance of an upgrade to an Ocean view room. Ocean front rooms are the best here, and they are really close to the ocean. Our Partial Ocean room had beautiful views but was set back from the ocean, so you could not hear it at night, we were too far away.
5. The Club Floor
One particularly attractive feature of the Four Seasons Maui is that the property allows guests who book into a Club room or Club suite to enjoy complimentary access to the hotel’s exclusive Club Floor Lounge. Four Seasons Lanai doesn’t have a club lounge. This is probably the best club lounge in Hawaii.
The ‘hotel within the hotel,’ Club Floor in Maui, has its own concierge team solely dedicated to the 26 rooms and suites on the top level. Here, guests enjoy complimentary all-day refreshments, a full-service bar, and other appealing extras. Once you have entered the Club Lounge, everything is free, which may actually bring down the cost of your vacation.
Club floors often offer the best possible deal because, although the initial price is higher, you do not need to pay resort rates for food and drinks, which can save you hundreds of dollars daily.
There is no club lounge or floor at Four Seasons Lanai.
Best Hotel Executive Club Lounge In Hawaii
Which hotels in Hawaii offer the best executive club level lounges? We review lounges across Oahu, including Waikiki, Maui, Kaanapali, Kapalua, Wailea, Kauai, Poipu, and Hanalei, and the Big Island's picturesque Kona-Kohala coast. I have compiled a list below containing the best club lounges available across the best luxury hotels in Hawaii. I list the ones I consider to be the best at the top. I review each of these hotel club lounges in detail so you know what you will get if you book a room with club lounge access.
6. Food & Drink
The best restaurant at Four Seasons Maui is Master Chef Wolfgang Puck’s Hawaiian outpost (a Forbes Four-Star and AAA Four-Diamond restaurant). You can sit down to a fusion of Hawaiian and California cuisine paired with panoramic ocean views. I recommend booking this restaurant before your stay. Our concierge team can connect you to the concierge at Four Seasons Maui to do this, as it can be fully booked.
I also particularly like Ferraro’s Bar E Ristorante, which is alfresco, and right on the waterfront. This is Wailea’s only oceanfront restaurant, and you can dine under the stars, perfect for special occasions. Savor contemporary Italian dishes featuring fresh Maui ingredients and artisan pizzas from the wood-burning oven.
There are also more bars and eateries, including the poolside restaurant, to keep you topped up wherever you are in the resort.
Four Seasons Resort Lanai offers an exquisite dining experience with various bars and restaurants that showcase the island’s culinary diversity and rich flavors. One standout venue is Nobu Lanai, a world-renowned restaurant offering innovative Japanese cuisine infused with local ingredients, served in a stunning ocean view setting with an alfresco bar where you can drink under the stars.
Guests can indulge in signature dishes such as Black Cod Miso and Yellowtail Jalapeño while enjoying panoramic views of Hulopoe Bay. For a more casual dining experience, One Forty features an open-air terrace overlooking the resort’s lush gardens and offers a menu highlighting prime cuts of meat, fresh seafood, and locally sourced produce.
The Sports Bar provides a laid-back atmosphere for guests to unwind with handcrafted cocktails, craft beers, and casual fare while catching the latest sports games on large-screen TVs. Meanwhile, Malibu Farm offers a farm-to-table dining experience with a focus on fresh, organic ingredients and California-inspired cuisine, served in a relaxed beachfront setting.
Both resorts offer exceptional dining experiences, each reflecting the unique culinary heritage and ambiance of their respective locations. The vibe is more hectic and busy in Maui and many of the guests in the restaurants come in from other resorts. In Lanai the restaurants are more peaceful, and pretty much everyone who eats there is also staying at this exclusive resort.
7. Golf
Golf enthusiasts visiting Four Seasons Maui and Four Seasons Lanai are treated to world-class golfing experiences amidst stunning Hawaiian landscapes. Four Seasons Maui boasts the Wailea Golf Club, featuring three championship courses renowned for their picturesque ocean views and challenging layouts, catering to players of all skill levels.
Meanwhile, Four Seasons Lanai offers the acclaimed Manele Golf Course, set atop rugged cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean, providing a challenging yet breathtaking golfing experience. Crucially the Manele Golf Course is a short walk from the hotel so is incredibly convenient. Each course showcases the unique beauty of its respective island, promising unforgettable rounds for golfers seeking both recreation and natural splendor.
8. 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.
Pricing is reduced at all the hotels in the lower season. November and early December often offer the cheapest time of year to visit. I reviewed the best way to get deals and special offers at Four Seasons Maui. The key is to book your next Four Seasons stay via our luxury travel concierge, as we can give you free loyalty-style benefits, room upgrades, and perks while matching the rates on the Four Seasons Maui website.
When comparing pricing, both hotels are similarly priced. If you find a date when one of these hotels is much cheaper than the other, I’d snap it up, as they are both great.
9. Resort Fee
Neither Four Seasons charges a resort fee, unlike some other nickel-and-diming resorts across these islands.
10. Conclusion
Four Seasons Maui offers a vibrant atmosphere with ample water sports, dining, and entertainment opportunities. Four Seasons Lanai provides a more serene experience. It feels more exclusive and peaceful and is perfect for most, but it lacks the party vibe if you are traveling with teenagers or want to stay up late.
Copyright Luxury Travel Diary 2014 - 2024. Duplication outside of luxurytraveldiary.com is forbidden.
Image(s) © yuniazizah / Adobe Stock.
Note: Benefits & upgrades subject to availability. Benefits offered correct at the time of writing. Terms & conditions apply. Enquire for more information. Benefits offered correct at the time of writing but may be amended at discretion of the vendor. Posts may be sponsored by the proprietor or brand being appraised. All opinions remain our own & are in no way influenced.
