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Which Ritz-Carlton In Hawaii Is Best? The Ritz-Carlton Oahu Turtle Bay Vs. The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua Vs. The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach? We outline our thoughts below.
1. Location: Ritz-Carlton Oahu Turtle Bay Vs. Maui Vs. Waikiki
The locations and the beaches are probably the biggest differentiators between Ritz-Carlton Oahu Turtle Bay, Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua, and Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach.
Ritz-Carlton Oahu Turtle Bay is located on the stunning North Shore of Oahu, accessible via the scenic H-2 and Kamehameha Highway. While its remote location means it’s less convenient, it is over an hour’s drive from Honolulu Airport (HNL) and about 90 minutes from Waikiki; it offers proximity to charming towns like Haleiwa and Laie, where visitors can explore local shops and restaurants.
What the resort lacks in convenience, it makes up for in breathtaking natural beauty. The North Shore’s rugged mountains and lush greenery create a striking contrast, while its postcard-worthy beaches, though stunning, are known for their powerful waves. This makes them less ideal for young children or those seeking a leisurely swim. Instead, visitors can expect an exhilarating experience as the waves provide a more dynamic and energetic encounter with the ocean.
The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua is located on the island of Maui in a golf resort area that offers a similarly picturesque setting and wild waves. This is a much windier and rainier coastline of Maui than the Wailea area, where the Four Seasons, Fairmont, Grand Wailea Waldorf, and Andaz are located.
Kapalua, located at Maui’s northernmost point, tends to be wetter and windier than the rest of the island, especially during the winter months. If you continue driving north past the hotel, you’ll find stunning snorkeling beaches and volcanic tide pools where waves dramatically crash against the rocks. Conveniently next to the resort is the Honolua Store (an ABC store), perfect for grabbing snacks, while a complimentary shuttle takes guests to the Plantation Course for a scenic alfresco meal. The valets and bell staff are exceptionally warm and welcoming, offering fresh flower leis and refreshing juice upon arrival.
The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach, is located in the busy, high-rise city of Waikiki. It is a beautiful high-rise hotel with great views and a great pool, but it is a few blocks walk from Waikiki Beach, and it can definitely be defined as a city hotel rather than a resort hotel with grounds meandering down to the coastline, like Turtle Bay and Maui. If you want city buzz, action, and loads to do, stay in Waikiki Beach, but if you’re looking for a remote island beachside resort, Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach is not what you’re looking for.
2. Style & Character
The newly refurbished Ritz-Carlton Oahu Turtle Bay, originally built in the 1970s, was designed as a towering concrete structure overlooking Kuilima Cove. Rising six stories high, its exterior has a bold, block-like presence on a picturesque peninsula between two bays. However, once inside, the ambiance shifts entirely—modern, elegant interiors frame breathtaking views through floor-to-ceiling windows, seamlessly blending with the surrounding natural beauty.
The resort boasts a pristine white-sand beach, cascading waterfall pools, and serene infinity pools, all softened by lush greenery and swaying palms. Every detail exudes exclusivity and sophistication, with tiered alfresco dining areas and pools that flow gracefully toward the idyllic bay, creating a truly luxurious retreat.
The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua embodies classic Ritz-Carlton luxury, seamlessly blended with a tropical paradise. In 2022, it completed a sweeping $100 million renovation, revitalizing nearly every aspect of the property—from guest rooms and restaurants to the pool areas and even the elevators. The newly redesigned open-air lobby and lanai now serve as a breathtaking gateway, perfectly framing postcard-worthy views of the bay in the distance.
This resort sprawls down through gardens to a beach at the end of the property. The pools and the golf course are where most people hang out, and lush gardens and green lawns that circle this property visually stand out at this property. It has a slower pace and more peaceful feel than the Ritz-Carlton Oahu Turtle Bay and feels more spread out.
The Ritz-Carlton Waikiki is a luxurious city hotel with gorgeous and classy pools. You can enjoy the high-quality furnishings and fixtures that you would expect from any Ritz-Carlton here, and the staff are wonderful, but this hotel is high-rise when compared to the Maui and North Shore Turtle Bay Ritz-Carlton.
3. Beach & Pools
The beach and pools at Ritz-Carlton Oahu Turtle Bay are stunning and feel empty and natural with the hotel placed on a peninsula with the main beach to one side of the peninsula. The pools are mainly situated directly in front of the hotel on tiered levels that lead down to the water. All of the pools are stunning, with freeform pools, lots of greenery, fake rocks, and a stunning infinity pool at the top with a decked terrace.
For the kids, two waterslides gush into one of the free-form pools, which helps make up for the more energetic waves on the beach at this resort. The beach feels more natural than the beaches at Four Seasons Ko Olina and is stunning, but the ocean is wavey and can be rough if you want a quiet swim or have young kids who need calmer waters. This is the best Ritz-Carlton in Hawaii for beaches and pools, in our opinion, and is the best if you are traveling with families due to the pool slides and adjacent beach.
The pools at the Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua, are superb and set within the lawned gardens, but the beach is quite a walk and is not serviced with loungers to the extent of Turtle Bay. The beach at Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua, can be rough and unsuitable for swimming at certain times of the year, so this resort is fantastic for relaxing by the pool and golfing but is less good if you have a family and want to paddle all day.
The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua, offers numerous pools, including a 3-tiered pool with a stunning view of the Pacific. It does feel like a large hotel, but the recent refurbishment, which renewed nearly every element of the property, has done wonders for the setting, and this is definitely one of the best luxury hotels on Maui.
The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach, has wonderful pools built on an upper level and surrounded by the concrete jungle of Waikiki. These are some of the classiest pools in Waikiki, but the beach is a few blocks from the hotel and requires crossing busy roads to get to the sand. Waikiki Beach is great for families and is shallow and calm, ideal for swimming, but the beach is not exclusive to Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach. It is instead shared by all the hotel guests in waikiki, so it can get busy.
4. Rooms
The rooms at The Ritz-Carlton Oahu Turtle Bay are stylish yet fairly standard, featuring wooden floors, plush beds, a cozy sofa by the window, and spacious balconies with ample seating. A distinctive wave design behind the bed adds a bold decorative touch—one that guests either love or find a bit jarring. The furnishings and bathrooms feel sleek and modern, closely comparable to those at the Four Seasons, though the latter offers larger rooms.
At 478 sqft, the smallest rooms here are more compact than the 640 sqft entry-level rooms at the Four Seasons Oahu, another competitor hotel on the island of Oahu. This Four Seasons is arguably the best if you have a young family due to its calm beaches. We have compared Four Seasons Oahu Vs. Ritz-Carlton Oahu Turtle Bay separately.
A key advantage of The Ritz-Carlton Turtle Bay is that every room offers full or partial ocean views, whereas the Ritz-Carlton Waikiki beach base rooms offer City views and slightly smaller standard rooms at 400 sqft. The rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Maui Kapalua start slightly smaller than Turtle Bay at 440 sqft with resort views that overlook gardens and adjacent buildings.
So Turtle Bay offers the best rooms of these three Hawaiian Ritz-Carlton hotels. The base rooms are larger and all offer some level of ocean view. We also love the modern driftwood oceanic decor in the Turtle Bay rooms. These rooms feel the freshest of the three hotels.
What truly sets Ritz-Carlton Turtle Bay resort apart are its Ocean Bungalows. These ultra-modern accommodations feel like a world apart from the standard rooms, featuring crisp white walls, a four-poster bed, and an elegant living space that opens onto a private sea-view patio. Nestled along the shoreline, these bungalows offer an exclusive, serene retreat that feels exceptionally special. These are the best rooms at all the Ritz-Carlton hotels in Hawaii in our opinion, and possibly the best of any hotel in Hawaii in our opinion.
5. The Club Floor
One of the standout features of The Ritz-Carlton Oahu Turtle Bay is its exclusive club lounge, available to guests who book a club room or club suite. Unlike Four Seasons Oahu, which lacks a club lounge, this one is considered one of the best club lounges in Hawaii.
What makes this lounge particularly special is its stunning outdoor terrace, providing a front-row seat to watch the waves roll in. The interiors are warm and inviting, with pinewood accents, floor-to-ceiling windows, and high ceilings that create an open, airy feel. Plush oatmeal and cream-colored seating is scattered throughout, while the terrace offers exceptionally comfortable seating, perfect for sipping a drink in the sunshine or enjoying a sunset cocktail.
Guests with club access are treated to five complimentary food and beverage presentations daily, including: Breakfast with Hawaiian coffee and fresh fruit, lunch with light bites, afternoon tea with sandwiches and salads, evening hors d’oeuvres and handcrafted cocktails and flavorful bites at night.
At the Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua, the newly designed 5,000 ft² club lounge, located in the former Anuenue Room, is an impressive blend of luxury and tropical elegance. The space is beautifully designed with dark wood flooring and thick wooden dividers reminiscent of railway sleepers, subtly separating different seating areas. A striking circle of plush purple sofas rests on a leaf-green rug near the reception, while clusters of comfortable seating arrangements are thoughtfully placed around sleek tables, creating an inviting and stylish atmosphere.
The buffet area is clad in natural wood, accented by copper light fixtures, and a large central island adorned with cascading greenery, giving it a lush, tropical feel. Breakfast includes a selection of fresh fruit (pineapple and papaya), eggs, pastries, yogurt, local honey, tea, and coffee, along with a dedicated omelet station for custom orders.
A true highlight is the Veuve Clicquot bar, where guests can enjoy the iconic yellow-labeled Champagne throughout most of the day. The lounge, which features a private tiki torch-lighting ceremony, adds to the exclusive experience.
Beyond indulgence, the lounge also offers unique activities, such as whale watching with binoculars, guided by an environmental naturalist. There’s also a business center with printing facilities, plus the added perk of two complimentary garment pressings daily.
At the far end, a garden terrace opens up to fresh ocean air. It offers sweeping views of the golf course and coastline, making it an exceptional place to unwind while soaking in the stunning scenery.
Booking a club-level room can be a great value, as the higher upfront cost is offset by the savings on food and drinks, which can total hundreds of dollars per day compared to resort dining. Another perk? Club guests can access the lounge before and after check-out, making it an excellent option for those with early arrivals or late departures.
There is no club lounge or floor at the Ritz-Carlton in Waikiki Beach.
6. Food & Drink
The Ritz-Carlton Oahu Turtle Bay boasts a selection of stunning restaurants, each offering breathtaking views. One of the most spectacular is Off The Lip, which overlooks the infinity pool and extends toward the endless horizon, making it a perfect spot to soak in the scenery.
For an unforgettable evening, the Sunset Pool Bar is a must-visit. Completely open-air, it provides the perfect setting to watch the sun dip below the ocean, followed by a sky full of stars—all while sipping a handcrafted cocktail.
Throughout the Ritz-Carlton Oahu Turtle Bay resort, you’ll find several alfresco bars and eateries, ensuring you’re never far from a refreshing drink or a delicious meal. However, keep in mind that the resort is quite secluded, so there are no off-property dining options nearby—making the on-site restaurants all the more essential to your experience.
Many of the restaurants at The Ritz-Carlton Maui offer breathtaking views of the Pacific, lush greenery, and dramatic sunsets, creating a truly immersive Hawaiian dining experience. Since the resort is located in the quieter Kapalua region, the restaurants aren’t overrun with tourists, allowing for a more relaxed and intimate dining atmosphere. There are multiple choices at The Ritz-Carlton Maui for different dining moods, from upscale Hawaiian cuisine at The Banyan Tree to poolside casual bites at Olu Café.
Dining at both the Ritz-Carlton Oahu Turtle Bay and Ritz-Carlton Maui is pricey, even for simple meals. Expect to pay premium resort prices for both food and drinks, which will impact your final bill, and because both hotels are remote, you can’t find a cheap restaurant for a quick bite nearby. For example, if you stay at the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua, you will need to drive at least 15–20 minutes to Lahaina or Ka’anapali to eat somewhere local and for lower prices. This makes their club lounges a great deal.
This also brings us to the major advantage of the Ritz-Carlton Waikiki, which has all the cheap eateries in and around the hotel, including ABC stores and bargain basement fast food joints, so once you’ve paid for your room rate, you have loads of choice in eateries on your doorstep, whatever you want to spend.
7. Golf
The Ritz-Carlton Oahu Turtle Bay features two championship courses. The Arnold Palmer Course is a premier course offering a mix of Scottish Links-style front nine and a tropical back nine, with water hazards on 14 holes, including the iconic 17th hole set amidst the scenic Punahoʻolapa marsh. The George Fazio Course is another excellent course designed to challenge golfers of all skill levels. For a more relaxed experience, the resort also offers The Breaks, which is an 18-hole, 90,000 ft² seaside putting course suitable for all ages, and Pitch n’ Putt, which is A three-hole, par-3 course perfect for practice. 
Golf at The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua, is exceptional, with guests having easy access to two world-renowned courses: the Plantation Course, home to the PGA Tour’s Sentry Tournament of Champions, and the more relaxed Bay Course, both offering stunning ocean views and challenging layouts. The courses are just a short 5-minute shuttle ride or walk from the resort, making them incredibly convenient for guests. Whether you’re a seasoned golfer looking to tackle the Plantation Course’s famed holes or a casual player enjoying the scenic Bay Course, both are easily accessible and provide a memorable experience for all skill levels.
The Ritz-Carlton Waikiki is not within walking distance from any golf courses.
8. Price
The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach is typically the most affordable option among the three, offering competitive rates compared to The Ritz-Carlton O‘ahu, Turtle Bay, and The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua. While all three are luxurious properties, the Residences in Waikiki tend to offer better value for those seeking a high-end experience with spacious accommodations. The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua, and O‘ahu Turtle Bay are more expensive due to their expansive resort settings and premium locations.
The key is to book your next Four Seasons or Ritz-Carlton stay via our concierge, as we can give you free loyalty-style benefits, breakfasts, room upgrades, and perks.
If you are choosing between the Ritz-Carlton and the Four Seasons, Four Seasons Oahu is usually the cheapest Four Seasons hotel in Hawaii.
9. Conclusion
The Ritz-Carlton Oahu Turtle Bay, The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua, and The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach are all excellent hotels, and you are truly blessed if you are able to plan a stay at any of these luxury hotels.
I would pick The Ritz-Carlton Oahu Turtle Bay if you have a family. We love their amazing beach bungalows, the fact that there are slides in the main room, and their slightly larger rooms with better views. The beach at The Ritz-Carlton Oahu Turtle Bay is the best of any Ritz-Carlton in Hawaii.
The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua, would be our top pick for golf and a more peaceful and relaxing poolside atmosphere. We love the extensive gardens and lawns that lead down to the beach.
The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach, is our top pick if you like the excitement of a city. The pool area here is fun, the views are great as the hotel is high-rise, and this is by far the most cost-effective Ritz-Carlton in Hawaii as you can eat out for much cheaper as there are so many local restaurants on your doorstep. This hotel is less ideal for young families as it is a few blocks and busy roads from the beach.
If you are traveling with a young family, the Four Seasons has one of the calmest beaches on Hawaii and also comes highly recommended. Four Seasons Oahu is one of the best Four Seasons in Hawaii.
Ultimately, all these Ritz-Carlton hotels in Hawaii are fabulous. We have previously compared this Ritz-Carlton to the Marriott and Sheraton in Maui in case you are looking for another hotel in Hawaii that falls under the Marriott umbrella.
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