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Emily: Daraius surprised me with a stay at the Grand Wailea, a Waldorf Astoria Resort. I had never stayed in a Waldorf Astoria hotel (part of the Hilton chain), and was looking forward to our visit to see what the fuss was about! Daraius: The Rough Guide says that “…minimalism is a dirty word” at the Grand Wailea. And, boy, were they correct! Trip Report Index:- Introduction and Planning
- Alaska Airlines First Class & Getting Locked Out of Our Car!
- Hyatt Regency Maui, Ocean Suite
- Hyatt Regency Maui
- Eating Around the Hyatt Regency Maui
- Activities Around the Hyatt Regency Maui
- Hyatt Regency Maui Ocean Front Room
- Grand Wailea – Terrace View Room
- The Grand Wailea
- Grand Wailea Spa
- Eating Around the Grand Wailea
- Activities Around the Grand Wailea
- The Road to Hana
- United Flight From Hawaii
- Blog Giveaway & Conclusion
The Grand Wailea
Emily: We pulled up to the entrance, and the staff took our luggage and parked our car. Valet parking is mandatory and expensive at $30 per day. Daraius couldn’t find any cheaper parking by the hotel, so we paid the valet fee. But we didn’t have to pay the $25 resort fee since we booked the hotel using points and free night certificates from the Citi Hilton Reserve card.The building was painted in bright white and peach.
As you drove up, there was a waterfall with pretty flowers.
There was a very large lobby and in the center was a bar.
The hotel is very large and has several restaurants, a spa, seven pools, and more. I liked how it was not very crowded and quiet.
The open lobby and bar made the hotel look even larger.
There was even a painted ceiling in the bar and lots of sculpture, graphics, murals and artifacts everywhere.
We took a few pictures and then walked around the hotel.
There was an ornate bar.
I loved how well-kept everything was.
There was a sculpture of Three Male Hula dancers.
The hotel was as beautiful outside.
There were lots of palm trees and paths.
I loved the little white canopies. They were so pretty!
There’s also a reflecting pool which is a great place to take a picture.
To the right of the reflecting pool is a small chapel.
We went inside to see the stained glass.
The chapel was open so we peaked inside.
Outside were the Nai’aKauhulu (Gathering of Dolphins) sculpture.
The beach is also right by the hotel, providing an excellent view of the Pacific Ocean.
There were lots of lounge chairs to enjoy the view.
The pool area, Wailea Canyon, includes everything from slides, jungle pools with a rope swing, waterfalls, caves, a sand beach, Jacuzzis, a swim-up bar, and a water elevator.
The pools are some of the best I have seen at a resort! There are nine pools on six different levels. The pools are connected by a river that carries swimmers along whitewater rapids and gentle currents.
The connecting river made the pools seems like one giant pool.
There was an adults-only pool…
…a kids’ play area pool… …a scuba dive training pool… …a volleyball pool… …a pool with a water elevator… …a pool with a waterfall… …a kids’ pool with sand, to imitate a beach… …a general pool…There were more pools than we had time to try!
…a snake pool… …pools with waterslides… …a pool with a bar… ..more snake pools and passageways… …and a bar/restaurant.There was even a koi pond.
There was a concrete pathway which connected the Grand Wailea to the other hotels and condos in the area.