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Spring Break to Maui: The Grand Wailea

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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!
Poolside at The Grand Wailea
Trip Report Index:

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.
Grand Wailea Entrance

The building was painted in bright white and peach.

Peach and White Grand Wailea

As you drove up, there was a waterfall with pretty flowers.

The Waterfall

There was a very large lobby and in the center was a bar.

Grand Wailea Resort Lobby

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.

Resort’s Interior

The open lobby and bar made the hotel look even larger.

Open Lobby and Bar

There was even a painted ceiling in the bar and lots of sculpture, graphics, murals and artifacts everywhere.

Artwork and Bar

We took a few pictures and then walked around the hotel.

Picture Time!

There was an ornate bar.

The Botero Bar

I loved how well-kept everything was.

Beautiful Garden

There was a sculpture of Three Male Hula dancers.

Daraius in Front of Three Male Hula Dancers

The hotel was as beautiful outside.

Outside View

There were lots of palm trees and paths.

Palm Trees and Marble Paths

I loved the little white canopies.  They were so pretty!

White Canopies

There’s also a reflecting pool which is a great place to take a picture.

Reflecting Pool
 
The Reflecting Pool

To the right of the reflecting pool is a small chapel.

Small Chapel

We went inside to see the stained glass.

Chapel’s Front View

The chapel was open so we peaked inside.

Stained Glass Interiors

Outside were the Nai’aKauhulu (Gathering of Dolphins) sculpture.

Dancing Dolphins

The beach is also right by the hotel, providing an excellent view of the Pacific Ocean.

By The Beach

There were lots of lounge chairs to enjoy the view.

Lounge Chairs

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.

One of the Many Pools

The connecting river made the pools seems like one giant pool.

River Connecting the Pools

There was an adults-only pool…

Adults-only Pool
…a kids’ play area pool…
Kids’ Play Area Pool
…a scuba dive training pool…
Scuba Dive Training Pool
…a volleyball pool…
Volleyball Pool
…a pool with a water elevator…
Water Elevator
…a pool with a waterfall…
Pool with Waterfall
…a kids’ pool with sand, to imitate a beach…
Sand Beach Kiddie Pool
…a general pool…
General Pool

There were more pools than we had time to try!

A Pool a Day Keeps Daraius Happy
…a snake pool…
Snake Pool
…pools with waterslides…
Waterslides
…a pool with a bar…
Pool with Bar
Grotto Bar
..more snake pools and passageways…
Snake Pools and Passageway
…and a bar/restaurant.
Resort’s Bar and Restaurant

There was even a koi pond.

Koi Pond

There was a concrete pathway which connected the Grand Wailea to the other hotels and condos in the area.

Pathway
 
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