Hotel Guide: Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort

With its wealth of amenities and stunning oceanfront view, Andaz Maui is one of the island's best resorts.
Ramsey Qubein
By Ramsey Qubein 
Updated

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World of Hyatt fans know Andaz as one of the company’s top-tier brands that focuses on exceptional design and high-end service. Its Hawaii outpost is no exception, and visitors to Maui will find a bucket-list resort ready and waiting.

If you’re curious about the excellent dining, crystal-clear water and stunning views at Andaz Maui, read on. Here’s our review of what you can enjoy on your next visit.

About Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort

As a Category 8 property on the World of Hyatt award chart, a standard room at the Andaz Maui costs from 35,000 to 45,000 points, depending on whether you travel during peak or off-peak dates.

Globalist elite status members can take advantage of their wealth of perks, including complimentary breakfast for two adults and two children and waived resort fees on eligible paid stays. All World of Hyatt members redeeming points are exempt from resort fees, which is a popular perk of being a member. These are some nice savings, especially for Globalist elites traveling with their families or anyone taking advantage of the Globalist Guest of Honor benefit.

Location

On 15 beachfront acres with direct access to Mokapu Beach, this resort has the best of both worlds. Its beautiful swimming pools and waterfront location give guests plenty to keep them busy. The resort is part of the luxury resort community of Wailea and is 16 miles from the airport.

Design

On a slight incline with its four-tiered swimming pools spilling down to the shoreline, Andaz Maui enjoys spectacular views of the water. Once you step inside, you immediately notice the property’s contemporary design and focus on taking advantage of ocean views whenever possible. Even the open-air lobby overlooks the water.

Like at other Andaz properties, reception includes a welcome drink, and guests can go through the check-in formalities as they sit and use a tablet (rather than stand behind a traditional desk). As part of the property’s eco-friendly features, guests can refill bottles at water stations in the hallway, which helps cut back on the use of single-use plastics.

Food and beverage

One of the most important parts of a resort experience is the quality of the dining experience, and Andaz is no exception. While it is wise to get out and explore the beautiful island, there is plenty of dining variety to keep those who remain on property happy. And of course, the architects took advantage of the ocean views in the restaurants.

Ka’ana Kitchen serves farm-to-table cuisine for breakfast and dinner with a menu that includes items like locally caught fish, coconut clams and watermelon salad. The wine menu is expansive with some exceptionally rare bottles.

Perhaps the most famous place to eat here is Morimoto Maui from celebrity chef Masaharu Morimoto of Iron Chef and Iron Chef America fame. Diners can enjoy handcrafted sushi and sashimi in a tropical setting.

Several evenings a week, The Feast at Mokapu draws guests and visitors to the resort’s entertaining luau with a traditional, Hawaiian spread of tasty food and exciting entertainment from local performers.

Room service is always popular, but there are also light snacks and grab-and-go options at Mokapu Market that may appeal to families. No one will go thirsty here either, with bar service available at Lehua Lounge and the beach bar.

Like many purchases in Hawaii, things can be pricey so plan accordingly. Luckily, room charges will count toward earning World of Hyatt points, so at least you’ll be rewarded in points for any type of gluttony.

Accommodations

Sleek and simple, these rooms and suites are bathed in white with fine teak furniture and private balconies overlooking the resort, pools or beach. One of the Andaz signature amenities is a complimentary, nonalcoholic minibar, which is always a nice touch.

Glamorous bathrooms are bathed in lava stone and come with chic Malie toiletries, and some have shutters that you can slide open to see the view while showering.

Rooms come with one king or two queen beds and have either full or partial views. Bigger spenders can splurge on villas with as many as four bedrooms. Some have their own glass-cantilevered pool or outdoor hot tub.

Amenities

Andaz is known for its evening events in the lobby that serve as a social experience for guests to get together and even meet some of the management. Andaz Maui is no different. For a resort that is so expansive and spread out, you might see people that you have not seen before.

The resort has a lavish spa with a variety of massage and beauty treatments. Other activities include free, nonmotorized water sports, lounge chairs by the pool or beach, and organized activities for children.

Even adults can get in on the action thanks to daily activities that include Hawaiian culture classes, like coconut husking and hula lessons, as part of the experience. This is all part of the nightly resort fee, but World of Hyatt members redeeming points won’t have to pay a cent for it.

Don’t worry if you aren’t renting a car as the resort offers shuttle service within a radius of the hotel.

How to get to Andaz Maui

You can easily reach Maui on Hawaiian Airlines from its hub in Honolulu, which has numerous incoming flights from the mainland. In addition, Kahului airport on Maui also has several nonstop flights from cities like Dallas-Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Phoenix-Sky Harbor, San Francisco and Seattle-Tacoma among others.

Delta Air Lines and United Airlines have dumped their award charts and resort to charging sometimes costly award tickets to Hawaii. Meanwhile, Oneworld members Alaska Airlines and American Airlines continue to provide a framework for how many miles you might need. For example, a one-way economy flight on Alaska Airlines to Hawaii costs between 15,000 and 50,000 miles depending on the date. A premium cabin ticket costs between 40,000 and 95,000 miles each way.

American charges between 20,000 and 50,000 miles for economy class or between 55,000 and 90,000 miles for a business class redemption.

For those looking to visit one of Maui’s best resorts, there are plenty of points and miles redemptions to get you there.

Photos courtesy of Hyatt.


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