Fairmont Kea Lani overview – The Factors Man

Fairmont Kea Lani offered TPG with a complimentary three-night keep in order that we might get an inside have a look at the lodge and its facilities. The opinions expressed under are solely these of the creator and weren’t topic to overview by the lodge or any exterior entity.

The Fairmont Kea Lani initially debuted on Wailea’s Polo Seashore in 1991, however after present process a multi-million greenback renovation, it is now mixing luxurious facilities with cultural significance.

The reimagined resort helps create one of many largest cultural facilities on the island — notably necessary after the lack of Maui’s historic and cultural middle Lahaina. Residents of Lahaina in West Maui are nonetheless rebuilding after devastating fires tore by the historic city in 2023, however tourism to different components of the island is important now greater than ever.

These hoping to chill out and unwind in luxurious ought to take into account reserving a visit to the Fairmont Kea Lani — here is why the property is a brand new TPG favourite.

Associated: The 18 finest accommodations in Maui, from luxurious stays to family-friendly resorts

What’s the Fairmont Kea Lani?

Set on greater than 20 acres, the Fairmont Kea Lani boasts simply over 400 suites and villas on the pristine Polo Seashore in Wailea, about half-hour south of Maui’s Kahului Airport (OGG). The resort has an informal magnificence about it, detectable from the second you arrive within the foyer and once you enter your visitor room for the primary time. It feels acquainted, comfy and like house — solely fancier. (And my house would not provide expansive ocean views from virtually each window.)

Designed as an all-suite resort, Fairmont Kea Lani caters to everybody from honeymooners to households and multigenerational vacationers. The villas are specifically designed for households, and so they function full kitchens, dwelling rooms, indoor and out of doors eating areas and laundry rooms.

The grounds are lush and exquisite — precisely what you’d count on for a tropical escape. Among the best components about this property is that you’re by no means a far stroll from something; the primary constructing homes the entire eating places, spa and health middle, and there is a quick path to the villas and seashore. With three swimming pools (together with one adults-only pool), a 140-foot waterslide from the higher to decrease Lagoon pool, cabanas for hire and a full slate of actions, there are many methods to fill your days on the Fairmont Kea Lani.

Tips on how to guide Fairmont Kea Lani

The resort is an Accor property, so Accor Reside Limitless members can guide and obtain reductions of 10% or earn and redeem factors for stays. Members get Traditional standing upon signup, which (along with discounted member charges) gives unique presents, free Wi-Fi, on-line check-in and quick checkout. Bookings can be found straight by the Fairmont Kea Lani web site, the place room charges begin at $899 per evening, together with taxes and costs. For Accor members (it is free to affix), there’s member-specific pricing on the web site. Merely signal into your account.

And if you wish to redeem factors in your keep, Accor would not have an award chart however moderately a flat price per level of two cents every. You should use this to offset even a portion of your invoice.

The resort can also be bookable by way of American Categorical Journey. Cardholders can earn 5 factors per greenback on pay as you go accommodations if reserving with The Platinum Card® from American Categorical. It’s a Fantastic Inns + Resorts® member, so the complimentary breakfast profit, 4 p.m. late checkout and different FHR facilities would apply to your keep. Bear in mind, you may as well get a once-yearly $200 assertion credit score when reserving an Amex FHR or Resort Assortment property by way of Amex Journey. The Resort Assortment requires a minimal two-night keep

Chase cardholders can earn 5 factors per greenback spent on journey booked by the Chase Journey℠ portal. Charges for stays booked by this portal begin at $1,078 per evening, together with taxes and costs. Capital One and Citi are each switch companions of Accor Reside Limitless. You’ll be able to switch your Capital One miles and Citi ThankYou Rewards factors to Accor at a 2:1 ratio, which means 2,000 miles or factors will grow to be 1,000 Accor factors — so not the most effective worth per mile. Moreover, Bilt Factors switch to Accor’s program at a 3:2 ratio — a partnership that was introduced final October.

A wide ranging beachfront location 

As beforehand talked about, the resort is about half-hour south of Maui’s Kahului Airport (OGG). You’ll be able to hook up with the rental automotive middle from the terminal by way of a tram if renting a automotive. A rental automotive is a superb possibility when you determine to enterprise off the resort grounds and expertise Maui’s Upcountry or its many different seashores and native eating places. The resort additionally has an Avis Rental Automotive outpost within the foyer for each day or weekly leases.

We knew we’d enterprise exterior of the resort, so we rented a Jeep Wrangler from the airport’s Avis rental location. We booked by Costco Journey, and a seven-day rental was solely $277 plus taxes and costs.

The climate in Wailea is just about the identical year-round — heat and breezy. Even when you see clouds on Haleakala, they hardly ever make their method towards the seashore. The Wailea space is inexperienced and luxurious, crammed with luxurious resorts and championship golf programs. The Wailea Seashore path connects the Fairmont Kea Lani, 4 Seasons Maui, Grand Wailea, Marriott’s Wailea Seashore Resort and the Andaz Maui, and it is extremely popular for morning walks or jogging.

In keeping with the resort’s web site, valet parking is on the market for $40 per day per automotive. Self-parking is on the market on the resort and is included within the each day resort price of $50.

The resort concierge may also help set up excursions with native tour operators if you want to expertise actions off-property or see different components of the island however choose to not drive.

Arrival expertise

Upon coming into the plush oasis that’s the Fairmont Kea Lani (which we reached by way of a quiet driveway), a bellhop greeted us and provided help with our baggage. One other visitor expertise workers member greeted us with leis and provided our daughter a whale’s story carved necklace. The journey was already off to an awesome begin, and we hadn’t even stepped into the attractive foyer but.

We made a rapid cease on the entrance desk and have been welcomed by the villa expertise crew. They knowledgeable us that drinks can be replenished each day in our villa fridge and that breakfast was included as a part of the villa keep; in addition they defined that the crew can be only a telephone name away if we would have liked something.

Through the golf cart trip right down to the villa, a bellhop offered a short property tour, mentioning areas as we went alongside. As soon as contained in the villa, he offered an summary of the villa’s options and facilities.

Spectacular oceanfront villas

For those who’ve ever questioned what dwelling on the ocean in a villa can be like, that is your likelihood. We spent three wonderful nights in a newly renovated, expansive two-bedroom, two-bath, 1,800-square-foot oceanfront villa with a non-public plunge pool and lanai. This may be my superb dwelling scenario — falling asleep to the sound of the ocean each evening and understanding the water is simply steps out of your patio door. It was heaven.

Villa company take pleasure in sure resort facilities included with their keep, corresponding to each day breakfast at Kea Lani Restaurant and valet parking. The villa itself additionally included a barbecue grill on the lanai, two lounge chairs and an outside eating desk. The workers stocked the kitchen fridge with drinks and snacks, and the kitchen was absolutely outfitted for cooking. The villa crew can even help with arranging grocery deliveries.

A big granite eating desk was between the kitchen and dwelling space. The lounge furnishings included a sectional couch and comfortable chair, a flat-screen TV and a ceiling fan.

The first suite with a king mattress was on the villa’s higher flooring (the ground you enter from the surface stairs right down to the villa). The room additionally included a writing desk and chair, a chaise lounge and a small patio with a lounger.

Ample charging areas for units have been constructed into the nightstands and TV stand, making it straightforward to cost a number of units for a household (not that you will want them once you’re having fun with the resort!).

A lower-floor bed room off the kitchen and dwelling space provided two queen beds, a full closet and a toilet. Every bed room included ample closet house (a big walk-in closet was upstairs for the first suite) and a full rest room with a bathtub and walk-in travertine bathe.

Twin sinks with marble counter tops provided loads of house for journey kits.

Alongside the Le Labo bathtub facilities have been bottles of ocean-safe Undertaking Reef mineral sunscreen and after-sun lotion on the lavatory counters — a considerate contact.

Considered one of my favourite facilities was with the ability to do laundry in our villa midway by our journey (that is additionally how you understand you are over 40). The stackable washer and dryer have been within the utility room, together with an ironing board and iron.

Ingesting and eating

Maui presents out of doors eating climate year-round, so you may really feel the ocean breeze whereas having fun with a cocktail, dinner and a stunning sundown irrespective of the season. The Fairmont Kea Lani has a number of choices for dinner, all with ocean views (along with room service). Total, the meals high quality all over the place on the property was distinctive — even if you’re not a seafood lover, you’ll not go hungry whereas staying right here.

An added bonus is that youngsters underneath 5 eat free when eating with a registered visitor by the resort’s Keiki (youngsters) eating program at Ko, Kea Lani Restaurant and AMA Bar and Grill (restaurant solely, no poolside eating). Children 6 to 12 might order from the Keiki menu at common worth or choose gadgets from the total menu and obtain 50% off.

Dinner in Ko Restaurant

Ko encompasses a fusion menu of Hawaiian, Asian and South Pacific flavors in an open-air idea house with largely patio seating. It is on the bottom degree of the primary constructing overlooking the gardens, the grownup pool and the ocean. The restaurant is open for completely happy hour, dinner and Sunday brunch.

To start out, we shared the crispy shrimp with a Maui lavender honey sauce, candied macadamia nuts and smashed sesame cucumbers ($30). The flavors have been an awesome complement to one another — it was savory and a bit candy on the identical time.

Our dinner decisions have been the surf and turf particular of the evening ($57) and the Korean braised quick ribs ($58). The surf and turf was a bowl of Asian noodles tossed with bok choy, inexperienced beans, pink peppers and sauteed shrimp. Completely cooked medium-rare slices of ribeye and a chimichurri sauce have been sitting on prime of the noodles. The Korean braised quick ribs have been served with carrots, child bok choy and kimchi fried rice. Each dishes have been stuffed with taste, and we had loads to share.

Breakfast buffet at Kea Lani Restaurant

A villa keep contains each day breakfast at Kea Lani Restaurant. The buffet was plentiful and catered to many various tastes — there have been shows of sliced meat, cheeses, artisan bread and pastries, together with Asian-style udon vegetarian noodles and miso salmon, hen potstickers and miso soup.

Every morning, a beneficiant choice was out there, from waffles, pancakes and made-to-order omelets to bacon, Portuguese sausage, scrambled eggs and egg whites. Continental choices included cereals, yogurts, granola, dried fruits and recent sliced fruits.

Pilina ocean-view foyer bar

Serving lunch and dinner, Pilina is an open-air foyer bar with attractive ocean views. The menu presents native drinks, recent seafood, sushi, and a number of meat and fish you may cook dinner at your desk on a scorching rock. Simply exterior the doorway are swinging chairs which proved to be my daughter’s favourite spot to go to apart from the pool slide and seashore.

The drink menu features a international wine choice, domestically made and Japanese sake, a number of spirits from Hawaiian distilleries, beer from Maui Brewing Firm and cocktails. Attempt the Mauka cocktail ($24) — which suggests “towards the mountains” — which mixes Fy Hawaii gin, Ohia Lehua honey, ginger, lemon, smoked Huge Island bee pollen, angostura bitters and lavender from the Ali’i Kula Lavender Farm we visited earlier within the day.

For dinner, we loved a number of salmon sashimi ($27), rainbow rolls ($37) and edamame ($16) to start out, adopted by venison sliders with yuzu tomato jam aioli on Hawaiian candy rolls ($26). The particular sushi roll of the evening was advisable by our server and turned out to be our favourite — a lobster, avocado, cucumber roll with soy sauce poke on prime with ogo, cilantro microgreens and garlic chips ($37).

I like it when resorts have wonderful foyer bars for an off-the-cuff dinner, and Pilina undoubtedly checked all of the packing containers because of its stress-free ambiance, nice drink menu and scrumptious meals.

Cultural preservation and family-friendly actions

In 2024, the resort unveiled a brand new cultural middle within the foyer, and it is appropriate for all ages. The Cultural Heart on the Kea Lani is much more important now as a result of so many invaluable Hawaiian artifacts and historic paperwork have been misplaced within the Lahaina wildfires.

The middle presents courses corresponding to hula dancing and ukulele classes. Plus, it features a everlasting show of Hawaiian artifacts — corresponding to feather headdresses worn by royalty, jewellery made out of seashells, ceremonial accompaniments and musical devices — that have been handmade by Maui artisans who replicated the normal strategies of making them.

Kamahiwa Kawaʻa, the top of the cultural middle, defined that every little thing on show is supposed to be explored and used — permitting company to expertise the tradition and historical past firsthand.

We additionally had enjoyable experiencing the each day koi fish feeding at 9 a.m. (geared towards youthful company). Children 10 and over would possibly just like the stargazing occasion twice every week on the garden or the outrigger excursions provided just a few occasions every morning.

Stargazing in Hawaii is especially distinctive since you might be on an island in the midst of the Pacific Ocean with little or no mild air pollution. For those who reside in an city space, you might need by no means seen the Milky Approach or taking pictures stars. It is value it to attempt the high-powered telescope the astronomer brings to see planets and nebulae.

A swim with sea turtles is a good way to start out the morning, and the outrigger tour (ages 10 and up, reservation required) was an informative cultural exercise that lasted about an hour. It started with an evidence of how the Hawaiian folks historically used canoes for recreation and fishing.

After a conventional Hawaiian prayer and blowing of the conch, the outrigger shoved off Polo Seashore and out into the ocean. We paddled in unison for about quarter-hour earlier than stopping to gaze down on the reef under and ease into the water with goggles for a swim. For those who’re fortunate, you will even get to see some turtles.

Cool off on the seashore or pool

The primary pool (appropriate for all ages and households) is split into the higher pool and decrease pool, with a slide connecting the 2. Pool cabanas can be found in each areas, and rental charges begin from $350 per day. The AMA Bar and Grill on the higher pool serves informal Hawaiian fare and in addition presents completely happy hour, a swim-up bar and patio eating.

The adults-only pool is nearer to the primary constructing, going through Ko Restaurant and the Kea Lani breakfast patio.

Cabana leases include a bento field of edamame and recent pineapple to snack on, in addition to a soft-sided cooler stocked with ice, water, juices and sodas. Pool attendants usually make the rounds checking on company and, within the afternoon, deliver round frozen chocolate mochi bites for everybody to take pleasure in.

Pool facilities embrace refillable bottles of mineral sunscreen, a retail store the place you should buy goggles, sun shades, pool floats and toys; there’s additionally a scuba desk the place you may organize classes.

Down at Polo Seashore, there’s an expansive verdant garden for actions like watching the sundown, morning yoga or for teenagers to play. Friends who want to borrow kayaks or stand-up paddleboards can accomplish that freed from cost from the seashore.

Chill out on the Willow Stream Spa

Willow Stream Spa is a signature of Fairmont properties with distinctive customer support and coverings. The spa at this property — which is slated to be renovated later this yr — options 13 remedy rooms, a full salon and boutique, oceanfront and poolside spa cabanas, and a number of rest areas.

For my remedy, I selected the Pure Hawaiian Journey (120 minutes, $465), which options domestically grown substances that native Hawaiians use to take care of well being and well-being. I additionally selected so as to add on a Knesko collagen face masks ($55).

After my remedy, my pores and skin felt hydrated and relaxed. My therapist, Kellie, offered knowledgeable suggestions for my pores and skin kind and methods to take care of my post-spa glow.

Make sure to depart your self time to expertise the opposite components of the spa, from the relief room to the therapeutic clay and steam room to the experiential showers — an “afternoon thunderstorm” bathe was fairly the journey.

Accessibility

The Fairmont Kea Lani is compliant with the People with Disabilities Act, because it presents pool chair lifts, vast entrances and vast pathways. The primary constructing has elevators for entry to the retailers, eating places, health middle and swimming pools.

Broad pathways join the primary constructing to the swimming pools, villas and seashore. A choose variety of single-story, ocean-view villas are accessible from the primary pathways with out having to navigate steps.

As at all times, TPG recommends calling the lodge forward of your keep to make sure they’ll meet your accessibility wants.

Trying out

After having fun with our final sundown at Polo Seashore, the villa crew referred to as to rearrange help with baggage and a golf cart trip as much as the entrance of the resort for the following day. When it was time to depart, we have been unhappy to say goodbye to our new oceanfront house away from house, however the aloha spirit of the Fairmont Kea Lani workers stays till our subsequent go to.

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