Experience the utmost in Hawaiian luxury at these top resorts with swanky rooms, decadent dining, awesome activities and stellar beach locations. There’s a Hawaiian adventure for everyone, including private getaways that cater to lovebirds and sprawling resorts with pools and fun for the entire family.
Four Seasons Resort Lana'i
Photo by: Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
Situated above magnificent Hulop'e Beach, the Four Seasons Resort Lana'i at Manele Bay features exotic plants and wildlife, championship golf, archeological sites and award-winning restaurants. The exquisite guest rooms (featuring wicker or rattan furnishing, king or queen beds, and first-class amenities) all face either the manicured gardens or have waterfront views, and each room features a private lanai, or balcony. If the stress of travel has gotten under your skin, indulge in one of the resort's decadent spa treatments, like the hot-stone massage or the pineapple citrus body polish.
The Grand Wailea
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Photo by: Getty Images Entertainment
Getty Images Entertainment
The Grand Wailea offers Hawaiian opulence at its best with something for everyone, from hard-to-please children to the most discerning traveler. The 2,000-foot multilevel canyon river pool has slides galore, waterfalls, a lazy river and the only "water elevator" around, and the more elegant hibiscus pool welcomes weary adults for an undisturbed poolside snooze. The Grande Spa features a variety of spa treatments, including baths and scrubs drawn from local ingredients like Hawaiian macadamia nuts, coconut milk and cream, and pineapple. From the smallest details, like the 50 million dollars’ worth of art found in the gallery to the gardens, to the collection of gourmet restaurants, the Grand Wailea is a grand utopia.
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Best Hotel Pool
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Andrew and Sam have favorite hotel pools on opposite sides of the globe.
The Ritz-Carlton
Photo by: The Ritz Carlton Hotel and Resorts
The Ritz Carlton Hotel and Resorts
Kapalua's most exclusive resort sits in splendid isolation at the top of a cliff with commanding views of Molokai Island. The resort is shaped like a horseshoe wrapped around manicured grounds and a tiered swimming pool connected by waterfalls. Sweeping walkways lead to D.T. Fleming Beach Park, 10 beachfront tennis courts and a casual beach bar that serves umbrella drinks. Dining options range from fine cuisine to poolside snacks. A children's program, full-service spa and putting green are all on site, and the resort is surrounded by world-class golf courses.
Turtle Bay Resort
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Photo by: Universal Images Group
Universal Images Group
Turtle Bay Resort, the most luxurious hideaway on the North Shore, is ideal for families and travelers looking to treat themselves. The resort sits on nearly 5 miles of beachfront where you can soak up the laidback North Shore lifestyle with surfing lessons, a kayaking excursion, horseback-riding or by kicking back in a lounge chair. Set off on a hike along the 12 miles of oceanfront trails that weave through Ironwood trees and palms. Accommodations include comfortable guest rooms and suites, private beach cottages and spectacular villas with up to 4 bedrooms and plenty of living space, including a full kitchen and dining room where your private chef can prepare local specialties.
Halekulani
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Photo by: Perspectives / Getty Images
Perspectives / Getty Images
The fountains and greenery of the Halekulani resort provide an oasis away from the urban clamor of Waikiki. The guest rooms are the hotel's best feature, many with a fabulous ocean view. Other amenities include a glass-walled shower and separate soaking tub, top-of-the-line bath products, comfy robes and wireless Internet. The hotel houses La Mer, a beloved AAA Five Diamond Restaurant that is one of Hawaii's finest oceanfront restaurants for elegant dining. Enjoy breakfast or sip Mai Tais later in the day at the House Without a Key, an informal spot that serves light meals and cocktails and provides live Hawaiian music in the evenings.
The Four Seasons Hualalai
Photo by: Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
The Four Seasons Hualalai is the ultimate Big Island luxury retreat, a resort consisting of a series of secluded bungalows that manages to feel intimate. Well-appointed rooms and suites feature Polynesian-style décor, ocean views and bamboo canopy beds. Some even boast private outdoor showers. The resort's Jack Nicklaus golf course has lush green fairways nestled into black lava with ocean and island views that threaten to distract even the most avid golfers from their game. Spend your days unwinding in an oceanfront hammock, or take advantage of the resort’s many activities including 5 pools, a Hawaiian history and cultural center, scuba lessons and Hawaiian outrigger canoe rides.
Mauna Kea Beach Resort
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Photo by: Perspectives / Getty Images
Perspectives / Getty Images
The Mauna Kea Beach resort is vintage Hawaii and the first of its kind on the Kohala Coast when it was built 1965 by Laurance S. Rockefeller. Remodeled guest rooms are spacious retreats, each with a private lanai, swanky bedding, L’Occitane amenities and high-tech touches like flat-screen TVs and media hubs. Outside, lush vegetation -- Kauna'oa is also the name of the vine that grows on the bay's shoreline -- and with meticulous landscaping create a lavish backdrop to this paradise. Relax in a cabana overlooking the white sands at Kauna‘oa Beach, play a round of golf, head to the weekly luau or clambake on the beach, or learn some traditional Hawaiian crafts like making leis or lauhala weaving.
The Kahala Hotel & Resort
Situated between the volcanic tuff cones of Diamond Head and Koko Head, the Kahala Hotel & Resort provides a lavish, private paradise. Along with the 338 rooms and suites, 5 elegant restaurants and a world-class spa, this luxurious Hawaiian resort features exotic, lush tropical gardens and a private 26,000-square-foot lagoon with their own resident dolphins. After basking in the sun on the crescent-shaped white sand beach or taking advantage of one the hotel’s beach activities like kayaking, paddleboarding or snorkeling, take the complimentary shuttle service to Waikiki, located only 10 minutes away.
Sheraton Kauai Resort
Photo by: Sheraton Kauai Resort
Sheraton Kauai Resort
Situated on Poipu Beach, the Sheraton Kauai Resort is a family-friendly dream set on 20 lush acres with multiple restaurants and activities galore including tennis, horseback-riding, endless beach fun and access to golf. Each of the hotel's 2 pools has an adjacent children's pool. And the Keiki Aloha Club offers entertainment activities for children ages 5 to 12; while Mom and Dad are swinging away on the ninth hole, the kids will be learning how to make leis, hearing Hawaiian legends, painting or drawing to their hearts’ content. Best of all, when the clan reunites later in the day, they're just steps from family-friendly Poipu Beach.
The Royal Hawaiian
Photo by: Starwood Hotels and Resorts
Starwood Hotels and Resorts
Rising above the beach in sunny Waikiki, the Royal Hawaiian is a local icon thanks to its palatial grandeur and cheery signature bright pink hue. When the Pink Palace was built in 1927, it was the hottest and most luxurious resort in Hawaii. This tradition of luxury continues today with well-appointed rooms and suites and first-rate service. During the day, relax on the beach at Waikiki or take a dip in the saltwater plunge pool or slide down the 70-foot-long waterslide at the Helumoa Playground pool complex. Come sunset, indulge in a seafood feast at Azure Restaurant, and enjoy a signature cocktail at the Mai Tai Bar.
We've sourced some of the world's most indulgent golf experiences -- from far-flung locales to domestic beauties -- where unparalleled surrounds and serious pampering are par for the course.
Whether you travel on the off-season or plan a trip with friends to save some money, there are numerous ways to plan a high-end vacation on a shoestring budget.