The Ultimate Guide To The Best Hawaiian Resorts for Families

hawaii-resorts

hawaii-resorts

Today I am sharing on a subject very close to my heart: Hawaii.

Born and raised in California, Hawaii is just a short flight away and hotels can often be grabbed for less than a hotel on the California coast.

And, you get a heck of a lot more vacation for your buck if you head to the islands, too.

I love it so much, we got married on Maui.

Since then, we’ve tried to go to Hawaii every year. Our kids both went before they could walk and often talk about our various trips and ask when we can go again.

We are, quite simply, in love with the Hawaiian islands and have a pretty in-depth knowledge of the options, particularly for families with young kids.

So, I thought I could share a little bit about our experiences at various hotels on the islands and point you in the right direction for your next getaway.

Our Criteria for the Best Hawaii Resorts for Families:

These are the Hawaiian hotels that we feel are the best options for families. Our criteria for adding them to the list is pretty simple:

  • Family friendly, with additions such as: kid meals, kid deals, kid activities, etc.
  • A fantastic kid pool, whether it’s a separate, dedicated kid area or a fun big pool with waterslides
  • Chill vibe with an audience that is also family friendly. Nothing spoils the mood like hanging out with a bunch of grumpy people with no kids and who hate kids.
  • Close to ocean. We are talking on the beach. Steps to the ocean. No go-kart or long walk required.
  • Amenities. Amenities. Amenities.
  • Family friendly rooms, with things like bathtubs, pull-out beds, cribs, TV with cartoon channels included, etc.
  • Great food. When we travel with littles, we don’t want to leave for every meal. The hotel must have good dining options we all like with affordable, fresh food.

Pretty simple, right?

The Price of Hawaiian Resorts:

I’ll be straightforward with you: these are not the most budget-friendly options.

When I travel, I like a nice hotel, in the right place, on the right beach, with the right amenities. I’m not sharing the cheapest way to travel to Hawaii here; I’m sharing the best Hawaiian hotels for your next family trip.

And, while none of these are sponsored and none of these resorts are paying me to write about them, I am using affiliate links here, which means I’ll receive a small commission if you choose to purchase a trip through my links.

Let’s Travel to the Hawaiian Islands!

1. Disney Aulani Resort:

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View of the resort from our room.

I think this hotel is, arguably, the most spectacular family beach resort – ever.

It is most certainly the most incredible option on the Hawaiian Islands.

Reasons to Go To Disney Aulani:

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My son with the true love of his life, Minnie Mouse

There are so many features to this resort that make it absolutely show-stopping, but here are a few for you to quickly review:

  • Several pools: from the lazy river, the big pool, the smaller, inifinity edge pool, and a snorkel pool
  • Waterpark: the kids’ waterpark is AMAZING. It really is unlike anything I’ve seen at a hotel before. It’s the perfect size for kids up to about preteen age, and probably even teenagers would enjoy it. The playground and pint-sized waterslides, all doused in a regular stream of water, is a blast. Literally.
  • Splashpad: They have their very own splashpad. Perfect for toddlers.
  • Restaurants: from grab ‘n go cafes to themed character breakfasts, they’ve got you covered.
  • Spa: highly-rated spa treatments in their own private spa
  • Kids’ Care: the on-site Aunty’s Beach House is an incredible resource for families. With regular, scheduled, kids activities and play attendants on staff, parents can drop off their kids for a couple of hours and everyone will have a great time.
  • Characters – are everywhere! They’ll randomly show up for meet ‘n greets and watch out for the surprise pool parties, where Mickey and the whole gang pop out of nowhere and start singing and dancing.*
  • Private Lagoon – Their private ocean lagoon literally looks like a scene from Moana. It is worth the price of admission alone to have access to their included launch chairs, right on the water, of their sparkling blue lagoon. Beach games are out for your use and a snack shack serves the infamous Dole Whip Sundaes.

*A note on the characters: These are the most spectacular actors I have seen at any Disney location yet. They went tremendously out of their way to interact with kids, acknowledge them, make them feel special, and remember them.

There were several times that a character was walking in or out of the break room and you’d see kids waiting, so excited to see them, and even though they must’ve been so exhausted, they would stop and make it magical for the kids.

At the character breakfast, Minnie was a showstopper. You just could not resist falling absolutely in love with her. My son certainly couldn’t ;).

Lastly, the person who played Mickey was extraordinary. 

He remembered my son day after day and used miming to communicate to him that he remembered him.

One day, my son stood and watched him in his photo area taking picture after picture. We tried to get him to go play, but he refused to move – saying, “Mickey will come see me.”

We tried to explain that Mickey couldn’t leave, but Mickey actually took a break between pictures to come over, hug him, spend a couple of minutes making him feel special, before going back to his long line of eagerly waiting guests.

It was one of those perfect Disney moments that resulted in lots of pictures (not just from us!), maybe a few tears (#GUILTY), and a wave of gratitude all around.

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Disney Aulani brings the magic that Disney is known for.

It is all the qualities of the Disney parks and resorts that you know and love married with the beauty and tranquility of the Hawaiian islands.

This was a bucket list trip for us and something that we saved for, so we were so glad it was worth every penny. In fact, we are already thinking about how we can save up to go back.

Things To Do at Disney Aulani:

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The Aulani splash pad

Besides hanging out at the resort, there are some other activities you may be interested in around the Disney Aulani.

Shopping: There may be a day when you need a break from the sun. About 45 minutes away is the Ala Moana Center mall. It’s huge and has very unique architecture. We found a fun arcade there that the kids loved and grabbed a few fun, Hawaiian-y souvenirs. You could really do some damage, here, though, I think there was something like 7 levels of shopping. Enormous.

Just remember you have to find a way to get it all home 😉

Playground: Near the shopping area, there’s a really neat playground that the kids loved. It’s right by a Target, so when we needed to grab a few things, we spotted it and knew we had to stop.

An easy way to let kids play, while you relax in the shade.

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Off-Site Food: You will reach a fatigue point with the Disney food. It’s not bad, but after a few days, I felt like all the restaurants were recycling the same menu items in different ways and I needed to eat something else.

Just a couple of blocks away from Aulani, there is a little shopping plaza that has a local coffee shop, a farm to table restaurant, and some other shops.

I highly, HIGHLY recommend you head over there. The coffee is sublime and the restaurant, Monkeypod Kitchenwas SO delicious. They had a strawberry cream pie that I am STILL trying to recreate or find stateside. I would seriously go back for that pie. #NOJOKE

Things To Consider:

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The Aulani water park

While we travel pretty low-key, we did hear some people talk about additional fees. Typical of resorts like this, you will have to pay extra for things like cabana rentals, equipment rentals, etc. We didn’t run into any issues with it, but if you like a more all-inclusive experience, it’s something to consider.

Rooms are reasonably sized, but you will probably not get ocean view. I am usually a real stickler about ocean view rooms when we go to Hawaii, but here I settled for a resort view.

I could see the ocean out there, but most of our view was of the lazy river. And, you know what? It was so cool to see the whole resort from up high. So, I would recommend going with a resort view to save a few bucks. 

Food can be pricey. You will probably want to plan a few meals off-site. 

Overall Verdict:

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In my opinion, the Disney Aulani delivers an unbeatable, magical Hawaiian and Disney experience.

It’s a fantastic place to take kids preteen and under (and we saw some couples there honeymooning, too!). We loved it and can’t wait until we can go back.

Of all the places we have been, my kids talk about Aulani the most often.

Visit Disney Aulani

2. Hilton Waikoloa Village:

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Image courtesy of Hilton.

The minute you walk in to the Hilton Waikoloa Village, you feel transported to that perfect Hawaiian experience we are all hoping for.

The Hilton Waikoloa Village is nothing short of extraordinary. From the dancing dolphins that will mesmerize you while you enjoy your lunch, to the tram that will take you all over the 62-acres of pools, lush landscaping, and their own private lagoon, this hotel is truly a Hawaiian playground.

Reasons to Go To Hilton Waikoloa Village:

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Image courtesy of Hilton

  • Private Lagoon: They have 4-acre, ocean fed, saltwater lagoon with sea turtles and more. We spent more time at the lagoon than at the pools It’s amazing.
  • Pools: That doesn’t mean that the pools aren’t amazing! From pools with waterslides to shallow pools just for tikes and even an adult-only pool, there is something for everyone.
  • Smoothies: I have to mention these, because I got about 4 of them a day. The smoothies are AMAZING.
  • Food: Delicious cuisine at your fingertips. There’s a burger and fries place right by the Dolphin Lagoon and even an on-site ice cream shop! You really don’t have to leave at all.
  • Shopping: They have their own on-site shopping experience.
  • Tram: You don’t have to schlep all your things from pool to pool. Just hop on the tram.
  • Luau: The on-site luau is one of the best on the island. Having seen many luaus, I concur.
  • Dolphins: You can actually swim with the dolphins in their lagoon! My husband was able to go, but I was pregnant and couldn’t. To this day, it remains one of his favorite vacation experiences of all time. The dolphin actually loved him and kept swimming to him over and over, even when the instructor was trying to direct her to other people! It was hilarious.

Things To Do at Hilton Waikoloa Village:

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Image courtesy of Hilton.

It’s pretty simple here. Just lounge poolside and sip a smoothie, before riding the tram back to your room to get dressed for the best luau you’ve ever seen. Then, the next day, take that tram over to breakfast before spending the day at the lagoon.

Seriously, this resort is like 5 hotels in one. It’s really magnificent.

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Image courtesy of Hilton.

Off-Site: Just a block or two away, there’s a large shopping center with a grocery store, a Starbucks, and some restaurants.

Dining: Make sure to go off-site to the infamous, Hawaiian restaurant Roy’s. It’s absolutely a must-do. Thank me later.

Shopping: Around the restaurants, there are some small shops with quintessential Hawaiian finds.

Things To Consider:

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Image courtesy of Hilton

Rooms: There are certain areas that are better for families vs. if you’re traveling as a couple and love to golf. We stayed in the Lagoon Tower and that was perfect for us.

Absolutely look at the different buildings on site and thing about where you’ll spend the bulk of your time and try to get a room as close to that as you can.

Sure, the tram helps, but you don’t want to be tramming it across the resort to the pool you like best every day, because then you are pretty far from your room.

Exploring: We did try to drive off-site one day and explore. But, I don’t know if we headed the wrong direction or it’s just more rural there, but we drove for hours and didn’t find much.

Sure, it’s a beautiful drive, but with kids – you really need a destination. I would not recommend aimless driving or adventuring. Have a plan if you’re staying at this resort.

I hear the other side of the island has more buzz and bustle. I’m not sure how far that is, but we didn’t make it over there.

Food Prices: No doubt about it, the food is expensive. We blew through our food budget faster than we expected, but we take the mindset of – “When on vacation…”. If you are on a tight budget, you’ll need to really expect to either grab some meals at the grocery store nearby or just budget more for food. Even the grocery store is more expensive than what you might think. Just be prepared.

Overall Verdict:

The Hilton Waikoloa Village serves you the quintessential Hawaiian vacation that dreams are made of on a silver platter. 

I warn you, though, that if you go – you will very likely want to go back. Again and again.

Choose wisely ;).

Visit The Hilton Waikoloa Village

3. Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Ka’anapali:

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View from our hotel room

We have been to this particular resort 3 times and this year will make it 4. From the wandering pink flamingos to the perfect stretch of the Ka’anapali Beach, the Westin Maui Resort is at the top of our list.

Whenever we go stay somewhere else, we inevitably go back to talking about how much we love this hotel. It is also sentimental for us, since this is the hotel we stayed in while planning our wedding.

This hotel is the perfect combination of accessibility to shopping, beaches, and other restaurants, and also privacy and tranquility.

Plus, they regularly offer really good deals that can make your trip more affordable! Yeehaw!

Reasons to Go To the Westin Maui:

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Dinner with a view

  • Location: This hotel is situated right on the most perfect stretch of beach. The Ka’anapali Beach is renowned for being one of the longest, most beautiful stretches of beaches in the world. Home to 7 resorts, the Westin Maui is the crown jewel, with immediate access to the beach.
  • Walkway: Probably something we love most, you do not feel stuck or isolated at this hotel. You can hit the walkway that runs almost the entire stretch of the beach and check out all of the other hotels, too.
  • Pools: The pool here is fantastic. It just seems to keep going, looping through a grotto that adds some mystery, to a basketball hoop that invites an ongoing game of pool ball, and even a waterslide that entices the younger swimmers.
  • Restaurants: The food here is – well, Westin quality. I happen to think Westin hotels have some of the best food. Every time we go, there is some new appetizer that I cannot get enough of. Plus, one of their restaurants is practically right on the beach. I mean, right there:
  • Shopping: Just a short walk to Whaler’s Village, a great little plaza with amazing restaurants and shopping. Only 3 miles to Lahaina, home of Cheeseburger’s In Paradise and an outdoor shopping plaza with everything you could want.
  • Beaches: Not only is it on the best beach ever, but you’re a short drive to Wailea, which is more of a local spot, but our favorite beach of all time. There’s even a playground where you can go on swings facing the ocean. I mean, come on. #LETSGO

Things To Do at the Westin Maui:

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Walk to nearby Starbucks

The Westin Maui offers the best of everything. The resort itself has amazing food and pools, a relaxed ambience, beautiful rooms – most with ocean views – and top notch customer service.

Coffee With a View: But, when you leave the resort, it just continues to add to the experience. You can walk the long stretch of Ka’anapali beach, peak into the other resorts on the water, and even stop at the Starbucks a few blocks away that is right in front of the ocean.

Starbucks and ocean. STARBUCKS AND OCEAN.

Shopping: Then, walk a few blocks the other way to go to Whaler’s Village, where Leilani’s has delicious food and the biggest slice of Luau Pie you’ve ever had. Go when there’s live music and you’ll get your most complete taste of paradise.

Lahaina: Grab a rental car to head to Lahaina, where you can cheeseburgers over the ocean before strolling art galleries and little hidden bookstores.

Activities: Maui also offers a long-list of Hawaiian adventures, such as: sugar cane train riding, hiking to waterfalls, kayaking adventures, ziplining, taking a cruise ship to Molokini Island, visiting the lavender farm, heading to the coffee farms, and so much more.

Maui really is the best of all worlds in one and an epic place to visit with your family.

Things To Consider:

Image courtesy of Westin

Recent Renovation: They’ve just undergone a huge renovation. In fact, we haven’t even seen it since they’ve redone it, but the pictures look fab. I love it when a great hotel gets a face-lift.

Room Location: The Westin is a large resort. You may want to ask to be stationed near the center of the resort or near a certain place in the resort.

One time, our room was so far out, it took a good 10 minutes, maybe more, to get all the way from the room to downstairs. It was just a really long walk and lots of elevators with small kids and all the bags.

No kids pool. There is not a specific swim area just for kids. Other hotels have dedicated pools or areas with kid features, but not here.

Cabana rentals go fast and are in the prime spots. Consider reserving a couple of days in advance of your trip or go as soon as you get there and reserve them. We usually do 2 cabana days in the week, because I get pretty intense sun allergies and need to be out of the sun – but still close enough to feel included 🙂

Overall Verdict:

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Image courtesy of Westin

We obviously love this resort with how many times we have visited. I definitely don’t think we are done yet, either, because we are going again in a few months!

I can’t wait to see how it looks after the remodel!

There is something about this particular resort that draws us back in again and again. Could be the ocean views and proximity to Starbucks, but that’s just a guess 😉

Visit the Westin Maui

4. Fairmont Kea Lani:

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Image courtesy of Fairmont

I had the privilege of visiting the Kea Lani when I was still a teenager myself. My dad won the trip from his employer at the time and – wow – we were amazed.

The Kea Lani is going to be a resort you see on pretty much every list like this and there is a reason for that – it is a truly special place.

Reasons to Go to the Fairmont Kea Lani:

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Image courtesy of Fairmont

This list could be very long, so I’ll try to focus on the most compelling reasons:

  • Wailea Beachfront: This hotel is on the Wailea beach, which is our personal favorite. The Wailea beaches are just a bit quieter and so much more romantic.
  • Wailea Access: The town area of Wailea is much more local-friendly and less touristy, so this is where you are going to get the really great food. There’s a small strip of shops right across the street from a Wailea beach that has a Starbucks and a breakfast place that makes the most INSANE coconut banana pancakes. I can never remember the name, but if you find the Starbucks across from the beach, it’s in that plaza. You gotta find it.
  • Quieter: Because Wailea has less hotels and appeals more to couples, but there are enough families where you won’t stick out. You’ll also not get so surrounded by kid noises that it’ll require ear plugs. #ItHappens
  • Willow StreamSpa: I still remember the facial I got here years ago. That’s a long time to remember a facial. It was a goooood facial. If you love spas, this might be the hotel for you.
  • Kids Club: The kids club here is amazing. I was able to do some of the activities, as a kid, and I still remember how fun they were. Even though I was about 16, so on the older side, I still loved it. I really look forward to taking my kids someday and seeing them experience it all, too.
  • Pools: Two family activity pools are joined by a 140-foot water slide. I know where you’ll be all day!
  • Boutique Shopping: Right on the property, so you don’t even have to leave to blow your savings.

Things To Do at the Fairmont Kea Lani:

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Image courtesy of Fairmont

Visit the spa, swim in the pool, eat at the many restaurants.

Or, walk down the beach to enjoy the restaurants or shows at nearby hotels.

Plus, you’re closer to Kihei, which is more of a local’s spot, so you’ll find great food that is more reasonably priced and the stunning beaches of Wailea.

Also, see these notes from above which are applicable here as well:

Shopping: Then, walk a few blocks the other way to go to Whaler’s Village, where Leilani’s has delicious food and the biggest slice of Luau Pie you’ve ever had. Go when there’s live music and you’ll get your most complete taste of paradise.

Lahaina: Grab a rental car to head to Lahaina, where you can cheeseburgers over the ocean before strolling art galleries and little hidden bookstores.

Activities: Maui also offers a long-list of Hawaiian adventures, such as: sugar cane train riding, hiking to waterfalls, kayaking adventures, ziplining, taking a cruise ship to Molokini Island, visiting the lavender farm, heading to the coffee farms, and so much more.

Things To Consider:

fairmont-kea-lani-maui

Image courtesy of Fairmont

This resort has recently been updated to an all-suites hotel and while I haven’t been able to see it since, the reviews are incredible.

Like with any Fairmont hotel, everything is going to be more expensive: food, resort fees, rentals, etc.

You’ll want to budget for those additions or plan for how you’ll find those things off-site.

Overall Verdict:

An incredible resort made even more incredible by recent renovations. The Fairmont service and quality you can expect at any of their resorts multiplied by the absolute beauty of the Wailea coast.

Visit the Fairmont Kea Lani

5. Grand Wailea Maui:

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Image courtesy of Grand Wailea.

The Grand Wailea is arguably the crown jewel of the Hawaiian hotels. This award-winning, exceptional resort is the type of place that ruins you to ever go anywhere else ever again.

This is another resort I was able to visit as an older teenager. My dad won another trip and we were sent here. I have spent the entirely of my adult life wanting to go back.

I’ll never forget how much I loved the fresh fruit smoothies served at the Grotto Bar. I was a kid and didn’t even think about how expensive they were until we were checking out. My dad spun around and yelled, “You spent [insert amount] on SMOOTHIES?!”

He paid it, but he wasn’t happy about it.

I was happy about it – because those smoothies were delicious.

Simply put, I’m fairly well-traveled and this hotel remains my most favorite ever.

Reasons to Go To the Grand Wailea:

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Image courtesy of Grand Wailea.

From pools with rope swings and water slides to the epic breakfast buffet that you will literally never stop talking about, the Grand Wailea is more than a resort – it’s an experience.

  • Wailea Beachfront: This hotel is on the Wailea beach, which is our personal favorite. The Wailea beaches are just a bit quieter and so much more romantic.
  • Wailea Access: The town area of Wailea is much more local-friendly and less touristy, so this is where you are going to get the really great food. There’s a small strip of shops right across the street from a Wailea beach that has a Starbucks and a breakfast place that makes the most INSANE coconut banana pancakes. I can never remember the name, but if you find the Starbucks across from the beach, it’s in that plaza. You gotta find it.
  • Quieter: Because Wailea has less hotels and appeals more to couples, but there are enough families where you won’t stick out. You’ll also not get so surrounded by kid noises that it’ll require ear plugs. #ItHappens
  • Spa Grande: I still remember the facial I got here years ago. That’s a long time to remember a facial. It was a goooood facial. The entire spa, actually, is one of the most incredible I’ve ever seen. If you love spas, this might be the hotel for you.
  • Kids Club: The kids club here is amazing. I was able to do some of the activities, as a kid, and I still remember how fun they were. Even though I was about 16, so on the older side, I still loved it. I really look forward to taking my kids someday and seeing them experience it all, too.
  • Pools: A gorgeous Hibiscus Pool, a family Activity Pool, a giant Lava Slide, an adult pool, a water elevator, a baby beach, rapids, upper pools, and more – you will have enough options to last you an entire week of swimming. And, don’t forget, it’s right on the beach with their very own cabanas and hammocks only for guests of the hotel. I may have listened to the entire Titanic soundtrack on repeat while swinging in one of those hammocks as a teen. #NotSorry #MyHeartWillGoOn
  • Shopping: Right on the property, they have a little mini-mall with shops for the whole family.
  • Restaurants: The restaurants onsite are not like traditional hotel food, they are worth visiting even if you are not staying at the hotel.

Things To Do at the Grand Wailea:

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Image courtesy of Grand Wailea.

Copied from above as they are still applicable:

Visit the spa, swim in the pool, eat at the many restaurants.

Or, walk down the beach to enjoy the restaurants or shows at nearby hotels.

Plus, you’re closer to Kihei, which is more of a local’s spot, so you’ll find great food that is more reasonably priced and the stunning beaches of Wailea.

Also, see these notes from above which are applicable here as well:

Shopping: Then, walk a few blocks the other way to go to Whaler’s Village, where Leilani’s has delicious food and the biggest slice of Luau Pie you’ve ever had. Go when there’s live music and you’ll get your most complete taste of paradise.

Lahaina: Grab a rental car to head to Lahaina, where you can cheeseburgers over the ocean before strolling art galleries and little hidden bookstores.

Activities: Maui also offers a long-list of Hawaiian adventures, such as: sugar cane train riding, hiking to waterfalls, kayaking adventures, ziplining, taking a cruise ship to Molokini Island, visiting the lavender farm, heading to the coffee farms, and so much more.

Things To Consider:

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Image courtesy of Grand Wailea.

This resort is so incredible, you will not likely want to leave the premises at all. It’ll be painful to pull yourself away long enough to go elsewhere.

This means, you may want to wait until your arrival to book very many activities.

Sure, there is a tiny possibility one of the activities you wanted will be booked, in which case, you can try something you didn’t even know about, or an alternate version of that activity by another activity company. The concierge here is going to be very helpful at ensuring you find what you’re looking for or similar.

Overall Verdict:

A once-in-a-lifetime experience I am hoping I get to experience again. You truly do feel like you’ve entered paradise.

This is the kind of bucket list trip you talk about for the rest of your life.

Visit the Grand Wailea Maui

6. Marriott Maui Ocean Club – Lahaina & Napili Towers

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Image courtesy of Marriott

While I have never had the pleasure of sleeping at this resort, I get to visit every time we stay on the Ka’anapali coast.

Every morning when we wake up at 5 or 6 am (because of the time change), we throw on some activewear, put our kids in strollers, and cruise down the Ka’anapali walkway to this resort, because they are the ones that have the – wait for it – STARBUCKS ON THE BEACH.

Yes, that’s right. You heard me.

A full-service Starbucks, STEPS from the ocean.

It is LITERALLY what dreams are made of!

Then, we stroll around and our kids inevitably beg us to let them swim at the super cool kids pirate ship pool on their property.

We usually try to stop them, because – you know – it’s not our hotel.

We took the guided tour of the property once when we considered the timeshare and it is just really great. Restaurants, amenities, little condo-sized rooms with kitchenettes – muaw. I love it.

You can rent the units when they aren’t being used by their timeshare guests, but it will just be a little more difficult to get some dates or certain rooms.

Reasons to Go To Marriott Maui Ocean Tower:

Marriott-maui-ocean-club

Image courtesy of Marriott.

Listen, if the Starbucks onsite didn’t sell you – I don’t know what will 😉 But, here are some more reasons:

  • Location: This hotel is situated right on the most perfect stretch of beach. The Ka’anapali Beach is renowned for being one of the longest, most beautiful stretches of beaches in the world. Home to 7 resorts, the Marriott is situated in a prime location.
  • Walkway: Probably something we love most, you do not feel stuck or isolated at this hotel. You can hit the walkway that runs almost the entire stretch of the beach and check out all of the other hotels, too.
  • Pools: The pool here is fantastic. There’s a grotto, a dedicated kids pool area, and more.
  • Restaurants: 4 restaurants on-site, plus you have the grill area where you can cook up some of your own food. When we stayed at the Westin Villas down the beach a bit, we loved cooking up some veggies and meat every couple nights and then eating leftovers to save on restaurant costs. Plus, going to restaurants non-stop with kids can be really exhausting.
  • Shopping: A longer walk to Whaler’s Village, as Marriott is on the other side, but it’s much closer to Lahaina! Lahaina is home to Cheeseburger’s In Paradise and an outdoor shopping plaza with everything you could want.
  • Beaches: Situated on the best beach ever and a short drive to other awesome beaches.

Things To Do at the Marriott Maui Ocean Club Tower:

Marriott-maui-ocean-club

Image courtesy of Marriott

Copied from the Westin section as it still applies here:

Coffee With a View:  Starbucks and ocean. STARBUCKS AND OCEAN.

Shopping: Walk or take a shuttle to Whaler’s Village, where Leilani’s has delicious food and the biggest slice of Luau Pie you’ve ever had. Go when there’s live music and you’ll get your most complete taste of paradise. Or, go the other way to Lahaina.

Lahaina: Grab a rental car to head to Lahaina, where you can cheeseburgers over the ocean before strolling art galleries and little hidden bookstores.

Activities: Maui also offers a long-list of Hawaiian adventures, such as: sugar cane train riding, hiking to waterfalls, kayaking adventures, ziplining, taking a cruise ship to Molokini Island, visiting the lavender farm, heading to the coffee farms, and so much more.

Maui really is the best of all worlds in one and an epic place to visit with your family.

Things To Consider:

Marriott-maui-ocean-club

Image courtesy of Marriott.

Because this is a timeshare resort, you’ll have a lot of people who go year after year. They’ll be a wealth of information on what is good or not good.

This will also make it difficult to visit the resort during prime seasons as timeshare renters will often book 9 months to a year in advance.

Overall Verdict:

We love visiting this resort every morning to enjoy their Starbucks and incredible view.

This hotel is so perfectly located, too, giving you access to so much at your fingertips and then even more a short drive away.

Although we haven’t stayed here yet, we are really looking forward to a trip here in the future.

Visit the Marriott Maui Ocean Tower

How To Save Money on a Trip To Hawaii:

If you are looking to take a trip to Hawaii, but not necessarily shopping for one of these luxury resorts, there are certainly ways to have a wonderful family vacation for less.

For more budget-friendly options, you’ll want to stay a block or two off the beach. That short walk will save you a lot of money.

Plus, if the hotel is near a popular beach, but not directly on it, you’ll save a lot of money, too.

Also, renting a condo on AirBnb or similar will save you paying the costs that come with resorts, such as parking fees, resort fees, etc. Sure, you give up the luxurious pools and daily housekeeping, but if you’re more of an ocean-loving family anyway, you’ll hardly notice the difference.

In fact, many condo rentals will have ocean toys for you to use, such as boogie boards and more, saving you the cost of rentals. Even hotels will often charge for the use of these, which will make renting a condo even more affordable.

We stayed in some condo rentals for a couple family trips when I was growing up and we had a great time. Take the trip that suits your families needs and budget and make some memories.

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Phew, that was a lot of info! This is making me want to take a trip to Hawaii ASAP!

Have you stayed at any of these hotels? Or, love a family friendly resort that I don’t mention?

Share it in the comments below!

Have a fabulous day,

E

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