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I just spent 5 nights at the Ritz Carlton Kapalua on Maui, and I can’t wait to tell you about it.

I will confess, I’m very partial to the Wailea area in South Maui. But since I don’t normally spend much time in West Maui and I wanted to investigate what it’s like since it reopened to tourism after the wildfires, this was the perfect time to give the Ritz a chance.

I cashed in some Marriott points (you can read about my travel hacking method here) for five free nights which was plenty of time to get a feel for the place, and boy I’m glad I did!

Ritz Carlton Kapalua Review

Located in West Maui’s exclusive Kapalua resort area, the Ritz Carlton’s most luxurious feature is its serene and secluded setting.

The 468 room luxury resort is set in one of the lushest and prettiest parts of the island. Yes, I love Wailea for soooo many reasons but the natural setting in Kapalua can’t be beat.

Normally when I write up hotel reviews, I’ll go section by section detailing the location, the rooms, the pools, the food, ect., but I decided to switch it up and just break down my stay at the Ritz Carlton Kapalua by what I really loved and…what could be better.

Things I Loved about the Ritz Carlton Kapalua

Since I don’t usually stay on the West Side, I always forget how beautiful Kapalua is. Yes, all resort areas on Maui are beautifully manicured, but Kapalua has a natural beauty that I think is hard to beat. It’s actually one of the greenest and lushest parts of the island and it makes for some truly beautiful scenery.

Kapalua is also way quieter and less crowded than South Maui (Wailea and Kihei) and also nearby Kaanapali in West Maui. It still has all of the resort amenities, restaurants, things to do etc, there are just way fewer people.

The lower crowds also translates to the pool. The pool area is great with three terraced pools plus a large hot tub and a separate pool that’s great for toddlers, but there always seems to be plenty of chairs around no matter what time of day you show up.

One of the best features of this resort is all of the seating areas in the lobby. While at a lot of resorts, the lobby is just a place you move through while you’re coming and going, the lobby area here is a real gathering place.

The coffee shop/casual eatery is located here and there is so much seating that overlooks the resort and ocean. It’s an amazing set up for breakfast and coffee in the morning before you leave for your day’s adventures, but the seating areas are also the perfect place to hang out during the day when a little rain shower is passing through.

Seriously, it’s probably the best set up I’ve ever seen at a resort, and I think it’s a major selling point for staying here.

The other big feature of staying here is the prime access to the Kapalua Coastal Walk. I think this is one of the best hikes/walks on Maui and there’s not a ton of parking to access the trail. But the Ritz Carlton sits at one end of the trail so if you’re a walker, you could do this as a morning walk EVERY MORNING.

Also, I think the drive up north around the island towards the blowhole is one of the prettiest drives on the island and not to be missed. The road gets SUPER sketchy once the state highway ends, but that’s way past the blowhole. This section of road is reminiscent of the Road to Hana without the crowds.

You can walk from the Ritz through the resort area to Kapalua Bay and Napili Beach. I love walking to breakfast at the Sea House or the Gazebo on Napili Bay and hiking the Kapalua Coastal Walk back to the resort.

There’s also a Kapalua Resort shuttle that will take you throughout the resort area. We used it to go to dinner at Merriman’s one night. It’s nice to have an option to go places that are a little farther than you’d want to walk but too close to justify getting the car out.

Kapalua is a golfer’s paradise (the PGA comes through to play the Plantation Course every January) but there’s also a pretty decent tennis and pickleball program at the Kapalua Tennis Garden. You’d probably want to drive or take the resort shuttle to get there, but there are also a couple of onsite courts at the Ritz.

Ritz Carlton is part of Marriott so you can use your Bonvoy points here, which I think is a BIG deal. This place and the Wailea Beach Resort are the two big dog Marriott resorts on Maui. Being able to stay free (or rack up a bunch of points on a cash stay) at a place that often is $1200/night is a big deal. Again, read how I stayed here for free on points here.

***Want to save major $$$ on your trip to Hawaii? I get asked ALL the time how I’m able to travel so often to Hawaii and stay at really nice resorts. Well, my favorite travel hack is cashing in points to score free airfare and free nights at some of Hawaii’s most high end resorts. Read my full guide on the exact system I use to max out credit card rewards here. Seriously, it’s going to save you soooo much money.

Things that Could Be Better

It’s true…it really does rain more/is cloudier on this side of the island than the south side. Even more so than Kaanapali just a few miles south. It’s not 24/7 but it’s noticeable. It’s why it’s so green. And I think it’s why the hotel has so many great covered places to sit and hang out. It’s not gloom and doom all the time, but if SUN is your priority, it’s definitely something to consider. That being said, if you’re sensitive to full sun and high temperatures, it’s actually much more pleasant in Kapalua than in South Maui.

While Kapalua is lovely, it’s pretty remote from the rest of the island. It’s a pretty good drive to get to the main part of the island (south side, Haleakala, road to Hana, etc) so if you’re planning a trip full of exploring, this may not be the best home base.

One of the major drawbacks to this resort is the beach. I’ve heard people complain that it’s a long walk to the beach, and I wouldn’t say that’s true (it’s 2-5 minutes from the pool) but the beach just isn’t that great. Honestly, if I was making a list of the 5 worst beaches on Maui, D.T. Fleming Beach would be on it. The water is often rough and the whole time I was here there was a lot of run off and it was pretty brown.

Kapalua Beach and Napili Beach aren’t far away, but you’d have to take the shuttle and have your own beach gear.

I would probably put the rooms in the “could use improvement” category. They’re just okay. They’re adequate but nothing to give you a wow factor, which honestly isn’t super uncommon at Ritz Carlton properties but should be standard in this price range.

And I would say the same for service. It’s fine but not amazing (definitely behind competitors like the Four Seasons and the Andaz). We struggled getting any service at the pool half the time. The staff was friendly, but you may have to be more proactive about getting anything you need.

Food and beverage prices seemed even more expensive than I’ve come to expect at luxury resorts on Maui. Drinks at the pool were small, lackluster, and pretty expensive. Breakfast at the sit down restaurant (Ulana) was mediocre at best and the Burger Shack has good views but really limited hours (and $$$). Also, a big draw back to the isolated location is you have to make more of an effort to leave the resort for food.

There also aren’t many umbrellas at the pool (maybe more clouds means they don’t think they need them) but there are plenty of cabanas to rent ($$$ of course ; )

Side Note: If you’re looking for a rental car for your trip, I LOVE Discount Hawaii Car Rentals. They’re seriously the only company I ever use. They’ll give you the very best prices, you don’t have to reserve with a credit card or pay until you show up, you can cancel and re-book anytime if you find a better rate, and they usually have a special that adds additional drivers for no fee. It’s a no brainer. Click here to check rates for your trip.

Overall

The Ritz Carlton name is synonymous with luxury, but it’s nowhere near as nice (service and the hotel itself) as what you’ll find in Wailea at the Four Seasons and Andaz or even nearby at the Montage.

The Ritz Carlton may compete more directly with the Andaz on price but the two vastly different locations differentiate each property. The Montage is the Ritz’s closest geographic competitor (but the Montage is far more expensive) so if you’re looking for a luxury resort in Kapalua, the Ritz is the most affordable option.

If you go to Maui somewhat regularly, I think staying at the Ritz in Kapalua is a great option to switch it up. But if you’re planning a once in a lifetime trip, I think I would stick to a resort in Wailea – they’re a bit nicer for the money plus have a more convenient location for exploring the island.

You can book the Ritz Carlton Kapalua here.

Want to read more posts about Maui? I’ve got plenty!

Things You Can ONLY Do on Maui // 9 Things to SKIP on Maui // 4 Day Maui Itinerary // My Favorite Road to Hana Itinerary // Things to Do Upcountry // Tips for Sunrise at Haleakala National Park // Snorkeling Molokini Crater // Whale Watching

My Favorite Hotels on Maui // Where to Find Condos on Maui // Wailea vs Kaanapali // Every Resort in Wailea Ranked // Four Seasons Maui Review // Andaz Maui Review // Fairmont Kea Lani Review // Wailea Beach Resort Review // Four Seasons vs Andaz Maui // Andaz Maui vs Wailea Beach Resort

Best Restaurants in Wailea // Best Breakfast in Wailea & Kihei // Mama’s Fish House // Best Luaus in Wailea

My Favorite Things to Do in South Maui // Best Beaches in Wailea & Kihei // Road to Hana Tips // Driving the Backside of the Road to Hana // Where to See Turtles on Maui

Maui vs Kauai // Everything You Need to Know BEFORE you go to Maui

Here’s one more really important thing you need to know before your Hawaii trip…

Reservations You Need to Make BEFORE Your Hawaii Trip

You’ve got your airfare, hotel, rental car and your big activities booked, so you should be good to go, right? Wrong!

Travel is BOOMING in Hawaii so a lot of state and national parks used the closure and reopening to institute reservation systems at some of the island’s most popular spots to make things a little more sustainable.

That means that there are now over half a dozen sites (beaches, trailheads, etc.) that require advance reservations. And some sell out well before you arrive on the island so you really need to have some sort of a plan.

I recently saw somebody in a Hawaii travel group post in a panic that they didn’t know they had to make reservations for things in advance…they thought they could just show up and “go with the flow.” I was tempted to say, well, “as long as the flow doesn’t take you somewhere that requires reservations, you can!” ; )

But I don’t want YOU to be that person, so I’ve pulled together a list of all the places you need to reserve entry in advance (plus all the details on booking windows, price, links, etc.) and a handful of popular tourist hotspots that book out really far in advance too.

Haleakala National Park (Maui)

To visit Haleakala National Park for sunrise at the summit, you must make reservations in advance here.

Reservations are required to enter the park gates between 3AM and 7AM (sunrise hours).

Online reservations are $1 per reservation/vehicle PLUS you’ll pay the park entrance fee of $30/vehicle when you arrive (National Park annual passes are also accepted at the gate).

The reservation booking window opens 60 days in advance at 7AM HST. There are also a limited number of tickets released two days before.

You can make one reservation every three days with the same account. So if you want to make reservations for back to back days (in case of weather/conditions), you’ll need to do so with separate accounts (email addresses).

If you can’t get reservations for sunrise, you can enter the park anytime after 7AM without reservations. The summit is spectacular during the day and you don’t need reservations for sunset.

I strongly recommend creating an account before and making sure you’re logged in at 7AM HST because it’s not uncommon for reservations to sell out quickly.

Waianapanapa State Park (Maui)

To visit Maui’s famous black sand beach at Waianapanapa State Park on the Road to Hana, you must make reservations in advance here.

Reservations are required to visit the beach and are distributed in windows from 7AM-10AM, 10AM-12:30PM, 12:30PM-3PM, and 3PM-6PM. And they are pretty strict about exiting by the end of your window time (you can arrive anytime within your window).

It’s $5/person to enter plus $10/vehicle to park and those fees are paid when you book your time slot.

Reservations open up 30 days in advance.

Iao Valley State Park (Maui)

To visit the lush, green mountains and hike at Iao Valley State Park, you must make reservations in advance here.

Reservations are offered for 90 minute time slots beginning at 7AM and ending at 6PM. They ask that you arrive within the first 30 minutes of your time slot.

Entry is $5/person plus $10/vehicle to park.

Reservations open up 30 days in advance.

Diamond Head (Oahu)

To hike to the top of Waikiki’s famous Diamond Head, you must make reservations in advance here.

Reservations are offered in two hour increments beginning at 6AM (6AM-8AM, 8AM-10AM, etc.) and ending at 6PM. If you’re parking onsite, they ask that you arrive within the first 30 minutes of your reservation window.

Entry is $5/person plus $10/vehicle to park.

Reservations open up 30 days in advance.

Tip: I recommend booking one of the first two time slots because there isn’t much shade on this hike and it gets pretty hot.

Hanauma Bay (Oahu)

To snorkel at Oahu’s pristine Hanauma Bay, you must make reservations in advance here.

Entry times are staggered in 10 minute increments from 7AM to 1:20PM with roughly 1000 slots being assigned in advance every day.

Reservations can be made two days in advance and they open at 7AM HST. They’re usually gone in minutes (if not seconds).

If you’re unable to get an advanced reservation, you can try for a day of, walk in ticket. They open at 6:45AM and they only have a limited number available. Everyone in your group needs to be present when you purchase your tickets in person.

There are no reservations for parking and it’s first come, first serve. $3/vehicle.

It’s $25/person to snorkel at Hanauma Bay (12 and under, active military, and locals with HI ID are free).

The Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve is open Wednesday through Sunday (CLOSED MONDAY AND TUESDAY) from 6:45AM-4PM. Last entry is at 1:30PM, the beach is cleared at 3:15PM and you have to leave the facility by 4PM.

Jellyfish patterns can also affect whether or not the bay is open so double check the day before/day of.

USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor (Oahu)

If you want to take the boat tour at Pearl Harbor out to the USS Arizona, it’s recommended to make advance reservations here.

Online reservations are guaranteed a specific boarding time to go out to the USS Arizona. If you’re unable to get an advance reservation, you can wait standby when you arrive. The line could be short (15 minutes or so) or long (hours) and it just depends on the day (if they’re having problems with the loading dock sometimes they don’t take many from the standby line) and the time of day.

Reservations are supposed to open up 60 days in advance, but keep an eye on your exact dates, because lately they’ve actually been opening up about 57ish days in advance???

They also release a small batch of tickets the day before.

The boat ride out to the USS Arizona is free, but it’s $1 to make the reservations online.

They recently started charging $7/vehicle for parking at Pearl Harbor.

Haena State Park / Kalalau Trail (Kauai)

If you want to hike Kauai’s famous Kalalau Trail, you must make advance reservations here.
You’ve got three options here:

1) Parking & Entry: This is the most flexible option and also the most limited. THESE RESERVATIONS SELL OUT IN LESS THAN A MINUTE. There are three time slots available: 6:30AM-12:30PM, 12:30PM-5:30PM and 4:30PM to sunset. You can purchase multiple time slots if you want to stay longer. It’s $10/timeslot (parking) plus $5/person and you have to reserve every person when you initially book. Everybody has to arrive in the same car and your ID needs to match the reservation.

2) Shuttle & Entry: If you can’t get parking at the trailhead, there’s also a shuttle option. Shuttle reservations are $35/person (16+), $25/person (ages 4-15), 3 and under can ride free. The shuttle runs every 20 minutes 6:20AM to 6:40PM.

3) Entry Only: If you’re a Hawaiian resident (with HI ID) or someone WITH a Hawaiian resident, you can purchase entry only for $5/person with no advance reservations. Also, if you’re walking or biking to the trailhead you can do this option. But there is NOWHERE to park in the area to walk in. So this really only works for those with bikes or who are staying close enough to walk. They will tow your car if you park outside the designated areas.

The reservation window opens 30 days in advance at 12AM HST. The parking & entry option usually sells out in a minute, but the shuttle availability will last longer.

There are a TON of FAQs here including the possibility of snagging a canceled reservation.

Other Things to Book in Advance

Hawaii is a busy place these days! Besides the state and national parks above, here’s a handful of miscellaneous things you should make reservations for in advance (if they’re on your radar):

Mama’s Fish House (Maui): The iconic spot is the most popular restaurant in Hawaii and dinner reservations usually start filling up about 6 months in advance (they open up bookings 18 months in advance). Make reservations through their website and if the dates you want are already booked, you can join a waitlist. Most people have pretty good success getting in on the waitlist (even if it’s for lunch).

Old Lahaina Luau (Maui): Honestly, any luau you’re planning to attend you should book early, but most people are usually shocked how far out the Old Lahaina Luau books out. Book it as soon as you know your dates (I think they open at the six month window). They also have a waitlist.

Kualoa Ranch UTV Tour (Oahu): Everybody loves Jurassic Park so getting to ride UTVs where they filmed the movies is very popular. The ranch offers a lot of different tours but the UTV tours usually book out a couple of months in advance.

Spa Reservations: If you’re staying at a resort with a spa (or planning on visiting one), don’t wait until you arrive to make your reservations. I’d make them at least a month in advance.

Tee Times: Same for golf, reserve your tee times well in advance.

Dining Reservations: Any “fancy” or resort restaurant is likely to be booked up these days so if you like having a nice dinner every night, make your plans in advance.

P.S. Thanks for sticking around and reading this whole post! If you have ANY questions about planning your trip to Hawaii, you can join my free Facebook group here. I’m there answering questions every day and there are 7500+ other friends who have a ton of Hawaii information to share!

Also, if you want to follow along on my travel adventures in real time, you can follow me on Instagram (@caitylincoln). My post captions are full of travel tips and I have a ton of story highlights and videos with great info. And please share my account with your friends that are headed to Hawaii! Your support really helps me keep this blog running!