The Pools at the Andaz Maui at Wailea

Our experience at the Andaz Maui at Wailea was fantastic overall, but even though the suite we were in was nice, that is not what made the experience. Everything else at and near the resort make the visit special. These are things like the spa, the service, the beach, the snorkeling, the food, and the pools. I think many of those elements of the resort deserve more than a passing mention, and so this post is dedicated to the pools. To play catch-up, here are other posts in my series on our recent anniversary trip to Hawaii.

Flying to Hawaii in United Business Class

Flying Hawaiian Airlines from Honolulu to Maui

Review of a Room and a Suite at the Andaz Maui at Wailea

The Pools at the Andaz Maui at WaileaThe Andaz Maui at Wailea by my count has six different pools plus a couple of hot tubs. These are divided into the three cascading infinity pools that you frequently see in photos of the resort.

A zero entry pool at the ground level closest to the ocean.

An adult "tranquility" pool located near the spa area, and away from the larger pools.

And a small pool across from the tranquility pool that is accessible via the patios of some of the Andaz Suites (though not the one we stayed in).

There is not a specifically dedicated children's play pool or a slide area similar to what you find at the Grand Hyatt Kauai or the Hyatt Regency Maui, but that doesn't mean that some of these pools aren't good for young kids. Here were my thoughts on the pools based on our recent stay. I do want to mention that we were there the first week the hotel was opened. The occupancy rate was very low, and we stayed on days that school was in session so we literally didn't see a single school-aged child at the resort. We did see several younger kids in the 1-3 year old range, but I think there will be a larger presence of kids here during holiday times. However, I doubt there will be as many kids as there are at the other Hawaiian Hyatt resorts.

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• The three cascading infinity pools are absolutely gorgeous and relaxing. They are all too deep for young kids to be able to walk around in, but were perfect for adults who wanted to get in up to their mid sections and enjoy a drink while staring at the ocean. In my case, I was entranced by the sunset views from these pools.

• There are plenty of chairs around the pools for lounging, and plenty of attentive servers to help you get drinks, towels, etc. I do not think this will be a resort where you have to wake up at 8AM to stake out your pool chair.

• There is a bar at the top pool and one at the bottom zero-entry pool. You can order drinks or snacks that can be eaten at the bar, or delivered to your pool chair. The drinks are delicious! I didn't get a chance to try the food, but it also looked pretty exotic and yummy for pool food!

• There are several cabanas around the lower pool area that could provide a good respite from the sun. These come with a charge of $200 per day.

• You can get complimentary chairs and umbrellas arranged for you on the beach - this is a huge perk in my view, especially since the beach is so nice and swim-able!

Most of the pools close at a specific time (I think they said 10PM?), but the infinity pool with the hot tub is 24 hours.

• There is music played in the pool area. We found the Hawaiian themed music to help set the mood and enhance the experience, but if you are looking for total silence, you won't find it around the main pools.
• There are towels available around the pool area for you to use with no "checkout out" or key card required. There were also pitchers of water and cups available around the pool.
• The hike from the lower pool to the top pool is significant. Something like 70-80 steep stairs to climb, so be ready for a good workout if you are going up and down frequently. There is also a ramp and elevators if you back-track into the hotel and take a circuitous route.

I think that the lower zero-entry pool would be where I would spend most of the time at this pool complex with my daughter. Even at (a tall) three years old, she could walk around 80% of the pool safely without having to swim. This would allow me some time to sit on the sideline and supervise with a cool beverage. At her age, she would have a blast with this, just like she did at the saltwater lagoon at the Grand Hyatt Kauai. However, in a few years when she is a more adventurous and advanced swimmer, I think she would enjoy the slides and lazy river at the Grand Hyatt Kauai more than just playing in this zero-entry pool. Even now, she would probably like the kid's pool play area at the Hyatt Regency Maui better.

The pool complex at the Andaz Maui at Wailea is absolutely beautiful, and should be large enough to comfortably accommodate everyone even at full-capacity. The on-site beach is fantastic, but it is nice having a solid pool option as well. If you are looking for the "best" Hyatt pool complex for kids in Hawaii, this is not the best for kids in my view. However, that doesn't mean that kids couldn't have fun here. In fact, that likely sums up much of the situation for families looking for the best Hyatt in Hawaii. The Andaz is amazing, and has lots to offer everyone (more on a "secret" kid amenity soon), but for kids over the age of about 4 or 5, there may be better Hyatts in Hawaii for their desires. That said, I won't be surprised at all if we return to this hotel with my daughter next summer and have a blast together in the pools!

I know this is my own personal favorite pool complex for adults without a question - heck the drinks alone could have won it that distinction! What are your thoughts on the pools at this hotel?