Ocean oasis – A review of The Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort in Hawaii
- Andaz Maui at Wailea is a luxury resort in one of the best Maui locations where you can earn and burn World of Hyatt points.
- The resort is among the most modern on Maui, with a chic, laid-back vibe and a series of cascading infinity pools.
- A stay at the Andaz doesn't come cheap, but we found the resort worth the splurge, especially as it faces the Pacific Ocean.
The Andaz Maui at Wailea is one of the most popular redemptions in the World of Hyatt program. It's so popular that finding award space isn't easy. So, when I found wide-open availability in May of 2023, I jumped at the chance to book the beautiful oceanside resort for a trip with my brother in November.
After a few nights at this hotel, I can see why it's so popular with Hyatt fans: You get oceanfront access in a prime Wailea location; modern, stylish rooms; and laid-back, friendly service that will leave you with that warm feeling of Aloha.
I've had a long love affair with Maui, especially with Hyatt brands on the island, like the Kaanapali Alii, a Destination by Hyatt Residence that I reviewed in 2022. If you're looking for a well-appointed beach resort with all the luxuries of a high-end hotel, the Andaz Maui is a great choice. After my four-night stay, you can be sure I will save up my World of Hyatt points to experience it again.
Here are the things to love and not love about this beautiful Hawaii resort.
Snapshot of Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort
Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort has 320 guest rooms, which include 30 villas and 35 suites overlooking the ocean and Mokapu Beach. The property has three wings with rooms and suites, and then the villas are spread along the northern part of the resort property and the beach. The resort has everything you'd want at a luxury hotel, plus easy access to shopping and golf.
There are three stacked, cascading outdoor pools that form the centerpiece of the property, including one that's for adults only. There's also another swimming pool on the north side of the resort. Those options and the lovely beach ensure you'll never be pressed to find an idyllic place to swim or lounge.
You'll find open design concepts throughout the property and contemporary furniture. And every room has a lanai.
The resort offers plentiful amenities, though with some caveats there that I'll get to a little later. There is an enormous gym, a relaxing spa with personalized apothecary oils and several restaurant experiences on the property.
The resort has friendly, laid-back employees who are always happy to chat with guests and answer pesky reporter questions about the property or about what it's like living in Maui year-round.
Why you'll love The Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort
Andaz Maui at Wailea is a great value when using World of Hyatt points
I booked The Andaz Maui Resort for 40,000 World of Hyatt points a night (a $50 resort fee was waived via my Globalst World of Hyatt status).
While I didn't have to spend much for my stay, I did spend about $304 in room charges for food and drinks. That earned me 1,217 World of Hyatt points for using my World of Hyatt Credit Card, which gives four points per dollar spent on Hyatt purchases.
I also earned 4,196 points from linking my World of Hyatt account, which included a 30% Globalist bonus and 3,000 points as part of Hyatt's "Bonus Journeys" promotion (no longer in effect). That's 5,413 World of Hyatt points, worth about $92, according to TPG's current valuations. Not bad on an award stay.
That's an extraordinarily good deal, as cash rates for the hotel start at around $983 a night. A four-night stay would have cost me around $4,000 if I'd paid out of pocket. Since TPG values World of Hyatt points at .017 each, I paid just about $2,720.
The Andaz Maui features high-design spaces with a spacious, relaxed lobby
The Andaz Maui is high-design and ultra-modern, fitting the Andaz brand perfectly.
After pulling into the valet station, you walk down a long terraced marble path framed by reclaimed teak wood to the open-air lobby.
Centered around a fun sand pit sculpture that changes daily, expect an impactful moment when you enter the soaring, light-filled space with ocean views. There's also a giant skylight and no walls, making it feel more like an airy beachside temple rather than a lobby.
The hotel was built using the remnants of an older hotel — the Renaissance Wailea Beach Resort, which closed in 2007. It was the first hotel opened in the Wailea area way back in 1978. But there's nothing old-fashioned about the Andaz.
The Andaz reused 93% of the structural walls, floors and roof. The hotel told me that what it didn't recycle it replaced with healthier, low-emissions material.
In fact, it's a LEED-certified Silver rating and exploring the hotel shows that it takes sustainability seriously. The one area you might notice is the older construction is the height of some ceilings in the rooms. They have lower overhead space than you are likely used to seeing in newer luxury hotels.
Rooms are chic and sizable, with fantastic bathrooms
The Andaz Maui opened in 2013, but the rooms today remain modern and chic. I was upgraded to a recently remodeled ocean-view suite with a fully separate bedroom with lovely water views (partially obstructed by palm trees). The hotel said they often upgrade Globalists, though upgrades to ocean-front suites are uncommon. A welcome amenity was waiting in the room, including coconut water and fresh fruit.
My brother and I were certainly wowed by the spacious living area.
The rooms were light-filled with lots of white and light blue accents, which balanced nicely with the darker wood and teak furnishings. The bed looked very inviting with its crisp white linens. Blackout shades helped me have some very restful slumbers during my stay.
All rooms at the resort have private lanais. While they were on the narrow side in our particular suite, we still had impressive views of one of the hotel towers, one of the swimming pools and the ocean. The side-by-side lanai was a lovely place to watch the sunset from our room.
The hotel's mattresses are from Sealy, which has me considering that brand for my next mattress purchase. Bed linens are by 1Concier, an American company that supplies linens and textiles to the hospitality industry, including cruise ships.
My brother decided to sleep on the pullout couch in the living area. It was nice to have a second room so that we could each have a bit of privacy. While the pullout bed wasn't nearly as comfy as my large platform bed, it did the trick.
The minifridge was stocked with Hawaiian passion fruit orange juice from Aloha Maid, Island Root Beer from Maui Brewing Company and some chilled glasses. The resort gives out refillable bottles as part of its many green initiatives, which sustainably-minded guests will appreciate. The room also had my favorite amenity — a Nespresso machine with plenty of pods. There were also some free snacks like Maui Style brand potato chips and chocolate chip macadamia nut cookies from Cook Kwee's Maui Cookies.
Several electrical outlets were beside the bed, including three-pronged outlets and USB ports.
Also next to the bed were the controls for lowering and raising the shades and blackout blinds and dimming the lights in the suite. They were simple and easy to use.
The bathroom in the main bedroom of the suite was expansive, featuring a giant glass shower with a rainfall showerhead and a shower wand. The water pressure was forceful and made for a lovely shower experience.
Some of the bathroom's highlights were the giant soaking bathtub, a long two-sink counter and a separate water closet. My brother was especially impressed with the heated Japanese-style Toto "washlet" toilet seat, where you could adjust water pressure and temperature settings.
The large-bottle amenities were from Hawaiian beauty brand Malie Organics and smelled like coconut tanning oil. There were two fluffy Andaz robes on hooks next to the shower, also made by 1Concier.
There was another half bath just inside the main entrance door.
While staying at the hotel, I also had the opportunity to tour one of the villas. They are massive and could easily accommodate a large family gathering. There are two-, three- and four-bedroom configurations, some of which are new construction and feature full kitchens. Some even have washers and dryers, individual hot tubs and barbecue grills.
Those striking infinity pools with ocean views
The best part of checking in to the Andaz is looking over the balcony at the multiple levels of pools and the ocean below. The hotel boasts three infinity-edge pools cascading down from the open-air lobby.
There is also a shallow lagoon pool perfect for kids and a pool on the north side of the property that is popular with guests who want a little more privacy. During my stay, all the pools were never crowded, and plenty of pool chairs were always available.
I loved the effect of the waterfalls falling over the cascading pools' edges.
The hotel is directly on the ocean in a desirable part of Wailea
The resort is located right in the heart of Wailea, where you have easy access to some gorgeous beaches and the Wailea Beach Path — a walking path along the ocean that takes you down past the Four Seasons (where they filmed the first season of "White Lotus" on HBO) and on to Polo Beach. The path is 1.6 miles, perfect for a sunrise or sunset stroll passing by some of the nicest resorts in Maui.
A 10-minute walk takes you to The Shops at Wailea for high-end shopping and dining. And it's just an eight-minute drive to the town of Kihei, a 30-minute drive from Maui's main Kahului Airport (OGG), an hour to Kapalua and about two and a half hours to Hana if you want to try to drive the famous "Road to Hana."
There are several delicious restaurants, including an independent Japanese fusion restaurant
Morimoto Maui describes itself as a modern Japanese beach house. It's helmed by Masaharu Morimoto, best known for his turns on "Iron Chef" and "Iron Chef America." It boasts a prime location near the beach and one of the Andaz swimming pools, and you can sit at the sushi bar, at tables inside or outside under the stars.
My brother and I tried some amazing dishes, including a selection of oysters ($42), pork gyoza ($20), the extravagant sashimi combination ($72), spicy tuna rolls ($16), edamame ($12) and the restaurant's famous sticky ribs ($25). It was a feast — and also, notably, not a cheap dinner. The total (with tip) was more than $264, and neither of us had alcoholic drinks (though I do recommend the imported Japanese Yuzu soda for $7).
The main restaurant at Andaz Maui is Ka'ana Kitchen, where you'll have very different experiences depending on the time of day
It's all about shared dishes at the main restaurant at the Andaz, Ka'ana Kitchen, which serves farm-to-table meals with indoor and outdoor dining. You'll find this eatery at the bottom of a grand spiral staircase, and it's open for breakfast (which is a fabulous spread) and dinner.
My brother and I had dinner here on our first night at the resort. It was a wonderful meal, made even better by attentive service from our friendly server. The menu was stacked with fresh, local food, highlighting some of the local farms they work with by name.
Among the dishes we tried were the ahi Caesar salad ($27), the grilled octopus salad ($29), risotto ($39) and the Wagyu hanger steak with green papaya and peanuts ($32). While I didn't order it, the prime ribeye steak with broccolini ($115) also looked tasty. The food was all delicious, but this is a hearty menu, so bring a good appetite. I will say there was a great selection of fresh, locally caught fish to choose from, too.
As our last course, we had to try some sweets. We ordered the coconut ice cream sundae ($16) and the chocolate decadence torte ($16). The torte was a bit too rich by the end of the evening, but we didn't waste even a bite of the sundae.
Andaz Maui has one of the best breakfast spreads you'll find in Hawaii
Breakfast at the Andaz Maui was a memorable experience, and is a must for those who love a delicious morning meal. The enormous spread is self-service, also served at Ka'ana Kitchen (with waiters taking orders for made-to-order eggs and beverages).
They've got just about everything you could want on offer, including bacon, sausage and other breakfast meats, scrambled eggs, pancakes, fresh fruit, hard-boiled eggs, a variety of bread with plentiful toasters and even more exotic fare like salmon or quinoa-kale salad with sweet potatoes.
There was also a variety of fresh juices that were all delicious.
My brother and I tried a little bit of a lot of things for breakfast. Everything was fresh and well-prepared. One note is that this is not a cheap breakfast unless you have top-tier Hyatt status. Thankfully, my Globalist status meant I didn't have to pay for it, but the restaurant normally charges $49 for the breakfast spread per person. The bill included an 18% gratuity charge in addition. Specialty coffees are extra, too. A cappuccino, for example, will set you back $8.
You can sit inside or outside, but the restaurant is open to the outdoors, so beware of the birds that will try to snatch your food if you aren't paying close attention.
You can enjoy casual dining with live music poolside at the Lehua Lounge
For our last night, my brother and I chose the more casual dining spot, Lehua Lounge, near another of the resort's swimming pools. You'll find a full bar and outdoor seating areas in a more casual setting. There's even a fire pit.
Named for Hawaii's red lehua blossom, Lehua Lounge is another farm-to-table-style restaurant with views of the Pacific Ocean. My brother and I noshed on Parmesan fries ($17), fried Brussels sprouts ($17), an ahi poke bowl ($27), and a Wagyu burger with fresh greens ($27).
Live music and a sunset made this a memorable last meal at the resort.
There are a couple of other options on the Andaz Maui property. Though we didn't experience it, there is a luau on Sundays, Tuesdays, and select Thursdays called The Feast at Mōkapu. As the name implies, it's right on the beach, but it's pricey. Classic seating is $280 per person, and premium seating is $340.
There's also a poolside bar open during the day right next to one of the pools called Bumbye Beach Bar that's open until 5 p.m., serving pool food and drinks all day. Finally, a pretty solid hotel store called Mokapu Market sells everything from prepared sandwiches to packaged snacks.
There's a state-of-the-art gym with everything you need for a killer workout
The 'Awili Fitness gym at the Andaz Maui at Wailea was incredible, with resort views, a slew of Peloton bikes and every kind of TechnoGym equipment you can imagine, including free weights, machines and treadmills.
The gym was open 24/7 with room keycard access. Daily fitness classes, like yoga and morning Pilates, were included in the resort fee.
The 'Āwili Spa and Salon is a must for a relaxing, bespoke treatment
A highlight of the hotel is, without a doubt, the 'Āwili Spa and Salon. A whopping 14,000 square feet of space offers everything from massage to salon services.
All the treatments are customized to individual patrons. I had a whole apothecary experience ahead of my massage, where I could mix my own oils based on my preferences, which included lots of lavender to help me relax and recharge.
I had a one-hour massage they call "Essential," which costs $200 and features customizable pressure and massage methods to suit the individual. There are lots of other options, and they also offer full salon services here.
Couples massages are also available, from $410 all the way up to $680, depending on the length and the treatment choice.
There were also several relaxation rooms, and both men and women had access to separate areas for a steam room, a small soaking pool and a sauna.
There are fun activities offered on-site, like outrigger canoe rides
The Andaz also has some great activities available. Though they also made my list of reasons not to visit (more on that below), my brother and I had a few incredible experiences while staying at the resort.
We got up early one morning to ride on one of the outrigger canoes the resort makes available for guests. We had a great instructor along for the trip, Noa, who pointed out the scenery as the sun came up over Maui. He showed us some curious sea turtles who wanted to check us out.
The canoe ride was included as part of the resort fee, which also includes the following activities:
- Outrigger Experience daily
- Stand-up paddleboard lesson daily
- Guided Kayak Tours daily
- Fitness classes twice daily
- Ukulele lessons
- Lei making classes
- Coconut weaving classes
- Hula lessons
- Live Music at Lehua Lounge
If you want other, longer activities like an hour-and-a-half outrigger and snorkel adventure, those can be booked with Maui Pacific Adventures, which helps run the beach activities and may explain why service wasn't always top-notch.
Of course, the best activity may be hanging out on Mokapu Beach. The water here is gentle, but the waves get large enough to make an attempt or two at boogie boarding. It's a great beach.
Regarding exploration and activities off-property, the courtesy car — a Grand Wagoneer SUV — will take you anywhere in Wailea you want to go for free.
Why you might not love The Andaz Maui
Unusual rules around equipment and beach recliners
My brother and I were very disappointed with the gruff service and unexpected rules around snorkeling equipment and beach chairs.
One of the perks of the resort fee is that you can check out snorkeling equipment and other beach amenities for free. But we found that there were strict rules for when you could and couldn't get equipment. One day, we were told we had to have asked for snorkeling gear by 12:30 p.m., and another day, we were told gear had to be checked out by noon. The hotel told me that's because It tends to get windy on the beach in the afternoons, but I'm not sure why that would rule out using snorkeling gear in the afternoon.
Unlike our amazing aloha from the young men in charge of our excursions in the early morning, the guys working in the afternoon seemed put out by having to help guests with equipment. The attendants also started lingering near guests on beach chairs around 3:30 p.m., trying to collect chairs and get them stacked and put away well before sunset.
I've never heard of a resort being so stingy with equipment and rushing customers off well before sunset, though the hotel apparently has its reasons, attributing the rules to the wind.
Prices — for everything — are very high at this Wailea resort
Like other Hawaii resorts, the Andaz Maui isn't a cheap place to stay. Even if you use points, the bills tend to pile up, especially if you don't have World of Hyatt Globalist status. Maui resorts have gotten much more expensive since the pandemic, as hoteliers found they could raise prices sometimes dramatically since Hawaii seems to be on everyone's bucket list.
A four-day vacation, like the one I took, would be at least $4,000 for an entry-level room and more than $8,700 for an ocean-view suite, and that's in the September slow season.
Don't forget extras, like valet parking for $48 a day and that steep resort fee of $50 per night.
That makes booking with points an outstanding value, starting at 35,000 World of Hyatt points per night ... if you can find availability.
There's only one hot tub —and it can get crowded
One of the few complaints my brother and I had about the hotel was the lack of more than one hot tub. There's just one on the property that's open to all guests, and it was crowded at times. It would be great if the hotel could add another hot tub perhaps near the stand-alone pool on the north side of the property.
Alternatives to the Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort
There are plenty of other stellar accommodation options in the area if the Andaz doesn't sound like your cup of tea. In fact, we've compiled the best Maui hotels and resorts for your next trip to this special destination.
If you want to stay in Wailea, there are a lot of choices, including the luxurious Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea just down the road, where nightly rates begin at a hefty $995.
Also in Wailea, you'll find the Wailea Beach Resort, a Marriott hotel on a beautiful 22-acre property with five pools and ocean views set between Wailea and Ulua beaches. Rates there start just under $1,000 or 88,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.
Review: Wailea Beach Resort
Nearby, you'll also find a Hilton option as well. The Grand Wailea Maui, a Waldorf Astoria Resort, features 776 rooms, suites and enormous luxury villas that just got a major overhaul. Rates here start at $832 or 110,000 Hilton Honors points per night.
If you'd prefer to stay with Hyatt, there are many choices, as I mentioned at the beginning of this article, including 13 Destination by Hyatt residences and resorts. I love the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa, which is finally taking bookings after it was closed to help house those displaced from the Maui wildfire earlier this year. Rates at the Hyatt Regency start at $667 or 30,000 World of Hyatt points per night.
The Points Guy also loves Wailea Beach Villas, a Destination by Hyatt Residence property. Each villa is at least 2,500 square feet, with views of the ocean and lanais featuring full kitchens and Viking barbecue grills. Prices start at around $1,200 a night or 56,000 World of Hyatt points.
If you want to try something a little further afield. I highly recommend Hana-Maui Resort in Hana. You really feel like you are getting away from it all at this Hyatt property at the end of the curvy Road to Hana. Rates start at $730 or 25,000 World of Hyatt points per night.
Accessibility at the Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort
Accessibility is one of the places where the Andaz Maui at Wailea really shines. The hotel has a total of 11 ADA-compliant rooms on the property, which include two villas. Those rooms have wider doors, roll-in showers, lowered sinks and mirrors and support bars in the bathrooms.
Elevator and room doors and hallways were also wide throughout the property. The buttons in the elevators were reachable from various heights.
Outside, paths were wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair, and there were clearly marked paths for wheelchair users, specifically, throughout the property.
Finally, there were elevator lifts at the pools, and a few of the pools even had graduated entrances that would be accessible to those who needed chair assistance. Even the outdoor showers could accommodate a chair.
Checking out of the Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort
The Andaz Maui at Wailea was a home run for this road warrior and his novice traveler brother. It's a luxury hotel without any attitude.
While the strict rules around beach equipment put off both of us, the friendliness of the rest of the staff more than made up for that minor annoyance.
High design, abundant pools and the terrific beach make this a top pick for this seasoned Maui visitor. The ocean-view, light-filled rooms with super comfy beds improved my overall stay.
I look forward to returning once I've restocked my World of Hyatt balance.
Related reading:
- Which is better — Hyatt Regency Maui or Andaz Maui?
- The best hotels in Maui, from luxury vacations to family-friendly resorts
- These Four Seasons hotels are the real main characters of 'The White Lotus'
- 6 versions of paradise: How to choose the right Hawaiian island for you
- The best Hawaii cruises for every type of traveler
- The best ways to get to Hawaii using points and miles
- I had sworn off Hawaii during the pandemic — here's why I went back (and plan to again)