If you’re a reader of JustLuxe.com, chances are, you travel quite often – and in lavish style. That said, it’s good to know that there are some properties where their goal, their mission, their raison d’etre, is simply to make dreams come true and offer spectacular, go-the-extra-mile service.
On Maui, we believe the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa meets that definition superbly.
As an illustration, the hotel concierge related the following story to us: “When I arrived at a guest’s room one day, the guest came out into the hallway and asked me to set up their room with roses, rose petals, Champagne and some exotic flowers as a surprise later in the evening, when he and his wife were going out to dinner. ‘Money is not a problem,’ the guest told me. ‘You had told me downstairs that you could take care of anything that I need. I want you to make sure that everything is done precisely the way I want.'”
“So I arranged for a dozen long-stem roses, rose petals, Dom Perignon Champagne, and a large tropical floral arrangement all to be set up in their room – within a three-hour time frame. Everything went as planned. The next day, the guest told me he has traveled all around the world and has never received such level of service! My response was ‘Welcome to the Hyatt Maui where your dreams become a reality.'”
That story from the concierge illustrates a lot of what this resort offers. Some important history: When the Hyatt Regency Maui opened in 1980, it was the world’s first destination resort, situated on forty tropically landscaped oceanfront acres, complete with extensive gardens, water playgrounds, wildlife (we love the penguins) and a notable art collection. And let’s not forget the helipad on the roof.
Rooms At The Top
The best room at this property is located high above Kaanapali Beach on the top floor of Hyatt Regency Maui’s Atrium Tower. The stunning Presidential Suite defines “room with a view.” Seven lanais and panoramic windows offer unmatched vistas of the West Maui Mountains, the islands of Lanai, Molokai and the clear blue Pacific Ocean. The over 2,300-square-foot space also features elegant contemporary Hawaiian furnishings, dining room, wet bar, refrigerator, microwave, library, dressing room, one-and-a-half baths, sauna, Jacuzzi, den, and master bedroom with a king bed. For those able to pay the nightly rate of $4,500, the Presidential Suite promises a truly memorable and luxurious experience.
Recently, the entire property underwent a $15 million transformation that includes, among many other things, luxurious renovations to the guest rooms.
One feature we have always loved about the Hyatt Regency Maui is its Regency Club. Dedicated concierge is provided, along with delicious breakfast, snacks, and hors d’oeuvres throughout the day and light fare into the evening.
A Day At The Beach (And Pool)
If you looked up the words “resort pool” in the dictionary, you’d no doubt find the Hyatt Regency Maui’s incredible facility, which is always filled with sun-seekers. It boasts two free-form pools divided by waterfalls, a lava tube slide, an outdoor whirlpool and interactive children’s pool. Just steps away is Kaanapali Beach,which some people say is the best beach on Maui, and this hotel features 1,800 feet of white-sand beachfront. We particularly love going to the beach here – it’s serene, safe, and ideal for swimming. And take our advice: very near to the Hyatt, on a floating platform just off the beach, you can go jet-skiing after May, when whales are not swimming the waters.
The Hyatt Regency Maui also features Spa Moana and Moana Athletic Club, Hawaii’s only oceanfront, 15,000-square-foot full-service spa, salon and 24-hour fitness center (you’ll need to work off all those calories, especially after indulging in Hula Pie and Mai Tais). Here, Debbi enjoyed the Vitamin C facial, which incorporates two product lines that she’s crazy about: Epicuren (a cult, word-of-mouth favorite of A-list celebrities) and Ilike, an organic line from Hungary.
Bites of Heaven
The resort features several dining venues including the Grotto Bar for cocktails, Sonz at Swan Court for fine dining, and the Drums of the Pacific Nightly Luau (where guests and others regularly fill the seats). Umalu, the resort’s al fresco restaurant located poolside, offers a very relaxed, casual dining venue. Umalu’s signature snack are the Maui Wowee fish tacos served with a spicy aioli, black beans and shredded cabbage, and we highly recommend them.
To be completed by the time you read this, is Japengo, designed to be a hip dining destination at the hotel, where you will enjoy Pacific Rim cuisine.
Wish Upon A Star
There’s also another feature at this property, which we have been lucky enough to enjoy every time we visit — the Tour of the Stars. We have taken this tour on the roof of the Hyatt Regency Maui more than once, and we still learn something new every time we go. The roof is equipped with two Celestron telescopes, including its new $10,000 “The Edge” telescope that enlarges the stars up to 840 times. Three shows are held nightly at 8:00, 9:00 and 10:00 p.m., with a special romantic Tour of the Stars held Friday and Saturday nights at 11:00 p.m., complete with Champagne and strawberries ($25pp for adults; $30pp for non-hotel guests).
Coming back down to earth a bit, try not to miss Cirque Polynesia. Hula hooping with ten rings, death-defying spins and feats of strength are just some of the amazing treats that you’ll discover at this jaw-droppingly exciting show on the grounds of the Hyatt Regency Maui. We visit Maui every year for three weeks, and we’ve “been there and done that” but we believe this is, hands down, the best ensemble show on Maui.
It isn’t a surprise to us that this trendsetting resort has received oceans of awards and accolades including, in 2010, AAA’s Four-Diamond award, and Travel+Leisure’s “World’s Best.”
For more information, contact the resort at (808) 661-1234, (800) 233-1234, or visit Maui.Hyatt.com .
