The 9 Best Hawaii All-inclusive Resorts of 2021

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Updated 09/16/20

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The Rundown

Travassa Hana – See Rates at TripAdvisor

"The resort offers experiences that allow guests to connect with the island and its culture, from guided horseback rides to paddle board adventures."

Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa – See Rates at TripAdvisor

"There are several pools, including a saltwater pool with reefs, coral, tropical fish, a lazy river, and water slides all surrounding an enormous artificial mountain."

Best Dining: Halekulani Hotel – See Rates at TripAdvisor

"Chefs use top quality locally-sourced ingredients to create gourmet French-style dishes, offered as a degustation menu and paired with an acclaimed selection of international wines."

Grand Wailea Maui – See Rates at TripAdvisor

"Stressed-out parents can unwind in the cabanas next to the adults-only Hibiscus pool or in the hydrotherapy circuit, treatment rooms, and relaxation lounge at the Spa Grande."

Hotel Wailea – See Rates at TripAdvisor

"The Treehouse places couples amongst the canopy for an exquisite, seven-course chef dinner in total privacy before they retire to the open-air lounge to sip on signature cocktails and premium wines."

Best Beach: Royal Lahaina – See Rates at TripAdvisor

"Guests visiting between the months of January and March may be lucky enough to spot pods of humpback whales offshore."

Princeville Resort – See Rates at TripAdvisor

"The generous infinity pool has been recognized by Architectural Digest as one of the '10 Best Infinity Pools in the World', offering views across Hanalei Bay towards the forest-clad mountains."

Four Seasons Hotel Lanai at Koele, ASensei Retreat – See Rates at TripAdvisor

"Dedicated sensei guides and wellness practitioners are on hand to provide assistance during all stages of a guests stay."

Best for Golf: Four Seasons Resort Hualalai – See Rates at TripAdvisor

"Golfers can improve their swing and short-game skills in the practice facilities, which includes a nine-acre driving range."

Best Overall: Travassa Hana

The Travassa Hana is one of Hawaii’s finest boutique resorts, having been voted the Best Experiential resort by the Hawaii Magazine’s Readers Choice Awards in 2019. Set amid rolling fields on the east coast of Maui, one of the top destinations in the state, the resort overlooks dramatic rocky coastline with sunrise views. This all-inclusive resort offers experiences that allow guests to connect with the island and its culture, from guided horseback rides to stand-up paddle boards, lei-making classes, ukulele lessons, and traditional Hawaiian-style fishing. Polynesian methods and local botanicals are incorporated into the treatments offered at the spa, from organic honey body wraps and sugar cane body scrubs to traditional lomilomi therapeutic and pohaku wela hot stone massages. Spa guests can lounge in tropical gardens overlooking the sea and in rock-lined whirlpool spas, or enjoy the steam room before plunging into the cold pool. For food and drinks, the Preserve Kitchen and Bar is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and offers fresh seasonal fare in an open-air dining area.

Best Amenities: Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa

The Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa is packed full of kid-friendly amenities, including a huge water park playground, a kids club with daily themed activities which explore the local Hawaiian culture, and opportunities to meet Disney characters. Adults can also find relaxing facilities like the Laniwai Spa, which offers massage therapy, herbal remedies, a hydrotherapy garden, heated jet spas, cold plunge pools, rainfall showers, morning yoga classes on the beach, and a state-of-the-art fitness center. There are several pools, including a saltwater pool with reefs, coral, tropical fish, a lazy river, and water slides all surrounding an enormous artificial mountain. For ocean swimming, the Ki Olina Lagoon and beach provides a safe and sheltered environment with soft white sand.

Best Dining: Halekulani Hotel

A sophisticated and luxurious property situated on a prime piece of real estate, the Halekulani Hotel is one of the premier hotels on Oahu. While it offers many excellent amenities, including a full service spa, a fitness center and a pool courtyard overlooking the ocean, it is the dining scene that sets this resort apart. Its signature restaurant, La Mer, is one of the finest restaurants in Hawaii, having been recognized with a 5-star rating by Forbes Travel Guide and also has a five diamond award from AAA. Chefs use top quality locally-sourced ingredients to create gourmet French-style dishes, offered as a degustation menu and paired with an acclaimed selection of international wines. Orchids, another restaurant, serves up international dishes during its breakfast and lunch service and in the evenings the dinner menu is heavily influenced by the flavors of coastal Italy, with a focus on fresh seafood and premium steak dishes. At the adjacent Cattleya Wine Bar, Mediterranean tapas-style platters are served alongside an extensive offering of top-tier wines. The House Without a Key offers a more casual dining environment in an open-air atmosphere, while L’Apertif cocktail bar and Lewers Lounge offers signature, handcrafted cocktails, and nightly live jazz entertainment respectively.

Best for Families: Grand Wailea Maui

Facing the yellow sands of the famous Wailea Beach on the west coast of Maui, the Grand Wailea Maui has a wide range of activities to appeal to parents and children alike. The resort is home to one of the most spectacular pool complexes in Hawaii, the Wailea Canyon Activity Pool, which has nine pools interspersed with caves, waterfalls, rope swings and a river ride with rapids. Guests can also discover turtles and other sea life underneath the waves with snorkeling and scuba lessons in the designated scuba pool. Stressed-out parents can unwind in the cabanas next to the adults-only Hibiscus pool or in the hydrotherapy circuit, treatment rooms, and relaxation lounge at the Spa Grande. There are also three golf courses nearby. Local and international food is available at the several restaurants and cafes, and the enchanting Grotto Bar, housed in a cave decked out with ferns and waterfalls, offers refreshing beverages for both adults and kids. Best of all, children under 17 stay for free when booking the Family Fun Package.

Most Romantic: Hotel Wailea

Set on top of a hillside with commanding 180-degree views of the ocean and nearby islands, Maui's Hotel Wailea is a boutique, adults-only retreat set amid stunning tropical gardens filled with palms, lawns, and cascading waterfalls. Although the hotel itself is not located in a coastal location, guests can be escorted to the nearby Wailea Beach, where valets will attend to their needs while they relax on lounge chairs. Within the grounds, there is a pool, hot tub and private cabanas. Guests can socialize and keep fit with daily sessions of yoga, group fitness, and aerial silk classes, and there is also a gym space with Peloton stationary bikes and Technogym equipment. A house Tesla Model X is available to transfer guests to places in the nearby area, and electric bicycles can be hired for exploring. While the hotel restaurant offers fresh local dishes in a panoramic setting, an intimate and magical dining experience can also be had in the Treehouse, which places couples amongst the canopy for an exquisite, seven-course chef dinner in total privacy before they retire to the open-air lounge to sip on signature cocktails and premium wines.

Best Beach: Royal Lahaina

The Ka'anapali Beach is one of the most famous and beautiful beaches in Hawaii, with long, wide stretches of golden sands overlooking calm, crystal-clear waters all the way to Mount Lānaʻihale on the island of Lanai. With its westerly position, it offers some of the best sunset views to be found and seems made for long, unhurried strolls along the sand. Guests visiting between the months of January and March may also be lucky enough to spot pods of humpback whales frolicking in the waters of the designated marine sanctuary. While the popularity of the area means that the beach can get crowded in places, the Royal Lahaina is fortunate to be located in an area of relatively low-density development, meaning the beach is often less crowded than at many similar, nearby locations. The resort makes best use of its enviable position, with a restaurant, two pools, a hot tub, and the Alana Spa—all poised for enjoying views of the ocean. Beach equipment is available for hire, and the championship Ka'anapali Golf Course boasts 36 holes.

Best Luxury: Princeville Resort

Situated on the Napali Coast of Kauai, Princeville Resort occupies a tranquil and secluded location which offers a sense of exclusivity and privacy for discerning guests. At the front of the hotel, the generous infinity pool has been recognized by Architectural Digest as one of the '10 Best Infinity Pools in the World', offering views across Hanalei Bay towards the forest-clad mountains. There is also an adjacent whirlpool spa lined with natural boulders, a kids pool, and attendants are on hand to provide towels, seating arrangements, and a selection of tasty snacks and refreshing beverages. On the golden sands of the uncrowded Puu Poa beach, guests can lounge under umbrellas, in private cabanas, or choose to play in the ocean with surf boards, paddle boards, and kayaks. Another standout feature is the Halelea Spa, named one of the 'Top 100 Spas of 2018' by Spas of America, where you'll be able to get a massage, body treatments, and facials. And less than one mile away, the Makai Golf Club has 18 holes situated in a scenic clifftop location, which encouraged National Geographic Traveler to name it as one of the 'Top 5 Great Golf Settings.'

Best for Relaxation: Four Seasons Hotel Lanai at Koele, ASensei Retreat

Nestled at the base of Mount Lānaʻihale on the quiet, less-developed island of Lanai, the Four Seasons Hotel Lanai at Koele is a specialized, adults-only wellness retreat that is a world away from the large beachfront resorts found elsewhere in Hawaii. The hotel works closely with guests to plan out a personalized itinerary to achieve their desired aims in accordance with the sensei program, which focuses on the three principles of movement, nourishment, and rest in order to rejuvenate the body and calm the mind. Activities include group fitness sessions like early morning hikes, foam roller exercises, and private yoga classes. In the Japanese teahouse-style spa, cutting edge technology such as thermal imaging is used alongside traditional massage and body treatments to produce targeted results. The cuisine is created from local ingredients specially selected to promote optimal health and wellbeing in accordance with the nutritional and sustainable standards of the program. Dedicated sensei guides and wellness practitioners are on hand to provide assistance during all stages of a guests stay and for guests who want to balance relaxation with more adventurous activities, a concierge service can arrange sailing trips, scuba diving tours, golfing excursions, and guided horseback rides.

Best for Golf: Four Seasons Resort Hualalai

Set on the west coast of Hawaii Island, also known as the Big Island, and commanding sunset views over the ocean, the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai is a well-appointed 5-star resort with amenities for couples, families, and groups. There is a full-service spa, activity-filled kids club, and many beachside restaurants offering everything from sushi to California-inspired dishes. However, the stand-out feature is the Jack Nicklaus-design Hualalai Golf Course, which surrounds the resort and offers 18 holes of lush fairways, immaculate sand traps, and ocean views that wind between graceful palm groves and black basalt outcrops. Golfers can improve their swing and short-game skills in the practice facilities, which include a nine-acre driving range, chipping and sand bunker challenges, a putting green, and private lessons with professional coaches. The club shop is stocked with golfing attire and equipment, including PGX standard clubs which are available for both sale and hire. Avid golfers looking for a change of scenery can seek out the several smaller, inland courses within a 10-minute drive from the resort.

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