Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea

As an Expert here, I am exposed to and constantly learning about exotic locations, luxury vacations, premium cruises and all sorts of wonderful travel options. I was not well traveled before I started working here, so I'm kind of like a kid in a candy shop. When it came time to choose a vacation to celebrate our anniversary, we debated a cruise in Tahiti or a land vacation in Italy. With my boyfriend's tight schedule in the office, we started thinking about a destination a little more local to Los Angeles. It had been years for both of us since we had visited Hawaii. A decision was made and I went to work planning our trip. Since I use Journese to book vacations for my clients, I decided I would go to them for assistance in booking my vacation. After speaking to our rep from Journese, I decided on Four Seasons Maui at Wailea. It is in the portfolio for Journese and I know our Experts love it there. As it turns out, we made the right decision. We had an absolutely perfect and magical vacation in Maui and Lana'i! Hawaii is still a perfect go to spot for a relaxing time and it is so easy to get there from the west coast. It is really a beautiful slice of paradise. Part one of my two part article is about our experience in Maui. From California it is a short 5 hour flight to Kahului Airport in Maui. After we landed, we picked up our car right there at the airport. Since we had used Journese to book the car rental, it was a breeze getting our car. It really helped that we had arranged everything ahead of time. After about 10 minutes and a complimentary upgrade to a nicer car, we were on our way to our resort. Off to a great start so far. Twenty minutes later, after stopping for pictures in the sugar cane fields, we arrived at Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea. The resort is situated on a perfect part of Wailea beach and feels very secluded even though it is amongst other hotels on Wailea Beach. In Wailea, the weather is perfect and it rarely rains. The resort feels very private and it is very exclusive. The valet attendants took care of parking the car and the bell hops took our bags for us. We walked into the open air lobby and immediately felt right at home. We were being so well taken care of, that again we felt we made the right decision. The ocean breeze naturally leads you to the breath taking ocean view. The lobby is beautiful and everyone takes such good care of you. We were given cold towels and fresh pineapple juice while we checked in. As soon as we arrived at our room, we noticed that the resort had sent us a beautiful assortment of island treats to help us celebrate our anniversary and start our vacation. This is the type of service that Four Seasons is so well known for. They anticipate your every need even before you do. We stayed in a Deluxe Ocean View room which was spacious and decorated in a contemporary island style. The bed was beyond comfortable as it had plenty of fluffy pillows and a fluffy comforter. There is also a spacious balcony with a table and chairs. It is here that we enjoyed cocktails and the beautiful sunset on our first night in Hawaii. The bathroom has a separate shower and very large soaking tub. There is also a vanity table for us ladies to style our hair and apply makeup. The bathroom is stylish and has marble floors and counters. I enjoyed the complimentary bathrobe, but the slippers were so comfortable, that my boyfriend purchased them for me before we left. Whenever I wear them at home, I am reminded of our wonderful and romantic vacation! The concierge is fabulous at the hotel. They had arranged some dinner reservations for us even before our arrival. . They had great suggestions and sent us not only to restaurants at their hotel, but other hotels in the area. As I am a foodie, I wanted to experience some local places, and they recommended a sushi restaurant in Paia (about 10 minutes from the hotel) that was amazing and filled with locals. It was really fun getting out of the more touristy area and seeing the island as the locals do. They can also tell you where to go for shopping, cultural outings, helicopter tours and anything else you would want to experience while staying on the island of Maui. They actually booked the ferry to Lana'I for us, gave us specifics as to where we would return our rental car and get to the ferry dock in Lahaina. The restaurants on property are fabulous. We enjoyed a buffet breakfast every day, which is the most fabulous way to start your day. The breakfast consisted of fresh fruit, freshly baked breads, an omelet station, hot items and much more. You can also get your breakfast served in the comfort of your own room. We dined in the restaurant each day as we loved the whole experience with the ocean and pool view. It is such a nice way to start your day with birds chirping in the open air. At night this is Duo Steak & Seafood. We did not experience this, but I heard it is amazing. The menu looked really good, with the traditional steakhouse dishes with a hint of island flavor. On our first day there, we went to Ferraro's for lunch. This is the only restaurant on property open for lunch, with the exception of the cafe on the beach. It is an Italian restaurant at night, but during the day you can get island favorites, sandwiches, salads and all sorts of other delicious items. It was fabulous, fresh and the service was amazing. Our table overlooked the ocean and we enjoyed watching all the people partaking in water activities. We had dessert at Ferraro's and that was splendid. We shared chocolate cake and Bailey's on the rocks. To make the experience more decadent is the fact that you are dining by candle light and moon light. It was such a romantic moment and not one I will ever forget. It's a little too dark to see the water, but you know it's there and you can hear it. What a fabulous experience. I wish I was there right now! Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea is also home to Wolfgang Puck's Spago. The food is spectacular and the view is equally special. It is quite an experience and should not be missed. Don't forget to make your reservations or have concierge do that for you so you don't have any problems getting a table at your desired time. The resort is not huge and is not over crowded, but space can be limited at the restaurants. As much as I love food, I do love to work out. I loved the fact that there was a cardio room and a weight room on property. The cardio equipment overlooks the ocean, making it a little easier to exercise on your vacation. The weight room is fully enclosed and separate and it is equipped with many machines, free weights and other exercise equipment. For workout junkies, you will not be disappointed in their equipment. Cold water infused with tropical fruits is available at both the cardio and resistance rooms. Another great way to get some exercise in is the walking path around Wailea Beach. It winds around the beach and back on the main road, which is lined with beautiful palm trees. The spa is a nurturing tropical retreat and is a treat for everyone. Experience their signature Hawaiian massage which uses an exclusive blend of herbally infused oils to melt away tension. They also have special huts located on the beach if you wish to enjoy your massage on the beach. We did indulge in a couple's massage to celebrate our anniversary, which we had never done before. It was such a wonderful experience. To enhance your romantic experience, take a Couple's Instructional Massage where you learn ancient massage techniques while using products made from indigenous plants and flowers. You can also arrange to have a five course private dinner served beachside. You won't want to miss the Serenity Pool, which is exclusively for adults. There are cabanas that you can rent for the day that come with refreshments and televisions along with other special amenities. The pool opens at 7am and the pool butlers are there to assist you and help you get set up on lounge chairs of your choice. Enjoy snacks and cocktails poolside and you don't ever have to leave! The Serenity Pool is an infinity pool with a beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean. The pool butlers come by and spray you with cool water mist and offer you all sorts of goodies. Don't miss it! Of course, you can enhance your enjoyment with a signature tropical beverage. We also enjoyed spending time on the beach. The hotel makes sure they have a full staff waiting to help get you situated on your chaise lounges on the beach. If you want sun, you get it. If you want shade, they will set up an umbrella for you. They even kept me company when my boyfriend was snorkeling. During this time, they taught me about some of the history of Wailea Beach. I learned that it is the perfect spot for whale watching. Unfortunately, we were there a little early in the season for that. They also come by to spray you with sunscreen and offer frozen treats to help keep you cool. I have to say, I did get very spoiled. All in all, this was a great vacation. We set out to relax and that is exactly what we did. On the island of Maui, there is plenty to do if you want. There is also plenty not to do. I have fond memories of our vacation and cannot wait to return. Journese really knows how to help plan a romantic vacation. They also plan destination weddings, vow renewals and other romantic events in your life. Hmm...maybe for the future!

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