Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort [In-depth Review]

Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort is one of World of Hyatt’s most aspirational properties. Located on Maui, Hawaii, the hotel is not only one of the most expensive on the island but also one of the most beautiful. With oceanfront rooms, gorgeous views, famous food options, and walking-distance proximity to nearby attractions, the hotel is a go-to property for tourists visiting Maui.

The Andaz concept is one of Hyatt’s luxury brands, designed to offer upscale amenities with modern design. This outpost opened in 2013 and has been one of Hyatt’s most-redeemed properties for points ever since.

Hotel Location

Situated on the island of Maui, the Andaz is located approximately 30 minutes from Kahului Airport (OGG) in the high-end Wailea area, complete with luxury condos, golf courses, and pricey retail.

The best way to get to the hotel is to rent a car from the airport. Public transit options are not great on the island, and relying on the infrequent bus service is not wise. While there are several private taxi and limousine companies that can take you to the hotel, most guests rent a car because you’ll want to leave the resort to explore the island and that really is only possible by car.

The hotel is oceanfront and is walkable along the coast for several miles. Walking from the hotel, you’ll pass the Marriott Wailea Beach Resort, Grand Wailea, Four Seasons, and Fairmont. However, if it rains on the island, the walkway along the coast passing these various hotels can and will flood out, making the walk impossible. While severe rain is unlikely on the island, there was substantial rain that caused some of the paths to become blocked off during my visit.

The Shops at Wailea are located approximately 5 minutes from the hotel. Here you’ll find some of the island’s luxury stores, including Tommy Bahama, Lululemon, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Bottega Veneta. If you enjoy shopping, the hotel is well situated for it. There are also several restaurants located nearby, which is unique for a hotel on Maui. Most resorts are not walkable to many restaurants, so the fact that the Andaz is makes it one of the better places to stay on the island.

Also to note is the Island Gourmet Markets, just a 5-minute walk from the hotel. This grocery store is filled with made-to-order food, prepared sandwiches, fruits, drinks, and more. It’s convenient, especially if you’re coming off a long flight, or are visiting the beach and you want to take something with you. While the grocery store isn’t a full-service one (you won’t find raw chicken or eggs, for example), the sandwiches and meals are top-notch.

Hot Tip: Our ultimate Hawaii travel guide to Maui includes details on top attractions, the best beaches, places to eat and drink, as well as our favorite tips and hacks!

Booking

This particular hotel was a World of Hyatt Category 7 at the time of booking but has since moved up to a Category 8.

I booked and stayed at this property during the standard season, so I paid 30,000 World of Hyatt points per night. I had accumulated enough points using The World of Hyatt Credit Card and earning World of Hyatt points from various stays and promotions. Another option is using Chase points since the program is a Chase transfer partner.

This hotel is notorious for issues when booking with points. For example, you will not be able to book a single-night rewards stay at this hotel, as the hotel blocks off the base points-eligible room for stays less than, in most cases, 3 nights. If you’re looking to stay at this hotel and want to use points, look in chunks of 3 nights at a time and book as soon as you see availability. Award availability at this hotel can be tough to come by as it is, and with the restrictions forcing you to stay a minimum amount of nights, you’ll want to book sooner rather than later.

Cash rates at this hotel are very expensive, starting out in the $700s during the lowest of seasons and going north of $2,000 a night for a base room on peak dates. Add in an oceanfront view, a suite, or a premium layout, and you’re going to spend $1,000+ a night easily. The expensive rates make this hotel a great use of World of Hyatt points.

Bottom Line: This hotel is very expensive if you’re paying cash — as are most nice hotels on the island of Maui. If you want to stay at the Andaz, use points to save big!

Checking In

I headed to the hotel from Maui’s airport and rented a car for my week-long stay (honestly, the only way to do it). The Andaz is situated in an almost residential-looking area, so if you’re not careful, you can easily drive past it. Pulling into the property, you’ll find the main entrance just down the driveway.

There were several bellmen at the entrance ready to take my name, grab the car keys, and assist with luggage. One of the great things about this property is there were always bellmen on hand 24/7. Complimentary parking was included with my stay — a benefit of booking an all-points room as a Hyatt Globalist.

My car was promptly whisked away and although luggage assistance was offered, I declined — I like to have control of my bags. After stepping out of the car, I was greeted with a Hawaiian beaded lei, really getting me into the Hawaiian spirit!

As you leave the vehicle drop-off area, you walk under a covered walkway to the open-air lobby — and your first glimpse at the nearby ocean views.

Unlike most Andaz properties that have attendants walking around with iPads to check you in, this hotel still has a traditional front desk.  There wasn’t a clear World of Hyatt elite check-in area, and I didn’t see any signage. Nonetheless, I was helped within no time.

The clerk that greeted me checked my credentials and vaccination status (a requirement for this stay) and explained the features of the resort.

Due to the availability when I booked, I had to book multiple back-to-back reservations. My first 6 nights were upgraded using a Globalist suite upgrade certificate, though the last 3 nights were not. I asked if I could keep the suite the entire stay, but was told to check back with the desk the following day to see if that was possible. In the end, they allowed me to keep it, which was great.

Lobby

In the center of the lobby was a giant sand art display, that oddly enough had several seats scattered around it. There were several pictures drawn in the sand throughout our stay, each time ruined by someone who unknowingly stepped into the pit. While signs asked folks to stay away, clearly the memo wasn’t received by everyone.

With the open-air lobby, you can feel the fresh air throughout the hotel.

Most rooms in this hotel have a balcony, but if you need a separate place to relax, there were plenty of seats in the lobby overlooking the gorgeous scenery outside.

There’s certainly no better place to relax! You could take a quick nap in one of these lounge chairs facing the ocean.

There is also a desk for Pacific Dream Photography at one end of the lobby to help capture memories of Hawaii. A photo session is included with your resort fee (detailed in the Amenities section below).

Elite Benefits

This hotel does a decent job of honoring World of Hyatt elite benefits, and as a Hyatt Globalist I was entitled to several:

• 4 p.m. late checkout, which was granted, but with a little confusion
• Room upgrade: I was allowed to keep the Andaz Suite for my entire stay
• Complimentary breakfast for 2, valued at more than $60 per person daily for the buffet
• Complimentary water, though it was provided as pitchers instead of individual bottles
• Complimentary parking on award nights (a ~$40 per night value)
• Complimentary premium internet, which worked great
• Waived resort fee of ~$48 per night

Complimentary Water

I was told that individual water bottles weren’t provided since the hotel was “going green” — as such, I received pitchers instead. But oddly, the room didn’t have any cups or glasses to use with them. Not really knowing how the pitchers were filled, I opted to buy a small case of water from Costco to use throughout my stay.

Late Checkout

While Globalist guests are guaranteed a 4 p.m. checkout, and I was assured of this by the front desk, I received a call on my last day of the stay asking why I hadn’t left the room yet. I was told that another Globalist guest needed the room, but I mentioned to the agent on the phone that I was a Globalist myself and was guaranteed the 4 p.m. late checkout. She apologized and said this normally wasn’t done for guests in a suite, but I pushed back saying that there was no mention of the policy at any point during my stay.

That said, the agent’s solution was well-appreciated. She offered to give me another room for the remainder of my time at the hotel, up until my evening flight departure. Since my flight was at 9:30 p.m. out of Maui’s airport and I needed to leave the hotel around 7 p.m., having a room well beyond my planned 4 p.m. checkout was fine by me, even if it meant moving rooms. I took her up on the offer and promptly headed down to the front desk with my bag where I exchanged keys and moved into a room with 2 double beds facing the back side of the property. While it didn’t have a great view, I was happy because I got to stay on-site 3 hours longer than I’d anticipated.

Bottom Line: Globalist late checkout at this hotel may not be offered if you’re in a suite, so work with the front desk to see what your options are if you need to stay late. 

Amenities

Valet Parking

The hotel didn’t offer any self-parking on-site, and valet parking was $40 per night (waived for Globalists on award nights), which can easily add up depending on the length of your stay.

Resort Fee

The hotel had a costly $48 + tax mandatory resort fee per night. The fee is waived for Globalist guests under any rate, or any guest staying on an award night.

The resort fee includes, per the hotel:

• Daily outrigger canoe excursions
• Guided kayak tours
• Unlimited use of snorkel equipment
• Use of fitness center
• Yoga and Pilates classes
• Bicycle and helmet rentals
• Various lessons, including ukulele, hula, and stand-up paddleboard
• Photo session with Pacific Dream Photography
• GoPro rental
• Various classes, including a mixology class (with 2 drinks), lei making, and coconut husking

I partook in a few of these options during my stay, but the resort fee is certainly a steep price. The fact that it is mandatory makes it a difficult pill to swallow for those not staying on a free award night.

Lei-making Class

One of the highlights of my stay was a lei-making class offered as part of the resort fee. We gathered in the lobby and received instructions from a native Hawaiian on what leis are used for and how to make them.

Following a brief talk, we were given bags of flowers and a string to needle through the flower stems to form our own leis. Having visited Hawaii many times, I’ve never before had a chance to learn about the culture behind these iconic rings of flowers!

Hot Tip: Each of the on-site activities required a reservation, so be sure to save your spot early before an activity sells out.

`Āwili Spa and Salon

The spa had limited service available due to COVID-19, but a menu of spa and salon services can be found on its website.

`Āwili Fitness

The gym is located in the north tower of the property on the bottom level and was open from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.

It had all of your standard exercise equipment from Matrix, as well as Peloton bikes, though was surprisingly small for the size of the resort. Cold towels and water were provided inside.

A schedule of the complimentary fitness classes can be found online.

Hub 808 (Kids’ Club)

A kids’ club is located on-site but is unavailable until further notice due to COVID-19 precautions.

Pet-Friendly

Pets are welcome, with a $100 fee per stay. The weight limits are 50 pounds for 1 dog and 75 pounds combined for 2 dogs.

Pop-up Shopping

To help fill some of the unused banquet and meeting rooms, the Andaz has partnered with local boutique shops to set up “pop-up” locations.

Concierge

A concierge desk is located just off of the front desk, and I typically saw it staffed by only 1 concierge. Unfortunately, this was a huge miss for the hotel. I had several issues with the person staffing this desk and wasn’t impressed with the service offered.

• On my first day, I asked whether the beach walkway extended along the water so I could take a walk, but the concierge didn’t know. This seemed like a very basic request that couldn’t be answered.
• On another day, I asked for reservations to be made at the on-site Morimoto restaurant but was told “no one was answering the phone.” I opted to walk a few feet to the restaurant itself and found a helpful staff member to make reservations. I found it disappointing the concierge seemed unwilling to do anything other than call the on-site restaurant.
• As a third request, we contacted the concierge about touring and rental car options on nearby Lanai but were given answers inconsistent with what we had received from others. It seemed like the concierge wasn’t familiar with the island or basic tourist questions.

Pools

Just below the lobby are the hotel’s main pools, staggered in a tiered formation.

There were plenty of deck chairs and cabanas scattered throughout, as well as a hot tub located on the top level.

Cabanas and day beds at the various pools were available to rent online or through the concierge. Rates start at $150.

The pools normally weren’t crowded during my stay, and most people coming down seemed to want to stay dry by sunbathing versus heading into the water.

If you’re looking for an adults-only experience, there is an adults-only pool right near the exercise facility. This pool includes several “swim-up” hotel rooms, as well as a private retreat without kids running around (though to be honest, there weren’t many kids running around the main pools, either).

Beach

All beaches in Hawaii are public beaches, so there’s no exclusive area just for Andaz guests. There are towels and chairs available, but from what I understand from the hotel, theoretically, anyone passing by can avail themselves of the area as the Andaz does not own this land.

Because of the distance from the hotel bar and restaurant, there are no food and beverage services directly on the beach itself.

A staffed kiosk offered the ability to rent small boats and boards.

The Room

I was assigned an Andaz Suite, which is the base-level suite at this hotel. To reserve it, I used a Globalist suite upgrade certificate nearly a year in advance. My certificate ensured I’d get a suite, though it’s worth noting that a Globalist can receive this upgrade upon arrival if it is available.

Living Room and Balcony

The Andaz Suite rooms are 850 square feet, and each features some type of “obstructed view,” according to the front desk. I was told each of the Andaz Suites has some type of ocean view, though none has a completely unfiltered view. My room was directly behind the Andaz villas and had a view of the ocean off to the side. There are some rooms in this hotel that have views of the foliage and parking lot, so to have some type of ocean view was great. It’s certainly worth noting that some of the views will be of another building if you’re concerned with that.

Entering the room, there is a rather hidden bathroom off to the left, complete with a toilet and sink. The handle is embedded into the wood paneling, so it’s quite easy to miss if you aren’t looking.

Further into the room, there was a large dining room table with space for 6 people.

Behind that, a large refreshment center featured a refrigerator, coffee machine, and sink.

The refrigerator in the refreshment center included 2 pitchers of water, as well as creamers for coffee.

The living room also featured a long table with a chair, meant to be used as a desk.

Beyond the desk area is the living area with an armchair, sofa, and television.

Outside, there is a balcony that connects down the length of the room to the bedroom. On the living room side of the balcony was a hanging “cocoon” chair, as well as 2 deck chairs and a table. This was the side of the room where I could best see the resort and ocean views.

One odd thing I found about the swinging chair was that it seemed to be bolted in, so when you’d sit you’d swing towards the wall instead of towards the view. I’m not sure if this was intentional or not, but I thought it was a little weird.

Bedroom and Balcony

Moving into the bedroom was a large king bed, relaxation chair, and television.

On each side of the bed was a nightstand with outlets, making charging phones and watches easy at night.

The bedroom is separated from the living area by a sliding door.

By each side of the bed was a set out of outlets, as well as controls for the lights and the shades. I could choose to either lower the sheer curtain or a blackout curtain and raise each to various levels, depending on the sun outside.

Outside on the deck was a lounge chair, facing towards the rest of the resort.

Full Bathroom

The bathroom was enormous, and one of the best features of this room.

Just inside is another “hidden” toilet, where I had to pull a hidden handle to reveal a separate toilet room. This toilet is fancy, complete with heated seats and washing functions.

In the main bathroom is a long counter with 2 sinks, with plenty of towels stored underneath.

On the other side of the bathroom is a soaking tub, and opposite that is the stand-up shower, which is almost the whole length of the bathroom. In the shower, there is a handheld wand as well as a rain shower from above.

On one end was a decorative ladder where 2 towels were stored, as well as the soaps and washcloths.

A closet next to the sink contained an ironing board, slippers, bathrobes, and other room essentials.

One downside of this room is the lack of privacy. Separating the shower from the bedroom is a large glass wall, and there are 2 sliding doors that can be moved into place to create some privacy, though the walls still have slats in them where you can see inside if you’re standing at the right angle. While some hotels try to be modern with their bathrooms, it can be annoying when there isn’t complete privacy in the bathroom. This is worth noting before you book any rooms at the Andaz as all bathrooms seem to be designed the same.

Bottom Line: The Andaz Suites have an obstructed view, but these views are far better than those of rooms that face the parking lot. Book suites early as they tend to sell out.

Food and Beverage

There are multiple food and beverage outlets on the property, each offering different fare and dining options.

Ka’ana Kitchen

Ka’ana Kitchen is the main restaurant on-property and is where guests go for breakfast.

The restaurant was open:

• For breakfast, 6:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
• For dinner, 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Breakfast costs $60 per person for the buffet, so if you don’t have top-tier status or breakfast included with your rate, be prepared to shell out quite a bit for this morning meal. There is indoor and outdoor seating, and since the entire restaurant is open-air, there really wasn’t a bad place to sit.

Breakfast was buffet-only, but servers were happy to get any made-to-order items like omelets or eggs prepared. I was offered non-alcoholic drinks, including iced coffees, mochas, and cappuccinos.

On the buffet line, I found a selection of fresh juices, including a rotating selection of P.O.G. Juice (passion, orange, and guava), pineapple, orange, carrot, and more. It was in a self-serve station where I could fill my own glass.

For hot items, in addition to the made-to-order eggs, there were waffles, pancakes, scrambled eggs, various types of sausage, and bacon. There was also a rotation of Asian-inspired dishes, including dumplings, fried noodles (which were out-of-this-world good), fried rice, and more.

On the cold side, I could choose from a wide selection of fruit, meats, and cheese. Nextdoor was a baked-goods table with all sorts of pastries, muffins, danishes, and toast that could be requested, with a server manning the station.

The buffet was unlimited — I could go up as much as I wanted. I indulged a few times but wanted to save room for lunch and dinner as well.

One of the things this hotel did really well was handling the check. Each time I asked for it, the server immediately mentioned I was a Globalist, brought out a check with the gratuity included, and mentioned signing off on the bill to have everything comped. I appreciated the clarity, as some hotels end up leaving the breakfast on the bill, causing quite a bit of confusion and a mess at checkout.

Bumbye Beach Bar

Bumbye Beach Bar was open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and served cocktails and light snacks and lunch. I ate here twice — once for a snack, and once for dinner. Both times, the food was great and served without issue. If you’re in the mood for a good lobster grilled cheese, this is the place!

Lehua Lounge

Lehua Lounge is the property’s all-day bar. It was open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, with live music most days from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Mokapu Market

Mokapu Market was open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. and featured packaged snacks, drinks, and other market-style items.

This is the property’s on-site gift shop, so you’re also able to purchase branded shirts and hats, beach goods, sundries, and more here.

The Feast at Mokapu Luau

The Feast at Mokapu Luau is the hotel’s in-house lu’au, offered Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday nights. While I didn’t attend on this specific trip, I have been to this event before and it is well worth it, albeit a bit pricey. The several-hour affair features an open bar, premium and regular seating, and a feast of all sorts of meats, vegetables, sides, and desserts (you won’t walk away hungry).

Tickets start at $240 per person, so while it isn’t cheap, it’s definitely worth it.

Morimoto Maui

Morimoto Maui is the hotel’s signature restaurant, under the famed Iron Chef’s name. It was open from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. daily and features a variety of Asian cuisine. This restaurant books up early, so be sure to make reservations as soon as possible. It is especially popular in the sunset hours, and since most of the tables are outside, you’ll want to secure a good seat early.

I dined at Morimoto one of the nights, and the food was absolutely terrific. I had a tempura shrimp appetizer to start (which was so delicious, I wish it was my main meal), as well as a curried fish for my main.

The food here was well worth the cost, and I’d highly recommend making a reservation if you can.

Hot Tip: Make a reservation at Morimoto in advance of your stay. That way, you can be sure you dine during the evening sunset.

Service

Overall, I thought the service at this hotel was really well done, though there were a few slip-ups — mainly with the concierge. Aside from that, I had another issue that I think is worth noting.

Upon check-in, I was informed that daily housekeeping would occur and that there were no restrictions, yet on my first day, I received no housekeeping. Figuring it was a fluke, I called down to the front desk and requested it. On the third day of my stay, housekeeping again didn’t service the room, this time after being gone all day. Knowing there was a problem, I spoke to the housekeeping manager who claimed that I requested no service throughout the stay, a request I know I didn’t put in.

I told her that I wanted the room serviced every day and if there were any notes refusing service to please remove those. She advised that they would be, and the room was cleaned shortly after.

On the fourth day, housekeeping again didn’t service the room, and I sent an email to the on-duty manager complaining about the issue. Shortly after sending the email, I received a phone call from the head of security, advising me that my do not disturb light on the door had been on for several days and he wanted to check on my well-being. Surprised, I went to the front door and told him it wasn’t on — and told him I had actually never turned it on at all throughout my whole stay. He said he would have someone check it out.

Soon after, the front desk manager called to apologize for the lack of housekeeping, but he told me they never came because they saw the do not disturb indication on the door. I told the manager the same thing I told the head of security, and he agreed to check it out as well and personally ensure I would receive service for the remainder of my stay, which did successfully happen.

This whole lack of housekeeping really left a sour taste in my mouth, and I wasn’t sure who to blame. It seemed like a combination of technical problems and miscommunication. While it didn’t ruin the stay at all, I think it’s worth mentioning so others are aware of the potential for issues.

COVID-19 Precautions

As I entered the property, signage informed me of the requirement to wear masks, though admittedly there were a lot of people not doing so. The hotel’s common areas are open-air, so I think guests assumed that everything was pretty much outside.

There were numerous hand sanitizer stations throughout the hotel, and they were especially handy at the restaurants and high touchpoint areas (such as the gym).

Beyond this, there weren’t a lot of noticeable precautions being taken, though I didn’t feel unsafe at all. Because the hotel is open to the fresh air, I never felt confined or within such a crowded space where I felt worried. The staff was very good about wearing their masks, and even though guests were not, I still felt the property did what they could given the current situation.

Final Thoughts

I would return back to the Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort in a heartbeat — the location along the ocean is unbeatable, and I love how it is walking distance from major shops, other hotels, and a scenic path by the water. The suite I was in was large and great for a lengthy stay, and the restaurant options on-site were great for my needs. While an expensive World of Hyatt redemption, I’d definitely save my points to be able to stay here again.