Staying at the Ritz-Carlton in Kapalua, Maui

I had the opportunity to stay at the Ritz Carlton in Kapalua on the Hawaiian island of Maui with my husband this past January. The grounds were absolutely stunning with an expansive view of the ocean, we saw whales almost every day while we enjoyed our morning coffee. Our room was comfortable yet elegant. This was not our first time in Maui but it was our first time at this resort, it is definitely the one to beat right now for us on this Island.

We had the opportunity to enjoy a fantastic dinner on site at The Banyon Tree with excellent and entertaining service from Robert. We were pleased to eat again at Merriman's located nearby; they have a diverse wine list and fantastic local seafood. Both get crowded so make your reservation in advance. We also love Sensei for fresh sushi though we did not have the opportunity to enjoy it on this trip.

The hotel spa featured private open air couples massage rooms where we indulged in the lomilomi massage with coco butter which was incredibly relaxing as expected. I love spa services but I dislike when they push products for purchase, they did not do that here. No one can ever convince me to buy spa products anywhere, I just can't be sold, I won't do it. I am all about the services and less about the products. I literally asked my therapist if I could purchase this product in the middle of my massage, so you know it is amazing. It has the most intense cocoa aroma that I have ever smelled in a coco butter product of any kind; it is also very rich and incredibly moisturizing.

I was traveling with my husband on his company's incentive trip so we also enjoyed a fantastic luau at the hotel with our group. I also saw a few large conference rooms and enjoyed a private breakfast buffet that was set up prior to a morning meeting. This was a group of almost 300 people and it was a dream destination. Many simply stayed on-site to enjoy the resort's amenities while some rented cars and explored the entire Island. I recommend that everyone take the drive down the Hana Highway at least once when they visit Maui, the beautiful views and beaches are worth the harrowing ride.

An amazing location surrounded with sweeping beach views and beautiful pools along with fantastic food and wine plus an amazing spa make the Ritz-Carlton in Kapalua a recommended vacation destination.