Editor's note: During the COVID-19 pandemic, TravelAge West is encouraging all readers to stay at home and do their part in flattening the curve. This includes travel to Hawaii. We hope that the information in these stories will help readers stay up to date for when it’s once again safe to return to Hawaii.
As clients dream of a Maui vacation with loved ones, they likely envision a destination with something for everyone.
They may picture strolls along miles of beaches, snorkeling and swimming in pristine seas, indulgent massages, active pastimes such as golf and tennis, a terrific selection of restaurants and shops, and maybe even a luau.
But most of all, they crave a beautiful place to relax and unwind together.
For those clients, travel advisors would do well to suggest Hoolei Villas at Grand Wailea. The southwest Maui gated community comprises 120 classy yet comfortable villas that drape down a hillside. It’s a peaceful home base for deepening personal connections in a setting that feels more like a residence than a resort.
Accommodations With Room for All
Ranging from 3,200 to 4,000 square feet, each Hoolei villa has three bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms, so it’s ideal for groups of up to eight people.
Blending a casual island ambiance with touches of elegance, villas tout custom cabinetry, common areas with vaulted ceilings and sliding glass walls that invite the outdoors in.
Hoolei's full kitchen, comfortable furnishings and walls of windows create a perfect home base for traveling friends and families.
Credit: 2020 Grand WaileaAccommodations also include a full kitchen stocked with everything needed for preparing meals — except for the ingredients, that is. Not to worry: Hoolei staffers can deliver groceries while clients enjoy the resort.
Chances are good that guests will spend quality time on their villa’s private lanai, which offers inspiring ocean, island and mountain views. Each lanai comes with a gas grill and furnishings for alfresco dining and lounging, making it a hub for cooking, eating and entertaining. It’s also a fitting spot for folks to simply hang out, catch up and savor the scenery.
Each villa at Hoolei comes with an expansive lanai, ideal for entertaining, relaxing and spending time with loved ones.
Credit: 2020 Grand WaileaComparable to hotel stays, Hoolei presents benefits such as daily housekeeping services and upscale toiletries. It goes further, however, by providing an in-villa washer and dryer with detergent; an on-demand concierge, ready to answer questions, make suggestions and line up reservations; and use of a free shuttle, which stops at Wailea Resort’s wide assortment of lodgings, eateries and retailers.
“We are constantly working to upgrade and enhance the villas with the needs of our guests in mind,” said Bryan Lynx, senior director of sales, strategy and innovation for Hoolei’s sister property, Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort. “To this end, we have increased our maintenance program to ensure the villas remain in top condition.”
Along with families, Hoolei makes a smart choice for small, traveling groups and longer-stay guests, says Lynx.
“Hoolei represents a wonderful opportunity for certain types of wedding parties,” he said. “We have great relationships with several private chefs who can handle the cuisine for visitors who may not wish to do so themselves.”
Top-Notch Amenities and Access
Although it doesn’t hug the ocean, Hoolei features its own saltwater pool, complete with waterfalls, whirlpools, a sandy beach and a sauna.
A workout facility awaits steps from the pool, which was recently refreshed with new equipment such as Peloton bicycles and Precor training machines.
Hoolei features a private saltwater pool for its guests, complete with waterfalls, jacuzzis and a beach.
Credit: 2020 Grand WaileaCompared to other condos and vacation rentals in the area, Hoolei’s biggest advantage might just be its access to the beachfront Grand Wailea, a short walk away. At Grand Wailea, Hoolei guests get signing privileges at an array of multigenerational lures, including seven restaurants, the vast Spa Grande and an expansive fitness center.
For families, Grand Wailea’s jaw-dropping activity pool is an amenity, bar none. Spread over six levels, it dazzles clients with waterslides, waterfalls, hot tubs, rapids, a lazy river, a rope swing, a kid-friendly lagoon, a swim-up bar and a water elevator. Guests ages 18 and older can also chill out around Grand Wailea’s adults-only Hibiscus pool.
Considering Hoolei’s selling points, its robust amount of repeat business is unsurprising. Lynx encourages clients who plan on returning to join the resort’s Elite Membership Program, providing discounts on accommodations, spa treatments, food, beverages and retail purchases at both Hoolei and Grand Wailea.
“Ultimately, we want every guest to depart from Hoolei with the intention of coming back, because it was their most perfect vacation ever,” Lynx said.
The Details
Hoolei Villas at Grand Wailea
www.grandwailea.com