One of the highlights of the first week of my vacation on Maui was a visit to Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort. I arrived early for a unique spa experience at the resort’s a’wili spa and salon (look for a report on that in a Spas feature in a future issue of Global Traveler magazine) so that I might get a tour of the property. Although it just celebrated its second anniversary, the resort rests comfortably on its hillside, stepping down amid lushly landscaped gardens and tall palms to Wailea’s Mokapu Beach. A covered corridor flanked by reflecting pools leads to a soaring, open-air lobby,   centered on a sunken, sandy floored “living room.” Straight ahead, comfortable, casual seating arrangements line floor-to-ceiling views out over the pools to the ocean beyond. Lindsay Goldthorpe, marketing communications manager at Andaz Maui, greeted me there and escorted me through the public spaces and a sampling of guestrooms. Everywhere, natural woods, stone and white walls reflect the light, and art from local craftsmen adorn uncluttered, calming spaces.       All guestrooms feature lanais with ocean- or garden-view rainhead showers in spacious baths, free WiFi, complimentary snacks and nonalcoholic beverages in minibars, roomy safes and workspace (if you really must), coffeemakers, an iron and ironing board. Room service is offered 6:30 a.m.–11 p.m., but the Mokapu Market, open 24 hours a day, offers plenty of deli-style offerings for those with a late-night hankering or still in a different time zone. Other dining options include Chef Masaharu Morimoto’s eponymous eatery, poolside lounges and the Ka’ana Kitchen, where guests can interact with the chefs preparing their orders in a buffet-style set-up. The property also offers state-of-the-art fitness equipment in the 24-hour gym along with a host of fitness classes (included in the resort fee). Guests can also sign up for cooking classes and take guided kayak tours or learn how to paddle an outrigger canoe. If they choose to snorkel, they can stop by the 24-hour concierge desk  and check out complimentary use of a GoPro camera with all the accessories, returning later to transfer their files or burn a disc. Outdoor activities are a must on Maui, and the resort offers direct access to the beach       and equipment (and lessons) ranging from stand-up paddle boards to snorkel gear to kayaks. For those less venturesome, three infinity pools    step down to the “lagoon” pool, ensuring plenty of room for all in the water or on a lounge chair poolside, with a cool drink close at hand. Andaz Maui also offers well-equipped meeting and event spaces as well as two-, three- or four-bedroom villa rentals on site. I only spent a morning there, but it seemed to me there couldn’t be a more perfect spot to enjoy paradise. — Patty Vanikiotis, associate editor/copy editor