I arrived in Maui after a few days of business on Oahu, ready for a relaxing weekend.

After a quick, 25-minute taxi to Wailea, I arrived at Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort. I was ushered down a tranquil outdoor walkway surrounded by water, which led into the open-air, expansive lobby. Checking in was easy, with a kind front desk member showing me to a couch with a view of the water while I waited.

The lobby is the on the top floor with several pools, restaurants and guestrooms in cascading levels all the way to beach.

My room, on the third floor, had a partial view of the ocean and the private, adults’-only pool area with lush foliage. My room had an open, fresh ambiance with its white stone floor, white couch and lighting accents facing wide glass doors leading to a nice-sized balcony.  My king-sized bed was comfortable and offered views and sounds of the ocean when I kept my glass doors open in the evenings. A flat-screen TV faced a small living space with a desk sitting adjacent. The mini fridge is stocked with water, juice and local craft soft drinks free for guests and refilled daily.

The bathroom sat behind the bed, and they did a great job with limited space. Dark stone floors accented a long, single-sink vanity with excellent lighting and a chair tucked under the vanity. White doors flush with the wall opened to a large closet and separate water closet. A floor-to-ceiling mirror opened up the space well. The shower ran the entire length of the bathroom with several jets and rain shower options. It also looks over the bedroom if you open the blinds — it was a nice touch for honeymooners.

Exploring the resort is an adventure in itself. Three separate pools and an expansive grass area to play on or lounge leads you to the Andaz’s beach. Hotel crew is on standby to provide lounge chairs and umbrellas for the afternoon. It is one of the best beaches of the Wailea resorts I have seen — perfect sand, swimming and snorkeling. I spent most of my time here.

If you are up for a real adventure, the beach crew offers group outrigger tours, stand-up paddleboarding and kayak tours. I braved SUP for the first time, and it was a great experience, even though I fell off about six times. The concierge also helped arrange a sunrise snorkeling tour at Molokini crater — a must-do, and you’re back by 10 a.m. for breakfast!

The Andaz Maui also has great dining options, which I enjoyed with a mai tai. For casual dining by the pool, try Bumbye Beach Bar — their poké was amazing, and you can take it to eat on the beach.

If you can get a reservation, I suggest sitting at the chef’s table tasting at Ka’ana Kitchen, the farm-to-table restaurant. The bartenders can create custom cocktails that accompany any of the chef’s creations — try the grilled octopus! My bartender extraordinaire, Archer, added to a great experience and offered a nice twist on the cocktails with flower- and herb-infused ice cubes, something I’d never seen. 

My weekend at the Andaz went by too quickly, and I cannot wait to visit again.

— Carly Allen, executive vice president