Fairmont Kea Lani review – The Points Guy

Fairmont Kea Lani generously offered Flying Frugal a complimentary three-night stay for an in-depth exploration of the hotel and its amenities. The views shared in this article are solely those of the author and were not reviewed by the hotel or any third party.

Founded in 1991 along Wailea’s Polo Beach, the Fairmont Kea Lani has recently undergone a multi-million dollar renovation, blending opulent amenities with cultural heritage.

The updated resort is contributing to the establishment of one of the largest cultural centers on the island, especially significant in light of the devastation faced by Lahaina, Maui’s historical and cultural heart. The community of Lahaina in West Maui continues to recover from the terrible fires that ravaged the town in 2023, making tourism in other regions of the island crucial now more than ever.

If you’re looking for an opulent escape to unwind, Fairmont Kea Lani should be on your radar—here’s why it has become a beloved choice for Flying Frugal.

Related: The 18 best hotels in Maui, including luxury escapes and family-friendly resorts

What to Know About Fairmont Kea Lani

Occupying over 20 acres, the Fairmont Kea Lani features more than 400 suites and villas on the pristine Polo Beach in Wailea, just a 30-minute drive from Maui’s Kahului Airport (OGG). The resort exudes a casual elegance that is apparent from the moment you enter the lobby and first step into your room. It feels familiar, embraced, and just a touch more luxurious—unlike my home, which doesn’t boast expansive ocean views from nearly every window.

As an all-suite resort, the Fairmont Kea Lani is ideal for couples, families, and multiple generations of travelers. Families can take advantage of villas that come equipped with full kitchens, living areas, indoor and outdoor dining options, and laundry facilities.

The lush and stunning grounds are exactly what you’d imagine for a tropical getaway. One of the resort’s perks is the convenience of access; the main building includes all dining options, the spa, and the fitness center, along with a short path leading to the villas and beach. With three pools (including one reserved for adults), a 140-foot waterslide, cabanas for rent, and an array of activities, there’s no shortage of ways to enjoy your time at the Fairmont Kea Lani.

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Booking a Stay at Fairmont Kea Lani

This resort is a part of the Accor group, so members of Accor Live Limitless can book with a 10% discount and earn or redeem points for their stays. Upon signing up, new members receive Classic status, which includes exclusive offers, free Wi-Fi, online check-in, and expedited checkout. Rates can be booked directly through the Fairmont Kea Lani website, starting at $899 per night, including taxes and fees. Accor members will see member-specific rates; just log into your account to access them.

During your stay, you can redeem points at a flat rate of 2 cents each, as Accor does not use an award chart, making it easy to offset costs as needed.

The resort is also available for booking through American Express Travel. Cardholders earn 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotel bookings using The Platinum Card® from American Express. Being a Fine Hotels + Resorts® member, you also benefit from perks like complimentary breakfast, 4 p.m. late checkout, and other fantastic amenities during your stay. Additionally, you can take advantage of a $200 statement credit once a year when booking an Amex FHR or Hotel Collection property through Amex Travel, with a minimum two-night stay for the Hotel Collection.

For Chase cardholders, you can earn 5 points per dollar spent on travel booked through the Chase Travel℠ portal. Rates for stays through this portal start at $1,078 per night, taxes and fees included. Capital One and Citi Rewards points can be transferred to Accor Live Limitless at a 2:1 ratio, meaning for every 2,000 miles or points, you’ll get 1,000 Accor points—though it may not be the best value. Bilt Points also transfer to Accor at a 3:2 ratio, a partnership established last October.

Stunning Oceanfront Location

As noted earlier, the resort is conveniently located around 30 minutes south of Maui’s Kahului Airport (OGG). You can access the rental car center via a tram directly from the terminal, making it easy to rent a vehicle—ideal for exploring Maui’s Upcountry and various beaches and dining spots. An Avis Rental Car branch is also available in the lobby for daily and weekly rentals.

Given our plans to explore, we opted for a Jeep Wrangler from the Avis rental at the airport. We booked through Costco Travel, enjoying a fantastic deal of just $277 plus taxes and fees for a seven-day rental.

The weather in Wailea is consistently warm and breezy throughout the year, with clouds rarely drifting toward the beach even when they hover over Haleakala. The area thrives with greenery and luxury resorts, featuring championship golf courses. A scenic walking path runs between the Fairmont Kea Lani and nearby properties, popular for morning jogs and strolls.

Valet parking is available at the resort for $40 per day, while self-parking is included within the daily resort fee of $50.

For those who prefer not to drive, the resort concierge can arrange excursions with local tour groups to experience off-site activities or explore different parts of the island.

Arrival Experience

Upon arriving at the serene environment of Fairmont Kea Lani after traveling down a peaceful driveway, we were greeted by a bellhop who assisted with our luggage. Another staff member welcomed us warmly and presented leis, gifting our daughter with a whale’s tail necklace. Our vacation was off to a wonderful start even before we entered the stunning lobby.

We stopped briefly at the front desk to meet the villa experience team, who informed us our villa would have daily drink refills in the fridge and breakfast included. They reassured us that the team was just a phone call away for any needs that might arise during our stay.

During our golf cart ride to the villa, the bellhop provided a brief tour of the property while pointing out key locations along the way. Upon entering the villa, he gave us a rundown of its features and available amenities.

Stunning Oceanfront Villas

Have you ever imagined living in an oceanfront villa? We experienced three blissful nights in a freshly updated two-bedroom, two-bath, 1,800-square-foot oceanfront villa featuring a private plunge pool and lanai. The nightly lull of the ocean was pure bliss, and having direct access to the water right outside our patio door was heavenly.

Villa guests enjoy complimentary resort amenities such as daily breakfast at the Kea Lani Restaurant and valet parking. Each villa comes equipped with a grill on the lanai, two lounge chairs, and an outdoor dining area. The kitchen was stocked with beverages and snacks, offering everything you need for a comfortable stay, and staff can assist with arranging grocery deliveries.

A large granite dining table separated the kitchen from the living area. The living room featured a cozy sectional sofa, a comfortable chair, a flat-screen TV, and a ceiling fan, making it a perfect space to unwind.

The upstairs primary suite boasts a king bed and includes a desk, chaise lounge, and a small patio with a lounger—a great spot for enjoying a quiet moment with stunning views.

Ample charging stations integrated into the nightstands and TV stand made it easy for everyone to keep their devices powered up (though, honestly, you might find you don’t need them while soaking in the resort’s offerings).

The lower floor included a second bedroom with two queen beds, a full closet, and a bathroom. Both bedrooms had ample storage space, including a large walk-in closet in the primary suite and a full bathroom with a tub and a walk-in shower.

Each bathroom was outfitted with dual sinks featuring marble countertops, providing plenty of space for personal items.

In addition to luxurious Le Labo bath products, the bathrooms included ocean-safe Project Reef mineral sunscreen and after-sun lotion, adding thoughtful touches to the amenities.

I especially enjoyed the convenience of being able to do laundry during our stay—it’s a luxury that only someone over 40 might truly appreciate. The villa features a stackable washer and dryer in a utility room, alongside an ironing board and iron.

Dining and Drinks

With Maui’s stunning outdoor dining climate year-round, you can enjoy cocktails, dinner, and spectacular sunsets no matter the time of year. Fairmont Kea Lani offers several dining options, all benefiting from ocean views (plus room service). The culinary experiences across the property are of exceptional quality; you will not go hungry, even if seafood isn’t your preference.

Children under five eat for free when dining with a registered guest at the resort’s Keiki (kids’) dining program available at Ko, Kea Lani Restaurant, and AMA Bar and Grill (not valid for poolside service). Kids aged 6 to 12 can order from the Keiki menu at full price, or choose from the full menu at half price.

Dinner at Ko Restaurant

Ko Restaurant offers a delicious fusion menu with Hawaiian, Asian, and South Pacific inspirations in a breezy open-air space primarily featuring patio seating. Located on the ground floor of the main building, it overlooks the gardens, adult pool, and ocean. The restaurant is open for happy hour, dinner, and Sunday brunch.

To start our meal at Ko, we shared crispy shrimp topped with a Maui lavender honey sauce, candied macadamia nuts, and smashed sesame cucumbers ($30)—a delightful combination of savory and sweet flavors.

For the main course, we opted for the surf and turf special ($57) and the Korean braised short ribs ($58). The surf and turf featured Asian noodles combined with bok choy, green beans, red peppers, and perfectly cooked medium-rare ribeye, topped with chimichurri. The braised short ribs came accompanied by carrots, baby bok choy, and kimchi fried rice. Both dishes were rich in flavor and generous enough to share.

Breakfast Buffet at Kea Lani Restaurant

Your villa stay includes daily breakfast at Kea Lani Restaurant, offering a bountiful buffet catering to diverse tastes. The spread includes everything from sliced meats, cheeses, artisan breads, and pastries to Asian-style udon vegetarian noodles and miso salmon.

Each morning’s offerings vary and include options like waffles, pancakes, made-to-order omelets, bacon, Portuguese sausage, scrambled eggs, and egg whites. Continental choices such as cereals, yogurt, granola, dried fruits, and fresh fruit are also available.

Pilina Ocean-View Lobby Bar

Open for lunch and dinner, the Pilina offers an open-air bar with stunning ocean views. The menu features local drinks, fresh seafood, sushi, and a selection of meats and fish cooked at your table on a hot stone. Just outside the entrance, swinging chairs create a fun spot, which was my daughter’s favorite aside from the pool slide and beach.

The drink menu features a global selection of wines, locally crafted and Japanese sakés, spirits from Hawaiian distilleries, Maui Brewing Company beers, and a mix of cocktails. A recommended cocktail is the Mauka ($24)—which means “toward the mountains”—a refreshing blend of Fy Hawaii gin, Ohia Lehua honey, ginger, lemon, smoked Big Island bee pollen, angostura bitters, and lavender sourced from Ali’i Kula Lavender Farm.

For dinner, we sampled salmon sashimi ($27), rainbow rolls ($37), and edamame ($16) as starters, followed by venison sliders with yuzu tomato jam aioli on Hawaiian sweet rolls ($26). Our server recommended the special sushi roll of the night, and it quickly became our favorite—lobster, avocado, and cucumber rolled with soy sauce poke, topped with ogo, cilantro microgreens, and garlic chips ($37).

I cherish when resorts have high-quality lobby bars for relaxing dinners, and Pilina ticks all the boxes with its inviting atmosphere, extensive beverage menu, and delicious dishes.

Cultural Heritage and Family Activities

In 2024, the resort introduced a new cultural center within the lobby that welcomes guests of all ages. This center has become even more significant due to the loss of vital Hawaiian artifacts and historical documents in the Lahaina wildfires.

The cultural center provides opportunities for classes such as hula dancing and ukulele lessons. Additionally, it hosts permanent exhibitions of Hawaiian artifacts—including feather headdresses, seashell jewelry, ceremonial items, and musical instruments—all crafted by local Maui artisans replicating traditional techniques.

Kamahiwa Kawaʻa, the center’s head, shared that guests are encouraged to explore and engage with the displays, allowing for a genuine cultural experience.

We also enjoyed participating in the daily koi fish feeding at 9 a.m., a great activity geared towards younger guests. Kids 10 and older might find delight in the stargazing sessions held twice a week, or the outrigger excursions offered most mornings.

Swim with sea turtles for a memorable morning experience, and participate in the outrigger excursion (ages 10 and above, reservation required), which is both educational and immersive. The experience begins with a discussion about the traditional uses of canoes by the Hawaiian people for recreation and fishing.

Following a traditional Hawaiian prayer and the ceremonial blowing of the conch shell, the outrigger departs from Polo Beach and heads into the ocean. You’ll paddle in sync for approximately 15 minutes before stopping to observe the reef below and slipping into the water with goggles for an unforgettable swim. If you’re lucky, you may even spot some turtles.

Cool Off at the Beach or Pool

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