Wailea Beach Resort - Marriott, Maui

Character and identity

Set on 22 acres between Ulua and Wailea beaches on Maui's sunny south coast, this 544-room resort emerged from a $100 million refresh with a confident Hawaiian-modern look: open-air lanai arrival, contemporary furniture, local artwork, and very little of the corporate Marriott DNA you might expect. Five oceanfront pools anchor the property, including the two-acre Nalu Adventure Pool with Maui's longest waterslide and the adults-only Maluhia Serenity Pool with overwater cabanas. Dining runs from Roy Yamaguchi's Humble Market Kitchin to poolside KAPA and the Mo Bettah food truck. Service is warm and unfussy rather than formal.

Who's it for

Bottom line

The pitch here is a thoroughly renovated, design-aware family resort at a friendlier price than the Four Seasons and Fairmont down the road, with five pools doing most of the heavy lifting. Book a Nalu-adjacent room if you have kids, an oceanfront category if you don't, and reserve a Serenity cabana in advance. Shoulder-season rates sharpen the value considerably.