Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection Review

Our Verdict

Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection

Welcome to Mauna Lani. Nestled along the dramatic Kohala Coast and in the piko, or center, of five great mountains, Mauna Lani is a sacred oasis where generations of families and friends have made memories together on soulful lands once cherished by the greatest of Hawaiian royalty. Mauna Lani, an Auberge Collection Resort offers 333 guest rooms including suites and 5 private residences. And even though a resort with 300+ rooms might seem bit, Mauna Lani feel very luxurious, intimate and boutique.

Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection is a luxury resort on the Big Island of Hawaii and is approximately 23 miles north of the Kona International Airport. The resort is just a short 25-minute drive from the airport.

Mauna Lani offers luxurious accommodations, dramatic views of the Pacific Ocean, an Auberge Spa, a wellness center & tennis courts, an incredible indoor/outdoor fitness center, a boutique, a grab & go market, world-class culinary experiences and more.

Mauna Lani is the perfect place to experience true Hawaiian culture, hospitality and traditions, while enjoying the high-tech amenities the modern traveler expects. Auberge resorts collection properties are all about giving visitors a local, authentic and meaningful experience. Your Hawaiian adventures starts and ends at Mauna Lani.

This review is based on our personal stay in May of 2021. If you are planning to stay at Mauna Lani, book through Live Luxe Travel Co. to take advantage of exclusive Virtuoso benefits like a room upgrade (if available at check-in), $100 resort credit, daily breakfast and a welcome amenity.

And for a limited time take advantage of a couple of promotions. Receive a $200 nightly resort credit on stays of 5 nights or more or receive every 5th night free.

Our Room

During our journey at Mauna Lani, we stayed in an One Bedroom Oceanfront Suite. Experience extraordinary oceanfront living with one of the resort’s largest one-bedroom suites, spread over 1,140 square feet with a separate living area and two spacious lanais, all overlooking sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean.

The Ocean View Suites are true one bedroom suites with a door that separates the bedroom from the living area. The living area features a full-bathroom with walk-in shower, a small dining table, coffee bar and a small living area. The bedroom features a small sitting area and a king size bed.

All of the rooms at Mauna Lani features master control light switches next to the bed that allow you to turn everything on and off. And as many hotels and resorts we stay at, this one small feature is such a modern convenience that we appreciate.

Auberge Resorts are known to be luxurious while still approachable and relaxed. At Mauna Lani you’ll find an understated, natural décor that’s bright and refined, with ample hardwood, natural fabrics, and textures that embody the essence of the soulful Hawaiian escape.

As mentioned, the One Bedroom Oceanview Suites feature two full bathrooms with dual vanities and walk-in showers. The bathroom in the bedroom was very spacious and also featured a large freestanding tub.

Amenities

Whether you're a beach goer or like to spend your days in the sun at the pool, Mauna Lani has something for everyone. The resort offers and adults-only pool, a large family pool and plenty of chairs on the beach.

Mauna Lani features an Auberge Spa which is a true farm-to-spa experience. Treatments at Mauna Lani's Auberge Spa feature the revitalizing benefits of local oils, herbs, honey and flowers that canvas the Island of Hawai'i.

During our stay we enjoyed massages which were incredible. We opted for the Lomi Lomi Massage. Open your heart, mind, body and soul with this signature Hawaiian healing massage passed down from generation to generation. An exclusive herbal oil blend melts away tension in this ancient technique, which utilizes Hawaiian ti leaves and rhythmic forearm strokes, allowing you to experience the expansive feeling of mohala (a heart opening experience).

Is fitness a big part of your life? Do you enjoy getting your sweat on while on vacation? Well, Mauna Lani features an amazing fitness center that is both indoors and outdoors. The indoor and outdoor sections of the fitness center are separated by a wall of sliding doors. When the weather is nice, the sliding doors are left open so guests can freely move between the indoors and outdoors.

The indoor part of the gym features plenty of cardio equipment including Peloton bikes, treadmills, elliptical machines, a stair master, free weights and a few cable machines.

The outdoor area of the gym features a couple more Peloton bikes during the day and it also features weight benches, more free weights, a squat rack, a weight training sled and more.

Mauna Lani features a surf shack near the beach where you can begin your adventure. They have snorkel gear, paddle boards, outrigger canoes, and bikes.

Dining

The meals you will experience at Mauna Lani will nourish your mind, body and soul. Whether it's breakfast at HāLani, afternoon happy hour at Hā Bar and Grill, or an amazing sunset dinner at CanoeHouse, your senses are sure to be satisfied.

Welcome to CanoeHouse, your connection between land and sea. Only open for dinner, CanoeHouse boasts an assortment of farm-fresh and dynamic dishes showcasing ingredients sourced mere minutes from Mauna Lani. When you dine at CanoeHouse, you’re welcomed into the Mauna Lani ‘ohana (family).

HāLani is Mauna Lani''s main restaurant that is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. This is where Virtuoso breakfast is served. And if you've got breakfast included through Virtuoso, this is about a $50 value per person, per day. The food at HāLani features local ingredients and locally inspired dishes.

One evening for a more casual dinner we had fish tacos at Hā Bar and Grill which were incredible. Hā Bar and Grill is the place to go for all of the action. The acoustic hum of live music coupled with prime views of the sunset make for the perfect ambience to cap off another day in paradise.

And if you're in the mood for a sweet treat, this ice cream sundae with brownies, caramel and bananas is sure to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Mauna Lani also features The Market which is inspired by NYC's delis. The Market has snacks, a coffee bar, plenty of adult beverages, a deli counter with sandwiches, pizza and more. And lastly The Market has essentials like personal care items such as hygine products and sunscreen.

Service

Mauna Lani truly makes you feel like you're at a five star boutique resort from the moment you arrive to the moment you depart. All of the staff that encountered was friendly, made an effort to get to know the guests and really made the service personal. By the last day of our stay at breakfast each day they knew our coffee order.

Overall Impression

Just like any other Auberge Resorts Collection properties, your stay at Mauna Lani is a journey. This ocean front haven is filled with Hawaiian culture through the food, the activities, the spa treatments and more.

This luxury resort is the perfect spot for a family getaway, couples getaway, honeymoon, or a friends trip.

Extra Perks

And don’t forget, when you book Mauna Lani with Live Luxe Travel Co., through our Virtuoso partnership, you’ll receive a $100 resort credit, daily breakfast for two, a room upgrade and a welcome amenity.

Fairmont Orchid Review

The AAA Four Diamond Fairmont Orchid Resort is located on Hawaii's Big Island. The resort sits about 30 minutes from Kona International airport on the Northwest side of the Big Island in Pakuo, HI. And this resort sits in a great location. It's far enough away from the city but close enough to drive into Kona or take a day trip to explore the island. The Fairmont Orchid was first opened in 1990 as a Ritz-Carlton. Then from 1995 until 2003 was later managed by Starwood Hotels & Resorts until it was taken over by Fairmont Hotels & Resorts The resort sits on 32 acres of oceanfront property on the Kohala Coast.

The Fairmont Orchid at Mauana Lani Resort

If you are looking for views of the vivid blue ocean waters and nearby Mauna Kea, the world's tallest mountain when measured from it's base, then the Fairmont Orchid is the place to be.

Upon our arrival to the resort, it was pretty late since we took a pretty late flight to Hawaii. But we were warmly greeted by the valet, assisted with our luggage and escorted to the Fairmont Gold floor for check-in. You might be wondering what Fairmont Gold is? It's an exclusive lifestyle hotel experience. Fairmont Gold makes your stay very personalized with private check-in, exclusive private lounge access, daily healthy breakfast, dedicated Fairmont Gold Concierge and more.

Our Room

The Fairmont Orchid is a fairly compact resort in the sense that from the lobby you can head one of two directions, either to the North or South Tower. The Fairmont Gold floor is located in the North Tower. As with most luxury resorts there are several room types to choose from - the most basic up to the most plush.

The rooms feel very luxurious, yet comfortable. We had the chance to stay in a Fairmont Gold Ocean View Suite, which didn't disappoint. The rooms are decorated very tastefully with french doors separating the living room from the master bedroom & bath. Our room made use of several organic feeling materials from the lamps to the furniture and the window treatments.

The room was decorated very simplistic with wallpaper, dark wood furniture with lots of natural light and views of the ocean keeping it very light and airy.

Moving on to the bathrooms, they are very luxurious and spa like with a great use of Carrara marble, double vanities a bath tub and a walk-in shower. And if you have read our blog on our favorite toiletries, you know that Le Labo is our favorite!

Dining

One of the most notable improvements to the Fairmont Orchid is that they are re-doing some of their restaurants right now. The on property Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi bar is closed for renovation and will soon re-open as Binchotan: Bar & Grill - serving up Asian cuisine over an open flame. There are four restaurants on property: Brown's Beach House (romantic fine dining), Hale Kai (casual dining), Orhid Court (breakfast) and the grab and go coffee and sandwiches - Brown's Deli.

Since we were staying on the Fairmont Gold floor, we had breakfast most days in the private lounge but we did go down to Orchid Court one morning. Talk about a spread, the breakfast buffet had tons of fresh baked pastries, fresh local fruit, plenty of hot food, a juice bar and an omelet station. And if buffets aren't your thing, they have a great breakfast menu as well.

We also had the opportunity to eat lunch and enjoy a few signature cocktails at Hale Kai twice. The grass covered umbrellas, sand under your feet along with the sounds of the ocean make this dining experience one of a kind.

Amenities

The Fairmont Orchid doesn't lack when it comes to things to do. There is a fantastic spa on property as well as a great fitness center. There are also several paths to walk around the resort plus a nice man-made beach along the famous Fairmont Orchid lagoon. The lagoon hosts a variety of non-motorized water sports activities like paddle boarding, snorkeling, canoeing, kayaking and more. If you want to spend a day at the beach and experience all that Fairmont Orchid has to offer, you are going to want to opt for their Fun N' Sun Activity Pass. This gives you access to rental equipment from the Beach Shack that can be used just steps away in the crystal clear blue waters.

The resort features one main pool that is quite large and sits right in the middle of the resort. If you are looking to getaway from the crowd and have your own private space, then opt for a pool or beach cabana. We reserved one of the Oceanfront Hale cabanas and it was worth every penny. In addition to having unobstructed views of the ocean, you'll also get a chilled cooler with refreshments and snacks included with the rental.

The Fairmont Orchid has perhaps one of the most peaceful and unique spa experiences. The Spa Without Walls is literally an outdoor spa nestled into thick greenery with the sound of nearby waterfalls that feed the fish ponds located in the heart of the resort.

If you are like us, we are pretty dedicated to working out on vacation so we can indulge. But it can be challenging working out in a gym that you aren't used to. But the fitness center at the Orchid has plenty of space with state of the art cardio equipment, free weights and even a squat rack.

Overall Impression

The Fairmont Orchid is a great place to relax, experience a luau and have a fantastic vacation. The Big Island of Hawaii isn't the most well known and traveled destination. But once you visit the Fairmont Orchid, you might change your mind about visiting some of the other islands. The staff at this resort was fantastic. Everyone made an effort to get to know us and was extremely helpful. And the staff on the Fairmont Gold floor spoiling us rotten.

And remember, if you book with a travel agent like Virtual Travel Gurus, you’ll get extra benefits like complimentary breakfast, $100 resort credit, the fifth night free, a room upgrade, early check-in and late check-out! So what are you waiting for, plan your Hawaiian adventure today!