Hyatt Residence Club Maui, Ka'anapali Beach

This hotel draws well-heeled couples and families with its romantic setting and self-catering, condo-style rooms. Landscaping encompasses tropical plants, bright green lawns, and koi fish ponds. Like most hotels in this tourist area, everything is well-manicured and contemporary. The atmosphere is calm and relaxed, and the vibe lands somewhere between a residential property and resort. It's worth nothing that while the property has resort-like features such as a pool -- where travelers tend to congregate during the day -- gym, and business center, as a residence property, it lacks facilities such as a restaurant and spa. Guests are greeted by a large and contemporary reception area where numerous sets of couches and chairs are set up as lounge space. Runner and recessed lighting give the lobby a modern feel, while the asymmetrical stone tile floors and carved wood panels lend earth, island vibes. Natural lighting floods into nearly every public space and in the rooms with large floor-to-ceiling windows, and there are plenty of furnished outdoor areas to soak up fresh air, ocean views, and the Hawaiian sun. 

Hyatt Residence Club Maui, Ka'anapali Beach is located right on Ka'anapali Beach. It's about a 10- to 15-minute drive from Lahaina, and a four-minute drive or 12-minute walk to the entrance of Whaler's Village. The immediate area is relaxing, though touristy, and the hotel is surrounded by a handful of other hotels and several restaurants. The quiet town of Hana is just under a three-hour drive away, while the climbable volcano, Haleakala, is just under two hours by car. Kahului Airport (OGG) is a 45-minute drive from the hotel.  

All 131 apartment-style rooms here have separate bedrooms and living rooms, plus full-size gourmet kitchens with stainless-steel appliances, custom cabinets, and CeasarStone® countertops. Classic-contemporary decor consists of warm-toned wood furniture, neutral sofa beds, and a light ocean-themed color palette in sand and light blue. Expect each unit to have an open kitchen, dining room, and living space, plus either one, two, or three separate bedrooms. All bedrooms have Hyatt Grand Beds, carpeted floors, and access to large furnished balconies. Master bedrooms have huge bathrooms with gorgeous soaking tubs set against a tile mosaic, dual vanity sinks, and walk-in showers. All guest rooms come with dishwashers and stackable washer/dryer units. One Bedroom Mountain View rooms, which overlook the West Maui Mountains, are the only rooms without ocean views. 

The hotel's location right on Lahaina's popular Ka'anapali Beach is one of its biggest draws. Guests have direct (but not private) access to the beach from just beyond the pool area. There are no official lounger setups on the sand, but guests can rent one of the comfy cabanas that line the grassy lawn next to the beach. The paved Ka'anapali Beachwalk runs behind the hotel and is an easy one-and-a-half mile stroll along the beachfront. Back on property, the hotel's three pools are a popular place to hang out during the day. A huge lagoon-style family pool takes up most of the space, and is spread out over two levels. Large faux lava rock walls, boulders, decorative landscaped islands, a few bridges, and small waterfalls give it a distinctly tropical vibe. The connected kids' pool area has a short slide and shallower waters, while the infinity-edge pool off to the side is for adults only. The Pau Huaka'i Tiki Bar -- the hotel's only restaurant-type venue -- is a small thatched-roof hut that serves food and drink to guests at the pool and in the beach cabanas. The only other food option is a small mini-market with grab-and-go items, a deli, groceries, and a coffee shop.The 24-hour fitness center focuses on cardio and weight training, but also has some exercise balls and yoga mats. The space is bright thanks to natural light, and features a television, water station, towels, and locker rooms with showers. For business needs, the Hyatt has an impressive lounge-like business center full of couches, a flat-screen TV, and two computer stations with printers. The hotel takes pride in being an accessible space, and has outfitted its entrance, some villas, a pool, and the front desk to accommodate guests with mobility issues. Expect free Wi-Fi throughout and free valet parking.