Montage Kapalua Bay

The Montage Kapalua Bay sets the tone for luxury and serenity right from the entrance. You will pass through a breezeway surrounded by koi ponds before entering the open-air lobby decorated
in dark woods and nautical accents, with soaring ceilings and amazing views down
to the pools below and the ocean in the distance. Off to the side, there are a
few concierge desks ready to help to reserve tee times, book island tours, or
arrange pictures with the on-site photographer.This luxurious 24-acre property sits on a point with
dramatic sea cliffs on one side, and a small golden-sand beach on the other.
There are 56 villas, which are arranged across six buildings spread around the
expansive property. The ambience of the resort is definitely polished and
upscale. It’s at once elegant and relaxed – though it’s a bit on the formal
side for laid-back Maui, and the touches of local flavor are more subdued that
at other resorts. Picture golf
carts and grand pianos rather than Hawaiian shirts and Mai Tais. In evenings,
fantastic sunsets are reflected in the pool and at nighttime, which is
generally quiet and peaceful, tiki torches light up the pathways. Unsurprisingly, the place is popular with couples, but it also draws a large number of well-heeled families who appreciate the large kitchen-equipped villas found here. The only real possible downside is the weather: this area of Maui is known to get more rain and wind than other parts of the island. Those worried about showers might prefer a luxury resort in sunny Wailea, such as Ho'olei at Grand Wailea, which also has large, kitchen-equipped villas (prices tend to be higher, however). The Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas is a more comparably priced option but its larger size means more crowds. 

The resort is situated on 24 oceanfront acres in the swanky
Kapalua area of West Maui, near the expansive Ritz-Carlton resort and right
next to the Kapalua Golf Club Bay Course. This property is one of the farthest north on
the Maui coast, making it a very quiet and private location, away from the
tourist crowds and condo complexes around Ka’anapali. It enjoys a stunning coastline
featuring dramatic ocean cliffs, and a path the winds down to the lovely
Kapalua Bay Beach, about a 10-minute walk from the resort. There isn’t much in
walking distance in this suburban area, but many shops, restaurants and a
grocery store can be reached by a short drive. It’s about a 20-minute drive to
lively downtown Lahaina, and it’s about an hour to the Kahului Airport.

The Montage refers to its villas as "residences," and they are – each includes a fully equipped gourmet kitchen, a dining room
and living area that opens on to a large lanai, and one, two, or three stylish
bedrooms. There are also a few Four-Bedroom Grand Residences available. The spacious
villas range from 1,250 to 4,000 square feet.The beautiful kitchens each feature a large center island, marble
countertops, and a wine cooler. Sitting on the counter of each kitchen, there’s
a cookbook filled with local recipes called “Taste of Maui” and free bags of local coffee from the Maui Grown Coffee Store. These touches are a
great example of the extra attention to detail the resort puts forth to make
a stay here special. The living rooms feature extra-large flat-screen TVs, DVD
players, and iPod stereos. There are large sliding door panels that open to the
lanai to create and indoor-outdoor space. Each villa has an expansive lanai
with a great outdoor dining area and comfortable outdoor couches and chaise
lounge chairs.Each of the rooms in the villas is beautifully and
tastefully decorated, like something out of a magazine. The luxurious plush
bedding includes more pillows than we knew what to do with – they seem to take
up more than half the bed. On each bed, one of the many pillows is embroidered
with the word "Ohana" – which means family in the Hawaiian language. The
bedrooms all have huge walk-in closets. The fantastic large bathrooms offer
both soaking tubs and spacious walk-in showers with multiple shower heads. Every unit has a washer and dryer.

The beautiful Cane & Canoe restaurant in the middle
of the property has a distinctive triangular roof and views facing the pools and the coast.
Next door, the Cane & Canoe Lounge features dark woods, billiards tables,
and great cocktails at happy hour. Other options include the Sunset Patio for lunch, a private barat the Beach Club, and the Hana Hou lounge, a casual outdoor bar and cafe on
the lower pool deck. There is also a deli, coffee shop, and market in the lobby
called the Mahana Market for items on the go.There are several meeting spaces available to reserve,
including the spectacular (and aptly named) Cliff House, a historic building
perched down on the very edge of a cliff that juts out into the bay, with
panoramic views through the picture windows. It was once a place where hotel
owners gathered; now it’s used for events and special dinners. The Montage has an excellent kids' club called the Paintbox,
which offers games, arts and crafts, and badges that kids can earn for spotting
things around Maui – such as a sea turtle or a whale. There are a handful of
games around the property, like beanbag toss and a golf putting green.At the bottom of the property, there is a path that leads
along the waterfront down to Kapalua Bay Beach, a lovely crescent-shaped beach with gentle, protected waters.
It is shared by other nearby resorts, however this beach is largely quiet and
peaceful. Water sport activities are available, such as snorkeling and stand-up
paddleboarding. It is, however, about a 10-minute walk down to the beach from the
resort, and from some rooms it may take even longer. The walk back is uphill – not great for less-mobile guests.

One of the stand-out features of the resort is the pool –
which is more like a series of beautiful pools of different styles that cascade
several levels down toward the sea. At the top is Sunset Patio, a
small bar and patio with light lunch fare that faces the adult-only
infinity pool. Water spills over the edge of the infinity pool as a waterfall into the next level, and the complex includes more waterfalls, a footbridge, and an area with whirlpool jets and hot tubs. At the bottom, there
is a large sundeck with shallow kids' pools. There are padded lounge
chairs scattered throughout, and the canopied daybeds must be rented for an extra
fee. There’s an additional infinity pool and hot tub at the Beach Club, a
semi-private area with a bar and lounge for members.

The Montage’s Spa is an impressive facility in its own
right. Just the spa itself is set on five acres of land, with a stream that
meanders through plush tropical gardens. It also has its own outdoor infinity pool. The
30,000-square-foot facility has indoor and outdoor treatment rooms, a huge
fitness center with a studio for yoga and spin classes, luxurious locker rooms, a vintage-themed barber
shop, and a salon. The outdoor treatment area is arranged like a little village,
where each private open-air hut has an outdoor shower and a stone soaking tub. The hydrotherapy center connected to each locker room offers whirlpool hot tubs, rainfall waterfalls, a steam
room, and a sauna. Outdoors, there are a pool and hot tub that can be used by both genders. In the lobby of the spa, there is a juice bar and boutique
shop.