The Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa in Maui completed a major renovation last year, and it looks great. Its as upscale as a Marriott can be, right in the gorgeous Wailea beach area. People save up all year for a luxury Hawaii vacation, and Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa is a fantastic place to take the family. The resort’s signature restaurant, Mala Wailea, is a perfect fit in the new Marriott.
There is a daily morning buffet at Mala; the fresh fruit, yogurt and 
other health choices, along with an omelette station and plenty of piping hot breakfast basics are tasty, and easy to enjoy while appreciating the full view of the Pacific Ocean and neighboring Lanai. During the winter months, humpback whales make an almost daily appearance from most tables at Mala Wailea – it’s fun to spring up and stand next to fellow travelers, oohing and aahing at the whales while our coffee cools down. Every seat has an ocean view. This is on one of the best beaches in Maui, after all; even the snorkeling is great right off the Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa property.
Dinner is the real knock-out at Mala Wailea, though. The hustle and bustle of the breakfast crowd is replaced with a more sedate ambience, and while the menu has plenty of child-friendly options, the focus really is on authentic Hawaiian/Asian and Mediterranean fare. Locally grown fruits, vegetables and herbs are integrated into the entrees, with fresh seafood and fish options and the very popular steak and Kobe burgers.
The oyster shooters were really delicious, and my younger kid loved the “adult” macaroni and cheese (made with fancy cheese varieties). My other daughter ordered an appetizer of white bean soup with truffle oil, and she liked it so much that she changed her entree order to be another bowl of that soup! It’s hearty and very tasty.
The Waliea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa sits along the same stretch of beach as the uber-luxe resorts Grand Wailea, Four Seasons, and Fairmont Kea Lani. It is significantly more affordable than any of these other options, both in lodging and dining. We all know that travel budgets can get blown through pretty quickly during a tropical island vacation. Those dollars go a lot further – yet still in a very enjoyable way – at Mala Wailea and Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa.
Thank you to the Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa for hosting my family for this travel experience.