Best Hotels In Maui For Couples

Many things in life are subjective—but what makes something "romantic" isn't one of them. The Hawaiian Islands, and Maui in particular, rank among the top destinations in the world for honeymoons, destination weddings, proposals, anniversary celebrations and vow renewals. In other words: Maui, with its beautiful beaches, stunning blue sea, incredible sunsets and some of Hawaii's most dreamy resorts, is inherently romantic.

But some hotels and resorts on this beautiful and popular island offer even more of the adult-focused amenities and seductive ambiance that make for a memorable romantic getaway. Read on for our picks for the 10 best hotels in Maui for couples.

The Four Seasons brand is synonymous with luxurious accommodations, impeccable design and some of the world's top hotel dining, and the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea offers all that and more in 15 manicured acres overlooking Wailea Beach.

With its 307 rooms and suites consistently cited as among the most inviting and spacious on the island, its extensive Hawaiian art collection and three notable restaurants—Ferraro's for modern Mediterranean-Italian, DUO for steak and seafood, and the Maui outpost of Wolfgang Puck's Spago)—this resort is the definition of island sophistication. It's a combination that attracts couples, but this is also a family-friendly Maui resort, especially during summer and the holidays. But with three pools (one an adults-only infinity pool), complimentary cabanas, and a spa which also offers three breezy oceanfront treatment hales, adult relaxation time is more than plentiful.

If your idea of romance includes being able to cook together in a gourmet kitchen using fresh, local ingredients and then enjoying your culinary creations on your own private lanai, one of the 50 residential-style accommodations at Montage Kapalua Bay, one of the best hotels in Maui for couples, could be the perfect hideaway.

Tucked into 24 lush hillside acres above tranquil Kapalua Bay and beach, this resort manages to be fabulously luxurious and yet still feel like home. All residences were given a refresh in 2018 that pays homage to Hawaii's natural surroundings. Other indulgences include a cascading, three-level Sunset Pool, two championship golf courses, the atmospheric Cane & Canoe restaurant (serving locally sourced seafood and steak), and Spa Montage offering Maui-inspired treatments.

Its distinctive white Moorish architecture sets it apart from other Maui resorts and together with its location on 22 lushly landscaped acres on Wailea's Polo Beach creates a seductive ambiance that's almost impossible to replicate. Yes, The Fairmont Kea Lani is family-friendly, so avoid a stay over school breaks if you'd rather not see children.

But when you consider that the resort offers 413 spacious one-bedroom suites (the smallest is 860 square feet) and 37 villas, plus three pools (one designated adults-only), a Willow Stream Spa that uses Maui-sourced products, an onsite Hawaii cultural program (the outrigger canoe experience is terrific) and four restaurants (most notably Kō, serving award-winning Hawaiian Regional Cuisine), there's plenty of romance, too.

When there are no kids in the back seat imploring, "Are we there yet?" the four-hour scenic drive on the Road to Hana is unbelievably romantic (unless you suffer from motion sickness, since there are 620 curves). But the real treasure lies at the end of the road at Travaasa Hana, a serene hideaway that's the perfect spot to unwind, get pampered in the spa with natural Hawaiian ingredients, dine on flavorful South Pacific-inspired cuisine and embrace romance beneath dreamy, star-filled skies.

The 69-acre property, set amid rolling ranch land that overlooks the dramatic black-lava coast of East Maui (it originally gained acclaim as Hotel Hana Maui), features a mix of cottages and suites and guests can book on a room-only or all-inclusive basis. Our advice: Check into an airy Ocean Bungalow featuring a lanai with sea views and forget the rest of world is out there.

For romance coupled with insight into local Hawaiian culture, it's hard to beat The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua. This 463-room resort set on 54 secluded acres in the upscale enclave of Kapalua delivers luxurious accommodations, Hawaii-centric fine dining and indulgent spa experiences for couples along with abundant Aloha spirit (Kapalua means "arms embracing the sea").

Part of the land here is the Honokahua Preservation Site, which is sacred to native Hawaiians, so honoring island lore and healing traditions is in the property's DNA—it has a Hawaiian Cultural Advisor and arts and music programming for guests.

Recreation-wise, the Ritz-Carlton has a stunning tiered pool area, six on-site restaurants, 36 holes of championship golf and abundant water- and land-based activities. And while it is popular with families, poolside cabanas for two and private dining experiences set the mood for romance and make this property one of the best hotels in Maui for couples.

How's this for the perfect just-the-two-of-you romantic Maui honeymoon? A luxurious, Hawaii-beach-house-inspired one-bedroom suite at Hotel Wailea, Hawaii's first and only Relais & Chateaux property, and its only luxury adults-only hotel.

You'll have access to three championship golf courses, the golden sand of nearby Wailea Beach (as you're attended to by beach valets) and a fleet of Tesla Model X house vehicles for cruising the Wailea resort area, home to some of Maui's top dining and shopping. The 72-suite hotel is set 300 feet above the sea on 15 acres meticulously landscaped with tropical gardens, waterfalls and cabana-lined pools. And the cuisine? It's fresh, local, creative and served in an intimate garden strung with twinkling tea lights.

Read More: Best Kauai Hotels and Resorts for Couples

Who says modern can't be romantic? Couples who adore contemporary interior design, sustainable and locally sourced menus and who just don't feel the same without their favorite four-legged friend along for their honeymoon or vacation, can have it all at the 301-room, pet-friendly Andaz Maui at Wailea.

Overlooking Mokapu Beach within the beautiful resort area of Wailea, this relative newcomer (it opened in 2013) features five pools—three cascading, one lagoon-style and one adults only. Four onsite restaurants boast farm-to-table menus, including Ka'ana Kitchen for creative modern Hawaiian fare, Morimoto Maui for Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto's signature sushi and Japanese dishes, and Lehua Lounge for small bites. And the tranquil Awili Spa features customizable treatments, perfect for couples.

A tropical cottage on a quiet beach. Sounds romantic, right? Especially if that cottage is located on the north shore of Maui adjacent to one of the island's most celebrated seafood restaurants. That's what you'll find at the Inn at Mama's Fish House, where the ultimate Maui honeymoon splurge is a Two-Bedroom Beachfront Cottage.

The dreamy room has just been renovated with contemporary Hawaiian decor and opens to a covered lanai with views of palm trees and a hammock for two backed by white sand and aqua sea. Other romantic options include the One-Bedroom Beachfront Suite or Garden Cottages. And the Inn's location is ideal for exploring Upcountry (one of the best things to do in Maui) and the historic towns of Makawao and Paia, or checking out the windsurfers on Hookipa Beach.

Sometimes location gives a resort its wow factor, and in the case of the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa it also creates an undeniably romantic vibe. This top hotel in Maui for couples has a retro vibe (it opened in 1963) and boasts the best location on world-famous Kaanapali Beach.

It's practically built into a dramatic black lava outcropping known as Black Rock and night after night it seduces guests with a mesmerizing sunset ritual: a solo diver leaps from atop the lava into the sea to honor the Hawaiian gods. Black Rock is also known for some of the best snorkeling in Maui.

Yes, the Sheraton is a classic, but its midcentury architecture and 508 rooms are newly renovated, and its 23 beachfront acres feature five restaurants and a 142-yard Lagoon Pool with a Mai Tai Bar that's the perfect spot to toast to the spectacular sunset, Hawaiian traditions and each other.

For couples who love the quiet intimacy of a bed-and-breakfast stay, this upscale, adults-only B&B set on a hill just outside the historic town of Lahaina—and only about 10-minutes' drive from popular Kaanapali Beach—is an appealing option, and one of the best places t stay in Maui for couples.

Ho'oilo House has just six rooms, each light-filled and airy and featuring polished wood floors and intricately handcrafted furniture from Bali. They also have dramatic bathrooms with indoor tubs and outdoor showers and access to a swimming pool with panoramic ocean views. A buffet breakfast featuring fresh island fruits and just-baked muffins, pastries and bread is included, and spa treatments can be booked for in-room or on your lanai.