Loved the Diamond Hawaii Resort and Spa! We stayed there (Sept 25-30) for my sister's wedding (which took place at the Four Seasons - about a 5 min drive) in an ocean view suite on the 2nd floor (Rm #163).
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Pros:
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- Price ($209/night)
- Complimentary valet and parking
- Quiet, beautiful location set on top of a hill
- Spacious condo (~900 sq.ft.) with kitchenette (mini fridge, hot water dispenser, stove, sink, complimentary tea) and balcony
- Japanese style bathroom (walk-in shower room with tub). This was convenient for rinsing shoes, snorkel gear, swim suit, etc..
- Sliding doors to separate bedroom from living room and doors to separate sink area and Japanese style toilet (another fun feature!) - great for privacy if you're sharing the room with friends
- Free broadband (can borrow a laptop from the front desk)
- Free use of the Japanese bathhouse spa (12pm-10pm). Never crowded. Had full use of their hot water spa and sauna. All the amenities are already in the spa (ie: towels, toiletries) so all you need to bring is your room key to access the spa. There are no attendants in the spa; only guests. We opted to keep our swimsuits on but everybody else tended to go naked.
- An extraordinary amount of towels provided for you in the room (in all sizes)
- Complimentary Neutrogena toiletries
- Japanese breakfast ($15) at Restaurant Taiko. Recommend the Grilled Fish (mackerel/salmon). Came with rice, miso soup, pickels, shredded turnips and hot tea. A tasty and light way to start your morning!
- Free shuttle service (can arrange at the front desk)
- Short drive to Makena's Landing (less than 15 min) which is the starting point for most kayaking tours
- Efficient cleaning staff (our room was always cleaned by the time we got back to the room)
- Friendly, helpful front desk/valet staff
- Close to the airport (30 min drive)
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Cons:
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- No HBO
- Pool looked a bit outdated
- Parking spaces were made more for compact cars (we drove a Dodge Avenger)
- A bit of a drive to get to the more "festive" areas of the island (Lahaina: 30-40 min)
- Need to call a dive shop to book water activities since there are no water activity operations located directly on the beach (such as in the Caribbean). Most activities start early (7am) since the waters get too choppy the later it gets. Recommend booking thru the Maui Dive Shop (8 locations throughout Maui). They booked us on the 2.5hr Turtle Reef Intro Kayak/Snorkel Tour (thru South
Pacific Kayak Tours) for $65. Had a great time (fun guide and all equipment was provided). Short drive from the hotel (about 15 min to Makena's Landing).
- Food was expensive (Wailea tended to be the pricier part of the island)
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Tips:
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- Go to the Maui Clothing Outlet in Kihei to purchase a swimsuit (all suits were almost 50% off regular retail prices).
- Buy your souvenirs from the General Store. Seem to have the lowest prices.
- Do a zipline tour. We booked ours through the Skyline Eco Adventures (Haleakala Skyline Tour). Awesome guides (Don/Jimmy) who were able to even get me (the person most nervous) to do all the lines! About an hour scenic drive from the Diamond Resort.
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Restaurant Picks
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- Kihei Cafe (Breakfast/Brunch, Local cuisine)
- Maalaea Waterfront Restaurant (ask for Mike to be your waiter)
- Restaurant Taiko (amazing Japanese breakfast)
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Conclusion
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Would most definitely stay at the Diamond Resort again. Nothing better after a long day of water activities than to relax in their hot Japanese bathhouse spa. A truly great value!
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Would I recommend this hotel to my best friend?
absolutely!
I recommend this hotel for:
Young singles, An amazing honeymoon, A romantic getaway, Girlfriend getaway, Older travelers, Families with young children, Families with teenagers, Tourists
I do not recommend this hotel for:
Great pool scene
I selected this hotel as a top choice for:
Other