Luxury Details at Hawaii's 'White Lotus' Hotel, the Four Seasons Maui

Oct 31, 2023

When I booked a room at the Four Seasons Maui at Wailea, aka the "real" White Lotus, I knew I'd be in for a luxurious stay.

I'd stayed at one other five-star resort before, so I thought I knew what to expect. But it wasn't a Four Seasons, and it wasn't this Four Seasons.

After checking into the famous hotel — where the first season of Mike White's hit HBO show was filmed — I found a whole other echelon of luxury and comfort, where every detail seemed to be taken care of and guests' needs were anticipated before they could even think of having them.

From a poolside massage menu to a built-in music dial in the bathroom (yes, really), these details made me feel like Tanya McQuoid (Jennifer Coolidge).

Editor's note: Insider received a discounted media rate for the one-night stay.

Pulling up to the hotel in a candy apple-red Mustang, my husband and I realized our rental wasn't like the sleek sports cars outside the entrance.

And unlike the previous resort we'd stayed at in Oahu (a less extravagant, but still very nice, Marriott), we looked for a self-parking area but unsurprisingly couldn't find one. So, we pulled up to the hotel entrance for the valet service.

Dropping the keys off with a friendly valet, I knew we wouldn't be getting back into our car until after we'd be checking out. I'd done some homework on the resort, and learned that we'd have everything we could need and — like the characters in "The White Lotus" — would probably never leave until we had to.

As we got out of the car, hotel staff members greeted us with leis. I was given a beautiful lei made of purple orchids, and my husband was given one made out of beads. It reminded me of the opening of the show, except we didn't rock up on a boat like the "White Lotus" characters. Later, when I asked the hotel's director of marketing, Mark Simon, about this on a tour of the property, he told me those scenes were filmed elsewhere and that motorized boats aren't permitted in the bay.

While it wasn't a boat arrival, the greeting still made me feel like a celebrity.

I noticed the detail in "The White Lotus," which swapped out the Four Seasons branding for the name of the fictional resort.

I felt a little embarrassed posing for a photo — I'd made my husband Jeff my designated Instagram boyfriend for the trip — but I'm sure Rachel Patton (Alexandra Daddario) got her husband Shane (Jake Lacy) to take the exact same pictures during their stay. And things worked out fine for them.

Wanting to soak up every minute at the Four Seasons, we arrived early at around 8:30 a.m. — we also had a booking on an outrigger canoe through the hotel, which departed at 9 a.m., so we needed to make it in time for that.

Our room wasn't quite ready yet, so the staff member assisting us gave us a key card for the Aloha Suite and suggested we get changed there for our outrigger experience.

On our way, we stopped by a drinks station by the check-in desk. There was watermelon-mint water and a popular lemon drink — made of lemon juice, simple syrup, water, and ginger — on tap. We ended up returning for refills of the lemon drink throughout our stay.

Inside the Aloha Suite, we realized it wasn't just a place to change. It was spacious, with a lounge area with sofas, a TV, free refreshments, and lockers, which I appreciated so I could stash a few of our belongings.

There were also huge shower rooms and a bathroom. In the men's shower area, there were complimentary shaving kits (I know this because Jeff picked one up) and a built-in dial in the wall that could change the genre and volume of the music playing. When we got into our room later, we were excited to find one in our bathroom as well!

Walking in, there was a small entryway with a closet and a compact bar area with a Nespresso coffee maker, kettle, mugs, and water glasses. There was also a mini fridge, which came in handy when we brought back leftovers from dinner.

The entryway led to a large bathroom (more on that later), and wound around to an open-plan bedroom and lounge area with decor that felt fresh and luxurious. Art on the walls accentuated the space and gave it a high-end feel.

Then, leading out from the lounge area, there was the balcony, or the lanai. It was cozy and angled to face out towards the ocean, overlooking a generous slice of the Wailea bay and the majestic West Maui Mountains.

When I tell you I could live quite happily in the bathroom of room 615 at the Four Seasons Maui at Wailea, I'm not exaggerating.

I walked into the bathroom and actually squealed with excitement.

It was huge! There was a vanity with two sinks and LED mirrors perfect for doing makeup, and a separate counter without a sink that stayed dry, where I ended up keeping my jewelry, the hotel's hairdryer, and my phone and smart watch on charge.

Next to a deep bathtub, there was a massive shower with sleek tiles and a gigantic showerhead.

As for the toilet, that was tucked away in a mini "room" of its own within the bathroom and had a phone next to it just in case you felt like making a call.

But perhaps the best part of the bathroom was the built-in music dial next to the light switches (of which there were, of course, multiple, including dimmer settings). It was exactly like the music dial from the Aloha Suite, and options ranged from Hawaiian music to R&B, and classic rock to alternative.

Doing my makeup to a soundtrack made me feel like a movie star.

In an effort to pack lightly for our one-night stay, I left my shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and moisturizer at our Airbnb, which we'd be returning to the following day; I knew I could count on a five-star hotel to deliver with its toiletries.

The spa-like products — branded as Lōkahi — looked and felt luxurious, and had a "ruby guava" scent. There was also a cucumber-and-aloe after-sun which helped me cool off after another day in the sun.

While the products smelled wonderful, and made even washing my hands feel fancy, I was most impressed by the shampoo and conditioner.

While getting ready for a nice dinner, I blow-dried my hair while running my fingers through it and chastised myself for forgetting to bring my hair tools or products. Usually, drying my hair this way results in a somewhat frizzy mess, but when I looked in the mirror it somehow looked like I'd recently gotten out of a hair appointment. I'm not sure what was in this shampoo and conditioner, but after learning they're exclusive to the hotel, I'm dying to go back just to pick some up.

As any overpacker will tell you, packing a beach bag is no easy feat. But if you're a guest at the hotel, I learned, you don't need to bring one.

Next to the slippers and robes in the closet of our room, I was surprised to find a navy beach tote. At first, I thought it might be for use only if you bought it, but looking at the tag on the bag, I learned it was there for guests to borrow during their stay. If you did want to purchase it, of course, you could; according to the label, a new bag was available to buy from the resort for $175, or you could buy that very tote at a slight discount, for $150.

I didn't hesitate to trade in my soggy, hemp tote bag for this shiny new one and wound up using it to carry my poolside belongings. I didn't want to return it at the end of my stay, and considered buying it as a souvenir, but it's a little more than I'd usually pay for a beach bag and I definitely didn't have room in my luggage.

Shortly after we got into the room, a staff member knocked on the door bearing a freshly cut pineapple, presented in a pineapple shell, as well as pineapple juice in a pineapple-shaped carafe.

Pineapples are everywhere in Hawaii, so it felt like a fitting welcome to the hotel. And it was a delightful snack to enjoy on the balcony with an ocean view.

The tablet in our room was a nice touch, and had everything from a resort map to menus for the onsite restaurants Ferraro's Bar e Ristorante, DUO Steak & Seafood, and Wolfgang Puck's Spago.

You could also use the tablet to book massages, and even a shave (which ran from $90 to $120).

We didn't end up using the tablet much, since we were only there for a night and wanted to explore the resort, but had we stayed longer I'd have definitely ordered in some breakfast.

I haven't stayed at a hotel that provided reusable water bottles before, and appreciated the gesture. The bottles — made of single-wall, BPA-free aluminum — also looked pretty sleek, branded with the Four Seasons logo and they even had a space to write your name with a provided marker. (I also didn't see any plastic bottles of water throughout the resort.)

I brought a reusable water bottle with me for the rest of our trip to Hawaii, and reluctantly left it at our Airbnb, since my bag with my stuff for the Four Seasons stay was already bursting. I topped up my bottle at water stations around the resort, then used the bottle on the rest of my trip and at home since getting back.

There were also to-go coffee cups provided, which I appreciated since I woke up early to get a spot at the Serenity Pool. It was nice to have caffeine within easy reach at 6 a.m. before heading out, and made it only slightly easier to leave our room so early.

The infinity pool — featured prominently in "The White Lotus" — has a jaw-dropping view of the Pacific Ocean and West Maui Mountains that looks like it's unspooling right over the pool's edge.

It's just as beautiful in reality, and is an easy place to post up for the day. That is, if you're willing to splurge on a cabana starting at $1,250, or get there before it opens at 7 a.m. to snag a spot.

I did the latter, joining 11 people in line for the pool at 6:30 a.m. Shortly after I joined, the line seemed to grow.

Towels were already on our loungers when we got to them, and later that morning we were given a large, insulated tumbler of water and glasses, which was appreciated. If that wasn't enough, there was infused water on tap at stations dotted around the pool area, which also included reef-friendly sunscreen dispensers (with options for SPF 30 and SPF 50).

Staff members brought around snacks and refreshments throughout the day, including a cookie and wellness shot. And later, at 10 a.m. the swim-up bar opened, where we ordered a couple of $20 cocktails.

Later, a staff member slipped me a "poolside spa tapas" menu offering massages starting from $130, as well as gold collagen mask enhancements starting at $25. There were even treatments for kids starting from $40.

As a "White Lotus" and Jennifer Coolidge fan, I couldn't go to the hotel and not treat myself to a spa treatment.

I opted for a 50-minute Lomi Mohala massage in a massage hale, or hut, with an ocean view. It was windy that day, so the masseuse had put up a screen. Still, the view was gorgeous. I'm surprised they never showed a treatment inside a hale on the show — though one is used as a rendezvous spot for the Mossbachers' guest Paula (Brittany O'Grady) and Kai (Kekoa Kekumano), the hotel staff member she has a fling with.

The treatment I had, according to the spa description, "melts away tension with rhythmic forearm strokes, allowing you to experience the expansive feeling of mohala (heart opening)," and ended with a Hawaiian turmeric foot scrub. For an extra bit of glamour, and because I knew Tanya would, I added a gold collagen undereye mask to the service.

It was heaven. The sound of the waves and the scent of lavender oil almost put me to sleep, and I felt like a million bucks walking out of the spa.

When I got out of the spa, I found Jeff playing pool in the games room.

Of course, that wasn't the only recreational area at the resort.

We also walked by a gym, and signs advertising pickleball and tennis courts — it turned out they were just steps from our room on the sixth floor — and, by the Aloha Suite, we saw a TopGolf suite available to guests who wish to practice their swing by appointment.

I learned we could ask to have a Peloton bike delivered to our room if we wanted, too. I wasn't about to squeeze in a spin session on a one-night stay, but if it were longer, I would've jumped on the offer.

We had lunch at Ferraro's — where the characters on "The White Lotus" are seen eating dinner — at a table with a breathtaking ocean view.

We wanted to keep it light, so we opted for salads; I got a half portion of the seafood Cobb salad, and Jeff got a chicken Caesar, and we both ordered guava lemonades, which were refreshing and beautifully presented with an orchid garnish.

Both were delicious, but I thought the seafood Cobb had the edge. The shrimp and seared ahi tuna were tender and paired nicely with the crisp romaine and creamy avocado, while the zingy lobster salad complemented the sweet Maui onions and bright cherry tomatoes. The hard-boiled egg was a little on the runny side for me, but it went well with the crunchy bacon bits dotting the dish.

With a media rate, the total for lunch worked out to around $43.43.

We went to DUO Steak & Seafood for dinner, and ate like royalty. With a media rate, we spent $221.42.

We ordered a couple of cocktails; Jeff went for a Tom Collins and, at our waiter's recommendation, I tried a Rose Gold, made with vodka, St-Germain, lemon, sparkling rosé, rose petal, and actual gold leaf. He promised it would be "bougie" and it delivered. It was the epitome of Instagrammable and had a crisp flavor with floral notes.

To start, we had pillowy milk truffle bread and scallops with an edamame purée, garbanzo beans, and carrots, followed by one of the best steaks I've ever eaten and a flavorful lobster curry. Then, for dessert, the chocolate lava cake — which was as decadent as it sounds — arrived along with a surprise coconut cake and mini brownie for my birthday (which was the day before). The four-tiered, flower-topped cake tasted as good as it looked, with an airy sponge and light-as-a-feather cream with just the right amount of coconut flavor. It was one of the best things we ate on the trip, and we had leftovers before our flight home.

But the cake wasn't the only star of the night: We spotted Adam Sandler just a few tables over from us. Our waiter told me celebrities frequently visit, and said the hotel is popular with NBA players during the off-season. A couple we met during our stay told us they saw Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson at the hotel, too.

DUO was also the daily hangout for the cast of "The White Lotus," who knocked back spicy margaritas and partied at the restaurant while the others were closed during the pandemic, our waiter told me. He said the cast was incredibly friendly, and that he still has Jennifer Coolidge's number in his phone.

I'd heard the breakfast buffet at the Four Seasons was something of an event itself, and that people who weren't even staying at the hotel would pay $55 a pop to experience it themselves.

Although it cost a bit more than I'd usually spend on breakfast — with a media rate, our total was $68.29 — there were so many options that I couldn't see myself getting bored of the buffet if I were staying here for longer than a day. And there was an a la carte menu that I could have ordered from if I didn't want to eat a lot.

I'd say it's worth it if you come with an appetite. The options felt endless, with a huge selection of fruit, pastries, eggs, breakfast meat, waffles, French toast, pancakes, yogurt, granola, and even a DIY açai bowl station. There was also a coffee, juice, and smoothie bar.

I ate well at breakfast and took four dishes to the table to try everything; I noticed, between dishes, that a waiter had placed covers over the hot food we'd left sitting there to keep it warm, which was a nice touch.

I also picked up a printed "Times Fax" — published in coordination with The New York Times — to catch up on the news. It even had the Saturday crossword, which tortured us for the rest of the day.

It felt like there was no detail left unnoticed during our stay, and a lot of the action seemed to be happening behind the scenes.

While the resort itself was stunning, it was really the people working there who made it a great place to stay.

When we checked in, an attentive staff member noticed I was hunched over my luggage before my room was ready to get some stuff out. He immediately came over and lifted up the suitcase onto a nearby surface so I didn't have to bend over to get out what I needed.

And when we entered our room for the evening, we found our leis had been arranged in hearts and there were two chocolate squares on a bedside table.

After checkout, as I stepped (reluctantly) back into our rental car, I thanked our valet and he smiled and told me I didn't look like I was ready to leave yet. The truth is, I wasn't.

Correction: June 3, 2023 — An earlier version of this story misstated the total amount for lunch with a media rate; the total with a media rate was around $43.43, not $86.83.

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