What’s better than a beachfront all-suite luxury hotel in Maui? That would be a beachfront all-suite luxury hotel in Maui that’s offering a 50 percent discount.

That description currently fits both The Fairmont Kea Lani resort and The Whaler on Kaanapali Beach. Both are undergoing renovations, and both have ‘Pardon our Dust’ offers.

The Fairmont Kea Lani

In fact, The Fairmont Kea Lani has a whole bunch of renovation packages. There’s a basic ‘Renovation with Aloha’ package which includes accommodations in a 1-bedroom luxury suite or a villa, with rates from $219 per night.

The $219 rate is a far cry from their usual $439 per night. Valid for stays until Dec 16, 2011. Then there’s also a ‘Renovation with Aloha Breakfast’ package and a ‘Renovation with Aloha Golf’ package too.

Apart from the spectacular Polo Beach and the beach-front suites and villas, The Fairmont Kea Lani offers complimentary transportation service to the adjacent Wailea Golf Club, tennis courts and shops at the Wailea Shopping Center.

Wailea Golf Course & Island Cabana at The Fairmont Kea Lani

The resort has three pools, two of which are connected by a 140-ft waterslide and have neat places to hang out like an island cabana in the middle of the pool. Then there’s the famous Spa Kea Lani and a 24-hour fitness center, a bakery and a deli and four other restaurants including the famed Ko.

Guests get complimentary self-parking, don’t have to pay a resort fee, and those with kids under 5 can save on meals with the ‘Kids Eat Free’ program.

As for the Whaler on Kaanapali Beach, their construction special includes accommodations in a 640 sq ft studio suite at a nightly rate of $168, which is a big discount on the standard $300 rate for this suite. Two night minimum stay required, and the package is valid from now until Dec 21, 2011.

Oh, and you also get a free pineapple and free access to the resort’s DVD collection. The Whaler on Kaanapali Beach, located minutes from Lahaina and directly across from two championship golf courses, offers private access to the shops and restaurants at Whalers Village.

Their studio and 1 & 2 bedroom suites include fully-equipped kitchens and private lanais. You get free in-room high speed internet, and there’s a children’s program called “Camp Kaanapali” nearby that is open to all guests staying at the hotel.

Photos – Fairmont Hotels & Resorts

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The Westin Maui Resort and Spa offers four romantic ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day or any special occasion in your life. Which will you chose for your romantic trip?

View of the beach from the Westin Maui Resort & Spa

1. Romantic Spa

Throughout the month of February, the resort’s Heavenly Spa is presenting a 50-minute Chocolate Massage using a specialty chocolate oil with a choice of essences – chocolate mint, chocolate cake or chocolate cherry. Yet another delectable spa choice includes the Chocolate Covered Strawberry Pedicure with a chocolate foot soak, followed by a sweet strawberry scrub, a marshmallow mask for the feet and calves, then moisturizing with vanilla foot and calf massage and finishing with perfect polish.

Raise your hand if you think your husband/partner-of-the-male-persuasion would go for a marshmallow mask on his feet and calves. Snicker. But I would definitely be happy, and dear husband knows that rule #1 is to make me happy.

You can also treat your beloved with the Romance Me Package which includes 50-minute couples chocolate massage and 50-minute heavenly couples facial for two for only $470 (regularly price $530). The full-service spa also offers year-round couple’s spa services such as a 50-minute Heavenly Massage for two within the pampering comforts of its couple’s spa room, followed by a private whirlpool bath for two.

Weddings at the Westin Maui Resort & Spa

2. Romantic I Do’s

Now that we have been married for a while, my husband and I talk about what we would have done differently with our wedding. Oh sure, we had a great time planning and experiencing our wedding day, but I think we both agree that if we were to get married now, we would do it on the beach in Hawaii.

Fortunately, Westin Maui Resort and Spa offers a package for just this kind of romantic voyage. The Celebrations of Aloha Center can help any couple plan the Hawaiian wedding of their dreams, from coordinating the location and photographer, to handling the reception details. I think the only thing they probably cannot do is guarantee an award winning sunset. But I bet you they would try!

Preset wedding packages start at $1675, with beautiful extras to make your day even more special. The Westin also offers a bridal registry and can plan an extravagant wedding reception to boot.

3. Romantic adventure

Some couples thrive on romantic dinners and massages; others need to feel the thrill of excitement to get their heart racing. The Westin Maui Resort and Spa has a special thoroughly enjoy the “Rip It & Relax It” package which includes a surf lesson packed with water action along with a 50-minute massage for the perfect Hawaiian experience.

In addition to surf lessons, Island Style Adventures also offers stand-up paddle lessons and kayaking off the famed Ka’anapali Beach and mere steps away from the resort. We tried stand-up paddle on our last trip to Hawaii, and around Black Rock, you can usually spot turtles!

Other fun activities offered for couples include Aqua Poker at the Adults-Only Pool situated at the uppermost level of the resort’s 87,000 square-foot aquatic playground. Relax amidst pampering comfort in cabana chairs designed for two along Ka’anapali Beach or head out for a spectacular sunset cruise on a catamaran sail that docks right up the beach facing the resort. Oh, and did I mention that the Westin has an awesome water slide. So awesome.

4. Romantic honeymoon

If the wedding is behind you, and you are embarking on your honeymoon, the Westin Maui Resort and Spa is a wonderful destination to relax and unwind after the excitement surrounding your special day. Located right on the strand in Ka’anapali, the Westin is ideally situated to enjoy all that West Maui has to offer.

An idyllic renewal awaits couples with the Honeymoon Package offering Westin-inspired accommodations for five nights, champagne and strawberries upon arrival, Hawaiian lei greeting, daily breakfast for two at ‘Ono Bar & Grill and $250 spa or resort credit. It is the perfect dream paradise for couples to begin their new lives together!

Related post: Top Ten Best Food and Drink in Maui

Photos courtesy of Westin Maui Resort and Spa. Visit westinmaui.com for more details on all these romantic offers including pricing.

From eco-learning to surfing lessons and culinary tips, Fairmont is offering a collection of experiential packages to help guests learn something useful and acquire new skills while on vacation. Listed below are a few interesting ones.

Fairmont Washington D.C.

Fairmont Washington D.C. – Want to learn how to get legislation passed thru Congress? Stay at the Fairmont Washington D.C. and learn from a registered lobbyist. Don’t forget to check out  the three beehives on the roof, whose busybees keep the hotel and its restaurant well stocked with honey.

Fairmont Le Chateâu Frontenac (Quebec City) – Parlez-vous français? If not, you can learn to speak French from a local linguist at the Fairmont Le Chateâu Frontenac. 3 hours/day of private tuition, and the rest of your time is free for guided city tours and a tour of the historic Chateau.

Fairmont Chateau Whistler

Fairmont Chateau Whistler – Maybe you won’t become an Olympic gold medalist, but you sure will get over your fear and learn to enjoy the slopes at Whistler. Package includes a day and a half of guided lessons and one-on-one coaching with World Cup Ski Champion Lauralee Bowie and her team of qualified instructors.

Fairmont Kea Lani (Maui) – Guests choose to participate in one of five eco-learning activities: helping preserve Haleakala National Park while learning about the volcano, maintaining an oceanside trail, learning about organic farming in a rainforest, removing invasive species near some of Maui’s remaining sand dunes, or helping to preserve Hawaii’s archeological sites by planting native species.

To see the full list of Fairmont’s Apprentice Trips, visit www.fairmont.com/promotions/apprenticetrips.

Photos courtesy Fairmont Hotels & Resorts

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As hotel obsessives (yes, like me) know, the Ritz-Carlton is the gold standard for service. Executives and sales departments from other industries study them to learn how to treat their most valued clients. And guests of the Ritz-Carlton consistently rave about the attention to detail and care they enjoy while staying at the properties.

The Ritz-Carlton San Francisco, CA

Seriously, it’s real. For a former job, we’d put our (ridiculously rich) Board of Directors up in the San Francisco Ritz-Carlton, on Nob Hill — they demanded to stay there. I’d go running up there to do whatever gofer stuff they needed, and even then, when I was a totally junior peon, every single staff person was the picture of friendly solicitousness. They greet you at the door with a smile, everything is ready for you in a nanosecond, and if you have to wait someone brings you chilled water. On a silver tray. It’s delightful.

Yes, special tuxedo chocolate strawberries. Note the silver tray!

Like so many wonderful things in life, you have to experience it to really understand it, and it can be a bit pricey — a luxury in the most traditional sense.

Before you sigh in wishful yearning, and decide you’ll never know, check this out: This summer the Ritz-Carlton is placing that luxury (a little more) within reach with special value packages.

Not a sale, not a discount, an added value package.

A room at the SF Ritz-Carlton. Check out the view!

I’m especially impressed by the “Peace of Mind” package, which is all about relaxing and creating memories, in gorgeous locations like San Francisco (of course!), Maui, Key Biscayne, the Virgin Islands, Europe and the Middle East. The package includes:

• deluxe room accommodations
• full American breakfast for two served in the restaurant (and their restaurants are always fabulous)
• daily internet access and local phone calls
• overnight parking
• Ritz Kids special activities program for two kids
• three nights for the price of two; five nights for the price of three; and a week for the price of only four nights

Did you see that last bullet? The one in bold? A week for the price of four nights? You can do this! Make your reservations now!

This package is only available through September 30, 2009 and the rate will depend on which location. Visit the “One Vacation” page of the Ritz-Carlton site to get all the details and check availability. Then prepare to experience the good life!