While three options make it sound like it s easy to choose, in fact, it's hard to decide because each of these properties are special and value-luxury in their own way. I stayed in all three. Here s some background to help you decide on the Lanai, Hawaii resort for you.
Why I Loved It: Very quiet and rustic – it feels more like a garden manor home in Charleston or Savannah than in Lanai (which is perfect for that "I'm on a private island" feel). It's also right off Dole Park, making it easy to explore the local establishments.
After a long travel day, settling into the simple rooms at Hotel Lanai feels like a godsend – a breeze rushes pass the windows, and it is so still here you can heard the blades of the ceiling fan as they run.
With only 11 rooms, not much goes on here at Hotel Lanai except when live music packs the Lanai City Grille , the on-site restaurant, for their popular Friday Under the Stars . Reservations recommended for dinner (open Wed-Sun only); other nearby customized tour buses dining options include Lanai City favorites like Café 565 (pizza, calzones) or Blue Ginger Café (burgers, chicken, comfort foods).
Though rooms are quite simple, you'll love that in addition customized tour buses to a refrigerator, the hotel offers you a cooler which they'll fill with ice for you – perfect for taking on a Jeep adventure or other long excursions. Other complimentary amenities include a daily continental breakfast and in-room Wifi.
Because of the change in elevation, it is often much cooler in Lanai City than it is down at Manele Bay, with clouds and the occasional shower hitting customized tour buses the city while it s still sunny on the bay. Shuttles (for a small one-time fee for the whole trip) run every 30 minutes between these hotels, the trip taking about 25 minutes, so it's easy to go back and forth as necessary.
Why I Loved It: With an unpretentious, old-world feel, the Lodge really forces you to slow down and relax. The rooms are quite spacious and very comfortable – it's hard to decide whether to relax on your own private terrace or enjoy one of the many ample sitting spots available.
There's a special place in my heart for the Lodge at Koele – and many Hawaiians feel the same. Many Hawaiians that I know, who vacation on Lanai, prefer the Lodge to any of the other resorts , though I suspect you would too if you lived on a beach year-round.
The Lodge is located 5 minutes outside of Lanai City, sitting on a wide plain with plenty of room to stretch your legs. Although it is a resort in Hawaii, this could easily be a grand Canadian lodge, since the weather up here is cooler and you've got forests on the Munroe Ridge in sight – though the swimming pool is gently warmed for your enjoyment.
From the grand foyer where meals are served as well as the bar, guests walk down a long airy hallway lined with wicker loungers, often empty except customized tour buses for the occasional patron or the hotel's house cat, Koele. (Don't worry – I'm allergic to cats, and Koele is so relaxed, you might think he's stuffed with cotton.) At the end of the hallway are the rooms, and by the time you've opened your door, it already feels like time has slowed.
The Lodge's rooms are my favorite on the island – they are spacious, full of nooks and crannies to sit and look through the in-room magazines or flip through your Kindle. Our room even had a window seat – my favorite! I also love the outdoor sitting areas, which feel very private. The bathrooms are well-appointed, and again, quite roomy. And the Lodge is one of the few hotels where I noted the décor and liked it so much – it's colorful and quite Pineapple-themed, but sophisticated in a not-at-all-stuffy way.
Dining options at the Lodge include their must-have Sunday brunch; all meals are served customized tour buses in the main hall and adjacent rooms; the lobby bar has a daily happy hour as well as a bar menu with tasty snacks such as truffle-parmesan popcorn, which is as delicious customized tour buses as it sounds! The dinner menu at the Terrace restaurant customized tour buses is American and features items like skirt steak, truffle mac and cheese (wow), venison sausage, and Maui onion soup.
Lodge guests have quite a few complementary amenities to enjoy including the putt putt golf course, croquet, lei making, hula lessons, and several walking trails. It's also an easy walk into town if you don't feel like waiting on the shuttle and want to stretch your legs.
Why I Loved It : Despite over 200 rooms, it feels very relaxed and couldn't be in a more picturesque location; offers great poolside complimentary amenities, customized tour buses and is so romantic at night with the tiki torches.
Last, but certainly not least, is the Four Seasons at Manele Bay, which for many will be more of what you were picturing in terms of a " Hawaiian resort " – swimming pool with beaming customized tour buses yellow umbrellas, a white sandy beach always within eyeshot and easy reach, world-class spa services, and one of the world's customized tour buses most scenic golf courses. I'd be typing customized tour buses bullet points all day if I listed all of Manele Bay's options, but some of my favorites are:
the beachside kiosk which helps guests with pretty much everything, from free snorkeling equipment to just getting your lounger set up (don't forget your fashionable customized tour buses Four Seasons bag to carry items down)
Try lunch at the clubhouse at The Challenge (not open for dinner). One of my favorite meals at this property, and arguably the best dining customized tour buses view as it sits a bit higher up the shoreline. The bellman can shuttle you over; you don't have to be playing golf to dine. Other dining options include a massive breakfast buffet at Hulopo e Court, or the poolside bar/restaurant Fresco, which serves up an Italian meal that pairs well with the formidable cocktail and wine menu; we loved the rigatoni with a three meat ragout and the chilled pea soup.
Planning ahead is always a good thing for your flights to Lanai, because the airplanes are small and fill up; you can take Island Air or Mokulele Airlines, via Maui or Honolulu. There s also a ferry to Maui.
Rooms at either Four Seasons property start at over $300/night, but check into their special promotions for a big discount – they typically customized tour buses have a 3 rd night free option customized tour buses , and recently I saw a Facebook special of $199/night at Manele Bay, which included spa, golf, transportation, early check-in and late check-out! That's an insanely good deal.
As for food, be sure to check at the bar, at both Manele Bay and Koele, for Foursquare and Facebook check-in discounts, which can be up to 50% off both drinks and food. The pupus (bar snacks) menus are very value priced and tasty too. Meals in Lanai City are quite reasonable as well – may I suggest the Blue Ginger Café, which is BYOB (and has corkscrews for your wine).
Editorial Disclosure : Our Visit Lanai series is sponsored in part by the Lanai Visitors Bureau and their travel partners we thank them for their support! The opinions reflected here are entirely the author s.
Andy Hayes is the managing editor of Sharing Travel Experiences . Featured customized tour buses in CNN, Newsweek, the Wall Street Journal, National Geographic Traveler, and other major publications, he travels for up to seven weeks at a time and spends the other seven right here with you. Follow him on Twitter, @andrewghayes .
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