Inside Montage Kapalua Bay: Where the Whole Family Can Splash Out

Remember the time before you had kids, when you could slink off to an island resort at a moment’s notice? A time when children’s menus, family pools and crib rentals didn’t figure in your vacation calculus, much less exist in your psyche? 

Neither do we. 

There’s a Hawaiian resort for every occasion, price point and vibe; but if you’re determined that everyone in your party enjoy the vacation equally—parents, kids, grandparents, friends—then Montage Kapalua Bay in Maui might be exactly what you’re looking for. 

Set on a relatively quiet patch of Lahaina coastline, about an hour’s drive from the Kahului Airport (OGG), the hotel eschews the packed-and-pulsing vibe of resort areas like Wailea for a quieter, more laid-back existence. Here, multi-gen families stroll around in clusters, while babymooning couples share veggie omelets and banana bread mini muffins down at Cane & Canoe restaurant. 

There are no jarring colors or kiddie-centric decorations because this place was designed for you, the adult, first and foremost. And Montage’s enormous residences and full suite of activities are the ultimate crowd-pleasers, no matter who’s tagging along. 

The resort was originally built as a Ritz-Carlton Club and Residences, and it still bears the hallmarks of its predecessor. Instead of rooms or suites, there are residences—spacious configurations with many of the creature comforts of home, including washers and dryers, wine fridges and kitchens with full-size appliances. Work with the concierge to preorder groceries, which will be ready and waiting when you arrive, so you can make your very particular toddler mac ‘n’ cheese at a moment’s notice. 

And there are plenty of ways to entertain the family, including the hotel’s five pools: three between the hotel and the ocean, plus ones at The Beach Club and the spa. Couples usually stick to the adults-only Serenity Pool, where they can enjoy the comfort of padded loungers without the threat of unexpected splashing. Families park it near two pools: one with so many twists, turns, coves and bridges it looks like a Chutes and Ladders board, and one with a wade-in section to the left and a beach shack with a full bar to the right. 

How better to watch your kids perform endless underwater somersaults than with a cold cocktail and an order of mahi-mahi tacos on the way?

Swing by Cliff House for light bites like fresh oysters and chips and dip—in addition to a glass of Veuve Clicquot.

Of course, you can also trade chlorine for salt water. The hotel sits on Kapalua Bay Beach, a crescent of sand stretching out toward Namalu Bay, where the local recreation outfitter, Aqualani, can hook you up with snorkeling gear, or lounge chairs and an umbrella. All you have to do is bring your Grab and Paddle breakfasts: Pick something easy (and preferably handheld) to eat on the sand, like an egg muffin sandwich or a burrito.

And if you’re itching to get off the property, use the resort’s ride-and-drive program with Cadillac to explore the island; or, have the complimentary house car bring you to the Plantation Course for an early-morning round of golf. For an adventure a little closer to the resort, look no farther than the 24,000 acres of open land across the way, where the concierge can coordinate zip lining, horseback riding or ATVs. If you have young kids, you can drop them at the children’s club, Paintbox, before hitting the dirt.

But at the end of the day, not much beats an itinerary of pool-hanging, brunching and spa-going, followed by time around the firepits with a nice glass of chardonnay in hand, and the knowledge that you can do it all again tomorrow. 

The Room

Accommodations across all three residence categories (Residences, Grand Residences and Signature Residences, in ascending order of prestige) are generously sized, with features that make them as comfortable as home. Think: a kitchen with full-size stainless-steel appliances, a dining table for six, a washer and dryer, and a spacious living room and lanai (a covered patio porch), each with plenty of seating.  

The baseline Residences, which flank the resort’s main building, have up to three bedrooms each. The king-size rooms feel more like their own wings, each with small entryways, en suite bathrooms and multiple closets, plus direct lanai access. You can choose between ocean and garden views and, for an extra charge, level up to a top-floor unit. The two other residence categories, Grand and Signature, have up to four bedrooms apiece, plus a few more bells and whistles—many offer expansive walk-out patios, plunge pools and direct ocean views. 

If you really want to ace your vacation, book Residence 5501, a three-bedroom Premier Ocean Grand Residence with a dining room that juts out toward the water, plus a massive deck with a full-size dining table, grill and plenty of places to plotz. It’s the ultimate chill pad.  

The Features

Spending a day at the spa? You should definitely book a signature Hawaiian Lomi Lomi massage in an outdoor hale.

Don’t miss: The signature Hawaiian Lomi Lomi massage at the spa—in an outdoor hale. You haven’t lived until you’ve had your rotator cuffs gently massaged while a cool island breeze sweeps over you.

Favorite features: The enormous lanais on the residences, all of which have a living room’s worth of furniture (claim the daybed).

Can’t stop thinking about: The sheer size and convenience of each residence, from the comfortable common areas to the outfitted kitchen and enormous closets—and, in turn, how perfect this resort would be for families who want to feel like they’re on vacation, but who need many of the conveniences of home for it to be a truly comfortable experience.

The Lowdown

Kick back and relax by any of the resort’s five pools. 

The highly specific reason you’d come here: Your in-laws have been begging you to take a multi-gen vacation, and this one checks every box. No cutesy kid stuff, not too flashy, plenty of room for everyone to spread out, a full kitchen where you can stock your tot’s favorite snacks and make buttered pasta at a moment’s notice—it’s all there.

What’s on the speakers? Hawaiian classics from Anuhea, Kimié Miner and Israel Kamakawiwoʻole in the lobby; more contemporary tunes at The Hideaway.

What are people drinking? Well-mixed Maui Tais (a pineapple- and orange-flecked take on the classic mai tai) and draft pulls from a local brewing company.

Are guests staying in our going out? Staying in, mostly. But they might coordinate with the hotel to find a local sitter to watch the kids so they can stroll across Kapalua Bay Beach to Merriman’s, an upscale-casual, collared-shirt-and-shorts restaurant, for a fancy dinner. For something a little more exciting on-property, the resort’s private dining chef can lead a cooking class or curate a multicourse meal in any residence.

The celebrity you’d see here: You have no idea what his name is, but that was definitely a professional hockey player who ambled past you at the pool.

Take in the views from your perch at Cliff House.

Fast Facts

• Number of rooms: 70
• Number of pools: 5
• Fitness center? Yes
• Spa? Yes
• Salon? Yes
• Number of bars/restaurants: 5
• 24-hour room service? Yes
• Childcare and kids club? Yes