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Travel + Leisure recently came out with their World’s Best Awards for 2022, and among the picks are their 20 Best Resorts in Hawaii. We sorted through their choices to look at rates and how taxes and hidden fees add to your nightly rate. Hidden fees can be those gotcha items at the end that include resort fees and more.
For this non-scientific study, we checked the lowest room rates for dates off-season (September 14-21). And we chose the lowest price available on each hotel’s website. Taxes were estimated at 20%, which is slightly above actual, which you can read all about in Hawaii hotel taxes are the highest in the U.S. Below are what you’ll find, and some of it was surprising to us.
Taxes and resort fees ranged from approximately 20% to 50% of the total Hawaii hotel bill.
Some takeaways, such as this were rather surprising. In addition, it’s interesting to see that, no matter how high-end and expensive, some hotels are forgoing resort fees, which is an acknowledgment of just how unpopular “hidden fees are.” Others are choosing to wrap the parking and the resort fee together. There were some relatively low-priced (for Hawaii) surprises too among the top picks, although some of those had among the highest ancillary fees. You’ll note too that the higher the nightly room rate, the less impactful the taxes and fees are.
Beat of Hawaii is on the road around Hawaii.
We will try staying at some of these resorts over the next couple of months. The hotels do not know that we will be coming or writing about them, and we’ll pay normally, just as you would. Stay tuned for that.
1. Hotel Wailea, Maui. T+L (T+L Score 94.86)
24% additional taxes and fees estimated.
$1,199/nightly, plus $40/combined parking and resort fee.
Website: hotelwailea.com
$1,487/est. daily total for 2 including all taxes/fees.
2. Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani, Oahu (T+L score 94.59)
32% additional taxes and fees estimated.
$397/nightly, plus $40/combined parking and resort fee.
Website: halepuna.com
$524/est. daily total for 2 including all taxes/fees.
3. Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, Maui (T+L Score 94.20)
23% additional taxes and fees estimated.
$1,620/nightly, no resort fee, $40/parking fee.
Website: fourseasons.com
$1,992/est. daily total for 2 including all taxes/fees.
4. Prince Waikiki, Oahu (T&L Score 93.9)
48% additional taxes and fees estimated.
$286/nightly, plus $37/resort fee and $30/parking fee.
Website: princewaikiki.com
$424/est. daily total for 2 including all taxes/fees.
5. Montage Kapalua Bay, Maui (T+L Score: 93.38)
28% additional taxes and fees estimated.
$1,441/nightly, plus $65/resort fee and $35/parking fee.
Website: montagehotels.com
$1,849/est. daily total for 2 including all taxes/fees.
6. Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection, Island of Hawaii (T+L Score 93.18)
31% additional taxes and fees estimated.
$871/nightly, plus $40/resort fee and $40/parking fee.
Website: aubergeresorts.com
$1,141/est. daily total for 2 including all taxes/fees.
7. Koa Kea Hotel & Resort at Po’ipu Beach, Kauai (T+L Score 92.95)
32% additional taxes and fees estimated.
$699/nightly, plus $45/resort fee and $25/parking fee.
Website: meritagecollection.com
$923/est. daily total for 2 including all taxes/fees.
8. The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach, Oahu (T+L Score 92.87)
29% additional taxes and fees estimated.
$519/nightly, no resort fee, plus $40/parking fee.
Website: ritzcarlton.com
$671/est. daily total for 2 including all taxes/fees.
9. Halekulani, Oahu (T+L Score 92.72)
27% additional taxes and fees estimated.
$705/nightly, no resort fee, plus $40/parking fee.
Website: halekulani.com
$894/est. daily total for 2 including all taxes/fees.
10. Four Seasons Resort Lanai, Lanai (T+L Score 92.68)
20% additional taxes and fees estimated.
$1,319/nightly, no resort or parking fees.
Website:fourseasons.com
$1,583/est. daily total for 2 including all taxes/fees.
11. Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii, Island of Hawaii (T+L Score 92.56)
31% additional taxes and fees estimated.
$731/nightly, plus $40/resort fee and $25/parking fee.
Website: fairmont.com
$955/est. daily total for 2 including all taxes/fees.
12. Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, Island of Hawaii (T+L Score 92.44)
24% additional taxes and fees estimated.
$1,651/nightly, no resort fee, plus $45/parking fee.
Website: fourseasons.com
$2,039/est. daily total for 2 including all taxes/fees.
13. Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort, Oahu (T+L Score 92.38)
46% additional taxes and fees estimated.
$341/nightly, plus $35/resort fee and $40/parking fee.
Website: outriggerreef.com
$499/est. daily total for 2 including all taxes/fees.
14. The Kahala Hotel & Resort, Oahu (T+L Score 91.38)
28% additional taxes and fees estimated.
$595/nightly, no resort fee, plus $40/parking fee.
Website: kahalaresort.com
$762/est. daily total for 2 including all taxes/fees.
15. Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Autograph Collection, Island of Hawaii (T+L Score 91.29)
25% additional taxes and fees estimated.
$970/nightly, no resort fee, plus $40/parking fee.
Website: maunakearesort.com
$1,212/est. daily total for 2 including all taxes/fees.
16. Hanalei Colony Resort, Kauai (T+L Score 91.06)
28% additional taxes and fees estimated.
$523/nightly, plus $35/resort fee and no parking fee.
Website: hcr.com
$670/est. daily total for 2 including all taxes/fees.
17. Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa, Kauai (T+L Score 90.86)
27% additional taxes and fees estimated.
$1,179/nightly, plus $35/resort fee and $30/parking fee.
Website: hyatt.com
$1,493/est. daily total for 2 including all taxes/fees.
18. Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort, Maui (T+L Score 90.84)
30% additional taxes and fees estimated.
$1,069/nightly, plus $48/resort fee and $45/parking fee.
Website: hyatt.com
$1,394/est. daily total for 2 including all taxes/fees.
19. The Laylow, Autograph Collection, Oahu (T+L Score 90.73)
50% additional taxes and fees estimated.
$271/nightly, plus $29/resort fee and $39/parking fee (unconfirmed).
Website: laylowwaikiki.com
$407/est. daily total for 2 including all taxes/fees.
20. Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui (T+L Score 90.69)
26% additional taxes and fees estimated.
$1,045/nightly, plus $50/combined parking and resort fee.
Website: fairmont.com
$1,314/est. daily total for 2 including all taxes/fees.
What’s your take on this?
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