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.
These fees are turning into a big turn off as we consider future travel to Hawaii. The travel industry, like many businesses in the United States, were negatively impacted by the coronavirus. They should remember that their potential customers were also impacted and way too many businesses want to make up for lost revenue and they do this with increased ‘money grabs’, they may be impacting their current revenue and future bookings. We just canceled our November / December Hawaii visit due to our inability to find a reasonable rate; this would have been our third trip to Hawaii this year.
Wow, that is crazy! Thank you for shedding light on this. Do these companies not realize this is an issue and wonder why people don’t want to come back? I love Hawaii and would love to come back but I did a ton, I mean a ton of research before I came and was shocked at all the extra costs. Shame on anyone who doesn’t research first. Thank you for this article.
This is why they’re going after vrbo, air b&b and other home rentals. Hotels are putting pressure on government to stifle competition.
However, I do have to say rental agencies, other than hotels, have been adding ridiculously double-dipping high fees and should be investigated.
Exactly! Greed they want all the business, crazy money, locals and politicians just go right along with the greed, locals have no clue, they’re just followers, politicians get their.. kickbacks.. they don’t care as long as they get their payola, and votes. I was shocked when I called the Hyatt yesterday, they have no kamaaina rates, the Sr rate is $900 a night plus $40 resort fee (parking not included) and the 17.42% State of HI Tax.. for a view of the West Maui Mountains, if you want to see the ocean add $200 more a night, this is in July! No Way
Car rental websites also seem to make the final estimate a little hard to find. Air fares seem to be more obvious than before. The one that bothers me the most is the “mandatory” resort fee. As always, it is worth a careful review before hitting “purchase.” Thank the editors for the examples.
Hi Tom.
Thanks. We appreciate your many comments.
Aloha.