T+L Readers Love This Unique Resort Set on Considered one of Hawaii’s Most Secluded Islands

For me, the 4 Seasons Resort Lanai conjures up reminiscences of lounging within the jacuzzi with whales breaching within the distance, do-it-yourself popsicles in hand, and contemporary seafood eaten off a tray desk in my lounge chair. In different phrases, full-on trip mode. That mentioned, it’s simple to see why I used to be downright giddy to expertise this lodge once more in June.

Quite than taking the passenger ferry from Maui, the place I’ve lived for the previous 4 years, I flew in on an eight-passenger jet by way of Lanai Air from Honolulu, as — a pleasant perk — flights are included in your keep. With entry to the posh lounge and no TSA traces, I felt like a VIP earlier than even reaching the resort.

A pleasant lodge driver met me on the airport and drove me alongside windy roads lined with Prepare dinner Pines (assume: extra-tall Christmas tree). After turning down Freeway 440 South, Manele Bay got here into view together with the 35-acre 4 Seasons Resort Lanai and its botanical gardens.

“There’s a sanctuary-esque kind of really feel that you just get right here,” says Juan Leonis, resort supervisor. “We get this remark rather a lot when individuals do come right here; it’s that they’re actually capable of disconnect, that they’re actually capable of breathe and calm down as this isn’t located on one of many larger islands or, the extra populated islands.”

About 140 sq. miles, Lanai is dwelling to about 3,000 residents, one college, and a whole lot of magnificence. There are not any highrises, no chain eating places, and no stoplights. Vacationers who go to Lanai accomplish that for its rugged landscapes and quiet coastlines. You rating the identical dreamy views as the opposite Hawaiian islands, minus the crowds.

One factor I get pleasure from in regards to the 4 Seasons is the give attention to customer support. Practically all of the employees members know your identify and your dietary preferences, and workers regularly attempt to add particular touches to your journey.

“We had a pair that was married right here 10 years in the past, and our sous chef, Nick, as an alternative of simply saying, ‘Oh, what would you want for the night time?’ the group truly recreated their dishes from their marriage ceremony,” says Leonis.

Learn on for Journey + Leisure’s full evaluate of this tremendous luxe lodge.

The Rooms

The Manele Bay Lodge opened in 1991 and have become the 4 Seasons Lanai Resort in 2005. Quick ahead to immediately, and it’s dwelling to 213 visitor rooms and suites (ocean or backyard views) with the proper combo of Japanese and Polynesian influences. Suppose zebra-wood edging and teak partitions, mahogany flooring, and wool rugs.

Rooms embrace Nespresso machines, Champagne stemware, and electrical kettles. The loos are tremendous spacious and classy with slate flooring, teak paneled partitions, double-wide rain showers, tubs and Aina bathtub facilities that includes domestically sourced kukui nut oil. Oh, and my favourite: Toto bogs that mechanically open and shut — and remote-controlled lights and shades. The fridges have native beers, coconut water, and Hawaiian sweets from Manoa.

I stayed in a normal partial-ocean view room (beginning charge of $1,450) on a sloping hillside with views of the Pacific. My stroll to the foyer was filled with tropical gardens, out of doors sculptures, and waterways stocked with koi fish.

Reserving the two-bedroom Alii Royal Suite (beginning at $26,000 per night time) secures probably the most bragging rights and comes with a non-public cabana to your complete keep, a devoted ambassador on name, and a Tesla 3 or Jeep rental for island galavanting.

Meals and Drink

Meals is a spotlight at any 4 Seasons resort. My first cease was lunch at Malibu Farm the place I saved my eyes on the prize (aka the Pacific Ocean) and ate contemporary mahi, an area beet salad, and a smoothie. The subsequent day, I  ordered the identical meal from my poolside cabana and topped it off with a housemade ice cream sandwich.

Come dinnertime, Nobu Lanai affords up Japanese dishes ready with Peruvian elements. Dine on sushi and lobster, or attempt the 15-course Teppanyaki dinner expertise. For breakfast, One Forty blueberry ricotta pancakes and lychee waffles are robust to beat. My waitress was even prepared to recreate a smoothie I had at 4 Seasons Hualalai and didn’t bat an eye fixed after I realized I wanted to alter to a to-go order because it was practically time to catch the ferry to go dwelling to Maui. For fast salads, espresso, do-it-yourself gelato, and sammies, cease by The Break.

Actions and Experiences

You possibly can simply keep cocooned within the resort for days on finish because of lessons (from musubi-making classes to ukulele workshops); a health middle with ocean views; an adults-only pool and family-friendly lagoon pool; and the 18-hole golf course. However there’s a lot to see once you enterprise out.

“Whether or not it is the capturing vary, the ranch, or the boats down on the harbor, all of them are managed by 4 Seasons,” says Leonis. “So we’re capable of management the expertise.”

The primary morning, I hiked to Sweetheart Rock (Puu Pehe). It was a five-minute stroll from my room to Hulopo‘e Seashore and 10 minutes uphill to the enormous rock protruding from the ocean flooring.

Thalassophiles like me totally respect the lodge’s high-speed luxe boat that takes divers and snorkelers to the prettiest spots, together with Cathedrals, a collection of undersea caverns. On a superb day, 100-plus ft of visibility is normal.

Because of an enormous give attention to tradition on the resort, friends study in regards to the resort’s cultural artifacts, attend herbal-healing workshops, and take a deep dive into wayfinding on the on-site Lanai Observatory. The 2-story dome has a retractable roof and a telescope that weighs in at round 3,000 kilos.

“If we do not share the data, the data will get misplaced,” says Samson Kaleialohi Aki, a cultural advisor on the resort. “So we go the data and go the tales alongside.”

The Spa

On the Hawanawana Spa, remedies vary from sound remedy to ti leaf reduction wraps to full-body honey experiences. I opted for the signature facial incorporating Kerstin Florian merchandise, a papaya and pineapple enzyme peel, and a mud masks.

Proceed the blissful state with retail remedy within the spa retailer, the place you’ll discover Osea lotions, Kensko eye masks, and Malie physique wash. Retail retailers within the foyer have Christian Lacroix journals, Artesano Panama hats, Hunza G swimsuits, Bembien tote baggage, and Prada sun shades.

Household-friendly Choices

Youngsters for All Seasons — for friends 5 to 12 years previous — is complimentary. For youthful kiddos, non-public nanny service is offered. From tide-pool journeys to make-your-own-food nights, kids won’t ever be bored.

Accessibility and Sustainability

The resort has 9 ADA-compliant rooms, some with roll-in showers, decrease cupboards, and closets. All eating places have elevator entry, there’s a wheelchair ramp to the seashore, and the pool has an ADA-compliant elevate. Service animals are welcome.

Poolside, friends have complimentary Challenge Reef sunscreen, which is reef-safe; reusable Ocean Bottles can be found with water-refill stations all through; and the natural landscaping is spectacular.

Location

A couple of 20-minute drive from the one-runway Lanai Airport, the resort is perched on a cliff above Manele Bay.

When you’re coming from Maui, take the Expeditions Maui-Lanai Passenger Ferry ($26.50 a method). As you journey by means of the ‘Au’au Channel, be looking out for dolphins, sea turtles, and whales (throughout whale season from December to March). Lanai is roughly 10 miles west of Maui, so the boat experience is barely an hour and quarter-hour. From Honolulu, it’s a 25-minute flight by way of Hawaiian Airways, Mokulele Airways or Lanai Air.

You possibly can simply go and not using a automotive throughout your keep, however for those who’d wish to discover by yourself, e-book a Jeep on website.

How you can Get the Most Worth Out of Your Keep

Flights from Honolulu on Lanai Air are included in your keep. Lodge loyalty applications embrace 4 Seasons Most popular Companions, American Categorical, Virtuoso, Chase, and Internova.