The kids' program was fun and simple (and no additional charge!). Never a dull moment, with the beautiful beach, free snorkel equipment (for 1 hour), hula lessons, swimming pool with a small waterslide and a waterfall, popsicles, and fresh fruit brought around by the pool for snacking, game rooms with free video games, pool, ping-pong, foosball, and other activities. We even took advantage of the complimentary tennis and croquet! For my husband and me, the cabanas by the pools were great for napping, and we were kept comfortable by chilled towels and spritzing from the cabana staff. A luxurious spa offered all varieties of pampering and a fabulous workout room with a view of the beauty surrounding the Four Seasons, all made for a fabulous stay. Even the employees at the beach equipment shop remembered our sizes and preferences for snorkeling equipment from day to day.

Having been lucky enough to stay at two other 5-star resorts earlier this year, I can say with confidence that the staff at The Four Seasons excels in every respect. This is one time that all but the most jaded traveller will have to admit that they're getting their money's worth, when it comes to the room quality, amenities, and service.

My room, which purposely one of the worst in the hotel, was still 650 square feet with a non-trivial lanai and a bathroom containing both a full-sized tub, glass shower, a large, two sink marble vanity, separate toilet (room) and L'Occitane soaps and shampoo products refreshed during each of the twice daily maid visits. The resort recently invited Wolfgang Puck to open a Spago's restaurant on site, to complement the Pacific Grill on the pool level, both of which are excellent.

Speaking of which, the pool itself and the surrounding grounds are meticulously maintained in the pre-dawn hours by an unusually friendly maintenance staff. Overall, I've never seen such a thoroughily pleasant and accommodating staff, and the guests in the group I was working with mentioned it frequently in their comments also.

Note that this is not necessarily a place for families. They are better served at The Grand Wailea next door, which offers a similar degree of luxury, with children in mind as well. Also, the spa part of the Four Seasons resort is undergoing renovation, and is set to reopen this Winter. In the mean time, there's some reasonable (sub-$350/night) rates for rooms that are normally over $500/night. Their oceanfront one-bedroom suites go for $1,900/night, in case you're a recent lottery winner or otherwise encumbered with excess cash.

The sandy beach is swimmer friendly, and it's a good place for low hassle snorkeling. I saw the usual tropical fish here, including an octopus. On one occasion I saw Steven Tyler from Aerosmith (sunbathing, believe it or not!). The restaurant buffets are pricey but they are also better than those at other nearby hotels. There is a pool table in the bar where they play surf videos. Great place for a frozen mudslide!