I normally eschew glitzy resorts as I find them pretentious, the staff insincere and the atmosphere culturally anonymous. I was prepared to dislike my stay at the Fairmont Orchid but now I can hardly wait for an excuse to return.
The rooms are tastefully decorated and very comfortable. We were upgraded from a garden view to a partial ocean view, as I guess they were not filled up. We were in the north tower facing south and the view of the landscaping and water falls could not have been better...plus the peek at the ocean from the balcony. Bed was very comfortable and the room was impeccably tidy.
The pool and ocean areas were not overcrowded but if you want a beach umbrella, you need to get to the pool area early in the day. The pool is warm and inviting (too often the water is too cold for my taste. If you like cooler water there is the ocean.) The pool is configured to give a sense of the tropical landscape in all directions. The gardens and planted areas are well maintained and lush.
They do have a lot of "extras" which can substantially pad your bill here. Breakfast buffet was exorbitant (over $30 per person)...cabanas and the double lounges with sun protection are costly. But the food at the poolside and oceanside was excellent quality and worth the inflated price. The breakfast I would say was not worth the price, but great if it is included in your room plan.
We took an early morning walk to the Puako Petroglyphs (very rough terrain, wear sturdy shoes) but it was well worth the hour we spent doing this (between 6:30 and 7:30 am). These are some of the best on the island.
Overall we found the staff gracious and helpful, the accommodation top notch, on site food exceptionally good and the general ambience REALLY beautiful, peaceful, calm and relaxing. The art work around the hotel and the quality of the materials made the place a far cry from some of the "theme park" resorts.
We loved our stay and will return again soon.
The rooms are tastefully decorated and very comfortable. We were upgraded from a garden view to a partial ocean view, as I guess they were not filled up. We were in the north tower facing south and the view of the landscaping and water falls could not have been better...plus the peek at the ocean from the balcony. Bed was very comfortable and the room was impeccably tidy.
The pool and ocean areas were not overcrowded but if you want a beach umbrella, you need to get to the pool area early in the day. The pool is warm and inviting (too often the water is too cold for my taste. If you like cooler water there is the ocean.) The pool is configured to give a sense of the tropical landscape in all directions. The gardens and planted areas are well maintained and lush.
They do have a lot of "extras" which can substantially pad your bill here. Breakfast buffet was exorbitant (over $30 per person)...cabanas and the double lounges with sun protection are costly. But the food at the poolside and oceanside was excellent quality and worth the inflated price. The breakfast I would say was not worth the price, but great if it is included in your room plan.
We took an early morning walk to the Puako Petroglyphs (very rough terrain, wear sturdy shoes) but it was well worth the hour we spent doing this (between 6:30 and 7:30 am). These are some of the best on the island.
Overall we found the staff gracious and helpful, the accommodation top notch, on site food exceptionally good and the general ambience REALLY beautiful, peaceful, calm and relaxing. The art work around the hotel and the quality of the materials made the place a far cry from some of the "theme park" resorts.
We loved our stay and will return again soon.
Room Tip: North tower, facing south seems the best for views.
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