u/JagrsMullet1982

Just shy of 2 weeks post op from repairing the first of two busted ACLs. Short breaks from the cone, short breaks from the crate…always time for a Hawaiian shirt 🤙🏼

Apologies in advance that I don’t know how to embed photos into the body of the text. I’m very much on the geriatric side of “geriatric millennial” and largely terrible at technology.

I happen to work in a very niche conceirge field where I have traveled at the highest levels of luxury and exclusivity; privately owned private jets, police escorts through cities, private entrances, the best hotels, full floor suites buyouts, teams of servants, etc. All to say, I’ve seen and have often first hand experienced the highest of high end travel. I can’t afford PJ’s & police escorts, but the opportunities I’ve had through my work have afforded me an understanding of exactly what I want in travel and what I personally put a high value on when I travel.

What I want most is quiet, room service, ocean front private balconies, and not to have to ask for the things I need and find comfort in. I spent 6 nights with my (almost) 15 year old son in a King Club Level Suite, and I had a second room in my name for my (almost) 80 year old mother for 5 nights in a King Club Level Room at the Ritz Turtle Bay booked and coordinated by u/mayisayhitoyourdog and I still can’t quite fathom the perfection that was our time at the resort.

I know, “it’s a Marriott” and have seen the controversy, but honestly, I just don’t get the hate. This is my second stay at Turtle Bay and, personally, I find the staff to be world class, the rooms and suites to be well appointed, everywhere in rooms/on resort to be immaculately clean, the Club Lounge & staff to be exquisite, and the food overall to be fantastic.

Welcome to my love letter to Turtle Bay, where I spent 6 nights relaxing after a pretty epic 9 nights snorkeling on Maui.

TLDR: I love the Turtle Bay resort and staff.

Perhaps it’s because my TA is FANTASTIC and put in a lot of work coordinating my stay with the resort prior to my arrival, or maybe it’s because I had a club level king suite and a club level king room both in my name simultaneously…regardless, from the moment we arrived until the moment we checked out, not an opportunity to make us feel special or welcome was missed. We never met a staff person who didn’t know our names, I never wanted for anything, and despite being there mid-April after the horrific rain storms and during unprecedented humidity I never saw mold or mildew anywhere on property, in bathrooms, or on lounge cushions.

My mother and I spent every day either in a poolside day bed, in a beachfront daybed, or on the complementary loungers on the beach. I talk and burrow into the minutia of my clients lives for 80+ hours a week and it’s an occupational downfall that I’m incapable of not eavesdropping/people watching/chitchatting…..when I’m on vacation to relax, I need not to see or hear anyone. Around the resort, in the elevator, sitting in the hot tub - sure, let’s chat. When I’m trying to read or take in the view while I get some sun or eat lunch? I don’t want to hear or see you….any of you 😂 the daybeds by the pools (specifically #3 & #4) and the daybeds on the beach provided exactly what I was looking for - we didn’t see or hear anyone other than the surfers and the attendants who kept me flush with ice cold lilikoi mojito mocktails. The beach daybeds are great too - I prefer the food that comes from Roy’s Beach House on the beach, and also the daybeds comes with a Yeti bucket that the beach attendants keep full with ice, juices, and waters throughout the day. They’re not included in the resort fee, and are $300-$350/day for the daybeds, but for the privacy and comforts they provide I find them very very worth it. The loungers and umbrellas at the beach are complementary/included in the resort fee and are actually awesome too! I enjoy the adult’s only pool and jacuzzi area in the evenings to read after dinner - staff really ensure that the area remains 18+, which I appreciate.

Shout out to the pool and beach attendants who asked every day if my son would, “be having his burger down here with you, or if you’d prefer if we sent it to the room?” They never missed a beat, including my broody teen who enjoyed the WiFi and the AC over quality time with his mother and grandmother….”it’s fine because I can see and hear the ocean from the balcony any time I want”….at 15 he comes with a rider: “I prefer the plane seats where I don’t have anyone sitting next to me, but the big seats where I sit next to you are fine. I prefer when the hotel has room service, but as long as I can hear the ocean from the balcony it’s fine”….I may have set a high expectation for his young age, oops; I digress and regret nothing.

The Club Lounge is excellent and I can’t say enough about the staff there. I brought my mother to celebrate an upcoming milestone birthday and to celebrate finishing cancer treatments. I just wanted her to experience a, “everything’s taken care of, everything’s beautiful, heaven on earth” type of getaway. My TA made staff aware ahead of our arrival, and I can’t tell you how much they delivered in making her feel welcomed…like royalty. She couldn’t fathom everyone knowing her name, knowing what type of wine she liked and offering her a “heavy pour” in a glass of wine to bring to her room at the end of the night, bringing her fruit and coffee and pastries in her room on her first morning when I mentioned she was jet lagged and not joining me for breakfast. My son loved heading there solo and grabbing sodas and developing unique high five routines with the guys who work there during the day, and all the kid friendly snacks offered and rotating daily.

My mother and I were both blown away at how over the top everyone went for my son, who while friendly to everyone and happy all the time, is on the spectrum and very particular about how he likes things. When we arrived they mentioned knowing my son would be sleeping on the foldout couch in the suite, and offered to bring up a mattress topper before making the bed during turndown service; they offered to unmake and remake the foldout everyday, but we didn’t need that. My son has grown to love turndown service - I didn’t have my room fully serviced everyday, but the turndown service where they brought us extra towels and emptied the trash was lovely, and they coordinated all in room service around when they knew I wouldn’t be there…..as I said, I love to chit chat, but in my room (like my daybed) I prefer not to have to chat or be “on”.

There were personalized touches everywhere at every turn. I’d walk into the lounge in the morning and someone would immediately rush to start my gluten free toast. A specific fruit I found I loved (longan fruit) would magically appear on a plate in my room some nights. If I was curled up reading on a couch or watching the waves in the club, pineapple juice and my favorite coconut crunchies would waft over without me even asking. I like lots of towels in the room and I somehow always had an abundance of fresh towels and it seemed wet towels vanished the moment they hit my bathroom floor. I never heard another room door close or person from my balcony…I don’t mind hearing the background resort noise, but nothing makes me more insane than being able to hear noise from other rooms or conversations on other balconies. Beach totes, branded glasses wipes, chocolates at turndown, extras of anything I mentioned I liked (excellent mouthwash), etc. all just appeared in my suite daily. Additionally, the gift from my TA and the resort was just over the top…thank you so much, Joe; for everything.

I asked Turtle Bay to treat my mother, son, and I to peaceful, quiet, stay with enough amenities on resort to allow us to stay put without feeling bored . I’ll spare you reviews, god knows this is already too long, but the sunset horseback ride is a must, the bike trails are gorgeous, the walking trails unfathomable, Roy’s was excellent, Alaia was great, but honestly the food in the club was phenomenal each meal, each day….and a full bar from 5pm-close.

Turtle Bay (and my TA) delivered big, and then some. The last thing I’ll add is how wonderful all of the staff are, and how difficult it was to tip some of the staff who did the most. I was chasing pool and beach attendants and lounge staff who tried rebuffing my cash (unsuccessfully) by telling me that my tip was unnecessary, “you’re here to relax and this is my job”. The resort, the views, the food, the suite/room, the balconies, the amenities….everything…was wonderful; but it is the people who work there that make Turtle Bay special and are why I’ll return again. Not having to ask for anything, having all needs anticipated, immaculate cleanliness everywhere, great food, and beauty unlike anywhere else is the world…thank you Turtle Bay, thank you u/mayisayhitoyourdog.