Enjoy 5-Star Hawaii for Less: Tip-of-the-Day #237

TAKE IT FROM ME - JOIN THE CLUB AND GET MORE FOR LESS.

I just spent six nights with my boyfriend at the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua and we got the deal of a lifetime. Now I'm not saying that staying at the Ritz is inexpensive (or even affordable for most). But I am saying there's a way to do it and get waaaay more bang for your buck. Stay on the Club Level.

Usually located on the upper floors of the hotel, The Ritz-Carlton Club is not just about luxurious surroundings. The services include five complimentary food and beverage presentations daily, a dedicated concierge on duty from 6:30 a.m. until 8 p.m. to assist in difficult-to-obtain restaurant reservations, island tips, the printing of boarding passes, etc., DVD rentals, the latest newspapers and magazines and two computer stations to enjoy freely.

The Maui Club offered a hot breakfast buffet, as well as an array of morning fare; cereal, pastries, and fresh fruit. At lunchtime, small sandwiches and tasty salads were served. Later in the day, afternoon tea was presented, with small sandwiches, scones, and fruit. At 5:00 p.m., there were cocktails and heavy hors d'oeuvres. When I say heavy, I mean we made it dinner on more than one occasion. Finally, at 7:00ish, a whole array of desserts were served - from cheesecake to chocolate dipped strawberries. If I had to guess, I'd say what we ate and drank on the Club Level what would have easily cost us more than $300 a day (or more if you include all the booze) in the real world.

Given the price differential between a standard "deluxe" room and a Club Level access room is hovering around $120 - you are saving HUGE money by going this route. AND, the deal we booked, included a $500 resort credit, so we got a massage and round of golf included!

Before booking your next Ritz-Carlton adventure (I know, I know) - just check out the Club pricing. It was sooooo worth it in our case - saving us hundreds and hundreds of dollars.

Downside: we showed up for every "feeding" and I gained two pounds on our trip. :(