What to expect: An avenue of oleander and flowering trees leads to an open-air lobby draped around a koi-pond atrium with waterfalls and streams. The Maui Prince Hotel's A-shaped structure points toward a crescent beach and Molokini Islet in the distance. Golfers, celebrating couples, families, and other leisure travelers come to the hotel for its secluded location and modern comforts.

Amenity highlights: Guests enjoy two 18-hole golf courses designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr., as well as tennis facilities, a fitness center, and a splash pool with spa tub, children's pool, and poolside snack bar. Dining options include a restaurant specializing in contemporary island cuisine, a sushi bar, and a clubhouse grill. A 46-foot catamaran (surcharge) sails from the adjacent Maluaka Beach to Molokini Islet, one of Maui’s most pristine snorkeling spots.

Insider tip: Unlike most Maui resorts, the big, open-air, tentlike cabanas around the pools don't require a rental fee but are available on a first-come, first-served basis.