Four Seasons Manele Bay — WOW beach vacation

the beach at Manele Bay, photo by David Ourisman (c) 2015, all rights reserved

I'm enjoying my third trip to Lanai. My first trip, in October, 2008, was spent at the Lodge at Koele. I was intrigued by this resort 1500 feet above sea level and built to resemble a Hawaiian pineapple plantation. My second trip, in January, 2010, was my first stay at FS Manele Bay, a resort overlooking the Pacific Ocean, with a short walk down to a beautiful crescent beach.

Third time's the charm? I'm back in Lanai for the third time, the occasion for this visit being an opportunity to experience the new room product at Four Seasons Manele Bay. As many of my readers know, Larry Ellison purchased the entire island of Lanai in June, 2012. The CEO of Oracle, Mr. Ellison is the fifth wealthiest individual in the world with seemingly bottomless pockets. 

Larry Ellison's goal for Manele Bay? To develop it into the best resort in the world. Toward that end, he informed the resort's management to spend whatever it takes to get to that goal. Half of the rooms have now been renovated, and Four Seasons has invited a number of travel consultants to experience the new room product. 

In a word, WOW! I'll let these two pictures do the talking. What impresses me most is how the interior designers have brought together different textures and materials, creating a warm, elegant, and contemporary feel. The bed is crafted of ivory colored leather, with Rosewood flooring, Zebrawood paneling, and teak trim used in the room. Behind the bed is a wall covered with handmade Nepalese paper.

Do you ever watch TV when you go on vacation? On the wall opposite the bed is a 75" flat screen specially designed for the resort to have practically no bevel, mounted on a wall covered with grass wall paper. The room features state-of-the-art technology with plenty of conveniently placed power receptacles, USB and ethernet ports by both desks ... and a fully automatic Toto toilet in the bathroom that lifts its lid in greeting when you enter the WC and does all sorts of other wonderful things for you that you never knew you couldn't do without.

Looking for a luxury beach vacation in Hawaii? Consider the quiet island of Lanai. While there's not much in the way of shopping and nightlife, this is the place to come to unwind, relax, and enjoy time on a great beach. And to receive added value, book through a Four Seasons preferred partner travel consultant to receive a daily buffet breakfast for two guests daily (normal price is $45 per person), a $100 F&B credit, and room upgrade if available. The resort is currently offering a double upgrade at time of booking and an additional $150 daily resort credit with a four night stay.

copyright (c) 2015 by David Ourisman LLC. As affiliates of Brownell Travel, we can provide our clients with Virtuoso amenities and amenities from other Brownell preferred hotel partners including Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton, and more. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

Four Seasons Hawaii | best time to visit Hawaii

Looking for the lowest rates for a trip to Hawaii? My rep from Four Seasons Hawaii has provided me with an exclusive list of "value dates." Occupancy is still relatively low during the following periods, meaning these are the best times to visit Hawaii. Rates may go up the longer you wait, so book now to grab the values while they last. The reservations are flexible, and you can cancel without penalty up to 21 days before your date of arrival for guest rooms.

Four Seasons Maui
April 7-20
May 28-June 17
September 21-28
October 1-31
November 1-20
December 1-18

Four Seasons Hualalai (Big Island)
May 17-26
June 1-8
July 5-12
August 23-30
September 1-3
September 26-October 1
October 20-31
November 1-20

Four Seasons Manele Bay (Lana'i)
May 10-31
October 20-31
November 1-30
December 1-18

Four Seasons Lodge at Koele (Lana'i)
May 9-31
June 1-30

You will receive valuable Four Seasons Preferred Partner amenities, worth hundreds of dollars over the course of your stay, when booking any Four Seasons resort in Hawaii through a Preferred Partner travel consultant:

• Daily full American breakfast for two people per bedroom, served through In-Room Dining or in the hotel restaurant (including buffets)
• Food and beverage credit of USD100
• Upgrade of one category, based on availability at time of check-in (excluding signature suites and villas)
• Complimentary basic Internet access for up to two devices

copyright (c) 2014 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell Travel. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

guaranteed upgrades at Four Seasons in Hawaii

Planning a trip to Hawaii? Four Seasons has the best collection of resorts anywhere in Hawaii. If your plans are bringing you to Maui, the Big Island, or to Lana'i, look no further than Four Seasons.

To make the best even better, Four Seasons Preferred Partner guests can get a guaranteed upgrade at a Four Seasons in Hawaii if you book by June 30th for stays August 25-December 15. But you have less than 30 hours to lock in your upgrade, as bookings under this promotion must be made by June 30. The offer is subject to availability at time of booking, and blackout dates and other restrictions may apply.

... and to sweeten the deal a bit more, you get an extra $100 towards food and beverages with a minimum 7-night stay during the same period.

Book by: June 30
Effective dates: August 25 - December 15

Please note the specific details of the offer at each Four Seasons in Hawaii:

1. Four Seasons Maui
Offer valid only on Garden and above room categories (does not apply to Mountainside)

2. Four Seasons Hualalai
The extra credit is only applicable to Poolside rooms and suites (not applicable to Golf Ocean); the upgrade is only applicable to Golf Ocean, Poolside, Partial Ocean and Ocean View categories.

3. Four Seasons Manele Bay
The extra credit does not apply to Garden Terrace rooms.

4. Four Seasons Lodge at Koele
The extra credit does not apply to Garden rooms.

The best deal, every day! Regardless of this particular promotion, all of my clients get the best luxury values in Hawaii, every day of the year, with following complimentary amenities at any Four Seasons resort in Hawaii:

• Daily full American breakfast for two people per bedroom, served through In-Room Dining or in the hotel restaurant (including buffets)
• Food and beverage credit of USD100
• Upgrade of one category, based on availability at time of check-in (excluding signature suites and villas)
• Complimentary high-speed Internet access for up to six devices per room

Four Seasons in Hawaii (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2013 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

Hawaii on sale

United Airlines has just announced a fare sale to Hawaii with one way fares as low as $190*, and Alaska Airlines is advertising one-way fares as low as $169*. Explore the possibilities at united.com and alaskaair.com.

If you're planning a trip to Hawaii, this is the time to book with Hawaii on sale. 2011 occupancy levels are significant higher than 2010, and there are dates for which the lowest-priced rooms are already sold out at Four Seasons Maui and Four Seasons Hualalai. Avoid disappointment by booking your rooms now. Then go online and book your air once you have your space secured. Deposits at all Four Seasons in Hawaii are completely refundable up to 21 days before arrival.

Four Seasons features four Hawaiian resorts at which to enjoy a luxurious tropical vacation. FS Maui, Four Seasons very first resort, is renowned for its service and a brand-new, adults-only Serenity Pool. FS Hualalai is my idea of what every tropical resort should be - spread out and casual. FS Manele Bay (on Lana'i) offers seclusion and one of the best beaches in the world, while FS Lodge at Koele (also on Lana'i) creates the ambiance of a traditional Hawaiian pineapple plantation with a very fun and challenging 18-hole putting course!

You receive great value at Four Seasons resorts with complimentary Kids Programs and no annoying resort fees. As a Four Seasons Preferred Partner, my clients enjoy value-added amenities - complimentary daily breakfasts, one free lunch for two, and room upgrades on arrival if available.


*Additional taxes and fees will apply; see the airlines' websites for complete disclosure of fees and taxes. I do not sell air.


Hawaii on sale (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2010 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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Hawaii — balmy days and beautiful sunsets

I love watching sunrises and sunsets which are, to me, the most magical times of the day. I photographed this Hawaii sunset at Four Seasons Manele Bay.

It's no wonder I've gotten lots of inquiries about Hawaii in the past month. The east coast and mid-west are in the midst of a long, cold winter. Even the west coast has been wetter and cooler than usual. Northern California, where I live, has seen lots of rain (much needed to replenish our reservoirs) and temperatures in the 50's. Lots of people want to get away to the sunshine and balmy temperatures of the tropics. But where to go?

I love Hawaii. While Mexico and the Caribbean have dozens of five star resorts to choose from, US citizens can travel to Hawaii, our 50th state, without passports or the need to wait in long immigrations lines. The weather is dependable, and your health insurance will probably cover you. (Traveling to Mexico or the Caribbean? Ask me about how a low-cost travel insurance package can take care of any sudden emergency medical expenses you may face when you're outside the US).

Which island to choose? That will be the subject of my next blog posting — so watch this space! But if you want to get away from this long, cold, and damp winter, Hawaii is my favorite place to go.


Hawaii sunset (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2010 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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dawn at Four Seasons Manele Bay

One of my favorite things is to wake up before dawn and watch the sunrise. During a recent stay at Four Seasons Manele Bay, I did just that. This past Sunday morning at 6 a.m., I walked around the property, looking for the best location from which to photograph the coming of the dawn.

It turns out that the best views were from the lanai of my Ocean View Prime room. I took this photograph while we were having an early room service breakfast on Monday morning (we had to catch the 8 a.m. ferry to Maui).

Four Seasons Manele Bay is a beautiful resort with wonderful views, a perfect beach, and a restful, secluded atmosphere. The quietest of the five major Hawaiian islands, Lana'i is more like what Hawaii used to be before the developers came. With no traffic lights, no traffic jams, no shopping malls or chain stores, Lana'i is where to go to get away and enjoy the sun.

The Lodge at Koele is the other Four Seasons resort on Lana'i. Four Seasons guests can enjoy the facilities of both properties; a shuttle runs back and forth every 30 minutes. The Lodge has the character of a Hawaiian pineapple plantation, and its rooms remind me of a luxurious country inn. The large lobby provides a living room setting with huge fireplaces at either end and a beautiful view of the back lawn and gardens. I especially enjoyed playing the Lodge's challenging 18-hole putting course. The concierge will provide complimentary putters and floating golf balls, and beware the water hazards and sand traps!

Clients of Four Seasons Preferred Partner travel consultants receive the best published rates at Manele Bay and at the Lodge at Koele — along with additional complimentary amenities. Just by booking through a Preferred Partner, you will receive a complimentary daily Full Island Breakfast for two, upgrade upon arrival if available, and one complimentary lunch for two during your stay. The properties on Lana'i are beautiful ... and among the best luxury values for a beach vacation in the world.


Four Seasons Manele Bay (search here on Google)


copyright (c) 2010 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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