The Best Villas to Book for Your Vacation in Hawaii

Take a trip to a piece of paradise – aka Kapalua Bay on the island of Maui. The views from this three-bed property are gasp-worthy, stretching out from the bay across acres of bright blue Pacific to the half-submerged volcanic islands of Molokai and Lanai in the distance. Take it all in from not one but three private lanais – after a day that may well include lolling on the white sands of Oneloa Bay Beach, exploring West Maui Forest Reserve, or whale watching, horse riding, teeing off or tackling the local zip wire. The resort itself has its own spa, pool and golf course with complimentary door-to-door shuttles – while the villa comes with two sofa beds, as well as three king-size beds with luxury mattresses.

The setting for this villa in Hawaii feels totally tropical, with gardens full of ferns and palms that envelope its network of buildings – even the gym has full-width picture windows that showcase the resort’s jungly aesthetic. In the north of Hawaii Island, it’s a great spot for two couples, fitted with one king and one queen-size bed – and your own gas barbecue as well as a fully fitted kitchen. It’s a 15-minute walk to the golf course or a five-minute drive. If you get bored with the resort’s modest pool, you can buy discounted day passes to the pools and waterslides at Hilton Waikoloa Village – and still return to the peaceful privacy of your own space at the end of the day.

This Hawaii villa has all the advantages of a resort hotel combined with the convenience and independence of a holiday let. Up on a low hill in the Hapuna Beach area on Hawaii Island, the three-bedroom villa comes with fantastic 180-degree Pacific views. Your stay gives you access to the development’s amenity center – where you’ll find a pool, hot tubs, BBQ, tennis court and fitness room. While not right on the coast, it has five beaches within 3mi (5km) and it’s less than a kilometer to the Hapuna Golf Course, too.

One for the honeymooners and canoodlers, this one-bed Princeville condo has a top floor and corner location, providing unobstructed oceanfront views from the living room, lanai and even the bedroom. The location puts guests amid the golfing belt on Kauai, but it’s also a great base for exploring the rugged natural beauty of this island’s North Shore – especially the Napali Coast. That’s if you can tear yourself away from the charms of the budget-friendly Sealodge, including a shared pool, BBQ and beach.

It’s all here – the Hawaiian holiday you’ve been dreaming of. The villa itself is the first big tick. Surrounded by towering palms, the open-plan living area is a spacious and cool retreat in the heat and a cozy place to curl up on chillier evenings. The four-poster, king-size master bed, sunken bath and barbecue are big bonuses, too. Wander down to the resort’s turquoise pool and you’ll find a spa bath cabana, loungers and gym room – while free bikes and golf carts are available to take you the short distance to the golf course or three local beaches, each around 2.5mi (4km) away.

You don’t often find holiday villas that are as slick and modern as this one – the decor has a classy all-white theme and the furnishings look straight out of a Scandinavian midcentury revival. For all its style, there’s substance to this West Maui two-bed condo, too. The resort has its own pool and shared barbecue area – plus a prime location just 10 minutes from both vibrant Whalers Village and Kaanapali Beach. Despite being just nine minutes from Kapalua Airport, car hire is recommended as the scenery of West Maui is a spectacular must-see.

Given the natural beauty and impeccable Pacific views on show at this gorgeous garden resort, one wonders at the painting of a trompe-l’œil mural on the living room wall of this villa – depicting a somewhat less attractive scene. However, that would be our only quibble with a stay at this cozy one-bed condo. Located on the west Kona Coast of big island Hawaii, it comes with a private lanai and use of two shared ocean-view pools and a barbecue area. If you’re keen to mingle with other holidaymakers, there are four soirées a week hosted by the resort owners to make you feel at home. Aloha.