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Bright Green
Fairmont Resorts can always be relied upon for ultimate luxury. Every need is taken care of and it’s pretty cool to be able to indulge and pamper at such an ecologically responsible resort.
Why Eco?
The Fairmont Chain has always been a favorite of mine, as they are leaders in environmental stewardship. They are pretty much mindful across the board: Their wonderful golf courses are overseen by the “greening our greens” program, their green cuisine program, where they partner with local sustainable farms is really impressive, they recycle all their paper and waste food gets taken to the local pig farm for feed! The most interesting eco-aspect is that they have partnered with the University of Hawaii at Hilo in a Reef-monitoring program.
We love…
The ‘Spa Without Walls”, where you go to have either an ocean side or fountain-side massage, either of which is dreamy. If you get a chance to stay on their Gold Floor, you’ll get treated like Royalty and you really don’t need to order any food at all, as a massive breakfast, tea, and evening au deurvres are laid out for your enjoyment. That being said, dishes prepared by Executive Sous Chef Stephen Rouelle at Brown’s Beach House are not to be missed. Plan at least one dinner here, and watch the sun go down as you indulge in his culinary delights. We love that Stephen is so passionate about every ingredient he uses and that his food will satisfy every taste bud, leaving you with a huge Gorgeously Green smile on your face.
We don’t love…
that we had to pay for a beach cabana, which you have to have or you’d fry because there’s little shade on the beach. That being said, the room rates are more reasonable than many comparable resorts along this coast, so it all levels out.
Mom’s POV:
This is quite a fancy resort, so you may well need to pack a couple of evening dresses and some heels. You won’t need a hair dyer, but you might want bring your own Shampoo/Conditioner, as the G.G. girl might not love the brand they supply (highly perfumed). The rooms are super-comfortable and beautifully furnished. Loved that the spa carries the wonderful Jane Iredale non-toxic make-up line. The man-made beach and sheltered bay is perfect for babies and little kids, although the fresh water, which comes into the bay, makes the water pretty chilly (even in the summer), so bring wet suit tops for small kids who like to spend hours snorkeling. There is a great baby pool made out of lava rock with a biddy beach in it.
Love that there’s a deli by the pool, so all day long when the kids want drinks, smoothies or you just feel like a salad or sandwich, you can pop in and get it to go.
From tiny babies, to teenagers, there’s great activities and fun to be had for the whole family.
Dad’s POV:
Very comfy rooms, Great snorkeling beach for kids, very good snorkeling out further on the reef for more experienced snorkelers. No diving on site, but just next door ( 15 minute walk along the beach) is Mauna Lani Sea Adventures. The Fairmont reef- monitoring program is fantastic, especially for divers. Although Hawaii is almost always casual, you feel like you need to dress up for dinner at this resort. Brown’s Beach Restaurant is really delicious – a lot of thought goes into their menu local cuisine with lots of fresh fish.
The fish trio entrée is particularly impressive: 3 different local fish, beautifully served on one platter. The wine list is impressive. And on the menu the chef lists great pairings of wine with each dish. If you’re a sushi lover, you’re in for a treat as there’s an excellent Japanese Restaurant in the resort and when you eat sashimi, which is really fresh from the ocean – it’s a totally different thing from the mall back home!
Kid’s POV:
The beach is awesome because you feel really safe in it when you are just learning to snorkel – the water is cold but it’s calm so you can learn to paddle board too. The swimming pool is massive and really fun to play in. There’s a great deli right by the pool area where you can buy pizzas, sandwiches and smoothies, which is very cool.
I’ve worked for Fairmont Hotels and Resorts for a couple years now (right out of college) and am now the Green Champion (co-chair of the environmental committee) for our property. I can tell you that I am amazed by the different green initiatives that are introduced every year. Each hotel has their own special projects, as well as the corporate standards. It’s so nice to see that our hard work is being recognized!