Advertiser Disclosure: We love living points life by using points and miles to elevate travel experiences. In the interest of being transparent with you, we may be compensated from an approved credit card's application, or from some of the products and services recommended on this site. This only happens when you click on our affiliate links. We also earn commissions from purchases made through Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. Thank you for your support and especially for reading this blog! Please see our Advertiser Disclosure for more details!
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Credit Card
Earn 70,000 Bonus Miiles + Alaska's Famous Companion Fare!
Lanai is a small island off the Maui coast in Hawaii. The accommodations on the island are also limited to the expensive Four Seasons Resorts or the small boutique Hotel Lanai in the town center. I chose the latter to save money and check out the Lanai city center.
I took the ferry from Lahaina in Maui to Lanai and overnighted at Hotel Lanai to explore the Lanai island on a four-wheel drive vehicle I rented through Turo.
 |
| Hotel Lanai |
| Table of Contents [show/hide] |
|
|
Location
Lanai city is small, and Hotel Lanai is located in central Lanai city, and it’s just a few minutes walk to the stores and restaurants.
Hotel Lanai is not within walking distance of Lanai’s Manele Small Boat Harbor if you arrive from Maui by ferry. You need to take a taxi or shuttle to reach the hotel or pre-arrange a rental car dropped at the harbor’s parking spot and drive to the hotel. The hotel does not offer any shuttle services.
 |
| Hotel Lanai Entrance |
Booking Direct
Hotel Lanai does not partner with nor is it listed on third-party booking websites, such as Hotels.com, Orbitz, Expedia, etc.
With that being said, you must book direct with Hotel Lanai. They have a website where you can check availability and reserve a room with a credit card or simply contact the hotel directly to book on the phone.
Moreover, Hotel Lanai has no rewards programs, so unfortunately, you cannot redeem points for a free stay. However, because this is a hotel, it is coded under the Travel category. So you can earn bonus points using a travel credit card such as Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card or Citi Premier Credit Card that earns you 3 bonus points per dollar spent on travel purchases.
Availability
Hotel Lanai only opens availability 3-4 months in advance, sometimes less. So if you perform a search and there’s zero availability telling you to get on the waitlist, don’t worry. It means that you search too far in advance and just need to wait until they open availability for booking before your scheduled stay date.
Moreover, they tend to open the first expensive room type, the Lanai Room. In that case, just book it, and be on the lookout when they release the cheaper Garden Room type. You can call and ask to change without penalty fees because Hotel Lanai offers up to 10 days of free cancellation/change. You cannot change or cancel your reservation online; you must contact the property.
Hotel Lanai Rates
There are four (4) room types at Hotel Lanai. The rate for each room stays fixed if you book in advance. The rate fluctuates when your booking is closer to your scheduled stay date. I did a sample search on my arrival day, and the rate for each room type is gone up by $50. Therefore, plan and book in advance instead of at the last minute.
Below are the current ongoing rates for each room type at Hotel Lanai:
- Garden Room: $330 per night
- Premium Garden Room: $330 per night
- Lanai Room: $389 per night
- The Cottage: Hotel Lanai does not release this room type I know of for booking.
All the Hotel Lanai rates above are before taxes and fees. All rooms, except the Premium Garden Room, have a king bed. The Premium Garden Room is the Garden Room view with two queen beds. The name is misleading. It is just a room with two beds, unlike the standard Garden Room with one king bed.
Cancellation Policy
As mentioned above, Hotel Lanai offers free cancellation up to ten (10) days before arrival.
You will be asked to provide credit card information when booking, but the card is only charged once you get to the hotel to check in. Any no-shows or cancellations within 10 days of arrival will be charged to the credit card on file for the entire amount, including taxes.
Premium Garden Room Review
First, Hotel Lanai is not a luxury hotel. It is a small boutique hotel, and it’s clean and comfortable. The rate is slightly expensive, but we are talking about Hawaii here, and Lanai is limited in accommodation choices compared to Maui.
I reserved the Premium Garden Room to get two queen beds and space, which is definitely larger than the standard King Garden Room.
The hallway to the rooms is small and looks like the one you see when you go to a spa.
 |
| Hallway to Rooms |
The room’s design is lovely, with hardwood floors and walls throughout. It reminded me of Japanese-style accommodation. The room comes with two comfortable queen size beds and a ceiling fan.
 |
| Premium Garden Room |
 |
| Two Queen Size Beds |
The bathroom is also clean and nice, with an automatic open-lid bidet, a sink, and a walk-in shower. The shower door is annoying because the glass door is not fully enclosed, so the water goes everywhere when you shower.
 |
| Sink & Shower Room |
 |
| Bidet |
As the room’s name suggests, Premium Garden Room offers a garden view of the property. However, I did not find the view exciting to write home about.
 |
| Garden View Lookout From Our Room |
 |
| Premium Garden View Windows |
Free Continental Breakfast
Hotel Lanai offers free continental breakfast to guests. Breakfast is already included in the room rate, but don’t expect a full buffet breakfast with hot or meat options. It is just a “continental breakfast.”
The free continental breakfast is set up by the reception desk and consists of juices, coffee and teas, cereal and milk, oatmeal, oranges, and bagels.
 |
| Bagels |
 |
| Continental Breakfast at Hotel Lanai |
Hotel Lanai Restaurant
The onsite restaurant at Hotel Lanai is called Lanai City Bar & Grill. You don’t have to be the guest staying at the hotel to dine at the restaurant.
If there’s one thing about Hotel Lanai that I love is the dinner time at the restaurant. There’s live music, and the food is delicious, especially the cocktails are crafted beautifully, and the desserts taste good. The price is also reasonable. I highly recommend you enjoy a dinner one night at Hotel Lanai.
 |
| Pineapple Upside Down Cake |
 |
| My Duck Confit Dish |
 |
| Taro Cocktail |
Resort Fee
There are no resort fees because Hotel Lanai is not a resort.
Parking
Parking is in front of the property and is complimentary to all guests.
Pet Policy
Hotel Lanai is a pet-friendly hotel, and there are no pet fees. The weight limit is 60 lbs.
Internet/Wi-Fi
Internet and Wi-Fi are free for guests. This benefit is useful because our T-Mobile service phones did not work with data and calling inside the hotel.
Bottled Water
None
Early Check-in
The regular check-in time is 3pm. We didn’t ask for early check-in, so I can’t answer that.
Late Check-Out
We did not ask for a late check-out as we had to leave before the hotel’s check-out time, 12pm, to catch the ferry back to Maui.
Spa
None
Fitness Center
None
In-Room Safe
Yes, inside the drawer.
Robes & Slippers
None
Swimming Pool
None
Beach
Hotel Lanai is located in the Lanai city center, and therefore, no beach is within walking distance of the property.
Contact
You may contact Hotel Lanai through the following methods:
- Phone: +1 808-565-7211 and press 1 for the front desk.
- This hotel sometimes does not always answer the phone call. In that case, just hang up and try another time of the day. It seems like their front desk is not 24 hours.
- Email: Contact Form, but I recommend you call.
- Website: Hotel Lanai
