Sensei Lanai, A Four Seasons Resort

Jeff Mesan

2024-04

Stayed here once. I regretted the experience after learning that the entire island has been owned by billionaires for about a century.Billionaires are often successful people that earn their wealth, but no one deserves to have power like this.No one should be able to own almost 100,000 acres of HAWAIIAN LAND.It was never the right of anyone to outright take or buy this land!

Michael Condor

2024-04

My wife and I, live on Oahu, chose the Four Seasons Sensei on Lana’i to celebrate her birthday, seeking respite from the hustle and bustle of Honolulu. From the moment we arrived via Lana’i Air, we were enveloped in luxury and warmth, thanks to the welcoming staff. The resort, nestled amidst lush gardens and exotic flora, evoked a sense of tranquility akin to being in a rainforest.The staff’s professionalism and genuine care ensured that we felt truly embraced throughout our stay. The eight Onsens provided serene relaxation, complemented by a serene and uncrowded pool. Our immaculate rooms boasted exquisite decor, and the thoughtful turndown service added a touch of charm to our evenings.Moreover, the food was a highlight of our experience. Dining at Nobu was a delight, with delicious breakfast offerings sourced from local farms, providing a fresh and flavorful experience. The opportunity to feed the koi fish was an added joyful touch to our meals. While we wished for more dining options across the resort, this minor quibble did not diminish our overall satisfaction with our stay. These little touches only served to enhance the magic of our experience.While the shuttle service to other Four Seasons properties and the town was convenient, the allure of Sensei was so compelling that we were reluctant to venture elsewhere. However, we did make our way to the Lana’i Cat Sanctuary, which is a must (for cat lovers) if you visit Lana’i. In our opinion, this stands as the pinnacle of Four Seasons hospitality across the Hawaiian islands. Heartfelt gratitude to everyone at the Sensei who contributed to our unforgettable experience. We eagerly anticipate our return to this remarkable resort.

Adventures With Susan

2024-02

Friday was a great day. Kristin and I rented a jeep and drove up to the Garden of the Gods on Lanai and it looked like Mars—soooo cool with incredible ocean views. We then proceeded to off road it to a beach where we drove over deep gully’s Sensei is a tropical paradise. They have plants from all over the world there. As they brought in new species they’d have to quarantine them for a year to see how they grew with the other plants. There were flowers there I’d never seen before. Had a delicious lunch at their restaurant, Nobu, situated on one of the many ponds on the property. Afterwards they gave us fish food for the koi fish. We enjoyed walking the peaceful grounds where every turn was beautifully landscaped. They even have natural spring stone hot tubs with waterfalls so we opted to relax in one. We even went into their natural looking wrap around pool.

Joaquín Robles Hernández

2024-04

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Randy Clark

2024-04

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Stephanie Huntzinger

2023-10

Wow! Gardens are amazing. It's very quiet and beautiful. The Hale experience was amazing. My only problem was how early the restaurants stopped serving. I had to eat at the bar or go to a nearby restaurant. The food was still good. I would rather have had a full menu rather than bar food.Noteworthy details: Spectacular grounds and artwork . The staff is very kind & helpful.

Joaquin Robles Hernandez

2024-04

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Siddhartha Gavirneni

2023-05

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Daisy Thompson

2023-05

This resort is truly one of a kind. It is serene, adult only, and perfect for a restorative healing retreat. The food here is island fresh and makes you come alive during your trip. The pool is its own destination as it is very large and offers a lot of privacy. The Hales are exquisite in every way. Services are very nurturing and braid in range. Staff are always very friendly and ready to support guests in every way possible.

Whitney Smith

2023-09

The resort and grounds are gorgeous, but the people who work here really embody the Aloha spirit. We were greeted by Aunty Lavenda at the airport and her beautiful smile and warm personality set the tone for our stay. Ada and Charles at the bar are amazing people to get to know and make the the most delicious drinks. The activities coordinators, Natascha and Eva really listened to what we were interested in an came up with some fantastic experiences, like the garden walk with David, a knowledgeable botanist who opened our eyes to some unbelievable plants and the history behind them. Shani and Carlos were super helpful and sweet, making sure our poolside experience even more relaxing. The food at the Nobu restaurant was heightened by talking to Carla and the chefs, who even let us feed the koi! Eric made the spa hale experience one of our favorite things here at the resort. There are many people I haven’t named, but the magic and beauty of the Sensei would not be possible without the amazing people who work there. We can’t wait to come back and visit again!

Kimmy Dai

2023-09

We enjoyed our experience at Sensei. Great team in Nobu restaurant, experience desk, room service, tour guide.We had our best spa ever in spa inhale! Outstanding and experienced yoga instructor! Professional activity team. We even had a private sail and snorkeling experience!However, one star due to the only department(even one person) - front desk.Activity team contacted me one month earlier and worked with me to upgrade my stay to discovery sensei package with further upgrade options available.Activity desk told me to talk with front desk for billing and upgrades. The front desk said that I have no chance for upgrade or even for an experience package since I booked with AMEX. I felt really confused. I was negotiating with front desk in a bathrobe after my spa for 30 mins. The front desk manager, she insisted that I should provide her all my previous emails with activity team to prove what I said! I didn’t take my phone with me due to spa. I tried to provide all details I remember and staff’s names who contacted me ahead. The manager said she didn’t know those people at all. That’s unbelievable! They asked customers to prove their contact with their own resort??! In the end, this manager refused to continue our conversation. Till now, there is zero apology on the unprofessional and rude service!You should have a better training for your front desk crew especially your manager please.

jetta babette

2023-12

Just a small amount of research on Hawaiian history and colonization wrecks the fantasy of staying here.This luxury comes to you on stolen land.Free Hawaii.

Ali Madsen

2023-05

Amazing hotel with incredible staff!My mom and I decided to stay here for our birthday and it was everything we were expecting and more. The grounds are absolutely stunning, so many different plant varieties that we've never seen before. There's several different ponds to sit by and the Onsen pools are so relaxing and great to go in both day and night.The staff at the hotel go above and beyond to make sure your stay is amazing. I got food poisoning when I was in Oahu so I was sick when I arrived to Lanai, the staff brought coconut juice and ginger ale to the room and we're always asking us if I was feeling better and enjoying my stay. They went the extra mile to ensure I was feeling better!We went on several different excursions but our favorite by far was the horse back riding. The woman wrangler (I forget her name unfortunately) was so friendly and really knew what she was doing and considers everyone's different riding levels. Safety was her top priority, but she still made the ride very entertaining. The goats and mini ponies on the ranch are also VERY CUTE.Overall I would definitely recommend staying here if you're looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of a bigger city!

Rashid Malik

2024-03

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Nikki Smith

2023-05

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Joell Santiago

2023-05

Absolutely breathtaking! If you want a Serene, Calming, Relaxing getaway book your trip to Sensai Lana'i. Everything here is 5 star, service, food, activities and secluded. I felt like during my stay I saw people in the common areas (lobby, restaurant, gardens) but not while relaxing in the pool area or in the Onsen Gardens. I have so many other things I want to compliment but I will just l leave it to the next customer to visit this place to find out yourself how absolutely amazing it is 😍😍😍

Dorota K

2022-05

Lovely, peaceful, serene place. Expensive but worth it if you can afford it. There isn't a whole lot to do here but that's good... you can focus on yourself and rebalance your self. Great spa, magical gardens with hidden soaking tubs "in the jungle", open 24 hrs, beautiful salt water pool, great staff... housekeeping could be a bit more diligent but overall a great experience.

Christopher Taktak

2023-05

by far one of the best vacations i have ever taken.from the moment you book until after you leave, the service is phenomenal. i bought a package with credits to be used for in-house activities/spa treatments. i was contacted well in advance of my arrival to schedule sessions and treatments based on my goals for the vacation.sensei staff members take your goals seriously -- they are shared between your instructors, spa/facilities staff, experience staff (responsible for booking activities, etc.). the level of competency demonstrated here is phenomenal -- everyone is kept up to date on what's on your file, as it gets updated through your sessions.before arriving, i was scheduled on a lanai air flight at my convenience. the hangar at honolulu is awesome, and i shared the flight there with only 2 people. i was picked up and dropped off at the hotel seamlessly, no airport fuss whatsoever.the grounds of the hotel are absolutely breathtaking. no understatement -- the garden is one of the most beautiful places i have ever set foot in. the facilities, onsen pools, spa houses, and more are just ... incredible. when you think about the scale of this hotel you will be blown away: everything you want and need is at your fingertips. to make it even better: you will barely ever bump into other guests at the hotel. this is truly paradise, confined to a few.i could go on and on about the phenomenal instructors (you all know who you are!) and staff working in the spa, experience desk, restaurant, shuttles, and everything else. at this stage you should probably realize... it doesn't get better than this. and if you're considering this property, you might as well book it sooner rather than later.tl;dr: rooms are great. hotel is lovely. facilities top notch. staff + service is unparalleled. food is amazing (though no sushi chef when i went). you have nothing to miss out on.only thing id warn against: do not come here if your plan is to do ... nothing. i.e. no activities. you'll be bored, and you're not making the most of the trip. come and see, do, relax, receive. that's what this place is here for.i know i will be back soon -- if not to thank everyone at sensei for making my trip so unbelievably perfect. my friends and family are all sick of my photos and talking about this vacation by now.

arvic escorsa

2023-07

Omg! This place is gorgeous and the gardens are absolutely stunning. It's like a nature walk botanical garden that features so many different plant species.

Sherilynn Domingo

2022-05

I absolutely love this place. EVERYTHING about it from the moment I stepped off the tiny plane til the moment I went back in the tiny plane. The resort spoils you like no other. The employees also go above and beyond to make your experience memorable. The resort grounds is serene and peaceful. It was like a dream.

Regina Powers

2023-05

Sensei, Lana'i is such a magical place and worth the price of admission:) The gardens are immersed in an elemental elegance. The landscape is accentuated with sculptures that allow you to feel like you are being cared for by the Divine Mother herself. Aphrodite greets you at the door, along with a very accommodating staff. This is truly a place where you can let go. It allows you to drop into what truly matters- YOU.

Martin Ye

2022-05

This is hands down the best luxury resort I have ever experienced, and this is coming from someone who has spent over 1,500 nights at more than 100 properties in the last ten years. I definitely want to bring my parents here the next time.What stood out to me most about Sensei Lanai -1) uniqueness of the experiences, 2) ultra-kind personalized care from the staff, and 3) thoughtful landscaping that enables total relaxation and introspection.The one thing I wish is more variety in dining, which is not too surprising given we’re remote. But the food was yummy and fresh (and not overpriced) so not too much to complain about.Details below for any who want more than the tl;dr…Unique Experiences. The spa experience is truly unparalleled. All massages and facials take place in a private spa cabin, equipped with infrared sauna, steam shower, plunge pools, and a 3x3 ft outdoor rainforest shower. We had the entire cabin and its amenities to ourselves for 30 minutes after our massage! The massages are pricey but well worth it.In addition, this resort features 10 small open-air hot tub pools secluded in a zen garden. Just imagine kicking back in one of these pools with your partner and some champagne (plastic containers, of course) below a starry night sky.Ultra-kind Personalized Care. The whole team goes above and beyond to melt away your concerns and enable your complete relaxation. Everyone knows your name and they love interacting with you on a personal level - we basically co-created a new cocktail with the bartenders. They never rush you even when you are naughtily late (outside the cleaning crew coming one morning at 7:30 - not sure what happened there haha). And get this - they don’t wait for you to come to them with issues, and proactively fix issues or ask you questions to surface your wants and needs. They are also incredibly fun to chat with and each have interesting life stories.The one thing they could do better is put you at ease before you realize just how accommodating everyone and everything is. They made things like shuttle reservations and hot pools seem more formal or high-demand than they actually are.The Landscaping. Next level. Pure next level. If you’re one who loves stopping to smell the roses, there are countless opportunities in the Japanese style garden with some unique art sculptures. My favorites were sitting on the yoga deck on the pond at 2AM looking up at the stars, walking through a ficus forest underneath a gigantic tree (like the one in Avatar) where birds chirp up a symphony, and watching the sunset over the horse stables & grounds.The rooms are newly renovated in 2019 so they are fresh as a cucumber. Very comfortable.Sensei by Nobu is great for breakfast and dinner. For breakfast, we loved sitting outside on the Koi Pond deck surrounding the restaurant. So many different and beautiful colored fish!!

Mandy Feldt

2022-05

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austin woodin

2020-05

The Four Seasons Resort is always the best venue no matter the location. Nothing beats their service and their facilities. Rooms were recently upgraded and amazing. The views are awesome and probably the most technologically advanced room (and toilet) I've ever experienced. Nice golf course too.

Maria Ayala

2022-05

Gorgeous property, wonderful employees, and amazing spa services. Definitely the most relaxing, romantic vacation we’ve had yet. Our couples massage took all our stresses away!

Sarah Hilton

2022-05

My honest review is this place has potential, but has some things it can improve on.-No one tells you to pre book the activities before your trip. There was zero communication from Sensei before we arrived. This left us scrambling to book our activities and spa times. My husband and I are here for our honeymoon and we were really looking forward to the jeep excursion, sadly we won’t be able to do one.-The shuttles to the other hotel are 9 passenger sprinter vans and book very quickly. They only run once an hour and the trip is about 30 minutes. Because they’re not on demand you end up wasting precious vacation time or basing your day around the shuttle schedule just trying to get somewhere. Getting or changing a shuttle the day-of is nearly impossible.- You can visit the other four seasons, but beware you can’t use the pool. This was not told to us ahead of time or listed on the website. The pool worker laughed with her coworker about how we were staying at sensai. So rude and unprofessional.- The communication is slim to none, the front desk is often a busy signal and they sometimes don’t respond in the in-room chat app or don’t follow up. This improved slightly throughout the trip however you really just have to show up at the front desk in person to get any real help.- The food at sensei nobu is mediocre at best, the lobster wasn’t worth the price. They have a sushi bar but don’t serve sushi?- Dinner reservations have to be made way In advance. The food selection at Sensei is very limited with just nobu and bar food. However I do recommend the garden bar food as it has larger portion sizes, is more reasonably priced, and tastes better in my opinion. There are also many great options in Lanai City, a short walk or drive away.- The Teslas are just for in-town trips and not hotel transfer or airport pickups.- The massages and spa hales were amazing!! Highly recommend Maka!! She was incredible!!!Overall the rooms, grounds, spa hales, and pools are peaceful and beautiful. However the communication, activity booking, shuttle schedule, and the limited food options take away from the overall experience.

Christine Lee

2022-05

True to form, Four Seasons hits on every possible subtle comfort and gracious overtone to make your stay special. The grounds are beautiful. The views spectacular. The tours and experiences breathtaking.

Christopher O'Connell

2014-05

This was the nicest and most beautiful hotel I have ever stayed at. The staff welcomes you as you get off the shuttle from the airport with leis as one of the bellhops plays on a conch shell. Next the take you to the main area where they give you a delicious juice drink and get your accommodations in order.The good: beautiful resort, very friendly and helpful staff. Excellent resort with delicious food and excellent activities. Also great attention to detail. I left my sunglasses on my nightstand and the next day there was a sunglasses cleaning kit left out. If we left clothes out, they were neatly folded for us.The bad: Everything is a little pricey. Some of this is the typical Hawaiian inflation because everything has to be imported. Also the shuttle service is good because it takes you into Lanai city and the other resort. My only complaint was we were coming back from dinner in Lanai city and the shuttle bus filled up. We were expecting the driver to drop off the guests and come right back. Instead we ended up having to wait for the the next shuttle (they leave every half-hour). To make matters worse, this shuttle ended up being the last one of the night, so if that had filled up, we would've had to walk back. (About a mile or so). This wouldn't have been so bad except that it was dark and raining out.Overall: This is a great hotel that you will have to pay for. The staff works their hardest to make sure you enjoy your stay. I recommend doing one of the adventure activities We ended up doing the skeet shooting. (I'll write a review on their page).

Amy Zhou

2021-05

Beautiful, immaculate gardens - don’t miss the contemporary art!We had a 2 hour spa experience which was amazing - fantastic massage followed by private use of pools, steam and sauna rooms. Staff are wonderful!

Hannah Yang

2022-05

Gorgeous grounds, nice large pool with semi-private lounge chairs surrounded by beautiful foliage, amazing onsen pools, daily fresh lei bracelets, etc etc. Only complaint is the $9 pp plain black coffees. Yes it’s good and unlimited refill but we aren’t drinking gold…