8 Best Maui Vacation Tips

Is Maui your favorite island for Hawaii vacation? Our '8 Best Maui vacation tips' by today's guest author Melinda is perfect for you. Melinda fell in love with Maui on her first beach vacation in Kihei. Sunny Kihei has been her Hawaii vacation destination ever since. Good reason for her to share her ideas and vacation tips with everybody who plans a Maui vacation.

8 Best Maui Vacation Tips by Melinda

"Whether you are visiting Maui for a wedding, an extended stopover on the way to Asia or just plain rest and recreation vacation, well-informed planning ensures a Maui vacation that lives up to your expectations. Based on many trips to Maui ranging in duration from several days to several months, here are my 8 Best Maui Vacation Tips:

1. When to visit Maui?

High season on Maui is Christmas through Easter. Is it the best time to visit Maui? Nope! That's just when the most people are eager to escape winter on the Mainland. What little bad weather Maui has actually clusters in the winter months. The rest of the year, Maui weather is warmer but not unpleasantly hot. Maui hotel or vacation rental rates are lowest during fall and late spring.

2. How long to stay in Maui?

You can see the whole island in four days, but to have a real Maui experience, you should stay 10 - 14 days. After the first week you'll find yourself slowing down and mellowing to a Maui rhythm, enjoying life the way it was meant to be.

3. Where to stay on Maui vacation - condo or hotel?

There are very few traditional hotels and next to no motels on Maui. Your two main choices are Maui resorts (expensive) and Maui vacation condos (generally cheaper). Many condo complexes offer nearly everything you'd want from a resort except the high prices. The least expensive Maui condo rentals are available directly from the owners. Many of those Maui vacation condos include kitchens, giving you the ultimate flexibility in being able to dine in or out. Not to forget all those FREE amenities like Internet access and tons of beach equipment

4. Maui Beach vacation

In looking through Maui condo and resort descriptions, be aware that in Maui no one owns the beach. All of Maui's wonderful white sand beaches have public access, even the most high-priced Maui resorts . If you plan to swim or snorkel a lot, you might be better advised to book one of those Maui beach condos adjacent to one of the public beaches, such as Kamaole Beach Park I, II or III. Unlike most of the resort beaches, these are manned by lifeguards seven days a week, and they're clean, with restrooms.

5. Maui vacation locations

The two main beach locations for an extended stay are West Maui (Ka'anapali and Lahaina) and South Maui (Kihei and Wailea). Of these, Kihei is the least expensive, and its beaches are just as nice as elsewhere. If you prefer a resort atmosphere, gravitate to Ka'anapali or Wailea instead.

6. Do you need to rent a car on your Maui vacation?

Most visitors to Maui rent a car, but it's possible to have a great vacation without that expense. Simply choose a Maui vacation condo at the beach, surrounded by plenty of eatery choices. Then book sightseeing tours through any one of the plentiful activity kiosks you'll see nearby, selecting operators who will pick you up at the hotel. You can visit the top of Haleakala, ride the road to Hana and take snorkeling trips this way.

7. What to pack for your Maui vacation?

Maui is relentlessly casual. It's also warm, both day and night. This means you can travel light when visiting Maui. All you need in the way of clothing are shorts and shirts, one pair of pants or one light dress, your bathing suit of course, a light jacket or sweater, sandals and sneakers. If you plan to visit the top of Haleakala, where it can be as cool as 40 degrees, bring a down vest or fleece as well. I recommend a pair of binoculars as well, for watching whales and surfers.

8. Day planning of Maui activities

Most guidebooks don't tell you that the ocean is quietest in the morning prior to about 10 a.m., and therefore that's when you should plan swimming, snorkeling and boat tours. They also don't advise you to plan to watch the nightly sunset, especially in winter, when the sky puts on a spectacular show. Afternoons are great for sitting by the pool or sightseeing.


Use a few of my personal vacation tips, or best all of them, and have the best Maui vacation of your dreams."

Much mahalo, Melinda, for your great vacation tips for our Maui visitors fitting right into our Maui vacation articles. Maui visitors, what's your best Maui vacation tip? We love to hear from everybody who has Maui in his heart. Mahalo and aloha, Pua Hawaii Vacation

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