The Maui Guide

Let’s start by saying WHO DOESN’T LOVE HAWAII?! Pros: relaxing, yummy food, kind people. Cons: expensive, long flight for still being in the states (from Seattle at least). But who cares?! Because being on an island just in general is just a surreal feeling. Between all the islands, Maui is my favorite! It’s a truly relaxing vacation because it is so spread out and much more private. If you haven’t already been, it’s worth visiting especially when you’re in need of a vacation. Here is MY Maui travel guide –

Costco

You heard me right. COSTCO! Unlike somewhere like Honolulu, you’ll need to rent a car to get around. Your first Maui Guide tip is to stop at Costco next to the airport before heading to your hotel or resort and pick up all the booze, water, bacon, and snacks your heart desires. Hawaii is already quite expensive to begin with since everything is obviously being shipped to an island but when you add the tourist traps on top of that, you could end up spending a lot of extra money. Obviously it’s worth it and you knew that going into your vacation, but making breakfast or packing a lunch for the beach here and there can lower your overall cost significantly.

Turtle Beach – Hidden Gem!

Ho’okipa Beach is the perfect first stop in ( after Costco 😉 ) or last stop out. Not only is it a beautiful beach to hang out with the locals but there are DOZENS of HUGE Green Sea Turtles walking the beach. It’s a pretty crazy sight to just witness in general. It’s also next to Mama’s Fish House which is one of the best restaurants on the island that serves seafood caught within the last 24 hours… drool.

Airbnb & VRBO

Airbnb and VRBO are your friends, especially if traveling with a group! Sometimes finding a place to stay on these two is really a hit or miss. Pay attention to the total amount and not the nightly rate because when you add the room plus taxes, fees, and the cleaning fee the owner adds on, it can sometimes be just as much or more than staying at a hotel or resort. However, I’ve been lucky enough to find VRBO’s that are rooms of a resort so I’ve gotten all the perks without the extra cost. Staying at a true resort, like your Sheraton or Westin, is often going to be more overpriced but you do get luxuries like a private spot on the beach, more hotel activities, and most do nightly shows for entertainment. BUT for the sake of this Maui guide tip, you can sometimes save hundreds using these sites.

Snorkle at Black Rock Beach

Take time to snorkel or cliff jump at black rock beach! It’s a bit busy because it’s on the beach at the Sheraton Hotel in Kaanapali. But if you can manage to go early to get a spot, do it! It’s a unique beach because it’s not just the beautiful white sand you’ll see all around, it’s literally black rock. Just be careful snorkeling because you can easily get lost focusing on the fish and swim beyond the rock where the current gets pretty strong.

Purchase a Snorkel Mask and Carry-On

The nice thing about packing for a Maui trip is that most of your suitcase will be bikinis, shorts, rompers, etc. so you should have extra space. If you haven’t read my guide on how to pack a carry-on, read it HERE. Renting snorkel gear on your trip can cost you $25+ per day… Doing that every day can really add up. Plus you’re sticking this gear in our mouth where a bunch of others did before you… ick. My advice is to purchase the mask before your trip and bring it with you so you’re not wasting money AND you’re not swapping spit with strangers. On our last trip, we bought the full-face masks and LOVED them! I highly recommend them over just the eye mask. You can breathe regularly, have a full view of what’s around you and your face stays dry so you’re not drinking salt water all day.

People Watch at Whaler’s Village

Whaler’s Village is right smack in the middle on the most beautiful mile-long beach in Kaanapali. It’s busy busy because it’s basically a resort town being on a perfect beach and all. With more people means more crazies to watch 😉 Just kidding, but seriously hang out in the area. You can shop shop shop and then take a break to grab drinks on the outdoor patios and just relax.

Buy Tickets for The Old Lahaina Luau

I did tons of research on what the best Luau was and I’m so glad I chose this one. First of all, it’s so spacious! There are so many activities to do and learn about before you sit down for dinner and the show. They also let you watch while they cook the pig. They first greet you with your traditional lei and a drink and then you get an open bar the entire night! After dinner, you have a beautiful show to enjoy. Maui guide tip – It does sell out quickly so book ASAP and if it is sold out, ask to be put on the waitlist. It worked for us before!

Walk Lahaina

If you’re staying close enough, uber to Lahaina. There are tons of art galleries, shops, and awesome happy hour spots (why you’ll want to Uber). Walk around until you get to Lahaina Banyan Court where you’ll see Maui’s oldest living banyan tree. It’s HUGE and so beautiful!

Visit Molokini Crater

If you love snorkeling, you need to visit the Molokini Crater! It’s a volcanic crater that holds unique wildlife to Hawai’i which means you won’t see them anywhere else. My first time, I actually swam next to sharks (obviously meaning I saw them, jumped back on the boat and refused to swim again after). It’s a half-day boat trip that will take you to Molokini and turtle town and they’ll even feed you lunch.
Warning – it is very nauseating so if you get even a little motion sickness then just skip this, unfortunately. You don’t want to be miserable on this day trip. I have yet to take the tour without seeing at least one person yack.

Comment below and let me know your favorite island and why you recommend it!