Learn all the tricks(when to go, where to sleep, what to bring...) to organize a personalized trip to Maui; and discover on your own the most romantic island of Hawaii.
I have already used this qualifier to talk about Maui on several occasions. But this is not something I have read or been told. This is something I have experienced firsthand:
Maui is the Hawaiian island of lovers.
- Sunsets with amazing colors.
- Dream beaches with dozens of sunset weddings.
- Even humpback whales come to look for mates in front of its coasts...
Of course there is much more to Maui (my travel route attests to that). However, a little romance never killed anyone...or did it?
Everyone can judge for themselves.
The Maui Guide in PDF format
Would you like to download aPDFwith all the information contained in this blog about what to see in Maui and, even better, how to do it?
54 pages that will help you plan your personalized itinerary and enjoy Maui at your own pace.
Interested? Then click here and get the guide for only €1.95.
When to go
As with Kauai, the temperatures and amount of rainfall depend more on where you are on the island than on the time of year.
- For example, on the east and south coasts of Maui, there is little rainfall throughout the year, although some storms do occur during the winter. On the other hand, temperatures are always pleasant.
- However, the north coast and the famous Road to Hana are less temperate and receive more rainfall throughout the year. In fact, it is not surprising, considering the jungle vegetation that grows around the Road to Hana.
- And if we talk about the Haleakala summitsummit, Puu Kukui peak and the surroundings of both, be prepared to be cold and see little sunshine, no matter when you visit Maui.
Interested in avoiding high season? Avoid traveling during the summer vacations (July and August), Christmas, Thanksgiving and other national holidays. Prices will be somewhat lower(I said somewhat, don't get your hopes up too high) and the influx of tourists (mostly Americans) will be lower.
The weather we encountered during our visit
We visited Maui for 8 days/7 nights at the end of November 2016.
And it rained... I'll tell you if it rained!
Examples of bad weather:
- Waianapanapa Black Sand Beach and Waimoku Falls, among others, with access closed to the public.
- We were left without seeing the Haleakala, neither take 1, nor take 2...
- We spent a freezing cold while watching humpback whales.
- We had to cancel a day at the beach to go to the movies to see... Moana! (There is no better place to see this movie than the island of Maui itself).
But, hey, you know what?
Despite the cold, wind and rain, our week in Maui was spectacular. I wouldn't trade it for anything.
How to get around
If you want to be free to move around the island at your own pace (and change your plans when the weather forces you to, as we did), don't think about it. Rent a car.
With which company to rent
When I researched the best prices and conditions for car rental in Hawaii, I found the best deals at AlohaRent intermediaries (I believe DiscountHawaiiCarRental belongs to the same company).
And I don't just mean that they had the lowest prices, but that, in addition to not asking for money up front (not even a credit card number), their rents included:
- Unlimited kilometers.
- All fees included.
- Full coverage for damage due to collision, theft or accident(LDW).
- Additional liability insurance for $1,000,000.
- Uninsured motorist protection (this was new to me).
Once you make the reservation with them, you receive a code in your email address that you can enter in the official website of the company that rents you the car(Dollar, in my case), and check that all the data is correct.
Remember, you have not paid anything. You will do so at the time you pick up the vehicle. Therefore, if you find a better price, or the conditions don't convince you, you don't even need to cancel (although I would let them know, as a courtesy).
Which car to choose
Yes, a convertible can be cool, I'll give you that.
- Travel the Road to Hana with your hair in the wind... and eating mosquitoes.
- Climb the Haleakala... and have only a cloth separating you from freezing temperatures.
- Prepare for a day of sun and beach, and end up soaking wet in an unexpected storm.
I could go on, but I think you get the point: I don't recommend renting a convertible.
It is best to opt for a small vehicle (and, in turn, cheap), not too high (wind gusts in the center of the island can be very strong) and with a trunk that hides what you carry inside.
Remember that, even if you opt for an off-road 4×4, rental companies prohibit driving on unpaved roads.
Documents to rent a car
If you book with AlohaRent, this is what you need to make the rental effective:
- Valid driver's license and be over 21 years of age (for almost all vehicles).
- A credit card at the time of payment. Please note that debit cards are not accepted.
- Arrive at the office no later than 6 hours after the time indicated in your confirmation email. After that time, the agreed price will be cancelled.
Our rental car in Maui
As on the island of Kauai, our vehicle during our visit to Maui was also a Dollar Chevy Spark (the basic range).
It cost $234 for 7 days (227.73€; 32.5€ per day); a good price in Hawaii.
Where to stay
You have a multitude of options, depending on your budget:
- Campgrounds.
- Hostels ranging from 30 to 40€ per person.
- Airbnb rooms scattered all over the island.
- Hotels with a wide range of prices.
- Apartments for long stays, both in Booking and Airbnb, among others.
But, before deciding where you are going to spend the night, the first thing you should do is to organize your route. That is to say:
What are you going to visit in Maui?
For example, if you want to travel the Road to Hanaseriously consider spending a night or two in Hana or the surrounding area.
To climb the summit of HaleakalaMany tourists choose to sleep in Kula and get up less early to see the sunrise.
Surely you want to enjoy the beaches east of Maui. However, this coastline is very long and the road is regularly jammed, especially around Lahaina. So, if you only have a few days, choose a beach area for an overnight stay, southeast or northeast, and take advantage of the dozens of options within a few miles.
How did we decide? I'll tell you now:
Our accommodations
7 full days in Maui is enough to see most of the island, but not all of it. Especially if you are into slow travel, as we are.
So the first thing we chose was what we wanted to do and see in Maui:
1. Road to Hana
We opted to spend two nights in Hana. And, I assure you, it was one of the best decisions we made, as it allowed us to enjoy the west coast of the island as it deserves. When it came to booking accommodation, there were few options left.
However, if you are not looking for luxuries, our townhouse Relaxing Oceanfront getaway in Hana (267€/2 nights) was a great choice.
2. Beach... but which area to choose?
Both the southeast and northeast coasts offer postcard beaches, breathtaking sunsets and coral reefs for snorkeling.
The only difference is that, in the northeast, the mountain near the beach has a lot of vegetation and, therefore, the landscape is more attractive (at least in our opinion). Of course, on the south coast it rains a little less.
Considering that we arrived in Maui after spending 9 days touring Kauai, the greenest and rainiest island of Hawaii... we opted for southeast! Specifically, we rented a small studio at the Grand Champions Condos in Wailea (673,3€/5 nights).
You can find deals at this resort also on Airbnb, although we ended up renting privately from Clearwaterentals (at the time, their prices were competitive; however, their website is not working today).
3. Haleakala
We wanted to visit this national park (we had no idea what was in store for us). And we knew that sleeping near it would give us an advantage when it was time to get up early to see the sunrise at the summit.
Unfortunately, almost all accommodations on Maui charge quite a bit for cleaning. Therefore, the difference between renting 2 or 3 different apartments on the island raised the final price too much.
So we ended up sacrificing the proximity to the Haleakala in favor of being a stone's throw from the beach.
What to bring to Maui
Documents
Since Hawaii is part of the United States, you need to:
- A passport with more than 6 months validity.
- Driving license and credit card (no debit card, remember) to rent the car.
- A printed copy of the confirmed ESTA(Electronic System for Travel Authorization), mandatory to enter the USA.
Never been through airport customs in the United States? Here's an overview:
On your first stop in the country (even if it is not your last), you will go through passport control where you will be asked for your ESTA and a completed document that you will have been given on the plane itself. You will be asked questions about the purpose of your visit(vacation!), your fingerprints will be taken digitally and a photograph will be taken.
Once past this point, you will have to collect your luggage and, if you are making a stopover, hand it in at the specific counters of your airline (there will be indications on your way, don't worry).
Luggage
It all depends on what you intend to do in Maui, but here are a few must-dos:
Trekking? Pack a good pair of hiking boots hiking boots to enjoy hiking without slipping.
Road to Hana? Above all, anti-mosquito lotion, whether you carry it with you or buy it on the island.
Climbing Haleakala? Layers of warm clothing (fleeces, thermal T-shirts...) and a raincoat/windbreaker.
Beach? Bikini, swimsuit, shorts, sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses... And enjoy!
Travel insurance
Although you should already know this, it is worth reminding you, just in case:
Health care in the United States is outrageously expensive.
Any incidence: Stitches in a cut, high fever, a bandaged ankle... can result in figures of 3 and 4 zeros... seriously!
And now, if you need someone to rescue you in the bush after torrential rains, injured during some kind of risky sport or carried away by the current while swimming... be prepared to spend an arm and a leg on bills.
It is clear that an unforeseen event can happen anywhere, whether it is in the corner of your house or discovering Maui. And, I understand you, no one can take away your disappointment.
But... do you know who takes the 'woody' out of your pocket?
I always travel with them, and only with them. No other companies to try.
And the reasons are very clear:
- They offer differentinsurance optionswith rates adjusted to your needs: Basic, Standard, Star, Backpacker and Family. In addition, with their comparative tables it is very easy to decide which of them best suits your trip (insured activities, amount of medical coverage, extras...).
- IATI takes care of all medical or rescue expenses from the very beginning, if you call them first when you are in trouble. This way, you won't have to advance any money at the time. And if that's not enough, your call will get you referred to the nearest and most appropriate center for your situation, which will always be of the highest quality.
- Is it an emergency and you can't let them know beforehand? Present the invoice of what you have advanced, and they will return it to you without any problem.
- They have very competitive prices. Specifically, my 21-day tour of Hawaii and San Diego cost less than 60€ per person. In my opinion, traveling insured in the United States at that price is a bargain, don't you think?
- Need another reason? Well, here it is: a 5% discount on any policy you sign up for if you do it through these links.
So, you can imagine what my advice is, can't you?
Travel insured, enjoy your adventure and... come back home wanting more!
Useful Links
- International flight deals to Hawaii: Trabber, eDreams, andMomondo.
- Car rental AlohaRent and DiscountHawaiiCarRental.
- Booking deals in Maui.
- ESTA application.
- Get 5% off your IATI travel insurance.
And now, all the articles of this blog relating our experiences in Maui and Kauai along our 17-day route through Hawaii:
- How to decide which Hawaiian island to visit.
- 7 day tour of Maui.
- The best snorkeling beaches in southern Maui.
- Sighting of humpback whales off the coast of Maui.
- Nightmare before dawn at Haleakala.
- The full description of our experience at O'hoe Gulch and Pipiway Trail.
- 3 days and 2 nights discovering the Road to Hana.
- 9 days on the road in Kauai, step by step.
- A practical guide to organizing a trip to Kauai on your own.
- Waimea Canyon, the Grand Canyon of the Pacific.
- Kalalau Trail, Kauai's most challenging hike.
- Awaawapuhi Trail, the Napali Coast at your feet.
- Fly over Kauai in a helicopter... without doors!
- Kauai's most beautiful beaches: what would you like to do today?
- Discover the Napali Coast on a luxury boat.
- Queen's Bath, forbidden beauty in the Garden of Eden.
- Mahaulepu Trail, hiking, temples, and pristine beaches on Kauai.
Conclusion
Do you want to swim among coral reefs, rub shoulders with green turtles, climb volcanoes, hike through bamboo jungles, drive along roads that wind alongside an endless blue sea, walk among colorful eucalyptus trees, be struck dumb by the roar of mile-long waterfalls and fall in love with every sunset? Do you want all this and more?
Come to Maui 😉.