Travel Tips To Maui

When winter feels like a burden you can’t bear a day longer, the thoughts of many Americans and Canadians turn to Maui, which offers year-round tropical temperatures. In a weak economy, more people make last-minute decisions on vacations, and they have more options doing so because headcounts are down. Still, there are some things you should know to get the best deals and make the best choices when deciding on a trip to Maui with less than two weeks to go before leaving home.

1. Choose your place to stay by location as well as price: Don’t assume you can reserve a rental car with little lead time. During high season, all the rental cars on the island from the major companies can be spoken for. When that happens, it’s too difficult for the rental car companies to bring in additional cars from the other Hawaiian islands or from the mainland.

If you’re planning to spend much of your time on the beach and break that up with touring activities, you’ll want to book a location that is on or very close to a nice beach, with a variety of shops and restaurants nearby. The Kamaole Beach II area, with condo complexes such as the Maui Banyan, Kihei Kai Nani, and Kihei Akahi, fits that description exactly.

2. Check local car rental companies. Besides the national car rental companies like Hertz, Avis, National, Budget, Thrifty, and Alamo, Maui has several locally based rental car providers who offer older cars at about $25 a day. Since they’re a well-kept secret known mainly to part-time residents and repeat visitors, they may have cars when the famous name companies don’t. Some are situated near the airport and will meet your flight at no extra cost.
3. Look for owner-rented condos: If you’re having trouble finding a place to stay when time is short, look at vacation rental websites for Maui, which will show you availability for the exact time period you want to be on Maui. It’s true that many of those condo units have been booked 9-12 months in advance. But new units are always coming on the market, and some owners have last-minute cancellations and changes.
4. Call condo management companies: Maui-based vacation rental companies like Bello Maui Vacations and Maui Aloha Condo Rentals manage a broad cross-section of vacation properties. Call them and they will be able to tell you which of their rentals are available for your dates, including in some cases properties that haven’t even been advertised yet.
5. Ask tour operators for last-minute discounts:. To get the best prices on activities like bicycle tours of Haleakala, zip line tours, kayak rentals, whale watching boat rides and so on, call the afternoon before. Another benefit of taking care of such bookings at the last minute is that you’ll have a better handle on the weather conditions, which may not always be optimal for your chosen adventure activity.

   

Things may not go totally smoothly during your last-minute trip to Maui. For example, one European couple attending a conference in California decided to take a side trip to Maui with just four days’ advance notice. They booked a studio condo unit in a great location at a good price but were unable to secure a rental car. They did a lot of walking and rented bicycles. They could also have rented scooters, taken local buses or booked with tour vendors who offer hotel pick ups.

Five Reasons to Travel to Maui:

When the phrase “island vacation” comes to mind, do you instantly think of Maui? If not, take a minute to read five great reasons why you should travel to Maui this year.

1. Maui is Top Pick Among Pacific Islands in Conde Nast Traveler Reader’s Choice Awards: This year’s awards list the top reasons to visit as the terrific year-round temperatures (70°-80°), the variety of activities available and the sheer natural beauty of the island. Conde Nast Traveler readers loved the unique appeal of each Maui shore, catering to the wallets and interests of every kind of traveler.

   

It’s not just Conde Nast fans picking Maui as a favorite destination, though. According to the Orbitz Travel Blog, Maui is top in winter vacation spots, based on a number of reservations booked.

2. Hawaii Condominium Vacation Rental Offerings Make Maui Easy and Affordable:Private owners rent an incredible array of vacation home offerings on Maui. Why spend money at impersonal resorts when you can stay where you’ve made a real connection with the owner? You’ll find plenty of listings on the Internet, and free vacation rental websites allow owners to charge less for their properties.

Browse rent-from-owner vacation property websites and watch for the ability to search availability calendars. This will cut your search time at least in half and let you narrow down your list quickly. Match flight dates and times with your short list and get on the phone to book your rental. Renting directly from the property owner is truly the best way to enjoy Maui!

3. Maui Offers Safe Family Fun for All Ages:.Our slice of paradise features safe family fun, so don’t be afraid to bring the kids. Imagine the tales older kids will tell of snorkeling the reef off Lahaina. Active families can find adventure hiking lush trails at Iao Valley State Park. Even the little ones can play in the sun at our famous Baby Beach.

Mom and Dad can relax while the kids are enthralled with the sights and tastes of a luau. And what youngsters wouldn’t love being part of a whale watching cruise, catching site of humpbacks and a dolphin or two?

4. “Maui No Ka Oi”, or in the words of the Hawaiians, “Maui is the best.”:They say this because they know the waterfalls, beaches, and rainforests of Maui are superior to anywhere else in the islands.

Here are just a few of things we consider top rank here on Maui:

• The Road to Hana: The spectacular twists, turns and overlooks along the way to historic Hana Town are worth the flight to Maui. One of the most scenic roadways in the world, the Road to Hana ranks at the top of hotographers’ favorites.
• Along the Hana Highway on Maui is the pristine Haipuena Falls: another reason to keep your camera clicking. It’s worth the short hike to see water rushing down the rocky hillside into a lush,tree-lined pool. The rest of your drive along Hana Highway won’t be waterfall-deficient, either. There are simply amazing views everywhere along this scenic byway.
• Surfers, bodyboard enthusiasts and snorkelers say our beaches are first-rate: Top picks include Maluaka Beach in Makena, D. T. Fleming Beach Park in Kapalua and Kanaha Beach Park in Kahului.
• Not content to simply boast of sugar-fine white sands: Maui offers tourists black and red beaches to tempt them into the water. Red Sand Beach at Hana, also known as Ka’ihalulu, is particularly beautiful.

  

5. Maui Gives You Hundreds of Reasons to Love the Outdoors: The number of hiking and biking trails on Maui is dizzying! Here are visitors’ top picks for incredible outdoor experiences:

* Haleakala Summit Trails: Surrounding the dormant volcanic crater Haleakala, hikers will find thirty miles of trails ranging from easy strolls to challenging overnight hikes. For an unforgettable experience, participate in Haleakala by Sunrise or Sunset and watch the sun rise or disappear over the edge of a volcanic crater at ten thousand feet!

* Wai’anapanapa Coastal Trail: This three-mile trail in northeast Maui offers dramatic views of the black lava coastline north of Hana Bay.

* Skyline Trail at Mt. Haleakala: Experienced mountain bikers will definitely find their thrill descending this trail that starts at ten thousand feet and rides over volcanic lava flow to Mamane Trail.

These are only a few of the reasons your next island vacation should be on Maui. With affordable Hawaiian condominium vacation rental offerings, thrilling sights and activities throughout the island and a level of safety families will appreciate, isn’t it time you made your way to Maui?