usvi-on-line
cheating on STJ with Maui for my 50th!
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paulandtracie
- Posts: 236
- Joined: Mon Mar 08, 2010 11:45 am
- Location: Michigan
cheating on STJ with Maui for my 50th!
After much discussion and hang wringing, we have decided to abandon our usual trek to St. John this summer and heaad for the island of Maui for my 50th birthday. I have always dreamed of visiting Hawaii and have never been, so this seemed like a good time to go! If you can believe it, airfare from Detroit to Maui (nonstop from Chicago) was $50 cheaper than from DTW-STT...go figure. We are still in the planning stages but there certainly seems klike so much to see and do. We are there for 10 days so I am very excited to explore the island. Any thoughts or suggestions are appreciated from anyone who's been there!
~Tracie
~Tracie
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We cheated recently also. You'll love it.
There is a ton to do. If you like hiking, I would recommend trying to stay in Hana for at least one night. There is a fabulous long hike up to a waterfall. It could be done in a day (to Hana , hike and back) , but it is much more pleasant to start early in the day and the road to Hana takes "forever", with traffic "heavier" on the way in the morning and on the way home at night. We like going the opposite way everyone else is going! It would be a long day to go to Hana and back if you did that hike, but doable.
We used a book called "Maui Revealed". I think it is probably one of the best books out there. Then also we 50 Thrifty Maui Restuarants. It had great advice and we used it for almost every meal. Saved a lot of money, but better yet got to experience restaurants the locals go to. Lots of places with nice fresh fish in a casual atmosphere.
Those are my suggestions. Don't get me started
It was probably the best vacation of our life.
There is a ton to do. If you like hiking, I would recommend trying to stay in Hana for at least one night. There is a fabulous long hike up to a waterfall. It could be done in a day (to Hana , hike and back) , but it is much more pleasant to start early in the day and the road to Hana takes "forever", with traffic "heavier" on the way in the morning and on the way home at night. We like going the opposite way everyone else is going! It would be a long day to go to Hana and back if you did that hike, but doable.
We used a book called "Maui Revealed". I think it is probably one of the best books out there. Then also we 50 Thrifty Maui Restuarants. It had great advice and we used it for almost every meal. Saved a lot of money, but better yet got to experience restaurants the locals go to. Lots of places with nice fresh fish in a casual atmosphere.
Those are my suggestions. Don't get me started
It was probably the best vacation of our life."Sponges grow in the ocean...I wonder how much deeper it would be if that didn't happen."
We did the buddy passes way back in 1998, so I am sure a lot has changed since we visited...no internet access then to research, but i loved the condo we stayed in...I remember it was $1800 for a week, which was almost double what we normally paid. We got a one bedroom, but it actually had a queen size bed in a step up room from the living room, so we had plenty of room for the 5 of us...and maid service mid week.....
I also remember I saved almost two years...and still ran out of money before the end of our trip...we went to the grocery store and bought bread, meat, and drinks...went to early bird specials also!
http://www.kaanapalialii.com/index.cfm
We really enjoyed the Old Lahaina Luau, the road trip to Hana, and driving around enjoying the lush scenery.
I know you will have a great trip....
I also remember I saved almost two years...and still ran out of money before the end of our trip...we went to the grocery store and bought bread, meat, and drinks...went to early bird specials also!
http://www.kaanapalialii.com/index.cfm
We really enjoyed the Old Lahaina Luau, the road trip to Hana, and driving around enjoying the lush scenery.
I know you will have a great trip....
Since we are conveniently located halfway between Hawaii and STJ here in SLC, we've done hawaii more that we've done STJ. Parents go out to Maui every year (timeshare). We seem to make it out every other year (headed back in Feb). My thoughts: We usually stay in the kaanapali area, but have stayed in Kihei, and in upcountry maui (north shore).
Old Lahaina Luau - very good choice. We've done it once it was a blast. (spendy)
Never been to Hana (get car sick easily) one of these times!
Tried to do the sunrise at the Summit of Haleakela several times, but the road was closed for snow/ice. (go figure)
Done the molokini crater /turtle town snorkel trip - snorkelling was as good off shore from the condo. (but still a fun day)
We are typically there in the winter and did a really fun whale watching trip in a 16 person zodiac the last time, (only way to do it IMOP)
We like to kick around Paia once a trip.
Have also been to the farmers market in kahalui, fun place to by some local produce. (maui strawberries - tasty)
beaches we frequent for a variety of reasons,
Baldwin/hookipa on the NS to watch windsurfers/surfers.
Wailea on the south shore just a nice beach, Black rock beach (great snorkelling, mahi mahi fish and chips at the sheraton) most of our trip is usually spent beaching.
If you are trying to do it on the cheap (it can get really expensive, quick) Get a condo with a kitchen , there is a costco right there by the airport. We usually stock up for the trip breakfasts/lunches there. Then do most of the dinners out.
plenty of great restaurants. Let me know what you are looking for.
Have plenty of info. could go on for days.
Gallery from the last trip
http://flickr.com/gp/ross_mike/K76N8Q/
Feel free to PM with any specific questions. You'll have a blast.
Completely different than STJ, but no bugs.
mahalo
mike
Old Lahaina Luau - very good choice. We've done it once it was a blast. (spendy)
Never been to Hana (get car sick easily) one of these times!
Tried to do the sunrise at the Summit of Haleakela several times, but the road was closed for snow/ice. (go figure)
Done the molokini crater /turtle town snorkel trip - snorkelling was as good off shore from the condo. (but still a fun day)
We are typically there in the winter and did a really fun whale watching trip in a 16 person zodiac the last time, (only way to do it IMOP)
We like to kick around Paia once a trip.
Have also been to the farmers market in kahalui, fun place to by some local produce. (maui strawberries - tasty)
beaches we frequent for a variety of reasons,
Baldwin/hookipa on the NS to watch windsurfers/surfers.
Wailea on the south shore just a nice beach, Black rock beach (great snorkelling, mahi mahi fish and chips at the sheraton) most of our trip is usually spent beaching.
If you are trying to do it on the cheap (it can get really expensive, quick) Get a condo with a kitchen , there is a costco right there by the airport. We usually stock up for the trip breakfasts/lunches there. Then do most of the dinners out.
plenty of great restaurants. Let me know what you are looking for.
Have plenty of info. could go on for days.
Gallery from the last trip
http://flickr.com/gp/ross_mike/K76N8Q/
Feel free to PM with any specific questions. You'll have a blast.
Completely different than STJ, but no bugs.
mahalo
mike
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Ron in South Texas
- Posts: 249
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 4:15 pm
- Location: Skidmore, Texas
Maui Revealed is a "must" book. We went waterfall hunting on the Hana highway...Iao Valley is beautiful and very historic...snorkeled Molokini...the water is cold!!! I tried to drive up Haleakala but, I have a phobia for driving up mountain roads...turned around. That's why I live in South Texas. We'll take a tour next time. Stopped at the Dole Plantation...it's basically a tourist trap now. Found the Blow Hole and bought a pineapple on the side of the road...best pineapple I ever ate. I would say that the Hana Highway and Iao valley should not be missed. Also, if you buying groceries, you can get a Safeway discount card...it saved us about $40 off out grocery bill. The Hana highway will take the whole day...we left Lahaina at 7:00am and got back at 5:00pm...one of the best days of my life...ever!!!
It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere!
We were on Maui probably about ten years ago. It was our first Hawaiian trip. We spent 5 days on Maui, then 5 more days on Kauai. We enjoyed Maui. Got up early to be on Haleakala for sunrise. Chilly up there. We'd done our research and brought polartecs and warm caps. There were a lot more people up there than I'd expected, but it was spectacular. Spent a day around Paia and upcountry around Makawao. Retraced that route another day and kept going to Hana which is a wonderful drive and a lovely destination. We wished we'd planned to stay overnight in Hana. Snorkeling wasn't our main focus on Maui but we did find very good snorkeling at couple of beaches on the northwest coast. Spent a pleasant afternoon and evening in Lahaina. I remember the banyan tree and the Pioneer Inn.
I used a Lonely Planet guidebook on that trip and it got us to good places. There's a pretty active TA/Maui forum:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g2 ... awaii.html
Nice as Maui was, it just wasn't the Hawaii that I somehow had in my mind. We left Maui and flew to Kauai and that was Hawaii as I had envisioned it, particularly as we drove to the north shore.
We went back to Hawaii a few years ago, first to the Big Island, then to Kauai again. There's something wonderful for me on the north shore of Kauai. If we go again, we'd probably spend the whole trip on Kauai.
I used a Lonely Planet guidebook on that trip and it got us to good places. There's a pretty active TA/Maui forum:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g2 ... awaii.html
Nice as Maui was, it just wasn't the Hawaii that I somehow had in my mind. We left Maui and flew to Kauai and that was Hawaii as I had envisioned it, particularly as we drove to the north shore.
We went back to Hawaii a few years ago, first to the Big Island, then to Kauai again. There's something wonderful for me on the north shore of Kauai. If we go again, we'd probably spend the whole trip on Kauai.
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chicagoans
- Posts: 1586
- Joined: Thu Jan 18, 2007 2:51 pm
- Location: IL
We also used Maui Revealed for good hiking etc. info. Also, for picking lodging I really like the web page associated with Maui Revealed and the other books by that author: www.wizardpub.com
Click on the tab for Maui Revealed, then Resort Aerials and Reviews, then scroll down to the big map and click on an area, e.g. South Maui. You can click on any resort name to see how close it is to the beach, and which building numbers are where. I found this helpful because from some resort websites you can't tell if it's on the beach or across a road.
FWIW... we stayed in a few areas on the island and we LOVED Hana! I wouldn't spend my whole trip in Hana, but it's so laid back and beautiful and there are some great hikes near there. It's long enough to get to that I was glad we stayed 2 nights, so we could get a full day in for hiking and hanging at Hamoa Beach.
Have fun planning!
Click on the tab for Maui Revealed, then Resort Aerials and Reviews, then scroll down to the big map and click on an area, e.g. South Maui. You can click on any resort name to see how close it is to the beach, and which building numbers are where. I found this helpful because from some resort websites you can't tell if it's on the beach or across a road.
FWIW... we stayed in a few areas on the island and we LOVED Hana! I wouldn't spend my whole trip in Hana, but it's so laid back and beautiful and there are some great hikes near there. It's long enough to get to that I was glad we stayed 2 nights, so we could get a full day in for hiking and hanging at Hamoa Beach.
Have fun planning!
OK, after two trips to Europe, we are feeling the need to get back to STJ and/or Virgin Gorda pretty bad - it’s been 2 years this month.
BUT, it now looks like we will be cheating too and are gaining a lot of momentum towards Kauai for next May, with a stop off in Phoenix on the way to see family.
Sure airfare is more (although that spread doesn’t seem as wide anymore plus we have some miles/points to use), but there are some pretty darn nice oceanfront condos available for less than $200/night and the rental car may be about half of a STJ jeep, so the total cost difference might not be too different.
Have pulled up some of your Kauai reports already and may pester some of you with PMs.
I can’t believe it will be who knows when til we get back to STJ and BVIs. But, we gotta do these big trips before we get too old and feeble LOL
BUT, it now looks like we will be cheating too and are gaining a lot of momentum towards Kauai for next May, with a stop off in Phoenix on the way to see family.
Sure airfare is more (although that spread doesn’t seem as wide anymore plus we have some miles/points to use), but there are some pretty darn nice oceanfront condos available for less than $200/night and the rental car may be about half of a STJ jeep, so the total cost difference might not be too different.
Have pulled up some of your Kauai reports already and may pester some of you with PMs.
I can’t believe it will be who knows when til we get back to STJ and BVIs. But, we gotta do these big trips before we get too old and feeble LOL
When we come to place where the sea and the sky collide
Throw me over the edge and let my spirit glide
Throw me over the edge and let my spirit glide
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GotToGetAway
- Posts: 396
- Joined: Tue Mar 08, 2011 10:55 pm
- Location: FL
My husband and I spent our Honeymoon on Kauai and Maui.
We enjoyed Kauai more, but also enjoyed Maui. Maui seemed more commercial.
We loved the road to Hana and hunting waterfalls. We also did the sunrise tour of Haleakala and bike ride down, which was fantastic and we still talk about it frequently (no guard rails, many switchbacks!!!!). Loved the Molikini snorkel tour where we saw dolphins.
My recommendation is to NOT stay on the Kaanapali Coast where all the chain hotels are, and chose a less crowded area. My other recommendation is to pick up a cockroach trap at the supermarket and place it under a seat in the rental car. We learned the hard way, trust me
We enjoyed Kauai more, but also enjoyed Maui. Maui seemed more commercial.
We loved the road to Hana and hunting waterfalls. We also did the sunrise tour of Haleakala and bike ride down, which was fantastic and we still talk about it frequently (no guard rails, many switchbacks!!!!). Loved the Molikini snorkel tour where we saw dolphins.
My recommendation is to NOT stay on the Kaanapali Coast where all the chain hotels are, and chose a less crowded area. My other recommendation is to pick up a cockroach trap at the supermarket and place it under a seat in the rental car. We learned the hard way, trust me
Tickerless 
Been there several times. Love it!
Don't miss Mama's Fish House. Drive to Hana, it's worth the drive. There are so many hidden places to snorkel on Maui...check a map with a local dive shop.
Maui is the best island because it's two valcanos with all the different climates of all the islands. You will love it and have a great time.
Don't miss Mama's Fish House. Drive to Hana, it's worth the drive. There are so many hidden places to snorkel on Maui...check a map with a local dive shop.
Maui is the best island because it's two valcanos with all the different climates of all the islands. You will love it and have a great time.