Maui--the final report
Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 7:47 pm
For those of you who have requested a trip report from Maui, here it is. I don’t proclaim to be a good writer or photographer but hopefully this will give you idea of what Maui is like. Since you are probably familiar with STJ, I will try to compare good or bad between the two.
We were on the island from 11/27-12/6, stayed at the Valley Isle Resort using our Worldmark/Wyndam credits. This trip was definitely on the lower cost side compared to STJ especially from the PNW. We were able to get both plane tickets for $500 round trip direct flight into Maui from Portland using our Alaska Air companion ticket coupon. The rental car was $240 for 10 days, so with food and everything had less that $1500 into the trip. From the NW it is a much easier trip than STJ, leave at 10:00 am, land 5 ½ hours later compared to the red-eye with 2 stops going to STJ.
Valley Isle is an older resort without AC, but at this time of year and with the trade winds it felt very comfortable. We don’t require fancy but I do have to have an ocean view so I can sit in the lanai and soak it all in. We were on the 4th floor so we could crack the sliding door open and listen to the ocean all night long. Below are a couple of photos from the lanai.
Our schedule on Maui is about the same as STJ, wake up early, have breakfast, enjoy a cup of coffee on the deck enjoying the view. We then pack a lunch, head to a beach, read a book, have a couple of beers and back to the room around 2:00 to shower, shave, have a drink on the lanai and get ready to go out for dinner.
To give you an idea of time/distance, if you fly in you will land at Kahuli airport which is approximately 60 minutes from Lahaina, 30 minutes to Kihei and 45 minutes from Makena/Wailea areas. Of course this depends on the amount of traffic, roads are usually 2 lanes and 45 mph and little or no place to pass if someone is going slower. If you want to go from Lahaina area in the north down to Wailea on the south end, it will take you about 1 hour.
Our room was located in the Kahana area which is just north of Kaanapali mega resort area. Kaanapali is a very nice beach and quite large, it is home to the Hyatt, Sheraton, Westin and other very nice hotels and condos. It has a concrete path that runs the length and is a great spot to go for a morning walk while you look at the ocean and the hotels.
Lahaina is the main tourist town, it is actually a fun town to walk around, do some shopping and has a good selection of places to eat whether you want a burger or you choose to go out for that special occasion. Of course all of the upper end hotels (Four Seasons, Grand Wailea, Ritz, Hyatt) have very nice restaurants. The cost of food both in restaurants and groceries is very similar to STJ and sometimes more expensive.
Below are some pictures of the beaches going from north to south on the island;
Kapalua Beach
Napili Bay
can't remember name, just north of Black Rock
Kaanapali Beach
South of Kihei
Big Beach
The beaches are usually longer and much wider than STJ, but also more people. A lot of times the beach is crowded where the public access comes in but you move 50 yards down the beach you can usually find a quieter spot.
In wrapping it up, here is why we like each island;
Maui
Cheaper and easier flights
Cheaper car rentals
Use our condo credits
Better roads
Don’t like—busier, more people, more commercialized
STJ
Private pool
Color of the water
Softer sand
Less traffic
The people and culture
Rum is cheaper
If cost was not an issue, STJ would win hands down for us. We enjoy the more laid back atmosphere, the character and characters of the STJ residents and visitors and we can hardly wait for April when we head for STJ.
If you have any questions, be glad to help if I can.
We were on the island from 11/27-12/6, stayed at the Valley Isle Resort using our Worldmark/Wyndam credits. This trip was definitely on the lower cost side compared to STJ especially from the PNW. We were able to get both plane tickets for $500 round trip direct flight into Maui from Portland using our Alaska Air companion ticket coupon. The rental car was $240 for 10 days, so with food and everything had less that $1500 into the trip. From the NW it is a much easier trip than STJ, leave at 10:00 am, land 5 ½ hours later compared to the red-eye with 2 stops going to STJ.
Valley Isle is an older resort without AC, but at this time of year and with the trade winds it felt very comfortable. We don’t require fancy but I do have to have an ocean view so I can sit in the lanai and soak it all in. We were on the 4th floor so we could crack the sliding door open and listen to the ocean all night long. Below are a couple of photos from the lanai.
Our schedule on Maui is about the same as STJ, wake up early, have breakfast, enjoy a cup of coffee on the deck enjoying the view. We then pack a lunch, head to a beach, read a book, have a couple of beers and back to the room around 2:00 to shower, shave, have a drink on the lanai and get ready to go out for dinner.
To give you an idea of time/distance, if you fly in you will land at Kahuli airport which is approximately 60 minutes from Lahaina, 30 minutes to Kihei and 45 minutes from Makena/Wailea areas. Of course this depends on the amount of traffic, roads are usually 2 lanes and 45 mph and little or no place to pass if someone is going slower. If you want to go from Lahaina area in the north down to Wailea on the south end, it will take you about 1 hour.
Our room was located in the Kahana area which is just north of Kaanapali mega resort area. Kaanapali is a very nice beach and quite large, it is home to the Hyatt, Sheraton, Westin and other very nice hotels and condos. It has a concrete path that runs the length and is a great spot to go for a morning walk while you look at the ocean and the hotels.
Lahaina is the main tourist town, it is actually a fun town to walk around, do some shopping and has a good selection of places to eat whether you want a burger or you choose to go out for that special occasion. Of course all of the upper end hotels (Four Seasons, Grand Wailea, Ritz, Hyatt) have very nice restaurants. The cost of food both in restaurants and groceries is very similar to STJ and sometimes more expensive.
Below are some pictures of the beaches going from north to south on the island;
Kapalua Beach
Napili Bay
can't remember name, just north of Black Rock
Kaanapali Beach
South of Kihei
Big Beach
The beaches are usually longer and much wider than STJ, but also more people. A lot of times the beach is crowded where the public access comes in but you move 50 yards down the beach you can usually find a quieter spot.
In wrapping it up, here is why we like each island;
Maui
Cheaper and easier flights
Cheaper car rentals
Use our condo credits
Better roads
Don’t like—busier, more people, more commercialized
STJ
Private pool
Color of the water
Softer sand
Less traffic
The people and culture
Rum is cheaper
If cost was not an issue, STJ would win hands down for us. We enjoy the more laid back atmosphere, the character and characters of the STJ residents and visitors and we can hardly wait for April when we head for STJ.
If you have any questions, be glad to help if I can.
We were there in June of '04 and your pictures of Big Beach don't look ANYTHING like mine. There were huge waves (huge for a Texan is probably about 10-12 feet...not North Shore of Oahu huge) See: