5 Tips For a Better Trip to Maui

Recently I flew to Maui to celebrate 30 years of wedded bliss.

Maui, ya’ll! I didn’t even know what to think. But it didn’t take long to realize: it is gorgeous!

Soft, sandy beaches, clear blue water, mountainous terrain, luscious rainforest, colorful fish, stunning sunsets. I could go on and on. I loved every bit of it. If you’re in to beach getaways, add Maui to your bucket list. You’ll thank me later.

In the course of the week, I learned a few things.

1. After you land, head to Costco. It’s barely a mile from the airport and you can really save on excursions and dining out by prepurchasing tickets and gift cards in advance. We added it up. With the luau tickets, catamaran sunset ride, various restaurants, we could’ve saved hundreds. Money that could’ve been used on souvenirs, car rental, or returned to our wallets. If you’re a Costco junkie (aka member), why not take advantage of the savings? (We had a little kitchenette in our room so we also bought waters, Gatorade, yogurts, granola bars, chips, and other snacks for the days when we were exploring the island and needed something to rejuvenate us while driving.)

2. Pay attention to where the locals park. Friends mentioned this but we didn’t understand until we arrived. All along the coast, we noticed swarms of cars randomly parked seemingly in the middle of nowhere. When I spotted a staircase leading into the trees, I got curious. Feeling adventurous, we pulled over at the next swarm and descended into the most gorgeous cove, perfect for snorkeling. We ended up swimming with the most adorable sea turtle who wasn’t the least bit bothered by our differences. Another such grouping of parked cars led us to a quaint watering hole where the locals waded in the cool streams flowing from the hills. It was a lovely reprieve from the sun.

3. Drive the northwest coast. It’s just as beautiful as the Road to Hana. We set out early for Hana Highway just to see what all the hullabaloo was about. We were staying in Kaanapali so we headed north. We stopped at a public beach to check out the snorkeling and ended up staying for almost an hour. Further up the 30, we rounded the first treacherous one-way bend in the cliff and were met by the most incredible views. After catching our breath and taking a boat-load of photos, we continued on our way. I white-knuckled it around most of the coast but I wouldn’t have missed the adventure for anything. The yield signs and occasional warning signs prepared us for what lay ahead. We’re still talking about the thrill of that “Sunday” drive!! We eventually connected to the Road to Hana and its polar-opposite climate. The rainforest was incredible but a bit tame after our earlier experience.

4. Don’t overpack. You’ll want to pick up a few “native” outfits and ABC Stores make it affordable to do so. Anything from flowery sundresses, to bright Hawaiian shirts for men, sarongs, and fun T-shirts. The variety is stupendous and the price is comparable to the mainland. I could have saved my back by packing lite, I still bought just as many souvenirs.

5. Try the local vittles at a food truck. It won’t disappoint. We spotted trucks serving everything from lunch/dinner menus to smoothies, coconut juice and an assortment of sweets. We stuffed our faces with tacos and burritos from a truck outside of the Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve. We were starving after swimming with all the bright-colored fish along the black ash shore. The food was delicious, and despite being the only “restaurant” for miles, it was decently priced.

Maui was such a monumental escape. We don’t often frequent the same vacation spots, but I’m confident Maui will be a repeat trip. It was that fantabulous!

Have you been to Maui? What was your favorite memory or thing to do? Drop your answer in the comments below. Maybe I will want to try it my next go ’round.

Aloha, for now, friends!!

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