I visit Maui pretty frequently (and used to live there) so I’ve stayed in a lot of different hotels and condos on trips (and staycations) plus visited so many more and done a LOT of research. Like, a LOT of research. I’m kind of a hotel person. So one of my favorite things is helping people figure out exactly where to stay on Maui. For starters, here are a few things you need to know: My tastes (and therefore my recommendations) skew high end to luxury. I’m not really a budget traveler. Although I do like to travel hack my way to a lot of stays. Hotels on Maui are pretty $$$ (especially sin ..read more

Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day when I’m on vacation, so I’m always looking for a good place.  Here are a few of my favorite breakfast spots on Maui My Favorite Breakfast Spots on Maui Grandma’s  My favorite place to go post Haleakala sunrise (or before a day spent upcountry) is Grandma’s in Keokea. It’s popular with the locals, right around the corner from Oprah’s house, and has THE BEST FOOD.  Their kalua pork eggs benedict is INCREDIBLE. Seriously, like one of my favorite meals anywhere. They use corn waffles instead of English muffins and it’s just…sigh.  Al ..read more

Hawaii Travel Tips – What NOT To Do Don’t make these mistakes if you want to 1) stay safe, 2) not look like a dumb tourist, 3) not spend unnecessary money, and 3) have the best vacation possible ; )  Enjoy your trip to Hawaii! 1.Don’t think there’s only one island to visit EVERYBODY knows about Oahu (Honolulu & Waikiki), but there are actually four main Hawaiian Islands: Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island (also called Hawaii Island). Plus two smaller islands (Molokai and Lanai) and two other islands that aren’t open to the public (Kaho’olawe and Ni’ihau).  So, yes, Oahu is th ..read more

I started tracking my Marriott Bonvoy status in 2021 when I signed up for this credit card, and in the last 3-4 years I’ve been able to stay at some AMAZING hotels that I NEVER would’ve been able to afford if I was paying cash.  I’ve used Marriott Bonvoy points to stay in dreamy hotels all over the place, but Hawaii is where I consistently find the best redemption values (i.e. the cash prices are so high and the point values are decent so it seems like a steal).  So if you’re a frequent traveler with Marriott Bonvoy status looking at a trip to Hawaii, or you’re new to the “travel ha ..read more

Planning a trip to Kauai? You’re going to love it! It’s one of the most beautiful Hawaiian Islands, well known for its lush, green mountains. Remember Jurassic Park? Well, that’s Kauai.  With so much natural beauty (beaches! hiking! snorkeling!), you could stay busy for weeks exploring every part of this island, and I could give you a long list of things to do…but I’m going to keep this paired down to things you can ONLY do on Kauai.  Things You Can ONLY Do on Kauai Whether you’re planning to spend 3 days or 10 days on Kauai (or still trying to figure out which Hawaiian Island to v ..read more

I get a lot of questions about what the “best” airline is to fly to Hawaii. My answer is always…it depends. Mostly on where you’re flying from. Different airlines have different hubs and routes which make them more attractive than other airlines when flying out of certain cities.  As far as the best airline from an experience point of view, I hate to break it to you, but air travel isn’t glamorous these days. Unless you’re flying first class (on a nice plane), economy travel from the mainland to Hawaii is mostly about…just getting there. No one has good food, no one has a luxury experien ..read more

When I’m helping people plan their trips to Maui and pick a place to stay, the one question I get asked more often than any other is if it’s better to stay in Wailea or Kaanapali.  Wailea (in South Maui) and Kaanapali (in West Maui) are the two big hubs of tourism on the island and where 95% of visitors to Maui stay. So, it’s pretty much going to be one of the two.  This post may contain some affiliate links, which means I’ll make a little money on anything you choose to purchase. But of course, I only recommend my absolute favorites to you. Thank you for supporting the brands that ..read more

Ahhhh controversy, hello old friend ; ) I’ve written a LOT about things I love to do on Maui (seriously, there is no end). But controversy always brings the eyeballs, and a lot of the things on this list are things you need to know about!  Some of these things are things you just flat out shouldn’t do, and some are things that probably aren’t worth the money for 90% of visitors.  I’ll also do a round up of things that you may want to skip if you just don’t have the budget (and what I would recommend doing instead).  This post may contain some affiliate links, which means I’ll m ..read more

A trip to Maui is a special occasion in itself, but if you’re celebrating something extra special and looking for one over the top dining experience to mark the occasion, I’ve got good news…you’ve got good options! The best in Hawaii, actually.  Yes, Maui is known for its swanky resort areas and those come with endless options of nice (and expensive) restaurants…but really, when I’m looking for a special occasion restaurant…a big stand out experience, I think there are three top options. This post may contain some affiliate links, which means I’ll make a little money on anything you cho ..read more

I used to live on Maui, and I visit often, but it never ceases to amaze me that I can always manage to find something I’ve never done before.  On my last trip to Maui, I stayed in Kapalua and while I’ve frequented the beach at Kapalua Bay plenty, I don’t usually spend a ton of time in the area. So when I saw signs for the Kapalua Coastal Trail, I set aside a morning to check it out.  I can’t believe I’d never done this before! While part of it was familiar to me, the whole trail took me through areas of Maui I’d never seen before.  If you’re looking for a fairly easy and acce ..read more