It has been nearly a decade since I was last in Maui so this recent trip was like going back for the first time. I did A LOT of reading, researching, and asking friends for their recommendations. The below are the top 10 questions I asked friends and good ol’ Google, hopefully this will come in handy for someone else. Feel free to reach out if you have any other suggestions or tips for Maui.

1. How long should I stay in Maui: It will depend on what you are looking for but SGDF and I easily stayed 10 days just in Maui. A few friends recommended island hopping but I found 10 days was perfect since we got to surf, beach, hike, explore all the cities, landmarks, and national parks, and eat.
2. What is the best way to save money: Book ahead of time (see Q4 for what to book ahead). I’ve heard you can save a lot of money attending a timeshare meeting, but we ended up backing out thinking it was more trouble dealing with aggressive sales people and wasting an afternoon. I also looked into getting the Shaka Gold Card, which you pay for discounts on activities. We passed on getting the card since we didn’t want to book too many things in advance, but something worth getting into.
3. What should I do in Maui: I love Maui because there are so many activities from crazy adventures to just R&R. There are so many water activities like surfing, snorkeling, paddle boating, sailing, sunset / dinner cruising, and diving (you can see recommendations on Maui beaches here). If you want to stay dry, there are hiking trails, ziplining, horse back riding, and various sites (e.g., Road to Hana, Haleakalā National Park, Iao Valley, Lahaina old town).
4. What activities should I book in advance of going to Maui: The 3 most important things are 1) Flights, 2) Accommodation, and 3) Rental Car (in that order). SGDF and I saw so many great Airbnbs, hotels, and condos but they would be booked the following week. I would book your flights / set your dates so you can reserve your accommodation ahead of time. Outside of those three, you really don’t need to book anything ahead of time unless you are going to a luau or popular tour. It actually works out better to book activities when you arrive since the weather can change and Maui makes it easy to book activities.
5. How do I get around Maui: I would definitely book a car. There are buses but it didn’t seem very convenient. Ubers are also out there but will be pricey to properly explore.
6. Where is the best place to rent a car in Maui: I first thought of Avis, Hertz, etc. but found out that the local companies are cheaper. The local companies keep prices low by operating outside the airport (shuttles are usually provided) and they rent out older and / or “worn” cars. I preferred getting an older car from them since they expected it to get a bit beat up, which made me less worried about taking it up certain areas or when we completed the Road to Hana. SGDF and I went with Kihei Rent a Car since it was close by our condo.
7. Where should I stay in Maui: This is tough since there are so many great areas, but I recommend anywhere on West Maui. I tried to summarize and characterize a few of my favorite areas below but I would recommend taking into account 1) Location, 2) Availability / Price, and 3) Preferences:
   • Ka’anapali: This resort town is on the North West end of Maui . Whalers Village, Black Rock Beach, and the Sheraton Maui are in this area. This is one of the most north points you can stay so it will be a drive if you want to venture out.
   • Lahaina: This is the largest town in West Maui and can get pretty lively on Front Street. I wouldn’t mind staying here next time since it isn’t so far up north.
   • Kihei: This area felt less touristy since there aren’t any big name resorts, which seems to help keep prices down. I personally liked staying here since it was central west and made it more convenient to drive to other places on the island.
   • Wailea / Makena: This is the south end of West Maui and has a resort feel. The area is beautiful and so green since there are various golf courses there. I personally wouldn’t stay here if I wanted to explore other parts of the island since it was so far south from everything else.
   • Kahului: This is where the main airport is. It is pretty suburban and secluded from other things so it wasn’t my favorite area to call home base.
8. What type of accommodation should I book: There are the big resorts (Sheraton, Four Seasons, etc.), condos, hotels, and Airbnb / VRBO (but you prob will end up staying in a condo anyways).
9. What should I eat in Maui: There are so many great dishes and restaurants in Maui. Some people told me to go to Mama’s Fish or a luau, but I left disappointed when we went. Some of my favorite places have places such as Farmacy Health Bar Wailuku (best Acai bowl), Eskimo Candy in Kihei (for poke bowls and seafood), Coconut’s Fish Cafe (for fish tacos).
10. What should I bring to Maui: Post packing your swim suit, shorts, and beachwear, I would pack a light jacket since it can get windy and also rainy (especially post the morning, at least when we went). SGDF and I went to every major city on the island and ended up driving for hours so it would have been nice to have a phone holder to navigate. If you are hiking, then I would bring a backpack, hiking sticks, good shoes, and athletic wear. Sunscreen and aftersun are musts, but all purchasable there. I also loved having my waterproof phone case for when we went snorkeling or swimming.