How to Save on a Trip to Maui: Tips from a Hawai'i Expert

How to Save on a Trip to Maui: Tips from a Hawai’i Expert

July 27, 2021 ctn_admin

The Canadian dollar is still pretty low. And prices for almost everything in Hawaii are higher than in most parts of the U.S. But you absolutely adore the sun and sand of Hawaii and crave a Maui vacation this year. So what are you to do? Go anyway. But keep your costs under control.

Here are some tips from a who’s been to Maui 25 times or so.

WHEN TO GO

Mid-week fares are often better than weekends, so keep that in mind. Travel experts tell me frequently that it’s best to depart for a trip on a Tuesday or Wednesday, versus Friday afternoon or Saturday. For Hawaii, it’s critical to avoid the high seasons if you want to save. It can be very expensive on Maui in winter, when Canadians like to get away from the cold and many Californians like to get away from what they THINK OF as cold. January, February and March or Easter might be tough if you’re on a strict budget. But things quiet down in April when the weather warms up in the places most Hawaii tourists come from. Prices often pick up again in summer, when kids are out of school. But the in-between months of April and May can be pretty good for deals. Ditto for September and October.

WHERE TO STAY

Napili Beach sunset on Maui. JIM BYERS PHOTO

I love the Fairmont Kea Lani and the Four Seasons down in Wailea. I’m also crazy about the Napili Kai Beach Resort on west Maui. But they can get pricey, especially in high-season. You can almost always save a bundle by renting a hotel or condo in a lesser-known spot, or by staying a block or two from the beach in more popular areas. One solid option for folks who want to explore the funky town of Wailuku and the Iao Valley is the Wailuku Inn at Ulupono. It’s fine B & B and they do a great job at breakfast, and there’s a large porch where you can relax and enjoy the garden views. There’s a nice beach about 10 minutes down the road in Paia if that’s your thing. Condos in the Kihei area are some of the best bargains, often under $200 USD a night. If you squeeze two couples into a two-bedroom unit, you can make it work pretty well. Kihei beaches are nice but it can get a bit windy. One option is to try a couple of the smaller hotels on Napili Beach, pound for pound the best beach in Hawaii for my money. Hale Napili has many units that face the water and has a cute, homey feel. There’s no pool, but they have shuffleboard and BBQ’s (another great way to save money on Maui) and you’re a 17 second walk from the beach (18 seconds if you ate too much at breakfast.) Also worth trying is the Plantation Inn in Lahaina; just steps from lively pubs and restaurants. There’s a small pool and a fine French restaurant on site called Gerard’s.

WHERE TO EAT

Big Beach BBQ food truck. JIM BYERS PHOTO

You’ll find tons of food trucks all around the island, many of them trackable via Facebook pages or food-related apps. Fish tacos and bbq items are quite popular. I love Big Beach BBQ, often found south of Wailea near Makena Beach. They do great fish tacos and also pulled pork sandwiches on bread with purple taro root. One of the co-owners, Linda, was born in Regina. There’s a big group of food trucks just outside the Maui airport in Kahului. Look for them on Haleakala Highway, just across from the Costco gas station. For established restaurants, you can’t get a better value than at Sam Sato, a low-key, long-standing Asian place in an industrial area of Wailuku. Back over on the west side of the island, south of Lahaina, you’ll find Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Shop, where they make fantastic pies and huge, New York-style deli sandwiches. A great spot to go if you’re tired of fish tacos and blackened mahi mahi sandwiches. If you want to splurge on a lovely restaurant (and this is true the world over), try going to a nice restaurant for lunch instead of dinner. You can often get the same food but for considerably less at noon than at 7 p.m.

FREE IS GOOD

Maui is filled with great things to do that don’t cost you a dime. They do free hula shows with folks of all ages a couple days a week at the Cannery Mall in Lahaina. The Kaanapali Beach Hotel, itself a pretty good deal most of the time, has free hula shows ever night that are open to guests and non-guests alike. Other hotels on the island also have free entertainment, although it might cost you a couple bucks for a nice rum drink on the patio. Walking the beach is free, of course. Snorkeling won’t cost you a dime if you buy your mask and snorkel in advance or if you stay at a hotel or condo that has them already (and doesn’t charge for them).

OTHER TIPS

The Bay Course at Kapalua, Maui. JIM BYERS PHOTO

There are hundreds of copies of free tourist magazines and brochures available in racks a few feet from the baggage claim areas at the Maui airport. You’ll find a mind-boggling number of coupons and ads for discounts on everything from ziplining and whale-watching trips to restaurants offering free appetizers and desserts. Be sure to check the Internet for hotel or restaurant specials, too. For groceries, the best deal on the island is Costco, located near the airport. They have great meat and, locals tell me, the cheapest gas on the island. If you don’t own your own mask or snorkel, it’s sometimes cheaper to buy inexpensive snorkel gear at Costco or the nearest Safeway or ABC store than to rent them. Snorkel trips on a boat are terrific, but they can set you back a good deal of cash. And some of the boats take you to bays or beaches that are easily accessible without the cost of the boat ride. Sometimes the fish you find just a few feet off the beach in Ka’anapali or Wailea are as pretty as you’ll find on a $50 excursion. When I was last at Kapalua Beach, I spotted a huge turtle just 10 feet offshore. If you’re a golfer, I highly recommend the Pukalani course on the slopes of Mt. Haleakala (House of the Sun). It’s a good bargain. Even better from a scenery standpoint, although not in the greatest condition, is the municipal course at Waiehu, about 10 minutes past Wailuku. You’ll only pay about $50 US for a round, and the course has more holes on the Pacific Ocean than any layout on the island. If you want to play one of the big boys such as Kapalua, aim for an afternoon or twilight tee time for substantial savings.