Save on a Maui Vacation

Please enjoy this free guide to Maui and the amateur photography! I left the photos in higher resolution so you can see how beautiful the island really is. The pictures are free for personal use; just be patient with the page loading time. I got some beautiful shots on my vacation and would like to share them with everyone!

In the good spirit of this website I managed to find some great ways to save money on food, entertainment, and transportation while I was there! I wish that I had all the information on this page before my first trip to the island!

Free Things to do in Maui

1- Ranger guided hikes at Haleakala National Park . We booked a 3 hour hike in the Waikamoi Cloud Forest, but it was canceled due to heavy rains. It was a real bummer. There are several other guided activities in the national park described in the link above.

2- Road to Hana – Leave early (around 6 or 7)!Consider staying overnight in Hana in order to really enjoy the outdoor activities in the area. We screwed up and got started around 10, then had to turn around about half way because the sun sets early in December. Hawaii does not have daylight savings time!

The drive is absolutely beautiful as seen in the pictures below, but it is quite tedious. If driving 10 mph up and down one of the windiest roads in the world is not your idea of a good time, then consider a tour or just stay close to your hotel.

3- Haleakala National Park – The national park is divided into 2 separate sections. One is in the middle of the island near Kahului Airport and the other is just past Hana. The $10 national park pass is good for 3 days so it would be a good idea to plan the Road to Hana trip and a visit to the summit area in that time frame.

You can cut your car rental cost down to just a couple of days this way and save on the pass. I found nice descriptions the Haleakala National Park hiking trails at www.haleakala.national-park.com/hike.htm

4- The Kapalua Adventure Center – Use their free hiking trails. The zipline, challenge course, snorkel, and dive trips all cost money, but the hiking is free.

5- Snorkel Black Rock – Located directly in front of the Sheraton. Rent snorkel gear for $12 per day or buy your own for $15-$25 at the ABC store in Whalers Village. The ABC store will be your #1 destination for saving $$$ in this area of Maui. They have souveniers, food, and all sorts of other necessities at the cheapest prices in the area. Save your receipts too, since your will get a free gift for every $100 you spend at the store.

6- Tour the Resorts – There is a 2 mile beach path that runs from the Hyatt to the Sheraton and Black Rock area. You will find local artisans with their wares displayed throughout the Hyatt hotel and other resorts. See hand-carved tikis, unique jewelry, and beautiful Hawaiian crafts.

7- Whalers Village – Browse the local shops, check out the Whaler’s Museum, and see the schedule in the center of the shopping center for free hula shows and other activities.

Things That Cost Money in Maui

1- Trilogy Tours – Booth located just south of the Sheraton. Go whale watching or take a snorkel tour. We asked one of the tour operators about when to go and were told to avoid snorkeling after recent rainfall because it stirs up the sand and visibility is bad.

In regards to whale watching, our conceirge told us that it was a rip off in December since the whales were just arriving. January and February are better times to to go. Full day snorkel tours including breakfast and lunch are about $120 and shorter whale watching tours including snacks and beverages are about $40.

2- Go to a Luau – The independent travel planner at our hotel saved me $25 for 2 on the Drums of the Pacific Luau over at the Hyatt. The food at this luau was excellent, the show was great, and we got a chance to meet some other travelers over all-you-can-drink Mai Tai’s! I’d also like to say the the fire-dancer finale was an incredible surprise!

3- Shop – Haggle with local artisans that have their wares displayed at the various hotels. I bought a beautiful hand carved 2 ft tall tiki for $250. The woodworker started at $350. I offered $200 even. He countered with $250. I asked to throw in a smaller tiki with the deal and got it. I also got $10 off with a hand-made glass/silver bracelet for my girlfriend. Ask for a discount, you will probably get it!

4- The Lahaina shopping area on Front Street offers splendid walk down the ocean front. You will get 2 hours of free parking if you get you get your parking ticket stamped at a local restaurant or shop with purchase. Your hotel also offers free shuttle service, so you can skip parking all together if you like.

5- Spa treatments- Your on vacation and a massage sounds great, but you don’t want to pay $145 for 50 minutes at the resort spa. Just make a call to Spa Rejuva and they will come to your room for only a $10 service fee. You could also try Lahaina Massage just a short drive down the road in Lahaina shopping area. A lomi-style massage is the specialty in Hawaii!

Where to Eat in Maui

1- CJ’s Deli & Diner– Just a ten minute walk from the hotel or a short drive up the road is a great place for comfort food. Get a meal at any time of day for $5-$15! Don’t miss their early bird special!

If you plan on going to Halekaliea National Park or doing the Road to Hana, then be sure to have them pack your lunch at CJ’s. For $12 you get a big sandwich, Hawaiin style chips, a sliced pineapple half, delicious Hana Bar (yummy brownie), and a drink. They even supply you with a cooler for a refundable $5.

2- The ABC store at Whalers Village – Get food, gifts, drinks, beer, and liquor for 1/3 the price of your resort.

3- The Food Court at Whalers Village – Find Chinese, pizza, ice cream, and everyone’s favorite fast food chain McDonald’s!

4- Early Dinner – Our resort gave us 15% off food at their restaurants if ordered before 6:15 PM. Ono was pretty good and you can save a few bucks by splitting tapas. Take a pass on the Tropica. I got a seafood stew and my girlfriend got chicken. We’ve both had much better for much less!

5- Hula Grill– I did not get a chance to go, but the concierge said that this was a great place for seafood. It’s casual dining, it’s right on the beach, and it’s cheaper than the hotel. They also have music at night.

Maui Transportation

Book transport with Executive Shuttle. It’s $50 one way for a couple and it’s cheaper than Speedy Shuttle. You can also rent a car from the airport or get one through the travel agent at your hotel to rent on an as needed basis. Try bidding on Priceline before you go if you plan on renting a car for the week.