Maui Online Guide

A wide variety of accommodations are available on Maui. Ranging from luxury suites for the super-rich to humble surfer shacks, the choices are nearly limitless. Which do you prefer? Resorts, hotels, condominiums, bed and breakfasts, that little granny flat up on the hill in Kihei, or maybe you’re considering a timeshare. What area is the best to stay in, West Maui, South Maui, Central Maui or Upcountry? How do you find what’s right for you.

Research is the key. There’s a great deal of information published on Maui travel. The internet is a good place to look, but how do you separate fact from fiction, a good deal from a bad one. Here are a few things to consider:

Where is the property located? Look up the address in Google Maps or something similar to see where the property really is. We’ve noticed certain properties in Kihei disguise the fact that they are across a busy street from the ocean.

If the property is ocean front, is there a usable beach? Surprisingly many ocean front properties on Maui do not have usable beaches. Ask what the beach is like. Is the beach sandy or rocky? Is the ocean swimable off the beach? Is there a problem with seaweed on the beach?

What does the room look like? What’s the view? A picture is worth a thousand words.

Who are you booking your accommodations from? Are you booking through a travel agency, from the property directly, from a middleman, or from an individual owner? In the case of condos it could be any one of these. Our suggestion is to ask for references, particularly if you’re booking from an individual owner. We often use www.vrbo.com (vacation rentals by owner) to find accommodations. We always call the owner before booking and then confirm their information with the property.

Who do you call if something goes wrong? If you’re renting a condo from a middleman or a private owner how are problems handled? When we asked this question of an owner in Connecticut we were told she could handle any problem from there. We booked the unit anyway. The washer leaked. You know what; she had it fixed by the next day. Go figure.

Is there an additional fee to register at the property? We actually booked a condo (the Kahana Sunset) through a middleman (a real estate company) that charged us a $35 registration fee when we arrived.

What is the deposit, payment of the balance and cancellation policy? This can vary greatly from property to property. Make sure you ask up front and that you get a clear answer in writing.

These are just a few points to be considered and not meant to be all inclusive. Be sure to ask about things that are important to you.

Find interesing places to see and things to do on our Maui Travel Map.