The Days Off – Travel Guide

The Dry Season
Highs of 84°F and lows of 70°F
April – October

The Humid Season
Highs of 81°F and lows of 65°F
November – April
Tropical storms may occur during the humid season.

If you are on a budget, May and October are good months to visit Hawaii. Its not as hot and the airfare/hotel prices are generally less than during peak season.

How come Weather.com is forecasting rain for the entire vacation?
Weather.com doesn’t account for rainy conditions on the entire island, just one location. A lot of times, it can be sunny on one side of the island and rainy on the other side.  I would try using http://www.hawaiiweathertoday.com for weather information.

Popularity: 2%

Mama’s Fish House ($50-$100)
This is the one of the nicest dining experiences in Maui. The prices are high, but its well worth it.  I recommend the Mahimahi  stuffed with lobster, crab, Maui onion and baked in a macadamia nut crust. The sashimi appetizer was VERY GOOD — so fresh. If you are a fan of fish, definitely try this place. Excellent service too. http://www.mamasfishhouse.com/

Sansei Sushi
If you like sushi rolls, this is the place to go. They have two locations in Maui: Lahaina and Kihei. The Lahaina location was booked for 6 weeks the last time I went. If you want to save money, go to Sansei Sushi between 5pm and 6pm for the early bird special (25% off). We were impressed with the specialty rolls the most, such as the Panko crusted Ahi sashimi rolls and Sansei special roll. Don’t miss out on the miso butterfish — the best entree on the menu! For dessert, try the fried macadamia nut ice cream. Its a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream in a deep fried tempura batter shell.    http://www.yelp.com/biz/sansei-seafood-restaurant-and-sushi-bar-lahaina

Hula Grill ($30 – $50)
The restaurant has live entertainment at night along with a nice selection of entrees. You have the option of eating oceanfront at the “Barefoot” area — which has tables right on the sand of the beach. The fish entrees were excellent — such as the seared Ahi (if available) http://www.hulagrill.com/

Popularity: 5%

Planning a trip to Maui? Here are some tips before making the journey to Maui.

Airfare
It is important to book the airfare early for the best pricing. The best time is usually 1-2 months before departure for non-peak season. If you are travelling in a large group, the earlier the better if you plan to sit together. I suggest signing up for their e-mail list to get notification of their sales. You can get some good deals with the specials — sometimes they offer flights starting at $149 each way depending on the season. San Diego airport usually offers the lowest airfares, while LAX/Orange County (SNA) runs at least $50 more each way.
http://www.hawaiianair.com/Specialoffers/Pages/SpecialOffersWebfares.aspx

The pricing from the airline websites are usually better than online airfare search engines. You can try  
http://www.farecast.com/ or http://www.cheapflights.com/

Update: Aloha Airlines has filed for bankruptcy and stopped all flights. You will need to contact your credit card company or travel agency for a refund. ATA Airlines also has filed for bankruptcy. Always purchase your plane tickets with a credit card in the event that the airline goes bankrupt. This way you will have 60 days from date of purchase to utilize a chargeback to your credit card under the Fair Credit Billing Act.

Car Rental
As with the airfare, you should get the car rental early too. Prices nearly double if you wait until the last minute. I’ve had an ok experience with most rental companies out of OGG airport. I prefer the companies that allow you to choose any car in the lot like Alamo. Midsize cars range from the Pontiac Vibe, Chevy HHR, or Pontiac G6. If you are a Costco member, I recommend using their travel section to book the car. I’ve gotten 1 week rentals as low as $140 for a midsize car. Remember to book the car early for best pricing. If you wait until the last minute to book the car, figure to spend at least $30-$60 per day.

Travel Books
This is a good way to plan what locations you want to visit. I recommend Maui Revealed for a good overview of activities. I wouldn’t rely solely on the book for dining recomendations though, you are better off using Yelp for reviews. Most imporantly, buy a map (or better yet a GPS) for your trip. You’ll find the highway numbers change often since the state highways change into county ones. http://www.hawaiihighways.com/FAQs-page3.htm

Old Lahaina Luau
This is the best luau in Maui — best food, drinks, and show. You will need to make reservations well in advance though since it is very popular. The only downside is that there isn’t fire knife dancing (since its not a Hawaiian) but the good food makes up for it. Open bar — good Lava Flow and Pina Coladas. If you like sashimi, try the Ahi Poke. Its marinated raw Ahi tuna — all you can eat! Service is excellent — a server brings you drinks so you don’t have to wait in line at the bar.  Website: www.oldlahainaluau.com

Popularity: 9%