Maui is Magical

Maui is Magical!

Top Statistics:

• Canada and Europe love Maui: The average traveler from Canada and Europe stays an average of 12 days in Maui.
• Where the west roams: 80% of visitors from the western portion of the United States make repeat visits to Maui.
• Travelers from the Eastern US are split: 42% of visitors from the eastern portion of the United States are first time while 58% are repeat visitors. Japanese travelers are very similar in the same regard but they don’t stay as long (average 6 days versus and average of 10 days). (Source: Hawaii Tourism Authority)

Top Deals:

• Feel Right at Home with a Maui Condominium Vacation – Booking a condo is a great way to stay like a local and find great value at the same time. Try your hand at cooking some Hawaiian cuisine in your own kitchen or check out the private pool for a relaxing swim in the sun!
• Travelers should book early for their Maui vacations to yield the best savings. Booking by May 7, 2012 for travel by August 2, 2012 offers exceptional value!
• When it comes to saving you can’t beat packages. Simply book your flight and hotel together and save up to $525 on your next trip to Maui.

Get to Know Maui:

• Maui is Hawaii’s second largest island, nicknamed “The Magic Isle”
• Maui’s main airport (OGG) is located in Kahului in Central Maui
• Most resorts and vacation accommodations are located on the West and South sides of Maui
• West Maui encompasses Kapalua, Kaanapali, Honolua Bay and Lahaina
• Makena, Wailea and Kihei make up South Maui
• Located three miles off the southernmost coast of Maui is the island of Molokini, a tiny island excellent for snorkeling and diving
• Daily ferry services to the islands of Molokai and Lanai are available from the Lahaina Harbor
• With 14 courses, some designed by Arnold Palmer or Ben Crenshaw, Maui is a golfer’s paradise
• January – April is Whale Watching season in Maui
• Maui is home to Haleakala National Park, with Maui’s highest peak rising 10,023 feet above sea level
• Kaanapali Beach with three miles of white sand was voted America’s Best Beach in 2003

Jenn’s Top Tips for Visiting Maui:

• For a local taste treat, check out Home Maid Bakery’s Crispy Manju, a local pastry in a variety of flavors.
• Rent a car. Maui is a beautiful and diverse island. To see everything the island has to offer you will want to have a car to get around. Not to mention the drive from Maui’s main airport in Kahului to the resort areas on the West and South sides of the island is beautiful!
• Book a condo. For extended stays, families and groups, nothing beats a condo.  With full kitchens and washer and dryers, you have all the comforts of home with room to spread out.
• Taking the kids? Many hotels offer kid’s day programs packed with fun activities such as lei making and hula lessons. They won’t even miss you while you are at the spa!
• Luau! For a fun night book a luau where you can enjoy regional music and dance (hula) and local fare. Luaus can fill up quick so book on Expedia.com before you go!
• Get up early and watch the sunrise from the top of the Haleakala Crater. Here you’ll have amazing views with a vibrant display of color. Remember to bring a jacket! It gets cold up there.
• For a more active Haleakala National Park experience book a bike tour. 
• The Maui Ocean Center is a must see attraction for adults and kids alike. The aquarium offers interactive experiences and an acrylic walk through tunnel surrounded by aquatic life.

What Expedia Fans Have to Say:

• We asked our fans on Facebook:  If you were headed to Maui this weekend, what would be #1 on your to-do list? Here’s how some of them responded!
• Linda E. said: Perfect day: spa morning at the Grand Wailea, lunch at Pita Paradise (Kihei), afternoon at Big Beach (Makena) and happy hour cocktails at the Four Seasons or one of the other Wailea Resorts. Also, I second all of the votes for a dinner at Mama's Fish House. Mama's is a "must visit!"
•  Niki M. said: Pi'iholo ranch zip lining was so fun! And the people were great! So was Goofy Foot surf school in Lahaina!
• Ron R. said: Head to the water front in Lahaina…lots of Longboard Brew!
• Kim G. said: Have a meal at Kula Lodge. But our favorite is Big Beach.
• Theresa W. said: Shop Front Street in Lahaina. And on Saturdays they have a GREAT craft sale in a community center.
• Charlene C. said:  Say hi to the West Maui Mountains and the whales and then snorkel Black Rock and say hi to the turtles and fish!
• Bonnie H. said: Walk the boardwalk that goes from Aston Mahana at Kaanapali, past Duke's to the Hilton.
• Carolina W. said: Surf lessons!