Have you ever dreamt of visiting Hawaii? Me too, and in May 2023, that dream became a reality for Travis and me. I will be honest. The tips I provide here won’t be for everyone. I came across a great deal for flights to Maui, so naturally, I jumped on it since I had time off work. The dread began to set in when I started to look for accommodations. Have you ever looked at the hotel prices there? EESH, I couldn’t find anything reasonable for under $500 a night – that’s right, A NIGHT. We also wanted to travel around the island, which meant renting a car. The great deal I found on the flights suddenly seemed less great. Until I realized we could combine our accommodations and rental into one – here’s the part about not being for everyone. We rented a camper truck and spent our entire week driving around the island and camping at National Park and private campsites. To this day, it’s one of my favourite trips.
Below, you will find my tips on how to make your trip to Maui memorable and affordable.
- Travel during the off-season. Off-season is spring and fall, about mid-April to mid-June, and then September to mid-December. We went in May and had phenomenal weather.
- Combine your accommodation and car rental into one. Trust me, you are going to want to explore the island. It’s small and easy to navigate on your own. Having our camper gave us the flexibility to move around the island as we pleased.
- Book your campsites in advance! Save yourself stress and book these well ahead of time. Camping in National Parks is super affordable and beautiful. We absolutely loved Kipahulu Campground, located at the end of the road to Hana. It’s the perfect place to camp once you complete the stunning road to Hana. One thing to note is that not all campgrounds offer showers (such as Kipahulu). This is also something you will want to think about. The nice thing is a lot of the public beaches have shower stations.
- Get the GuideAlong App! Save yourself a ton of money on expensive tours. We purchased the Maui bundle for the Road to Hana and Haleakala and are so happy we did. GuideAlong will give you highlights of things to see and do and even give you recommendations on things like parking! It was like we had a personal tour guide for our entire trip.
- Pack smart. This tip goes for any trip. Bring essential items like sunscreen(make sure it’s mineral-based!), water bottles, and snacks to avoid overpriced purchases at tourist spots. Consider bringing your snorkeling gear and water shoes if you plan to explore Maui’s underwater world.
- Explore the free attractions. Maui offers plenty of natural attractions and outdoor activities that are free or low-cost. Enjoy the island’s beautiful beaches, go hiking in the lush rainforests, or visit scenic viewpoints like the Road to Hana without spending much money.
The next couple of items we indulged in were less affordable things you can do but were once in a lifetime for us and helped make our trip to Maui much more memorable.
- Mama’s Fish House. The restaurant is located in a beautiful cove and has some of the best food we’ve ever had! I highly recommend booking a reso at Mama’s. We got SO lucky. I had tried getting us a reservation here ahead of time, but it was completely booked. One morning, I happened to check. They had a cancellation, so we were able to secure a spot. Although the meal was expensive (we went all out – cocktails, appetizers, extra lobster tails), I feel incredibly blessed by the experience. If you are a foodie – Mama’s is a must-do in Maui.
- Doors-off Helicopter ride – We booked through Air Maui. They currently have a deal running as I write this. If only I were so lucky when I booked, lol. As someone afraid of heights, I was a little nervous about this, but I had no issues and enjoyed our time in the air more than I thought I would.
- Hawaiian Luau. Learn about ancient Hawaiian customs and traditions while enjoying some food and drink. You will also want to try to book this ahead of time. We wanted to do the Old Lahaina Lu’au, but sadly, it was booked, so we could not do it. If you go, drop me a line about what you think!
If you are considering visiting Maui or any Hawaiian island, here is your sign! I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.
Mahalo!
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