Maui Wedding

Maui is simply beautiful! But you probably don't need me to tell you that. You've seen pictures of incredible secluded beaches, the awesome landscape, etc. But let me tell you..., the photos pale in comparison to being there.

Maybe it's the fact that you're sitting on a small island in the middle of the massive Pacific Ocean - maybe it's that tourism isn't so rampant on Maui compared to Hawaii's larger, more populous islands. Whatever it is about Maui, it's magnificent.

Our last visit to Hawaii brought us to Honolulu for a few days before flying over to Maui for a two-week stay. The hustle of Honolulu makes for a dramatic contrast to the relative quiet of Maui. Before telling you more about this trip, I have to preface it by saying that while we had no kids with us at the time (it was pre-kids time, about 6 years ago) Maui would be a great destination for kids with a love of adventure.

Now, where was I? Oh yes, Maui Wedding..., well to be technical, this wasn't actually our wedding, but it was a honeymoon trip a few months after the fact. One this trip, we stayed at incredible Maui Ritz Carlton, which is like a paradise on Earth. The resort itself seems to sit like a sparkling green gem jutting out into the blue ocean waters of the Pacific. Sprawling lawns and impeccable grounds, great rooms, excellent food and service, make the Maui Ritz Carlton tops in my book.

Of course, it's not considered a cheap Maui hotel by any means - and you should expect to pay upwards of $400 per night, but if that's within your budget, you will certainly be pleased. Frankly, for Maui accommodations, I think that while the Ritz Carlton was awesome, I would have been just as happy staying in one of the smaller hotels / motels near Lahaina - or in a rented house somewhere else on the island. After all, the best part of Maui is Maui itself and you'll certainly be spending most of your time out exploring the island and taking part in the many fun things there are to do.

Shopping in Maui

There are a number of shopping options in Maui. You'll still find a couple big department stores, along with plenty of smaller strip mall-like shops where you can find all your necessities. For tourist shopping there are plenty of options. The shops at Lahaina are numerous and you can find just about any kind of Hawaiian trinket you can imagine.

Maui Beaches

Beaches are everywhere in Maui. Many are hidden off the road and you're sure to find our own private hideaway if you look around. Most of the bigger hotels maintain their own beach areas too - or at least have nice beach front restaurant / bars.

Maui Fun

There's plenty you can do in Maui for fun. Whale watching tours are incredible. We took a sunset tour that included food and drinks. It was on one of those sailboats with two pontoon-like things..., can't think of what they're called at the moment. We saw plenty of whales and had a great time.

Conclusion

Maui gets 5-stars in my book. Yes, it can be a long way to travel, especially from the U.S. East Coast where we live, so I'd recommend that you plan to give yourself a good amount of time to stay. Two weeks or more would give you some time to really relax into your surroundings. In fact, I would love to go and stay for the two really buggy months (June and July) we have here in the hills of Western Massachusetts.

Also, now that we have young kids, I think that they'd really have a great time in Maui. There's were a lot of things that were on our list to do last trip that we never got around to (it was a Maui Honeymoon after all) that would be great fun. Maui has a very high volcanic peak that you can bike up to to watch the sunrise. You leave early in the morning - 4am or so depending on the time of year - and head to a staging ground where you grab a bike and start peddling!

I'd also want to rent a house next time. There are plenty of Maui house rentals available and that sounds like the best way to really settle in and relax. Here's a Maui House Rental resource I've found that you should check out.

I know you'll have a great time in Maui, whether you're going to experience the ultimate Maui wedding, Maui honeymoon, or just a great trip. It is truly an island paradise.

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About the Author:

Stephen Rinaldi is a frequent contributor of travel, product and service reviews, as well as online business education texts. For more works by this author, visit BBI Publishing, http://www.bbiworld.com or BBI Online, http://www.bbionline.net

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