Name: Where to stay in Maui: West vs South Maui and beyond
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Where to stay in Maui: West vs South Maui and beyond

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Skip to contentUpdated travel advice. Read more here.The people of Maui rely on tourism to rebuild their communities and revive their businesses. Travel with ALOHA and GENEROSITY.Looking for advice on the best place to stay on Maui? Finding the pros and cons of each area in Maui actually proved to be quite difficult. So, in order for you to actually keep your cool, I’ll save you the trouble of figuring out where to stay in Maui. Your travel sanity is my priority, after all.&nbsp;West Maui vs South Maui? Wailea vs Kaanapali? Kaanapli vs Kihei? Kapalua vs Wailea? And what about Maui’s North Shore, Upcountry and Central Maui? To find our where to stay on Maui we compared every part of the island.At the time of planning our 3-week trip&nbsp;Hawaii island hopping&nbsp;trip, we decided to start our&nbsp;family vacation on Maui. It appeared to be the best Hawaiian island for families with kids in search of relaxation. After all, this compact island is home to some world class resorts,&nbsp;vacation rentals and Airbnbs in Hawaii. But it took us some time to figure out the best area in Maui to stay to recover from jetlag and be close to some of the best&nbsp;activities in Maui. We ended up having a great time. And now we can’t wait to share our findings with you.So, are you ready to discover the best place to stay on Maui for you and your travel companions? Let’s dive in!…Affiliate links&nbsp;are sprinkled throughout the site content. Clicking on such a hyperlink and booking on the accommodation platform it refers to, may result in a commission for CosmopoliClan at no additional cost to you. As Amazon Associates, we also earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, visit the&nbsp;Disclaimer&nbsp;page.…Here are our top picks for the best place to stay on Maui.Keep scrolling for a comprehensive overview of all areas of Maui with pros and cons as well as a selection of Maui vacation rentals, world class resorts and the best hotels in Maui.West Maui (Kapalua and Napili Bay, Lahaina and Ka’anapali)Ritz Carlton Kapaluaclick hereHyatt Club residence club condo Kaanapaliclick hereSouth Maui (Kihei and Wailea)Grand Wailea Waldorf Astoria Resortclick hereKihei vacation rental with fantastic private poolclick hereNorth Shore Maui (Paia and Haiku)Beach cottage with wide lanai, prime locationclick hereEast Maui (Road to Hana)Hana Maui Resort by Hyatt Residenceclick hereWonderful bungalow in Hamoa Bayclick hereUpcountry Maui (Makawao and Kula)Gorgeous estate in the Kula mountainsclick hereCentral Maui (Kahului and Wailuku)Charming plantation homeclick hereAnd if you happen to be visiting more than one Hawaiian island, then might want to check out our article on the best areas to stay on the Big Island too.Table of ContentsHave a look at our custom map of Maui to see where to find the island’s tourist resorts.Maui is Hawaii second largest island. With a surface of 727.2 mi² (or 1 883 km²), it’s pretty compact. So much so, that you might be inclined to think that your location is not too important and driving times from any Maui area are pretty reasonable. Well, that’s not always the case.The Hawaiian Islands are volcanic islands and Maui is home to two of those: The dormant&nbsp;Haleakala&nbsp;in Central Maui and the eroded Mauna Kahalawai in West Maui. (Check out these interesting facts about Hawaii and its volcanoes.) The volcanoes take up most of the Valley Isle’s surface and most roads lead around them.As a result, getting to your destination might take you quite a bit longer than you might think. So, yes, where to stay is a pretty important decision to make when planning your trip to Hawaii.The main airport in Maui, Kahului Airport, is located in Central Maui. From there, you’ll head to one of these resort areas in Maui:Let me break down each of these locations by character.Whip out your beach vacation packing list because West Maui is home to some of the best beaches in Maui. In this part of the island, you can choose to stay in either Kaanapali or Kapalua.What Kaanapli is about:Where to stay in Kaanapali:What Kapalua is about:Where to stay in Kapalua:Kihei and Wailea are the two resort areas that can be found on the south side of Maui. They’re worlds apart in terms of accommodation options but both are home to some beautiful white sand beaches and postcard-perfect scenery.What Kihei is about:Where to stay in Kihei:What Wailea is about:Where to stay in Wailea:What the North Shore is about:Where to stay at Maui’s North Shore:The North Shore town of Paia is the start of the legendary Road to Hana in East Maui. Discover the lush natural beauty of this side of Maui at Twin Falls, marvel at the rainbow eucalyptus trees, visit the Garden of Eden and Ke’anae arboretum, sink your teeth in a slice of heavenly banana bread, explore Wailua Valley State Wayside Park, admire Waikani Falls, visit the Hana lava tubes and relax at the black sand beach in Wai’anapanapa State Park.The Hana highway actually continues beyond Hana and is dotted with even more worth-while Maui attractions such as the Seven Sacred Pools and the Pipiwai hiking trail.If you’re looking to make the most of your Road to Hana adventure, you could spend the night in Hana. This remote little town along the Road to Hana is very rural so one night, maybe two, is plenty to explore the surroundings.Where to stay in Hana (and along the Hana highway):What Upcountry Maui is all about:Where to stay at Maui’s rural countryside:What Central Maui’s all about:Where to stay in Central Maui:It’s safe to say that both West Maui and South Maui are the most popular resort areas to stay in Maui but both Upcountry and the Paia region are on the rise. Your happy place on Maui depends entirely on what you’re looking to experience on the Valley Isle. So, let’s compare these resort areas of Maui by travel type, by interest and by weather.When it comes to choosing the best Maui area for you, your travel goal is one of the deciding factors. Are you vacationing on the Valley Isle to relax at the beach? Or are you an active traveler looking to explore the outdoors? Are you planning a romantic trip with your loved one? Or will you be traveling with kids?Kaanapali and Wailea are the best places to stay on Maui for families.Families traveling to the Valley Isle usually spend most of their time in their luxury resort right on the beach. Some sightseeing is included in most family itineraries, say a day or two of exploring Maui with kids, but it’s usually not the key-focus. They look for a family-friendly luxury resort, a beautiful beach with some water sports and a lively environment with a bit of entertainment. West Maui vs South Maui? That’s up to you, both offer plenty of family-friendly accommodation options and gorgeous sand beaches within walking distance.If you’re looking to stay in West Maui, we’d recommend staying in Kaanapali. We spent our vacation recommend the Westin Maui Resort &amp; Spa but also this spacious Hyatt Residence condo caught our eye.In South Maui, The&nbsp;Grand Wailea Resort &amp; Spa by Waldorf Astoria in Wailea would be our pick. The kids will love its beachfront location and amazing pool complete with waterslides, a lazy river and a swinging rope. Or how about this gorgeous and affordable family-friendly vacation rental with private heated pool, waterfall and slide? Kids will love it here! Thanks to its central location, white sand beaches and restaurants are within easy reach.Kihei and Wailuku are the most affordable places to stay on Maui.If you want a beach vacation that won’t break the bank, head to South Maui or Central Maui. Never mind the high end resorts with their ridiculously high resort fees, that’s not what you’re looking for. You want to be close to the action and explore the best that the Valley Isle has to offer.In that case, it’s best to rent one of the many Maui accommodations nearby the gorgeous Kihei beaches yet close to the main roads. This oceanfront condo overlooking Sugar beach, for example, is very reasonably priced and gets glowing reviews.If you don’t necessarily need to stay near the beach, then you can make it even more budget friendly by staying in Wailuku in Central Maui. Check out this modern one-bedroom condo.Then again, you might find an affordable gem in some of the more expensive parts of the island too. Have a look at this remodelled condo in Kahana about halfway between Kaanapali and Kapalua.Wailea, Kapalua, Kula and Haiku are the best places to stay Maui for couples.Long walks on some of the best beaches in the state, exclusive dinners and some cocooning at the luxury spa. You might go and explore some of Maui’s highlights but that’s secondary. This makes Wailea in South Maui and Kapalua in West Maui perfect for a dreamy Maui honeymoon. The Four Seasons Resort Maui in Wailea and the Montage Kapalua Bay are among the best Maui honeymoon resorts.Just you, your loved one and a whole lot of pampering in a romantic setting, that’s what your honeymoon should be all about. You don’t feel the need to be in a central location but instead, you want your own slice of paradise far away from anything else. If that’s the kind of honeymoon you envision, then the Upcountry Kula mountains are where you’ll want to be. Check out this romantic mountain retreat.If you’re looking for that perfect sweet-spot between adventure and romance, then look no further than Haiku. You’ll have a gorgeous white sand beach and a lush rainforest at your fingertips. Take a dip in a waterfall when the coastal visitors are back in their resort and watch the whales breach from the comfort of your romantic retreat. This gorgeous vacation villa is what newly-wed dreams are made of.Do you plan on exploring some of the island’s many delights? Then it’s important to factor in driving times when deciding which Maui area to stay at. You don’t want to spend too much of that valuable vacation time in the car, now do you?Driving in Maui is easy, as long as you stay on the main roads and there are only a few of these on the island. Expect scenic winding roads, really winding at times. After all, getting from point A to point B often involves making a big loop around a part of the island.To help you make your decision on the Maui that’s right for you, we’ve researched the driving times from the main tourist resorts to the most popular points of interest: Lahaina Town, ‘Iao Valley State Park and the West Maui mountains, Haleakala National Park, the Road to Hana and the Seven Sacred Pools.Some things to do in Maui take up a full day: Driving the legendary&nbsp;Road to Hana in East Maui on the hunt for waterfalls and the Waiʻānapanapa State Park black sand beach on Maui, for example. Or discovering the many epic things to do in Haleakala, Maui’s volcanic heart.Others can be easily combined. You could, for example, see the sunrise in&nbsp;Haleakala National Park&nbsp;and spend the afternoon enjoying the Maui vacation vibe in your chosen beach resort. More into hiking? Then these spectacular&nbsp;Maui hiking trails are exactly what you’re looking for.You absolutely need a car if you want to make the most of your trip to Maui. We strongly recommend Discount Hawaii Car Rental for their carefree booking process and excellent service. If you’re looking to rent a specific make and model – you can’t go wrong with a Jeep Wrangler on Maui – then booking ahead is essential.Kaanapali, Kapalua and Wailea are the best places in Maui to stay for snorkeling.We’ve snorkeled at Black Rock (Kaanapali Beach) and Kapalua Beach in West Maui. These sites ideal for less experienced and first time snorkelers, like our kids. Just enter the water where you see some lava rocks and before you know it, you’ll be surrounded by colorful fish. We didn’t encounter turtles on the west side but that’s probably because we stayed quite close to the beach. Advanced snorkelers can head to Honolua Bay up north.We didn’t get to snorkel in the Wailea area, unfortunately, so we can’t share our personal experiences. From what we’ve heard, the Ahihi Kinau Reserve is a top notch snorkeling spot in South Maui. It’s also a recommended snorkeling site for families with children.Popular off-shore snorkeling sites are the Molokini Crater and Turtle Town. They’re located close to the Wailea shore but charter boats leave from marinas closer to West Maui too. So, for these excursions it doesn’t really matter that much where you choose to be staying. The best time of day to go snorkeling is in the morning, when the winds haven’t picked up yet. This is the Molokini Crater snorkeling tour we’d go for.Make sure to wear a rash guard and a reef-friendly sunscreen.Kaanapali, Kapalua, Kihei and Wailea are all great places in Maui for golfers.Maui, and Hawaii in general, is a golf lovers’ paradise. In West Maui, Kapalua is home to the iconic Plantation Course, where the PGA tour is held every January, and the Bay Course. In Kaanapali you’ll find the Royal Kaanapali and the Kaanapali Kai Golf Courses.In South Maui, the Wailea Golf Club features the Blue, Emerald Course and Gold Courses as well as the Makena Golf Courses. Kihei is home to the Nui Golf Club.Kaanapali, Wailea and Maalaea in between are the places in Maui for whale-watching.Maui’s whale watching season runs from November to May and peaks in February. It’s the time of year where North Pacific Humpback Whales enjoy the safe and warm ocean waters to breed, birth and raise their calves. The absolute best Maui whale watching site is the McGregor Point Lookout in Maalaea, located right in between West and South Maui.In West Maui, the most popular viewing point is Kaanapali’s Black Rock. In South Wailea, you have a good chance of spotting humpbacks from Point Maui’s Wailea Coastal Walk.If you’re looking to see these friendly giants up close, then you can join a whale-watching cruise from Lahaina harbor.Kaanapali is closest to the luau performances.A luau is a feast with dance performances, often featuring styles from different Polynesian islands, and local food, mostly buffet-style. The best Maui luau shows take place in the Kaanapali – Lahaina area.We attended the Westin Maui luau. Here’s a list of other luau options. Note that advance bookings are recommended.Wailea is the hottest place in Maui, Kula the coolest and Wailuku, Paia and Hana the wettest.East Maui is the land of rainforests and waterfalls and therefore the rainiest part of Maui. If you’re lucky, you might find yourself exploring the Road to Hana on a clear sunny day. If you’re not – and we weren’t… at all – the pouring rain makes a road trip impossible. We drove about halfway to Hana before we had to return to the west side of Maui because of the terrible weather.Both the west and south Maui coast are the sunniest parts of the island because they are located on the island’s leeward side. Still, there’s a bit of difference, especially during the winter months. That’s because the West Maui mountains lift and cool the moist ocean air coming from the northern coast (windward side), making it condense into rain.The more north, the higher your chance of rain while the weather in the south tends to be drier. We even noticed how it was raining in Kapalua when we just arrived from sunny Kaanapali, in the beginning of April. South Maui has the lowest chance of rain, Kapalua the highest. So, South Maui vs West Maui is an important consideration to make in terms of weather.It you prefer a cooler and drier climate, then you’ll love the Kula mountains. No aircon needed in this part of Maui, the gentle breeze will do the trick.We stayed at the&nbsp;Westin Maui Resort And Spa&nbsp;in Kaanapali. Since this was the most relaxing part of our three-week Hawaii island hopping adventure, we chose this beach resort with the kids in mind. The Westin Maui Resort and Spa has the most spectacular pool, is located right on Kaanapali Beach and hosts one of the best&nbsp;Maui luau&nbsp;shows. The west side of the island turned out to be a great choice for a first trip to Maui.There’s something special about Maui (and Hawaii in general), something that keeps us longing for more. For a second visit, though, we’d probably book the&nbsp;Ritz Carlton Kapalua&nbsp;because we loved the beach and the Kapalua Coastal Trail. Or we might check out the Wailea area, just to have a change of scenery and check out the renowned Ahihi Kinau Reserve snorkeling spot. The Grand Wailea Resort &amp; Spa and&nbsp;Four Seasons at Wailea&nbsp;there do look heavenly, don’t they?When you’ve come this far in the article, then A: Kudos to you, you’ve earned yourself a treat and B: You’ll probably have a good idea where is the best place in Maui to stay according to your personal travel style and interests. If so, then we’d love to hear all about it. Will you go for the classic Maui beach vacation in one of the South and West Maui resorts? Or are you planning a more adventurous trip and considering staying in Upcountry, North Shore, Central or East Maui? Or maybe you have some more pros and cons for either of these areas in Maui? Either way, the comment box is all yours.…Affiliate links&nbsp;are sprinkled throughout the site content. Clicking on such a hyperlink and booking on the accommodation platform it refers to, may result in a commission for CosmopoliClan at no additional cost to you. As Amazon Associates, we also earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, visit the&nbsp;Disclaimer&nbsp;page.…This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.HawaiiBest island in Hawaii to visitBest places to stay on the Big IslandRenting a car on MauiWhere to stay in MauiThings to do on Big Island HawaiiDubaiDubai desert safari guideBest souks in Dubai for souvenirsBest places to stay in DubaiAt the Top of Burj KhalifaVisit the Dubai Gold SoukFranceWhere to stay in ParisBest places to stay in NiceVisiting Cassis in FranceBest hotels in CassisBest beaches on the French RivieraPortugalAlgarve villas with private poolBest places to stay in AlgarveBest Airbnbs in PortugalBenagil cave by kayakCosta Vicentina road trip guideABOUT MEHi, I'm Sarah, an avid traveler who appreciates the finer things in life. To me, there's nothing more invigorating than exploring someplace new. I love getting lost in unknown cities with the rest of the CosmopoliClan by my side.Meet the Clan!SHORT ON TIME?Check out our Web Stories!QUOTES:As Amazon Associates we earn from qualifying purchases. 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Skip to contentUpdated travel advice. Read more here.The people of Maui rely on tourism to rebuild their communities and revive their businesses. Travel with ALOHA and GENEROSITY.Looking for advice on the best place to stay on Maui? Finding the pros and cons of each area in Maui actually proved to be quite difficult. So, in order for you to actually keep your cool, I’ll save you the trouble of figuring out where to stay in Maui. Your travel sanity is my priority, after all.&nbsp;West Maui vs South Maui? Wailea vs Kaanapali? Kaanapli vs Kihei? Kapalua vs Wailea? And what about Maui’s North...

Where to stay in Maui: West vs South Maui and beyond

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