Maui
 

Hi! Leaving for Maui in two weeks...YAH!!
Staying at the Embassy resort 2brmn, with our family of 6. Main questions are how do we keep food bills within reason? Should we buy a costco membership ($45), or are there some moderately priced grocery stores? We have a mini-kitchen so I will be making simple meals and packing coolers. Also, thinking of renting snorkel equip. for the week...Maui dive shop or Snorkel Bobs. My kids range from 5 to 14, any tips would be greatly appreciated! TIA

You can really stuff yourself at the Embassy breakfast buffet (isn't it included in the price of the room?)
When we stayed there we didn't need to eat again til dinner.

The "mini-kitchen" isn't equipped well enough to cook elaborate meals. As I recall, there was a sink, small fridge, and microwave; its more of a "snack center."

Personally, I would not buy a Costco membership just for the trip. There is a Safeway in Lahaina. Better yet is the new Safeway in Kihei, maybe you could stop there before you head up to the Embassy. Ask at the courtesy desk for a "club card" and then look for the weekly specials. They have a good deli and bakery.

Keeping food bills within reason on Maui:
1. Don't drink milk (expensive)...kids will probably enjoy POG (passionfruit-orange-guava)!
2. Stock up on beer, liquor to concoct maitais and lava flows, juice, POG, snacks and other food items at the Costco or Walmart near the airport.
3. Get the Hawaii Entertainment Card if you plan to eat out a lot
4. Eat out at places like Maui Tacos, Cheeseburger in Paradise. And search for some earlier posts. I know of one that islandmom gave some good suggestions on.
5. Make occassional pit stops at the food courts in Kahului for some good, ethnic lunch.
Basically, eat where the locals eat and learn to enjoy things like spam sushi.
6. Safeways are a good grocery choice. The local 7-11, ABC stores, offer up a lot of stuff at reasonable prices.

And wherever you decide to rent snorkel gear from, make sure they fit you properly for the face masks.

If you're going to use Safeway, there's no need to go all the way to Kihei! There's one in Lahaina and there's also one in Kahului. They both offer the exact same thing the Kihei store offers.

Prior to leaving I packed stuff we use every. We stayed in full condos last time with no included breakfast. I packed items that I knew I would use that tend to be expensive in Hawaii. Crystal Light, cereal, spices, condiments in plastic containers, peanut butter and jelly. Before leaving I went on line to the Safeway web site and signed up for a shopping savings card. Foodland has a Makai card. This cut the price of groceries to pretty much what I spend at home. We are already Costco members so I used my card there. Milk was the loss leader during our trip; "buy one, get one free", so I didn't have to spend the usual $6.00 per gallon.

No need to skp milf on Maui. Dairy Glen milk at Safeway is only $3 a gallon.

Personally I dislike the Safeway in Lahania and when we are on Maui for any lenghth of time we stop at the store in Kihei first.

Thank you for all the wonderful advice! I checked the website and prices don't look too bad. On another subject, we have reservations at the Hyatt Luau because my boys were really interested in the flame dancer. Have any of you been to this one? I have read alot about the Old Lahana, but someone thought this would interest the boys more. Good advise or sales job?

There is a Star Market within walking distance to the Embassy. Also a pizza place in that same shopping center than had good pizza that wasn't too expensive. Have a great time!

We went to the Hyatt luau on 1998 and while the show and the food were fine. (yes, boys seem to need fire dancers), the line to get in and get seated was ridiculous. It made me wish I had gone to the Marriott where we were staying. That line seemed to move well.

We are going to Maui Oct. 18-25 and opted for the Feast at Lele for a luau. So I can't tell you yet how it is, but I heard/read great things about the food and the show (yes, it has fire dancers). We made reservations, but I don't know if there will be a wait to get in. It's a little more pricey than Old Lahaina, but I've heard the food is much better and the tables are nicer and more private. I'll let you know when we return!

To keep costs down on food , first dont by drinks and ice cream , candy, snacks etc. at restaurants or convenience stores. Make subway, and fast food hamburgers( saves you cooking and really about the same price ) a good lunch or dinner stop once every 3 days or so. Dont buy to many groceries to cook , you will probally have to throw 1/4 to 1/2 away negating your savings.When going out to eat buy the kids full meals and you an hubby split a very low cost meal, hint the 5-14 year olds will be so happy and hubby can eat what they do not eat. Play down the restaurant experience and up play beach experience with sandwiches and good treats.
I went to the hyatt luau and it was great , food was good, ( hey tenter steak, chicken etc.) and the show was good.The hotel is a treat to walk arround in also.
The snorkel gear is about $20 a week per. person to rent. Mabey buy some inexpensive masks for the kids who really do not snorkel, and rent the rest.
As far as costco forget it unless your going to be there a long time, every thing is in bulk, 2 or more huge, ketsups, mustard , mayo., etc. The stores there are expensive on some items like cereal, milk, and some snacks, but for the most part not to bad, there is a wallmart you will pass leaving the airport, so hey stop there and stock up on there favorite snacks and drinks. $45.00 will by you all the cereal and milk and bread for your time there i bet.I would bring with you from home some spices they tend to be high there, and they take up little room. Embassy is very nice and your going to have a great trip. nick

When I went to Hawaii this summer by myself, I knew I'd have a kitchenette so I brought the bulk of things I'd want with me in my suitcase. I had a box of cereal, some sugar, mayo, mustard, salt & pepper (the cute little set they sell for about 99 cents at home), cans of tuna, peanut butter, jelly, etc. That way when I went to the grocery store in Hawaii I got a discount card (Foodland & Safeway) and only had to buy perishables. It worked really well for me and saved me a lot of $$. When I packed up to go home most everything had been used so there wasn't much to re-pack.

When we were in Maui we were next to the Embassy in Kaanappali Shores. I don't pack food. Have enough stuff with just us. We shopped at Safeway for things for sandwiches, bagels, snack food, soda, beer, wine, water bottles and whatever fruit was reasonable. This allowed us to eat breakfast and lunch on our own and saved a ton of money. Whatever you pay at the grocery store will be cheaper than eating out every meal. There is a local store across from the hotel in a strip center that had reasonable priced bagels and baked goods. It was over all more expensive than Safeway but convienent. (I had a Safeway club card, get one). We generally ate out at reasonable priced places for dinner but did order pizza one night from the Pizza Hut close by. There is also a great little place with local food near the Pizza Hut, sorry forgot the name. No fast food for us. There is also a Dive shop across from the hotel where you can rent boogie boards and snorkel equiptment. We brought our own masks and snorkels and rented fins. The boogie boards were 20-25 per week. A nice snorkeling spot is a short walk (10 minutes tops) south from the hotel. Nice sandy beach no developments. The boogie boarding in front of the hotel is nice for the kids. Our girls LOVED our trip. They mostly swam, boogie boarded and snorkeled. One of their favorite places to eat was Cheeseburger in Paradise in Lahania. It is the one time we had lunch out. It is very crowded for dinner and we arrived just before the lunch time rush. We also did the Hyatt Luau. Cheaper than Old Lahania and we enjoyed it. (I believe you may find discount coupons in the travel books.) Have fun!

The Star Market is very concenient but is more expensive than Safeway. I'd get that Safeway card and do your shopping there.

Forget the $45 Costco card, you won't save that much on your trip.

You may want to buy and inexpensive cooler for picnics too.

The discount book is also a good deal. If you do a search of this site you can find out how to get one. They have lots of 50% off or buy one get one free food deals as well as activity deals.

If there is anything that you use in small quantities that you can bring from home, go ahead and bring them. If you like an unusual condiment or spice bring them along because you don't want to buy a new package there.

Have fun!

Just make sure you don't waste your money at Old Lahaina Luau

My sister and I & friends have stayed here twice and it is our favorite place. We love the BIG huge buffet breakfasts that have everything and keep you full.

We have taken 2 snorkeling trips, one with Boss Frogs and one with Paragon. Paragon was superior in everyway and we were taken out to Lanai & back. It was a long trip and double the price of Boss Frogs .. but we would do it again and again. Boss Frogs was good too .. it's just that Paragon was so much superior.

We did stock up on a few items and I did cook some chicken w/my habachi cooker that I broght. Mostly it was fruit, veggies, sandwiches and drinks for us all.

Oh .. and the Embassy has FREE drinks from 4-6pm each day. Or it may have been 4-5pm?? Anyway, nice to take advantage of that whether it be pop or something else.

Enjoy your trip the beach is absolutely gorgeous there!!!

If you are trying to avoid restaurants as much as possible somewhat plan out your meals. You didn't say how long you were staying. Within five minutes of leaving airport you will pass costco, kmart, borders books then walmart. If there is a costco where you live I'd get the card if not next stop walmart. Check rates online with bob's and maui dive. It may end up being cheaper buying gear at walmart and taking it home or passing it on to another family. There is I believe a maui dive in the parking lot of the star market across from embassy. Bobs is either a drive to napili or lahaina.

As has been mentioned above getting the safeway card is a must (it's free) they have great deals on card items other than that they can be incredibly overpriced. On like items they can be as much as 20- 30% higher than walmart example: nutrigrain cereal bars 6 pack walmart under 2.60 safeway if not on sale over 4.50 costco would be around 7.50 for 48 bars.

It's your kharma so you decide but I can tell you there are people who join costco and then turn in their card on way back to airport and get their $45 back. But I would plan out everything you think you'd need make a list and fill as much of the list as you can at walmart. chairs, boogey boards, sunscreens, food etc. Of course with a crew of six I'm not sure how much room in the van you'll have leaving airport.

There is also VIP Foodservice that services all restaurants, hotels etc. They have an outlet store where you could get service packs of things like luncheon meats and cheeses as well as veggies. You will not pass it like the other stores mentioned but it is within a few blocks of those others. That might be a good thing for you if you are packing that walmart cooler everyday.

As others have mentioned I would not plan on having much more than a fridge and microwave in your mini-kitchen.

........aloha

996tt, I agree that the Old Lahaina Luau (and all luaus) are a waste of time and money but that seems to be a minority opinion. Why do people flock to to luaus and then debate about which one is most authentically Hawaiian? There is absolutely nothing "authentic" about any of the commercial luaus.

Sorry, should have mentioned we will be there for 8 days, 7 nights. Maui dive shop is the closest rental. Boogie boards are $15 week, or for $35 you get a full snorkel set(their better one) plus a board. Not sure if it has the window for veiwing. I'll stop at Walmart to check the prices. Guess we will skip the Costco, there isn't one anywhere near Wisconsin and my Kharma doesn't need any dings! Hoping to book the snorkel trips when we get there instead of in advance. (Weather, sick kids, better deals, etc.) Hope I don't regret that. Everyones really helping with the pre-trip jitters...thank you!

If you are on a budget, I'd think about nixxing any snorkel trips. You don't have to pay for snorkel boats. There are so many places on Maui to snorkel right off the shore. Some boats go to other islands some merely take you to spots you could have driven to.

When you say you are going to check prices at walmart, I'm not sure you realize how big Maui is. It is not the big island but it is a huge island compared to east coast islands like hilton head. You are not going to turn around and drive back to the other side of island to shop after conparing prices. You are passing right by stores you really need to stop at if you are on a budget but I'm not sure they are worth driving back to when you consider driving time (30 min each way IF no traffic) and gas (2.37 gal) Some people love luau's. I tend to agree with Rusty on this one.

aloha