hi fodorites,

DH and i are considering a week in maui (end of august). in my 'dream life' i'd be going to maui in the WINTER and not in august. however, we've got a baby on the way and we're looking for a getaway before things get hairy!

a bit of background ... we're in our mid-30s, busy professionals from toronto, well-travelled. i was in hawaii as a kid for a family vacation and it was a super memorable trip. with DH, the majority of our travels have focused on urban vacations (versus camping, cottages, nature expeditions, etc.)

a beachfront location and easy access to a beach (that is swimable) is a must for us (along with an oceanview room) for this trip. a pool is neither here nor there for us (we're going all the way to hawaii for an ocean!). since we'll be in maui in august, we'll need air conditioning so that limits our choices as well. we'd like a condo so we can manage our own meals, if we so choose.

expedia is offering some great packages (air, hotel, car) from toronto and i've narrowed down our accommodations choices between MAUI KAI and OUTRIGGER MAUI ELDORADO. both are equally priced (give or take a few bucks).

any thoughts on recommendations for either of these places?

some other questions:

1. what is the mosquito and/or biting bug situation like in maui in august? i have really bad reactions to bug bites (likely explains why i focus on urban vacations!) and being preggers means i can't normally rely on my arsenal of anti-histamines!

2. any comments for activities in maui while preggers? i'll be about 25-26 weeks at the time of this trip.

i've just started planning this trip (like today!) and already, the forums have been a wealth of information (as usual!).

thanks very much in advance!

Maui in August is no different than other parts of the year... when we went in the Summer the temps were 70-80 with a bit of rain here and there...there's always a breeze... don't remember bugs...

Consider a Catamaran snorkel sail, a maui bus tour, a luau, an afternoon in Lahaina.. have fun

hi gary,

thanks so much for your response! good to know that summer temps aren't THAT different from the rest of the year.

W Maui isnt very buggy at all. Both are good choices. I like the beaches and area near The Eldorado better, but you wont be on the beach or get much of a view.

Long road trips might be tough on the Mrs, but Hana and Haleakala are our favorites. Even if you miss those, there are plenty of other activities to keep you busy

Don't remember bugs in July and my husband and I get bad reactions to mosquitos also.

Have fun!

hi everyone,

tks for the comments re: lack of bugs! i'll still bring all my usual protection/gear ... esp. if we're heading into hana etc.

hi folks,

just wanted to say thanks for all the replies. i grabbed the air/car/accommodations package for the second last week in august ... we'll be staying at the maui kai. prices went up by $500 right after i booked so i'll take it as a sign!

onto the trip planning!!

Hello lilaki,

As others have said, bugs are really not an issue in Maui, even in summer. You should not worry about it, especially on the beach. I hiked the island a lot, and the only place I had a bad time with bugs bites is in deep rainforest just before a short tropical storm.

Since you like urban vibe, I would suggest you not to miss Lahaina. It's not a big city, but a great small town to visit, full of art galleries, restaurants, etc. Very 'tourist oriented' tho. If you are into art, stop by Makawao in beautiful upcountry. Paia is also worth it. Great North Shore vibe with a couple of good restaurants and cafe, art galleries and shops. If you are looking for healthy food, don't miss Mana Foods, the local organic grocery. Love this place.

If you are ok to drive a little bit further, getting to the top of the Haleakala Volcano and exploring the road to Hana are must-dos. I would have suggested the Ulupalakua Winery as well... but I guess it's not the best idea for you at this moment!

Enjoy!
Denis

P.S.: Come join our Maui Lovers Community on Facebook if you want to get even more feedback from other fellow travelers. It's here: http://www.facebook.com/maui.hawaii....06878476015645

Road to Hana is not to miss! We also very much enjoyed The Feast at Lele luau. Lahaina Grill was a great place for a meal in downtown Lahaina, we also loved Aloha Mixed Plate, a very casual venue with pretty oceanviews and outdoor seating. ***kim***