Costco accepts American Express and debit cards (including those with a MC or Visa logo), but not MasterCard or Visa credit cards.

whoops - Stash sure is staying for just a week, not two. That's what happens when I read too fast.

Well, I suppose I still think that you can save money, though it's not as definite an opinion as before, when I thought you were staying 2 weeks.

However, one thing to keep in mind (as pointed out before) is the amount of time you're willing to spend on vacation buying all your groceries/sundries. I only mention this because you indicated you would not be buying everything you need at Costco.

Costco is very busy and the lines can be crazy. The money you save at Costco may not be worth all the time spent in Costco plus trips to other stores/markets for the other groceries.

Foodland and Star Markets have interesting seafood appetizers such as ahi poki and octopus, also special cuts of marinated pork and beef. The Safeway in Kihei is huge and you can look for specials with the Safeway club card .
I shop several times during a weeks stay and try to visit several markets to see what's on sale. Shopping in grocery stores in different travel destinations is sort of a hobby of mine.
There are also some funky little grocery stores upcountry that are fun as well.

More great comments on the value of Costco for just a weeklong Maui trip…

Here is my summary, based on my field trip this afternoon to Costco and looking at this weeks specials at both Foodland and Safeway.

We are getting in around 3:30 on Sunday afternoon, figure by the time we collect our bags and get the rental it will be around 5:00.

We will want to get to Ka’anapali right away to check in and get a shower, so shopping on that day is shot. We will probably head over to Whalers Village for dinner.

Monday is the 4th of July – not sure about the store hours. On a regular day Costco’s does not open until 10:00. It is about a 45 minute ride both ways and an hour to shop. That that blows the first entire morning of vacation…. Wish they were open at 4:00 am whn I will be awake looking for something to do ;).

So based on the travel time alone, it is a pain to go back to the center of the island just to shop.

I did see some great prices at our local Costco today: pork tenderloin at $3.00, flank steak for $5.25, and the best deal of all one inch thick porterhouse steaks with big filets on the side for $8.49. These prices on average are about 30% lower than a normal grocery store.

Looking at the ads http://shop.safeway.com and http://www.foodland.com I am surprised at the decent prices by using their shopper cards… Ground beef for $1.99 pp, boneless chicken breasts for $3.29 pp, and milk for $3.75 a gallon.

Plus, head ten minutes north or south of Ka’anapali and I am there! Close enough for an ice cream run!

So the bottom line is for the one week we are staying I may be able to recover the $45 dollars, and I would end up loosing a bunch of time just in traveling. If you were staying closer or longer, or if you could use the membership back home then it worth it…

Folks had a couple questions or comments, here is my response:

chepar – I agree with your one stop shopping – but it is just to far away…

beachbum – I get my best cuts of meat and fish from BJ’s at a 30% savings from my local grocery store. Granted I cut and trim my own tenderloins and the prime rib is not aged ‘prime’ it is choice. You don’t need to spend a lot if you know where to shop…

MikeT – I am one of those rare dad’s that love to cook. I love the entire aspect of it, menu planning, the marketing and the preparation. And I’ve gotten it to the point that my satisfied customers do the cleanup for me! I am truly looking forward to my week in the kitchen. Plus if you plan right meals can be completed in a snap…

Barbara – saw the beach towels they are nice, luckily BJ’s has something similar.

bonniebroad – saw the Speedo’s – and may ask a friend to pick up two for my daughters – what a great deal…

Thanks to all – this is what this board is all about…

Stash

Our routine is for one of us to get the rental car while the other waits for the luggage. Then we head straight for Costco, before heading to Ka'anapali (It's too far to come back again after getting settled). When we get to the condo, we have everything we need, and can start our vacation!

If feeding seven, you could save a fortune, in my opinion. Snack foods, pop, alcohol, and meat alone would more than pay for the membership. PLUS, you would be done.

The problem could be that the Maui Costco has lots of fun stuff, in addition to the basics. They have two whole aisles of Hawaiian goods, such as the macadamia nut goodies, tropical jams and candies, pineapples, etc, etc, in carry-on boxes for travel to take home. As well as Hawaiian shirts, dresses, boogie boards, floats, water toys, sunscreen---all sorts of things you might like. I even usually buy a bouquet of tropical Hawaiian flowers for our condo.

Have a great time!

Costco may be closed on the Fourth of July.

Barbara, our Costco in San Diego doesn't have all the choices in Macadamia nuts/chocolate covered macadamias that the Maui Costco had. Yes, we have something with macadamias in San Diego, but not the same selection. There were some other differences too. We definitely felt like we were shopping in a MAUI Costco!

Costco is quite a ways away from me but it still makes the difference.

No one has mentioned this yet but Costco's gas is $0.20 a gallon cheaper than anywhere else.

Forgot to add that stores merchandise regionally.

In other words, the Maui store will be different from the San Diego store which will be different from the Raleigh store.

Melissa, I don't really pay much attention to that stuff, otherwise I might buy some! I walk right past it to the wine....!

GoTravel, Costco does have good gas prices. In my area, where the Costco store with gasoline is kind of out on its own, I've noticed that the gas stations closest to Costco keep their prices within a penny or two of Costco's price. This actually gets them a lot of customers who would prefer not to have to drive a few more miles. I only fill up at Costco if I'm going there anyway to shop.

Does Costco on Maui have gas?

Costco also has great prices at their snack stand, where you can have lunch or a snack. Also don't forget, for a cheap date you go to Costco on the days they have free food samples! (Yes, I'm only half kidding...)

Melissa5, honestly, you CAN go to the Costco's in Durham and Winston-Salem here in N.C., and by the time you take a sample from all the stands, you'll be stuffed! Yes, I have done it.... :-d

My two cents: We are condo-ing for two weeks - family of four. We plan to stop at Costco to pick up the 'big stuff' that we know we'll use lots of. Things like water, soda, cereal (I refuse to pay store prices at home, I can only imagine the prices on the island), beer, wine, croissants (the kids love those), chips - you get the idea. I have no worries about using up those types of items and I am very confident in the savings, being a regular Costco shopper. IMHO, it would definitely be worth the stop or even a trip back into town. I will shop local for dinner supplies and items that we won't use tons of (I certainly hope that we wouldn't go through a gallon of mayo in two weeks). I like to buy dinner ingredients the same day, anyway. I'm excited about the Farmer's Markets - pulled that info from another post!

Have a great trip! Are all SEVEN of you staying in one condo?! You might need a vacation from your vacation...

Oh, and a little secret: Costco has the best return policy in the world. So if you did buy a membership and weren't happy with the savings (or quality, or whatever) they will refund the membership, in full, no questions asked.

Audflash - we should compare notes sometime.

There are seven of us traveling from Cleveland; me and wife, boy 15, girls 13 and 10, and Granparents. This is a retirement gift for them.

We are in Maui on the 4th also. Our arrival is July 3, depart for HNL July 10th. The three kids and G&G go home on the 12th and wife and I stay at the JW Marriott on Oahu until the 16th!

We also have a birthday for my son on the island as well.

To your comments on the condo - we have two units at the Westin Ka'anapali OCean Villas. A studio for Grandma and Grandpa, and a one bedroom for us and the kids.

The five of us have been in much tighter quarters in the past [try a week at Disney or Mexico in one room] - so we are not too worried about space.

The G&G will also get thier own privacy and can invite the kids for a sleep over if they like...

We did get three hotel rooms in HNL; G&G, boys and girls rooms because two rooms would have been too tight.

Our issue with Costo will be time and fatigue on arrival... Else I probobly would head over for supplies.

Have a great trip...

If you have direct question I am smuniak at yahoo.

Stash

I am in a rush and don't have the time to read all the replies right now, so I don't know if anyone has mentioned this yet, but a membership at Costco seems to be good at all Costco stores. We have even used our (Michigan) membership card to go into Costcos in England. You wrote: " There is a Costco about 20 miles from our home, a lot further than the BJ’s, that we currently belong to." If you mean that you already have a membership at the Costco 20 miles from your house, then that Costco membership card will get you into all of the Costcos in Hawaii.

Stash -

My son will turn 14 on the 4th of July! We also used to take vacations with the grandparents, although ours were cross-country driving trips in a 7 passenger van. We have three kids too so that was 7 people in a 7 passenger van! I totally understand the 'close' situation you describe. Our oldest is on her own now (she's 21) so we usually travel as a four-pack these days. Cheaper and easier!

What are your plans for the 4th? I understand that the Grand Wailea will have fireworks. I wonder if we will be able to see them from our balcony at Ekolu?

Audflash -

My hope is that we spend the 4th away from the crowds...

I think that Ka'anapali will have fireworks so we don't have to drive to Lahina. If they do we will wathc them from blackrock.

Have a great time in the Wailea area.

Stash

Costco is so much better than BJ's. They have a great return policy, good quality food that is great for groups, and as already mentioned you could even get your membership refunded. A no-brainer.

I think it is definitely worth it! It's not just the money issue but Costco's quality control is problably better that other market's in the island's. Thier meat is usually much better than other stores in my experience.