Maui in December - book activities in advance?
Oct 13th, 2011, 06:55 PM
#1
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Maui in December - book activities in advance?
I'm going to be in Maui Dec 11 - 16. (I've never been to Hawaii before.) I'm thinking of doing some of the "usual" activities such as:
-Day trip to Lanai w/Trilogy
-Whale Watching with Pacific Whale Foundation (although have heard some not great things about them too so not sure)
-Molokini? - sounds nice but seems too crowded
-Are there any other activity reservations I'm missing?
Should I book any of these trips in advance, so that I can get a cheaper online rate and also ensure I have a seat? Or is it better just to book the day before or day of - in case weather is bad and I need to switch dates?
Also, I'm not sure how many trips to book - it sounds like the Lanai trip has whale watching. Is a second whale watching trip worthwhile?
Thanks!
-Day trip to Lanai w/Trilogy
-Whale Watching with Pacific Whale Foundation (although have heard some not great things about them too so not sure)
-Molokini? - sounds nice but seems too crowded
-Are there any other activity reservations I'm missing?
Should I book any of these trips in advance, so that I can get a cheaper online rate and also ensure I have a seat? Or is it better just to book the day before or day of - in case weather is bad and I need to switch dates?
Also, I'm not sure how many trips to book - it sounds like the Lanai trip has whale watching. Is a second whale watching trip worthwhile?
Thanks!
Oct 13th, 2011, 07:52 PM
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Aloha! E Komo Mai to Hawaii! (in advance, welcome). I live on Oahu, in Honolulu, but I know Maui very well. "Maui no ka oi" (Maui is the BEST!)
Maui is a great island to view the whales. You are right, you'll probably see lots of them as you head over to Lanai. Perhaps make that trip first, and if you are still itching to get closer to them to get that perfect photo, then book the whale watching trip. I love going to makena beach on Maui and just sitting there waiting and watching for the next whale to breach (don't forget to go swimming underwater, you'll hear them singing and calling to one another!)
Molokini has some amazing diving and snorkeling. I would consider booking that only a few days in advance. But check with the tour operators. The day you have picked out could be the same day a cruise ship is on island and they could be sold out weeks in advance. I checked NCCL schedule and they will be on Maui Dec 11/12th.
But sometimes we get rain in December and you don't want to go on a cloudy day- for obvious reasons, everything underwater is darker!
I love going up to Haleakala for sunrise! It's a bit of a trek and you have to get up early! But, wow, to see the sunrise above the clouds and to be at 10,000 feet is really cool. and Cold! Like about 40 degrees cold!! make sure to wear warm layers.
I also love taking a day and making the road to Hana. It's an ALL day, leisurely journey to and from Hana. I think it is best when you are not rushed. So, don't plan on dinner reservations at 6pm that night. No need to rush anywhere that day. The drive is a winding road that takes you about 3 hours to get to one of the rainiest spots in the world! The town of Hana. Stop along the way to see many of the waterfalls and plan on taking a hike or two. I think this is a must do- especially if you have a jeep or convertible to enjoy the drive. Just be ready to put the top up once it start to really rain down!
Oh, if you have plans to go to dinner in Lahaina my favorite restaurant is "David Paul's". YUM-O. If it's not in your budget for a whole dinner, go for the desert! Ask for the lavender ice cream! I don't know if they are still serving it, but it's the best ice cream on the planet!
Maui is a great island to view the whales. You are right, you'll probably see lots of them as you head over to Lanai. Perhaps make that trip first, and if you are still itching to get closer to them to get that perfect photo, then book the whale watching trip. I love going to makena beach on Maui and just sitting there waiting and watching for the next whale to breach (don't forget to go swimming underwater, you'll hear them singing and calling to one another!)
Molokini has some amazing diving and snorkeling. I would consider booking that only a few days in advance. But check with the tour operators. The day you have picked out could be the same day a cruise ship is on island and they could be sold out weeks in advance. I checked NCCL schedule and they will be on Maui Dec 11/12th.
But sometimes we get rain in December and you don't want to go on a cloudy day- for obvious reasons, everything underwater is darker!
I love going up to Haleakala for sunrise! It's a bit of a trek and you have to get up early! But, wow, to see the sunrise above the clouds and to be at 10,000 feet is really cool. and Cold! Like about 40 degrees cold!! make sure to wear warm layers.
I also love taking a day and making the road to Hana. It's an ALL day, leisurely journey to and from Hana. I think it is best when you are not rushed. So, don't plan on dinner reservations at 6pm that night. No need to rush anywhere that day. The drive is a winding road that takes you about 3 hours to get to one of the rainiest spots in the world! The town of Hana. Stop along the way to see many of the waterfalls and plan on taking a hike or two. I think this is a must do- especially if you have a jeep or convertible to enjoy the drive. Just be ready to put the top up once it start to really rain down!
Oh, if you have plans to go to dinner in Lahaina my favorite restaurant is "David Paul's". YUM-O. If it's not in your budget for a whole dinner, go for the desert! Ask for the lavender ice cream! I don't know if they are still serving it, but it's the best ice cream on the planet!
Oct 14th, 2011, 07:25 AM
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thanks very much for the great advice! i was going to do the lanai day trip near the end, but i think i'll move it to the front based on this advice. i'm definitely planning on haleakala and the hana drive, but i'm assuming you don't need reservations for those.
I've read it's not worth it to see the sunrise at haleakala b/c it's so overcrowded with tourists now, and that it's just better to go up there anytime during the day. is that true?
i've also read that molokini is also so overcrowded that there are more people than fish! is it still worth going?
also - for the drive to hana, is it manageable to do the drive in one day, so i don't have to make separate hotel reservations in hana? i'll be staying either in wailea or lahaina.
thanks!
I've read it's not worth it to see the sunrise at haleakala b/c it's so overcrowded with tourists now, and that it's just better to go up there anytime during the day. is that true?
i've also read that molokini is also so overcrowded that there are more people than fish! is it still worth going?
also - for the drive to hana, is it manageable to do the drive in one day, so i don't have to make separate hotel reservations in hana? i'll be staying either in wailea or lahaina.
thanks!
Oct 14th, 2011, 02:14 PM
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We just booked everything once we got there. The sunrise at Haleakala was pretty neat and not terribly crowded when we did it. We did the road to Hana in one day, but it did take all day, and we got back after dark. Enjoyed the trip to Molokini, but we didn't see a lot in the way of fish, may have just been an off day though.
