maui or kauai
 

My husband and I are taking our first trip to Hawaii. We will be spending 6 nights there at the hyatt in kauai or the hyatt in maui. We are both 30. Which island would you reccommend?

My husband and I visited both islands a year ago for our honeymoon. We both far preferred Kauai, but it really depends what you want to do. We wanted to relax, maybe go hiking, sit on the beach, etc. We found Kauai to be far more laid-back and less touristy. We went on garden tours, hikes in the Waimea Canyon, ate at some really good local joints and got more R & R than I have probably had in my whole life! They still have some of the touristy stuff to do (like luaus and helicopter rides), but the scenery and atmosphere overshadowed those. We stayed in a condo, rather than a hotel, which we liked because we didn't have to worry about housekeeping (and not being in the room at a certain time) and we could make food in the kitchen if we wanted to.

Maui was nice, but everything seemed busier, much more touristy, the beach we stayed at was crowded, etc. Some people like that though! We stayed on the northwest shore of the island. I cannot remember the name of the town that was nearby, but it some neat shops and restaurants. It was comparable to a Georgetown (Washington DC) type of area though, which we were trying to get away from!

My husband and I prefer Maui. There's more to do on Maui and we still manage to feel very relaxed there. I can't wait to go back. We stayed at The Hyatt Regency and weren't real impressed with our room. It was an adjoining room and the walls were paper thin. We could hear everything from the people next door and the man was smoking even though we were on a non-smoking floor. But, the Hyatt's buffet breakfast at The Swan Court is excellent.

Well, they are both terrific vacation destinations, but as others have mentioned, there are distinct differences.

Kauai - Easily the most scenic of the 3 Hawaiian Islands I've been to (Oahu, Maui, Kauai) and our personal favorite. In my opinion, this is the island most suited to those who either love the outdoors (and activities such as hiking etc) or who want peace and quiet. Like most of the major Hawaiian Islands there is a HUGE difference between the dryer/sunnier leeward (south & west) sides of the island and the greener/lusher and more rugged (and far more beautiful in my opinion) windwards (north and east) sides. The north shore is incredibly beautiful and tropical feeling, while the south shore near the Hyatt (which has incredible grounds) is more like what you might see in Southern California (ie more desertlike). While Kauai does not have as many touristy things to do as Maui does (less restaurants, less paid activities etc), there is still plenty to do for the length of time that your'll be staying.

Maui - While Maui is our least favorite Hawaiian Island, it is, I have to admit, probably the most well-balanced in regards to combining activities - with nightlife, some degree of peace and quiet, and scenic beauty - all combined with a wonderful collection of beaches - which probably accounts for its enormous popularity. Maui has far more and generally far better beaches that Kauai - with Ka'anapali Beach (where the Hyatt is located) usually considered the top beach on the island (often even ranked the best in the US). Maui definitely has more nightlife (especially in nearby Lahaina) - though keep in mind that because of the time zone differences, many mainland folks start running out of steam by 9 PM (midnight on the west coast & 3 am on the east coast) so in generally nightlife is not as active as in say, the Caribbean. Like the Hyatt on Kauai, the hotel is located in a dryer section of the island - though it's nbot quite as dry as the resort on Kauai. On the downside, along with all the additional activities and nightlife available to you on Maui you are going to get bigger crowds (you didn't actually think that incredible beach would be empty did you?). Ka'anapli is a well-developed area with a fair number of high-rises, more traffic (especially between Ka'anapali and Lahaina, where it can be bumper to bumper) and obviously more people.

In summary, I'd have to say that Kauai will more easily give you a "get away from it all" type of relaxing vacation while Maui will more easily give you a "holiday" type of vacation (where you've lots of things to see and do - combined with a collections of world-class beaches).

So, now you have to ask yourself - "What am I looking for on my vacation?" To be honest about it, you'll proabably be happy with either, but depending on who you are and what you like to do, one may very well suit you more than the other.

Hope this helps a bit. If you feel a bit confused and overwhelmed with your choices, just remember that pretty much everyone goes through this decision so you are not alone.

Ken

"Maui by a miley".
more things to do, nightlife, restaurants, etc.

Lggators,

It all depends on you. As others have said, it depends on what you are looking for in your vacation. Simply put:

Kauai = oldest Hawaiian Island, lush, laid back, good beaches, lots of hiking, decent snorkeling, and very good to get away. Not as crowded as Oahu or Maui, but also no nightlife or shopping. Kauai still has more of the essence of true Hawaii, similar to the Big Island.

Maui = “Disneyland” version of Hawaii. Condo after Condo. Good beaches, but crowded. To “get away from it all” takes work. Second youngest island, it does have a national park, the dormant Haleakala. It also has an abundance of nightlife, and is pricier than most of the other islands. Maui is almost unrecognizable as a Hawaiian Isle now, as opposed to say 20 years ago.

Good luck and happy travels!

Knowing absolutely nothing about what you and your husband want to do on vacation, I'll vote..

I like Maui for an introduction to Hawaii. With only 6 nights you would have plenty to see and do. The island is lush and gorgeous. I did not find it Disney-esque and I'm sensitive to that kind of thing.

The crater at Haleakala is amazing. I enjoyed kicking around in the town of Lahaina, tourists yes but locals live there too. Went to the old Lahaina Luau and saw the show U'lalena at Myth and Magic Theater.

If you want something less developed touistically than perhaps you would prefer Kauai.