Maui Trip Report-1st time visit
 

While in Maui my family and I experienced many activities. We arrived on Maui on 062702. When we left the plane and entered into the airport,we were suprised.The airport smelled like a musty basement. It looked old and run down. We picked up our rental car and drove to the Sheraton in Kaanapali. The hotel staff was very friendly and helpful. The hotel had a great beach. We did find it a bit windy and cloudy in Kaanapali. The clouds and showers(mist)would frequently blow over from the nearby mountains. On Friday we attended the Old Lahaina Luau.The entertainment was great but the food was lacking. On Saturday we went snorkeling at Molikini with the Four Winds crew. We took the morning trip.The fish were swimming right up to our faces and the water was very clear.We had a BBQ lunch of hotdogs,hamburgers,and chicken. On Sunday we boarded the Atlantis submarine.This was boring and very cramped.Must say we did see a barracuda.On Tuesday we used Valley Isle tours to drive the road to Hana. This was a very long trip.We left our hotel @ 6:45 a.m. and was returned @ 5:00 p.m. The guide was great.He had an answer to every question you would ask from plants to Hawaiian culture. We went all the way around.Many tours will not do this. This road got pretty scary. There were several one lane bridges,hairpin turns,and blind turns. In spite of this, we are glad we did it and survived. On Wednesday we parasailed with UFO, that was really fun and the crew was great. On Friday we went horseback riding with Pony Express. Let's just say they don't accomodate novice riders.On Saturday came home.If anyone wants more details on are experiences, I will be glad to respond.<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>.

Angie when you went snorkelling was the water warm? we are planning on going this year and we have never been. we wantto get a condo type hotel instead of a Sheraton/Hyatt hi-rise situation. do you have any recommendation. Did sheraton staff charge you extra for daily maid service and parking? <BR><BR>And when you say cloudy does it lift at all or is it dark most morning ? some poeple say luaus are just a rip-off is that true? How long did it take you to get from the airport to Ka'anapali. thanks.

The tone of your entire posting suggests that you did NOT have a good time! How S A D !!!

can you clarify more what happened with ponyexpress? I was planning on doing this, but I have never been on a horse before. You make me this might be a bad idea.

Maybe Angelia is still suffering from jetlag. Snap out of it!

I would also like to hear more about Pony Express. I have booked the Haleakala tour with them, and they assured me it is for novice riders.<BR><BR>Also, everything I have read about them, in several guide books, has made it seem as if they are a class outfit, and that they take good care of the horses and they try to match the horses appropriately to the level of rider. And all of the posts I have read, aside from this one, seem to corroborate what the guide books say. <BR><BR>My husband wasn't too thrilled about this tour to begin with, so I want to hear more so that I can judge whether I should cancel.<BR><BR>Thanks!

Joanne the water was warm to us.About 80 degrees I believe. The pool at the hotel was colder than the ocean. The Sheraton only has six floors to it. If you are looking for a condo, the Whaler condo unit is two doors down from the Sheraton on Kaanapali beach.I don't know much about it though.It didn't look bad and it is next to the Whaler Village shopping center.The Sheraton and many of the hotels around there charge daily resort fees for selected extras(each hotel determines).The Sheraton charged $10.42 a day.The clouds move quickly because of the trade winds blowing constantly.The days are not a total cloud over. As for the luaus being a total ripoff,I think it is an experience everyone should have once in a lifetime.I did mention the food was lacking so don't expect much.I did hear from a couple of people there that the Feast Fele(not sure of name)was better. It is more expensive than the Old Lahaina but it has better food. I hope this helps.

Actually Rod I did have a great time. I was SAD to have to come home.I was just a little disappointed with some of my experiences. I guess I set my expectations too high and was let down in some cases.

Lisa & a read more about my experience with Pony Express on my reply to heading-"Horseback riding in Maui" I hope this helps you make an informed decision.