Maui: Trip-worthy, or trodden?
Oct 8th, 2002, 03:12 PM
#1
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Maui: Trip-worthy, or trodden?
Hi, I recently got back from Hawaii. I spent some time in Maui, the Big Island, Kuai.
I had a nice time in Kuai and the Big Island, but Maui was really not what it used to be. All these huge resorts...with tons of unruly families trucking in and out. And the beaches were more litter-filled than in the past. Also, Lahaina was more crowded than ever - and more commerical than ever. Bubba Gump Shrimp? Eh too Lahaina?
I think Maui is getting a little trodden for my taste. Anyone else agree?
I had a nice time in Kuai and the Big Island, but Maui was really not what it used to be. All these huge resorts...with tons of unruly families trucking in and out. And the beaches were more litter-filled than in the past. Also, Lahaina was more crowded than ever - and more commerical than ever. Bubba Gump Shrimp? Eh too Lahaina?
I think Maui is getting a little trodden for my taste. Anyone else agree?
Oct 8th, 2002, 04:56 PM
#2
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Does anyone else agree that Maui is too 'trodden' for your taste?
Well, since I don't know your taste I'll have to take your word for it.
Compared to So. Cal., Florida and Arizona Maui doesn't bother me at all.
Has it changed over the past 15 years?
You bet. But welcome to the 21st century. All popular destinations are becoming more 'trodden' as travel becomes cheaper (in real dollars adjusted for inflation).
Heck, look at the amount of litter on Mt. Everest. Who would have predicted that 25 years ago.
Alaskan traffic jams dominate summer weekends.
Not ideal, but that's the world we live in.
Well, since I don't know your taste I'll have to take your word for it.
Compared to So. Cal., Florida and Arizona Maui doesn't bother me at all.
Has it changed over the past 15 years?
You bet. But welcome to the 21st century. All popular destinations are becoming more 'trodden' as travel becomes cheaper (in real dollars adjusted for inflation).
Heck, look at the amount of litter on Mt. Everest. Who would have predicted that 25 years ago.
Alaskan traffic jams dominate summer weekends.
Not ideal, but that's the world we live in.
Oct 11th, 2002, 07:01 AM
#3
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It's not really all of Maui. It seems to be the Kaanapali area. If you go north or South, it's not bad. We were just on Maui and went to visit the Kaanapali area. We couln't wait to get back down south again. Where do these people come from? It's definately a different crowd up there. We call them the Hilo Hatties crowd or the ship people. There seems to be dozens of elderly people with their white knee socks and sneakers, bermuda shorts pulled up around their necks and white fruit of the loom muscle t-shirts, all standing around talking about how expensive the stores in Whalers Village are. eeeek!
Oct 11th, 2002, 08:00 AM
#7
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Ann, are you serious?
I don't think I've ever met anyone who thinks Mexico (Cancun in particular!) is better than Hawaii (outside Waikiki and Kaanapali).
Mexico is dirty, impoverished, heavily touristy, overrun with Americanized businesses which choke out the native culture, and one of the most poorly run countries in the world.
The islands of Kauai, Hawaii, Lanai, and most of Oahu and Maui, are clean, safe, filled with great resorts and restaurants, about as much natural beauty as you'll find anywhere worldwide, healthy economically.....
Oh well, everyone has an opinion.
I don't think I've ever met anyone who thinks Mexico (Cancun in particular!) is better than Hawaii (outside Waikiki and Kaanapali).
Mexico is dirty, impoverished, heavily touristy, overrun with Americanized businesses which choke out the native culture, and one of the most poorly run countries in the world.
The islands of Kauai, Hawaii, Lanai, and most of Oahu and Maui, are clean, safe, filled with great resorts and restaurants, about as much natural beauty as you'll find anywhere worldwide, healthy economically.....
Oh well, everyone has an opinion.
Oct 11th, 2002, 08:27 AM
#8
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I've only been to Maui once, last month, and stayed at the Westin in Kaanapali.
Personally, Maui didn't impress me. Nicest parts were views of other islands, sunsets and restaurants. However, it didn't feel like I was 3000 miles from home. Sorta felt like southern california, esp. that drive from the airport.
I felt it lacked the "aloha" spirit.
Probably will not return, but go to Kauai and Big Island instead.
CoachBoy
Personally, Maui didn't impress me. Nicest parts were views of other islands, sunsets and restaurants. However, it didn't feel like I was 3000 miles from home. Sorta felt like southern california, esp. that drive from the airport.
I felt it lacked the "aloha" spirit.
Probably will not return, but go to Kauai and Big Island instead.
CoachBoy
Oct 11th, 2002, 09:55 AM
#10
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Rhonda - Yes, its a busy area. But we drove around the island - up to Kapalua down to Makena (sp?).
I can't put my finger on exactly what it was, but the island just seemed too overdeveloped.
Lots of people love Maui - I believe its the most popular Hawaiian Island. I prefer the beauty of Kauai and vastness of the Big Island.
CoachBoy
I can't put my finger on exactly what it was, but the island just seemed too overdeveloped.
Lots of people love Maui - I believe its the most popular Hawaiian Island. I prefer the beauty of Kauai and vastness of the Big Island.
CoachBoy
Oct 11th, 2002, 12:58 PM
#12
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Greg, I guess you've only seen Cancun, Mazatlan, and Tijuana. There are many Mexican destinations that are host to some of the smallest and most beautiful hotels in the world, friendly townspeople, much more moderate crowds than Hawaii, and gorgeous beaches.
Oct 11th, 2002, 03:55 PM
#13
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Aloha;
I guess it is just a matter of taste. If you don't like it don't go back. We have been to all of the islands including Lanai about 11 years ago, proto Manele Bay (actually it had just opened but we did not stay there) and Molokai last year. While we like all of the islands we still like Maui the best. We like the west side but travel all over. We sometimes stay at Kaanapali, sometimes in Lahaina and sometimes further north. We like them all for different reasons. We don't stay in Wailai because it seems to quiet and somewhat pretentious. We avoid Kihei because it seems like one giant strip mall on the ocean.
I went to Maui 3 times last year. 1 week in Jan with hubby, stayed at the Mahana, had a great time. One week with Mom and daughter at spring break, split our time between the Lahaina Shores and Whaler (so I didn't have to drive them everywhere) again had a great time. And finally 2 months with hubby during the summer north of Kaanapali, south of Kahana, had a great time.
Yes Lahaina is busy and touristy, but you don't go to Lahaina every day do you? In fact you don't have to go at all even if you stay in Kaanapali.
IMHO there is nothing better than sitting in the barefoot bar at Whalers listening to tunes and watching the sunset while checking out the beach girls and boys showering off the sand and ocean.
PS the only way I would eat at Bubba Gumps is if it was comped.
PPS Yes things have changed on Maui. We went there for the first time in 1976. But things have changed drastically everywhere since then. Have you checked out your hometown lately?
PPPS I did not notice that the beach was messier than before. However when I do see trash on the beach I pick it up and throw it away. Maybe if we all did that there would be no trash.
Let the flames begin, LOL
I guess it is just a matter of taste. If you don't like it don't go back. We have been to all of the islands including Lanai about 11 years ago, proto Manele Bay (actually it had just opened but we did not stay there) and Molokai last year. While we like all of the islands we still like Maui the best. We like the west side but travel all over. We sometimes stay at Kaanapali, sometimes in Lahaina and sometimes further north. We like them all for different reasons. We don't stay in Wailai because it seems to quiet and somewhat pretentious. We avoid Kihei because it seems like one giant strip mall on the ocean.
I went to Maui 3 times last year. 1 week in Jan with hubby, stayed at the Mahana, had a great time. One week with Mom and daughter at spring break, split our time between the Lahaina Shores and Whaler (so I didn't have to drive them everywhere) again had a great time. And finally 2 months with hubby during the summer north of Kaanapali, south of Kahana, had a great time.
Yes Lahaina is busy and touristy, but you don't go to Lahaina every day do you? In fact you don't have to go at all even if you stay in Kaanapali.
IMHO there is nothing better than sitting in the barefoot bar at Whalers listening to tunes and watching the sunset while checking out the beach girls and boys showering off the sand and ocean.
PS the only way I would eat at Bubba Gumps is if it was comped.
PPS Yes things have changed on Maui. We went there for the first time in 1976. But things have changed drastically everywhere since then. Have you checked out your hometown lately?
PPPS I did not notice that the beach was messier than before. However when I do see trash on the beach I pick it up and throw it away. Maybe if we all did that there would be no trash.
Let the flames begin, LOL
Oct 11th, 2002, 06:22 PM
#14
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To Beryl:
In Mexico I've been to Cozumel, Cancun, Tulum, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta, Tijuana, and Rocky Point.
All touristy places. All left me very underwhelmed and each time I said I'd never go back (but did for various reasons). I'm sure there are rural places and off track places like Four Seasons Punta Mita that I'd enjoy, but Mexioco doesn't have enough going for it to draw me back. There are so many alterntives offering a more comprehensive vacation experience for my tastes. Among them Hawaii.
If all I wanted was a quiet resort by the water, I can find those, very nice ones, in Los Cabos, Cancun PV, etc.
But I want good food, variety of restaurants, enjoyable local culture, no in-my-face poverty, etc.
Australia, NZ, French Polynesia and some of the better Caribbean destinations (and of course Hawaii) offer so much more than Mexico, I really do believe I'll never go back there.
There is just no way I'll ever enjoy Mexico after experiencing the places above. I've become spoiled.
In Mexico I've been to Cozumel, Cancun, Tulum, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta, Tijuana, and Rocky Point.
All touristy places. All left me very underwhelmed and each time I said I'd never go back (but did for various reasons). I'm sure there are rural places and off track places like Four Seasons Punta Mita that I'd enjoy, but Mexioco doesn't have enough going for it to draw me back. There are so many alterntives offering a more comprehensive vacation experience for my tastes. Among them Hawaii.
If all I wanted was a quiet resort by the water, I can find those, very nice ones, in Los Cabos, Cancun PV, etc.
But I want good food, variety of restaurants, enjoyable local culture, no in-my-face poverty, etc.
Australia, NZ, French Polynesia and some of the better Caribbean destinations (and of course Hawaii) offer so much more than Mexico, I really do believe I'll never go back there.
There is just no way I'll ever enjoy Mexico after experiencing the places above. I've become spoiled.
Oct 12th, 2002, 12:14 AM
#15
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Greg, I agree with you 100% except about Cancun. I thought Cancun was quite nice and I didn't see ANY poverty at all (I'm ONLY talking about the hotel strip where I believe the majority of people go, not downtown Cancun which I was not interested in and which I heard was the pits!) Also, the beaches in Cancun are much nicer than Hawaii's. With that said, I still, naturally, prefer Hawaii. As for the Caribbean, the ONLY place I would go back to is Grand Cayman!
Oct 15th, 2002, 11:33 AM
#17
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Greg, I've also spent time in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Monaco, and Ibiza. I lived in Hawaii (granted, on Oahu) for four years and saw all of the islands and their beaches. I love a good beach vacation more than any other -- any nowadays, I choose Zihuatanejo on the Pacific Coast of Mexico. I think the over-commercialism of Hawaii and many Carribbean destinations GREATLY detracts from the beauty and simplicity of a truly wonderful beach vacation.
See, I haven't just been to Hawaii and Mexico. I've been "spoiled" by plenty of gorgeous beaches, too -- but now I find that the beaches themselves have been spoiled by overdevelopment and tourists.
See, I haven't just been to Hawaii and Mexico. I've been "spoiled" by plenty of gorgeous beaches, too -- but now I find that the beaches themselves have been spoiled by overdevelopment and tourists.
