We are booked onto an America West flight leaving Maui to DC at 10:59pm on June 12, 2007 (a Tueday) but we have to check out of our condo at 11:00am. How should we approach our last day until time to return the rental car and check in at the airport? If we hang out at the beach somewhere, where could we shower or clean up before the flight? Is is possible to check the bags at the airport in the early afternoon? I am hoping someone would have some experience with these late reurn flights.
Thanks!

eco:
I would check with your condo to see if they offer any service (storing your luggage) You can't take it to the airport. Hope this helps
Gina

Some public beaches have shower facilities.

Quite honestly, if you can afford it, I'd rent the condo for 1 more day. It would be well worth it just to have a safe place for your luggage and a place to shower, nap, etc. You have too many hours to kill before an overnight flight. Leaving in a refreshed condition for a long overnite flight is important (at least to me )

I agree with Lori.
Maybe you ask for late check-out, might get it on a Tuesday. If you can't extend it a day then there's a couple of motels in Kahului that could serve as a staging post.

We will have the same situation as you when we go back to Maui in March. My plan is to check out at 11 a.m. or so and do the drive to Haleakula and the winery in the afternoon and early evening. I think we'll plan to watch the sun set from the winery or close by and then head to a place closer to the airport for supper. I might return the rental car first and cab it to a restaurant so we can enjoy some wine with dinner. Any recommedations for restaurants within reasonable cab fare from there? Is Momma's fish house close?

We have had the same problem several times(early check-out/late flight). This year we are thinking of spending the time in Paia(shop, eat lunch, watch the surfers).What do you Maui travelers think of that idea?

I regretted spending my last day before a late flight in Paia. Not only did I not like Paia, but our car was broken into in the public parking lot (a daily occurrence from what I was told). So I ended up spend a lot of my last day filling out reports with the police and at the rental car agency. If you do leave you bags in the car on the last day, remember never leave anything in sight, even if you don't consider it valuable, and avoid getting in your trunk when others are watching.

lunabug,

I'd be very leery of leaving your luggage and stuff in your car while you do all of those things on your last day. While I've neve had an experience like Barbara's, car break-ins do happen and you should protect yorself against them by leaving your things someplace safe.

-Bill

All the more reason to extend condo for 1 extra day. Car break ins are quite common in Hawaii so quite frankly if I had my luggage/valuables in the car I would not let it out of my sight at all. Tourists tend to think of Hawaii as paradise where nothing bad happens ... not true. Sometimes spending a few extra dollars for convenience and safety is the better route to take.

What about booking a massage that afternoon at a resort? Perhaps we could use their beach area and have lunch during the early afternoon and then book a massage at 5pm or so. Would they have secure parking during the day and facilities for us to shower and get dressed and ready for our flight after our massage? Does anyone think this is a good idea?