Maui Wowie!

When you’re making your first trip to an incredible island state, there is a chance you’re probably to excited to think about where you should stay. You’re likely thinking that anything will work because you’re probably not going to want to spend that much time in the room anyway. You’re in a tropical paradise, so who wants to be trapped in a hotel room? This is young person logic, and I’m not going to lie, I used to think the same thing. You know what happened? I stayed in some really funky rooms that I still haven’t showered off.

No matter your age, you need to come to grips with the fact that you’ll be sleeping in Hawaii, and therefore your room should be pretty comfortable. Also, if you’re coming from the East Coast, you’re looking at a horrific six hour jet lag, you’ll need a good night’s sleep or you’re going to be uselessly wandering the gorgeous island of Maui like a zombie for the duration of your stay. Don’t ruin it with a crappy room. Trust me on that. The Maui Hot Spots and Their HotelsOne thing you’re going to have to come to grips with is that Maui is expensive. Hawaii, in general, is pretty pricey. However, it’s also gorgeous and completely worth the money. Here are the top five places to get a room on the island.

If you want to stay in West Maui, you’re going to want to look into the Kaanapali or Lahaina area. Here, hotels are going to be a little bit more touristy and a bit more expensive, but the beaches are developed and there are a ton of places to eat, drink, and shop. In Lahaina, you have several options. If you’re financially solvent and want to spend some money for the luxury, the Four Seasons Resort Lanai or the Ritz Carlton Kapalua are your best bets. They’ve both got four plus star reviews and offer the finest appointments in the area. However, there are more budget-friendly options as well, such as Maui Banyon Vacation Club or Hotel Molokai. If you’re looking more into South Maui, the most desirable areas are going to be Kihei and Wailea. These areas both have awesome beaches and fantastic weather, but they’re a lot further from the tourist spots like Haleakala and the Road to Hana. The places to stay are going to cost a little bit less than in West Maui. There are a lot more places to stay in Wailea, so you’ll want to check out the Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort or the Wailea Beach Resort Marriott. They’re priced pretty moderately across the board, but you’ll need to remember that this section of Maui is a bit more remote.

Central Maui may be more your gig if you’re less into the hot spot beaches and more into the best tourist spots that Maui has to offer. If you traveled to Hawaii with the intention of hitting up the Hana Highway, then Central Maui is the perfect location for you. Paia is within Central Maui and it features one of the most famous and incredible restaurants on the entire island. Mama’s Fish House is an iconic spot for lunches or dinners and you may even get some celebrity action with your food. Known to be frequented by some Hollywood heavy hitters, the area may be remote, but the food is incredible. If you want to spend the money, you can stay at the inn associated with Mama’s or you can stay a little bit cheaper at the Courtyard Marriott Kahului Airport. The choice is yours, but definitely stop in for lunch at Mama’s.

It’s kind of hard to pick the wrong place to stay when you’re headed to Hawaii, but there are some stinkers in the mix and the low price tag isn’t always a plus sign! Measure your desire for comfort, know that you may want to spend some time out of the sun and inside the room, and know that you get what you pay for. Maui won’t disappoint, but there are no promises that the “budget” hotels won’t.