I'm a die hard Maui lover and not only do I return with my batteries recharged and ready to face the rest of the winter blues, I dream of the next time I'm going back there even before I've left!
If you're thinking about visiting Maui, here's an honest review of the best places to check out, restaurants to eat at (trust me I've tried them all) and even down to a place where you can pick your own fruits and vegetables that'll give "farm to table" new meaning!
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| Check out my Maui Faves right HERE |
Where to stay:
The Four Seasons Maui is absolutely the epitome of luxury. The resort itself is incredible. The rooms are spacious and all of them, even if you have a garden view room are spectacular! We are a family of 5 and we usually all stay in an Executive Garden Suite. It's big enough for all of us and we don't feel like we are piled on top of one another. But, if you're just going with the two of you, a classic room will do just fine.
When you arrive to your room, you are greeted with Hawaiian music playing, an orchid lei around your neck and some of the most delicious ginger lemonade you'll ever have. I'm not sure I could ask for any more than that.
There are plenty of things to do at the resort... get a luxurious massage or body treatment at the Ritual Spa, or go paddle boarding or kayaking in the ocean... wake up early and take an amazing yoga class or even just go for a long walk along the path by the water.
Breakfast is phenomenal. The buffet has everything, and I mean everything you could ever imagine. Fresh pressed juice (the kale, apple, ginger is my fave) Hawaiian papaya that will make it hard for your to ever eat papaya from anywhere else in the world, omelettes made to order and who can resist the macadamia nut french toast with warm coconut syrup.
Enjoy a lunch by the pool... might I suggest their asian chicken salad or the cuban sandwich with fried pickles. Not exactly going to make me feel great in my bikini but I could care less. Follow up with a mint mojito... you're all set. Oh and God love the sweet lady who walks around and hands out the complimentary ice cold cucumber slices for your eyes and just soak in the sun! (Don't forget the sun screen... they have you covered in that department too!)
As far as restaurants & things to do- I suggest making your reservations before you get there. The earlier slots always get taken, and with the time change, we're always looking to eat on the earlier end and it seems everyone else is too! My restaurant suggestions are as follows (All are kid friendly and some of the best food on the island)
- Matteo’s Osteria- Fantastic Italian food! Rivals anything you'd find on the mainland let alone in Italy! That good!
- Duo at the Four Seasons- Friday nights are the best night there- they have their shellfish bar which has oysters, crab, shrimp and all the ahi poke you could dream of- live guitar music AND someone there to entertain the kids while you enjoy dinner
- Sansei - best sushi on the island - Looks like a dive bar sushi place- but it’s really really good sushi- like they caught it that day from the ocean kinda good. great food for the kids too- it's in Kihei, the next town over... and the karaoke on the weekends is kinda fun too!
- Monkey Pod - nearby the hotel- casual. Great drinks- all hand crafted cocktails. One of my favorite places to go. Try the Ahi Poke Tacos and the Bulgogi Pork is outrageously delicious. Great for a night when you guys are wiped out and just want to listen to nice music and just let the kids melt down. No one will care there. LOL. Or head over there in the afternoon to take a little break from the sun and eat a bite. The Liliquoi Mai Tai is the best thing you’ll ever drink in your life. Life changing good. FOR REALZ.
Looking for a Luau? We've all been there. I'm not gonna lie. You have to see a luau in Hawaii at least once in your life. Luckily you're in a good place to do this.
The Grand Wailea has the BEST luau if you’re interested in doing that. Get a seat that’s towards the front- they will bring the kids up there. My kids loved it. We only did it once… that’s enough. LOL The food is good for luau standards. It's a fun night.
*By the way the Grand Wailiea is an amazing hotel to stay at with the kids. Their pool set up is a kids dream. Lazy river, water elevators, water slides, and endless selection of pools to choose from. Really, really cool.
Wanna get outdoors? I mean really outdoors?
Everyone and their mother will say "Go to Hana! You have to see the 7 waterfalls there!" And yes, they are amazing. Incredible. Breathtaking... but with that being said, if you're like me and you have 3 kids under 12, it's not the priority on my list to get there.
A great little hike with the kids with out going all the way to Hana (waste of a day driving there, unless you like hearing your kids scream in a car for 5 hours to drive 60 miles) and show them a waterfall or two- It’s a good day excursion. It’s about 30 min away from Wailea on the other side of the island. Check out TWIN FALLS.
Before I head out for my mini hike at the falls, I gotta fuel up! I head to the town of PAIA - it's on the way... go to Charley’s Saloon (Willie Nelson owns it) for the best pancakes EVER. My kids go gaga over the chocolate chip pancakes, they are awesome. I always get the blueberry macadamia nut ones with coconut syrup and i die. Yes, literally right there. They are light, fluffy and everything you could ever dream of a pancake being in your lifetime.
Then keep driving about 10 minutes up the road and you’ll see a stop on your right hand side that says TWIN FALLS- There is a pineapple stand in front- (resist the urge to get some pineapple anything and grab a pineapple smoothie on the way back down) go take the hike up there. It’s half a mile up to hike (not hard at all, my little ones do it easily) and you can walk up to the falls. The water is freezing cold, and make sure everyone is wearing good flip flops or shoes that you don’t mind getting muddy. Hike up there and then make your way up to the falls. THIS IS HAWAII! Have the hotel give you extra towels so you can dry off when you get to the bottom- and pack a sweatshirt. That side of the island is ALWAYS chilly for whatever reason.
Once you leave you can head back and stop and see the big waves and the surfers there- it’s cool watching them.
Then stop at MAMA’S FISH HOUSE. The location is fantastic and it’s got a great view. Right on the water. I'm not saying you'll have the best meal of your life there, but it’s pretty good and a must-stop on my list.
Let's get in the water!!!
If you want to try snorkeling the BEST boat on the island is the Alii N’uii - THEY ARE AWESOME. They can pick you up in the morning from your hotel. They serve you a good breakfast, take you whale watching and then take you snorkeling. They have two points they go to- Turtle Point & Molokini. We usually go to Turtle Point because it’s less crowded and you generally see more fish and the big turtles. Molokini tends to be a lot more congested with people and you don't see as many fish as you do at the other point. They have divers who will go out with you- and they will help you with the kids if you ask for it. Use the floatee thingies too- they really help, especially with the little ones. They serve a great lunch when you get back on the boat and then they cruise around for another hour or so. It’s a really really nice day. The good thing about the Ali N’uii is, unlike the other boats on the island they don’t over crowd them and they only allow about 40 or so people on MAX! So it’s very personalized service. They are the most expensive ones, but well worth it in my opinion.
Upcountry Maui!
If you want to go horseback-riding and see upcountry Maui- which is just beautiful farm land- there are two things I suggest. The first one is PIHOLO RANCH. We have had some of the best times ever horseback riding! The guides are amazing... we just loved ours, his name was "Frenchy" The horses are super nice, the guides are awesome and they take very special care of the little ones. Don't forget the ZIPLINE! Oh my goodness, hold your breath and GOOOO!!! It's exhilerating! It gets chilly up there so make sure you bring a sweatshirt too!
While you're in upcountry there is a great restaurant/farm there called O’o farm. It’s pretty incredible actually- you get to go into the farm fields and you actually pick all the foods that you’ll be eating for lunch and they prepare the meal using them. It’s a really nice experience and the food is excellent. It’s a nice change from the beach day if you want to get a break from it.
And there you have it. That’s my tour of Maui.
I hope you check out some of these places and I'd love to hear your thoughts! And you can always email me if you have any questions or want some more suggestions!
Here's so staying warm this winter!
xo,
Michelle
aka. The Mediterranean Mama
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