Where to stay on Maui
Where to stay on Maui? That's a good question if you're planning a visit to the Valley Isle. Maui is divided into a couple of areas where the major accommodations are located, though as a whole the island offers a large range of accommodations, from budget hotels to condominiums - 5-star hotels to bed and breakfasts. Many of the major beach resorts are along the south west coast near Ka`anapali. A few major resorts also exist in south Maui, especially in Wailea. In either of these locations you're bound to find beautiful beaches and good weather no matter where you look. In south Maui, Kihei is also a popular place to stay, boasting a wide assortment of condominiums in the area. Websites like Tripadvisor.com may help you narrow down exactly which region you want to stay in, and what accommodation type is best for you. We used to stick to the condominiums, but now we personally prefer the private small Inn's and B&B's because they offer better privacy and seclusion from the hustle and bustle of the main accommodation areas.
Weather is another factor to consider when deciding where to stay, though for the most part, the major accommodation areas of Maui are fairly dry since they exist on the leeward side of the island. Southwest Maui, around Lahaina and Ka`anapali, is slightly more lush than south Maui, near Kihei. Only during the onset of the winter months (late November - early March) will Maui experience more clouds and rain island wide. Want more information about Maui's weather, be sure to check our our Maui weather article.
Finally, let's take a look what are the highlights (
) and detractions (
) are for each of the areas we've briefly discussed above. These are in order of popularity, by our account.Southwest Coast (including Lahaina, Kaanapali, and Kapalua)
Great weather throughout the year! Great selection of beaches available. Great variety of stores and shops. Can be quite touristy in most locations. Can be very crowded, especially during the holidays. Can be rather far from the Hana Highway and Haleakala.South Coast (including Kihei and Wailea)
Great weather year-round! A lot of cheaper accommodation rentals. Decent selection of beaches over much of the coastline. Not as much shopping available, just small stores. Not as many upscale restaurant options available. Can be rather far from the Hana Highway and Haleakala.Northeast Coast (including Hana and near the Oheo Gulch)
Great proximity to the sights of the Hana Highway and Oheo Gulch. Small, but beautiful, variety of beaches. Can be very wet, especially during the winter. Is geographically very isolated, a great distance from all other attractions.Central Maui (including Lahaina and Paia)
Decent variety of shops available. Great proximity to most of the island, including the Hana Highway. Limited accommodations are present in these areas. Paia can experience a good bit of rain. Not very scenic in most of central Maui. Limited selection of beaches.Upcountry Maui (including Kula)
Great scenery and proximity to Haleakala Lack of accommodation options. Very limited variety of stores or restaurants. No beaches.Ultimately, and we can't stress this enough, it's hard to make a bad choice, accommodations wise, on Maui. You have an incredible selection available - perhaps the best in Hawaii. Stick to the southwest and southern coastlines if you want to stay where most other visitors are staying. Or explore the other regions of Maui using Tripadvisor to find a small B&B or Inn that suites your tastes - it's totally up to you. Whether you stay on the drier leeward side (south and west), or prefer the lusher windward side (north and east) - it's hard to go wrong picking a location to stay on Maui.
Be sure to check out our When to visit Maui article as well.
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