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Money Saving Tips on Maui Hotels

Maui has a wide range of available hotel options from motels to bed and breakfasts to five star hotels. One of the most important tips on Maui hotels is to determine your budget first. How much do you want to spend on a hotel? Hotel rates in Maui will vary depending on the location and season, but will typically fall into the following price ranges:

o Economy (1 to 2 star hotel) = $49 to $89

o Moderate (2 to 3 star hotel) = $90 to $149

o Deluxe (3 star hotel/resort) = $150 to $350

o Luxury (4 star resort) = $350+

Keep in mind that for Maui hotel and condo reservations, there is an additional 11.4% that will be added to your hotel rate for Hawaii state and room taxes

When to Go

Maui hotel rates will vary depending on the time of year of the reservation. High season generally runs from mid-December through March or mid-April. In particular, the last 2 weeks of December are the peak time for travel to Maui, and the most expensive. "Low" season runs from about April through November. During Low season, Maui will be less crowded and the hotel rates will be much more affordable. The weather in Hawaii is also typically better in Hawaii during Low season. In fact, the only reason the High season in Hawaii comes in winter is because that is the time people want to escape their local bad weather. If you want to save money, avoid the crowds, and experience the best weather, make your Maui travel plans between April and November.

Hotel Discounts

One of the best money saving tips on Maui hotels is to get a discount on your hotel reservation. There are a number of different discounts available including the following:

o AAA or other travel organization discounts

o AARP membership

o Complimentary visits to attend timeshare presentations

o Internet special offers

o Discounted rooms that adhere to the Americans with Disabilities Act

Hotel Location

When choosing your hotel, location is very important. You are going to want to see and do as much as possible, in a short time frame. It does not make much sense to book a hotel that is far away from all of the Maui attractions. However, the most expensive Maui hotels are going to be situated in the most popular tourist areas such as Lahaina and Kaanapali. One of the top tips on Maui hotels is to venture a little farther away from the prime tourist destinations to save a substantial amount of money. For example, Kihei is central to many great beaches and tourist sights, but significantly cheaper than Lahaina.

Hawaiian Cruise - Have You Considered a Hawaiian Island Cruise?

Consider a Hawaiian Island Cruise

Cruising itself is a unique vacation. You are on a floating resort that supplies you with everything you need from a comfortable bed at night to five course gourmet meals each night for dinner, as well as a variety of dining options and activities throughout the day. Each cruise and destination is different and a Hawaiian cruise is even more unique.

A Hawaiian Island cruise is a unique vacation experience that allows you to see all of the highlights of Hawaii without the planning of each aspect of a vacation. When you take a Hawaiian cruise, you're able to explore the Hawaiian Islands by only making one reservation, making the process of planning your dream Hawaiian vacation incredibly simple. You have a variety of port options as well as itinerary dates. You can leave from many West Coast cities including San Francisco, Los Angeles and Ensenada. You can pick your length of stay including 7, 10 and 11 day Hawaiian cruise packages. Whether you're an experienced cruiser or if this is your first cruise you'll love the options that you have available to you.

Hawaiian Cruise Ports of call

The ports of call in Hawaii ensure that you see the best of the islands. Of course, you'll most likely start your cruise in Honolulu. Cruise ships have been arriving to Honolulu Harbor since the early 20s and they continue to dock there today. You'll have several hours to enjoy Waikiki Beach, Pearl Harbor and world-class museums. Your next stop on Hawaii Island is Hilo, which is offers a variety of attractions including gardens, street markets and the Pacific Tsunami Museum. From here on your Hawaiian Island cruise you'll visit Kailua-Kona. Kailua-Kona sits on Kailua Bay where it was built on layers of lava and features boutiques, restaurants and shopping.

Next, your Hawaiian cruise will take you to Kahulu on the Island of Maui. Here you'll explore the area that has been known for its sugar and pineapples since 1880. Also on Maui, you'll explore Lahaina, which features art galleries and historic locations such as the Brick Palace. Finally, you'll explore Lihue on the Island of Kauai. Known as the Garden Island, you'll explore the sugar cane center of Hawaii including the Grove Farm Homestead, historic churches and towns as well as scenic explorations across the island. Whichever Hawaiian cruise itinerary you choose, you're going to enjoy each and every aspect of cruising and the ability to see all of scenic Hawaii in one vacation.

Cheap Hawaiian Cruise

The best ideas for finding a cheap Hawaiian cruise are to firstly plan your cruise around the low season or off peak periods. In terms of travelling The Hawaii low season is usually November to mid December and January to March, with the main peak seasons being June to mid September and mid December to January. So when planning a cheap Hawaiian cruise, remember these dates so you can find a bargain!

Travelling in the low season is a great idea if you are looking for some cheap last minute cruise deals. Travelling in peak season requires a lot of planning in advance and sometimes cruises can be booked out for months.

If you want to make your cheap Hawaiian cruise even cheaper you can look at the possibility of booking the parts separately. So book your flights, hotels and cruise separately as sometimes this can be substantially cheaper.

It is important to remember that when you are comparing those cheap Hawaiian cruise packages to make sure you read the small print as some packages may not include items like port charges, taxes, shipping and handling fees. These items can add up and turn your cheap Hawaiian cruise into an expensive one.

I recommend you search the different cruise booking agencies and operators to find the best deals. If you take into account the above tips on finding a cheap Hawaiian cruise, you can't go wrong.

Who Operates Hawaiian Island Cruises?

Major Hawaiian Cruise operators include Norwegian Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Princess Cruises and Carnival Cruise Lines.

Choosing Accommodations on Maui

Visitors looking for a special romantic location to spend their Maui vacation find Hotel Hana-Maui perfectly suited to their desires. The Hotel offers private cottages near the ocean with hot tubs on the deck and gardened outdoor baths that bring tropical fantasies to life.

Families will enjoy the Westin Maui at Kaanapali Beach Resort in West Maui. Kids love the 87,000 square-foot pool area. Five swimming pools, two water slides, a swim-through grotto with twin waterfalls and a hidden whirlpool are all part of the Westin Maui experience. The Westin Maui is located on the beach and offers snorkeling and scuba tours directly on the property. Parents will enjoy the spa treatments and golf.

Maui is a golfer's paradise. The decision of where to stay on Maui may be based entirely on course selection for a golfer. Kapalua Resort on Maui has been recognized as the Best Golf Resort in Hawaii and is a top pick. The AAA Five-Diamond Ritz Carlton Kapalua offers beautiful sunsets and overlooks Molokai and Lanai, Maui's neighboring islands. Many of the Maui hotels and resorts offer packages that include lodging, car rental and golf fees.

Visitors to Maui should first consider which part of the island holds the greatest interest for them and then select a hotel or condo rental within that area.

West Maui includes the Kaanapali Resort, the Kapalua Resort and other areas around the village of Lahaina. Lahaina itself is primarily a shopping, dining and entertainment area and offers only a few lodging selections.

The Kaanapali Beach Resort is the original planned resort on Maui and is home to many of the island's favored hotels. Kaanapali has two golf courses and is home to Whalers Village Shopping Center. The Kapalua Resort is home to both Kapalua Bay Hotel and the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua, as well as three outstanding golf courses.

Central Maui, Upcountry Maui, and Hana are not areas rich in resorts but they do offer more unique accommodations for Maui visitors. The Aloha Cottages and The Old Wailuku Inn at Ulupono are perfect examples of the smaller, more private and unusual lodging available in these areas.

South Maui consists of Kihei, the Wailea Resort and the Makena Resort. Budget-minded visitors to Maui will find hotels and condos to fit their needs in Kihei. Wailea Resort is the top destination for the luxury resort crowd on Maui. Makena is isolated from the rest of the island. The location is more quiet and serene than other resort areas of Maui but the downfall is that the drive to attractions out of the area is a bit long.

The diverse resort and area offerings of Maui allow visitors to tailor a vacation to specifically create their own version of paradise. Maui enchants every visitor but the first step to an awe-inspiring Maui trip starts with location.

Royal Hawaiian Courtyard

Looking around the Royal Hawaiian Hotel's courtyard on Feb 11, 2008.

Hawaii's Oahu, the Gathering Place

Oahu was likely the first of the Hawaiian Island sighted by the crew of HMS Resolution on January 18, 1778 during Captain James Cook's third Pacific expedition. It is one of 137 volcanic islands and atolls stretching 1,500 miles across the North Pacific Ocean, all but one of which (Midway) comprise the 50th US State of Hawaii.

In the two centuries since Cooke's famous discovery of the "Sandwich Islands" as he called them, Oahu has been transformed from an idyllic Gauginesque tropical paradise into one of the world's premier tourist destinations, financial capitals, and a US military stronghold anchored in the mid-Pacific.

Of the southernmost 8 inhabited islands in the Hawaiian chain, Oahu is the third largest - approximately 44 miles long and 30 miles across, with a shoreline 227 miles - yet is home to 75% of the state's 1.2 million permanent residents, a population more diverse than any state in the nation.

Since it was first populated by immigrants traveling 2500miles from the Marquesas Islands around 600, this island has been an important commercial area and cultural center. With the help of European arms, Kamehameha I from the Big Island captured Oahu in a bloody battle near the Pali Lookout in 1795, thus unifying the islands for the first time.

Today, Oahu has become a tourism and business haven with over 5 million visitors annually (mainly from the American mainland and Japan). Many can't imagine visiting Hawaii without coming to "the Gathering Place."

Honolulu
Oahu's largest city, Honolulu, is the capital of Hawaii. It contains the principal port, the major airport, and is the business, educational and financial center not only of the state, but for the entire Pacific Rim, as well.

By the 1840s, under the influence of Christian missionaries, the sandalwood and sugar trades, this small Polynesian village, had grown into a major shipping port, becoming the commercial and political center of the islands. In 1845, Kamehameha III moved his kingdom's capital from Lahaina, Maui to Honolulu, which has remained the capital of the Hawaiian islands ever since.

In 1893 American businessman here illegally overthrew the native Hawaiian monarchy imprisoning Queen Liliuokalani in Iolani palace. Hawaii was annexed as a territory of the US until it was granted statehood in 1952. Iolani Palace in downtown Honolulu, the only royal palace on American soil, has become a popular visitor attraction,

Pearl Harbor
Almost a half-century later on December 7, 1941, the Imperial Japanese Navy drew the United States into World War II with a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, aimed at the Pacific Fleet of the US Navy. The attack damaged or destroyed 12 American warships, destroyed 188 aircraft, and killed 2,403 American servicemen and 68 civilians.

The Arizona Memorial was constructed directly over the ship. Hundreds of thousands annually visit Pearl Harbor to see this memorial and the battleship USS Missouri, where General Douglas Macarthur accepted the surrender of the Japanese in 1945.

Waikiki
Cosmopolitan Waikiki is where Hawaiian tourism began. Its reputation as a retreat dates back centuries, and it was a favorite recreation site for long-ago kings of Oahu and Maui. Today it reigns as the center of Pacific tourism with its world-class hotels, shops, restaurants, shows, beach culture and nightlife.

Its primary appeal remains the 2-mile ribbon of white sand, Waikiki Beach, upon which dozens of world-class resorts now stand. Of the 100 resorts on Oahu, all but four are located in Waikiki. At any one time, 45% of visitors in the entire state are spending the night here.

Windward, West & North Shore
Windward Oahu offers famous snorkeling at Hanauma Bay, swimming with Dolphins at Hawaii Sea Life Park and kayaking in Kailua Bay. Oahu's most popular activity attraction is the Polynesian Cultural Center in coastal La'ie.

Oahu's North Shore is famous for its big-wave surfing at Sunset Beach, Banzai Pipeline and Waimea Bay. From the town of Haleiwa, visitors can experience shark cage encounters and sport fishing expeditions. At Turtle Bay and Ko Olina to the west, new resorts have made Oahu a world-class golfing destination as well.

Ste Anne Marine National Park in Seychelles

Ste Anne Marine National Park in Seychelles - Situated off the Mahe's north-east coast and about five kilometers from Victoria - the capital city of Seychelles, Ste Anne Marine National Park is a protected marine park that is sprawling over an area of about five square kilometers. The first of its kind in the south western Indian Ocean, this zone was declared a national park in 1973 and consists of six islands such as Sainte Anne Island, Cerf , Ile , Round, Long, and Moyenne Island, each of them boasting of a diverse eco system. Almost 70% of the park is ocean, and a specialty of this marine zone is that it is home to more than 150 species of fish as well as incredible underwater life.

Discovered by Lazare Picault - the French explorer in 1747, Sainte Anne Island is the largest of all the islands within the park. Occupying an area of about 2.19 square kilometers, Ste Anne Island has an idyllic environment with a peak that rises up to 800 feet at its backdrop. No matter you want to enjoy the natural trails of the place or to paddle a kayak, or hire a bike to explore the beauty of the island, or just stroll along the beaches of the island while getting soothed by its gentle breeze, the island has options for all. Perhaps the prime highlight of the area is Sainte Anne Island Resort that is set on 200 hectares of Private Island. Some of the prominent beaches in the area are Grande Anse that is situated along the resort area, Anse Manon that is accessible by a nature walk via the tropical forest, and Royal Beach and Turtle Beach, where one can see sea turtles laying eggs from November to February.

The second largest island in Ste Anne Marine National Park is Cerf Island, which is also credited to be the marine zone's only island with a Seychellois population of about 100 people. This island is especially noted for its diving spots that have some of the rare species of crabs, octopus, giant turtles, sea urchins, starfish, and clown fish. Located to the south of the Cerf Island is Ile Cachée, which as the name suggests is linked to several stories of veiled treasure from the Golden Age of Piracy. Long Island is the third largest island in this park, and stands out for its stupendous surroundings bestowed with mind blowing sights.

When it comes to Round Island, it is the smallest of all islands in the park, with a small eco-resort featuring Creole style villas, a restaurant, and a spa. In the case of Moyenne Island, it is an interesting place that has been developed into a natural sanctuary Brendon Grimshaw - a British National. As such, this island has more than two thirds of the country's endemic plants, with more than 15,000 trees consisting of trees and shrubs. Apart from these, it hosts more than 2,000 wild birds and over 100 giant tortoises.

Managed by the Seychelles Centre for Marine Research and Technology - Marine Parks Authority in Victoria, the Ste Anne Marine National Park is steeped in history and is also noted for its amazing coral reefs and extensive, beautiful sea grass meadows that is one of the largest in the Seychelles.

To visit and explore the Ste Anne Marine National Park in Seychelles, you'll find superior Seychelles Hotels to meet your accommodation needs with Seychelles Holidays.

Luau at the Royal Lahaina April 20 2009

In this clip, I film a bit of the luau from the staircase leading to our hotel room. Excellent view of the luau without paying $90USD! On stage, we see the hostess teaching guests how to dance and move their hips. "Slow...slow...fast, fast, fast!"