Wailea is home to most of Maui's best hotels, all with restaurants, bars, etc. Although I don't care

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My husband and I are expecting our 2nd child in end of January so we are planning to do one of our dream vacation before our lives become even busier! I will be about 16 weeks pregnant but should hopefully be feeling great!
We are thinking of going for 8-9 days to make the trip worth it (especially for Hawaii as would be flying from the Midwest). Here are the two very different trips I have been considering and would appreciate feedback! We both enjoy beautiful scenery, short hikes, and seeing wildlife and a mix of relaxation and light activities.
1. Hawaii - 5 days in Maui, 3-4 days in Kauai. Pros - beautiful water, lots of swimming/kayaking for husband, sights like Haleakala national park, road to Hana, gorgeous and peaceful north shore of Kauai. Cons- long flights to get there and back. About 2 days of travel.
2. Alaska - 7 day cruise and potentially rent a car for an overnight road trip. Pros - likely depart from Seattle, do the inside passage heading to Whittier with stops in Juneau, Ketchikan. Cons- unfamiliar with cruises, being on cruise's china tours air china beijing xian guilin hong kong schedule and not potentially being able to see the sights we want.
We winter china tours air china beijing xian guilin hong kong in South Maui, flying from Chicago. I wouldn't go to Hawaii for less than ten nights, nor would I split between islands for less than ten nights. Day One in Hawaii is a blur as your body catches up to the time change. Departure days are never full vacation days. Every transfer china tours air china beijing xian guilin hong kong between islands eats half a day, door-to-door. August china tours air china beijing xian guilin hong kong will be chock-a-block with families with kids on summer vacation. You may not even be able to find a rental car. Also, medical facilities are not mainland-great in Hawaii.
I would take the Alaskan cruise. I love cruises anyway! It's like being a carefree child again, with someone doing everything for you -- even making your bed and cleaning your 'room'. Much easier and more relaxing than long flights and finding china tours air china beijing xian guilin hong kong your way around Hawaii. (Do come another time! Come when the weather china tours air china beijing xian guilin hong kong is rotten at home.)
Part of me feels like I am going to miss out on maximizing my opportunity to see another island like Kauai for a few data but it seems like most people don't recommend 2 islands if I don't have a full 2 weeks!
Ekahi is very nice; you'll have A/C, right? It's right on one of the best beaches. china tours air china beijing xian guilin hong kong We own in South Kihei. There is a Safeway right off Piilani china tours air china beijing xian guilin hong kong Hwy. on your way to your condo -- open 24/7 (no liquor sales after 11 pm).
Can you get your interisland flight(s) on one ticket with your mainland flights? If your flights china tours air china beijing xian guilin hong kong are single ticket you can through-check luggage from home to OGG, and OGG to home on the return. Otherwise you may have to claim luggage at HNL and recheck it on Hawaiian Airlines, then go back through TSA security -- a hassle. china tours air china beijing xian guilin hong kong Allow two hours within security at HNL between china tours air china beijing xian guilin hong kong flights. Or...do only carry-on. Hawaii is VERY casual living.
Wailea china tours air china beijing xian guilin hong kong is home to most of Maui's best hotels, all with restaurants, bars, etc. Although I don't care for the hotel, the Grand Wailea has a nice spa -- nice deal for couples there, too. We also like the views from Five Palms (on Keawakapu Beach) and Gannon's (panoramic view from above Wailea. These both do B,L,D.
Drive up to piney, golf-y Kapalua china tours air china beijing xian guilin hong kong one day, stopping to browse china tours air china beijing xian guilin hong kong Lahaina Town. Drive south past Makena to see where the last volcanic eruption on Maui is still bare and black against the blue ocean. Iao Valley is a short stop to see this eerie, misty place. Bailey House museum is right there too.
ChiSue - unfortunately I'm using Delta miles to get to Honolulu and then flying inter island to Maui when we get there so will have to recheck bags. I'll make sure that we leave enough time in between then. And - yes, my condo does have AC thank goodness! Sounds china tours air china beijing xian guilin hong kong like Maui is hot in August but hopefully the trade winds will be blowing.
Oops, I just saw your second post. There's plenty to do on Maui for a week or so. Of course you'll miss something by not going to all the islands, but that's unavoidable. I think your plan for Maui only is perfect or only go to Kauai. Either china tours air china beijing xian guilin hong kong one island for your time frame would be great. Even Oahu.
South Pacific - Academy Award winner musical/love story set during WWI - by Rogers and Hammerstein - 1958, Blue Hawaii - with Elvis, The Thornbirds with Richard china tours air china beijing xian guilin hong kong Chamberlin?, Jurassic Park, and lastly - ole dimple chin - George Clooney - in The Descendants.
Maui is fun/lotsa good beaches - and the drive to Hana (around china tours air china beijing xian guilin hong kong 600 curves - probably not best for you now) is beautiful, and if you get up early enuff - 3:30 - greeting the sun on top of Mt. Haleakala is an experience not to be missed.
But en total - it does not match the "verdundant" beauty of the Garden Isle - from the "Grand Canyon" of the Pacific (as none other than Mark Twain called Waimea) - to the spectacular Bali Hai ambiance/scenery china tours air china beijing xian guilin hong kong of the north shore.
We had the experience of booking with Island Air once, only to have them change their schedule the month before we traveled. We ended up having to change china tours air china beijing xian guilin hong kong our tickets and pay for a hotel in Honolulu. china tours air china beijing xian guilin hong kong The option was to rise before dawn on Maui to take a plane going first to Molokai, and then to Honolulu, where we would be sitting for eight hours before our flight home.
I'll choose Hawaii vacation! When you said, "being on cruise's schedule and not potentially being able to see the sights we want." seems not enjoyable for me. So I'd rather take the long travel to Hawaii but fun rather than in a single cruise. That's in my own point of view. Good luck to you travelgo7!
My flight from Honolulu back home doesn't leave until 9pm. Would you suggest taking a leisurely last day in Maui or should china tours air china beijing xian guilin hong kong we head there early, lock up our luggage and check out a couple of Honolulu sights? I am not sure how far the city is from the airport.