Any one got any good recommendations for accommodation in Maui?
Aiming to go next year with wife and sister in law who are both non windsurfers.
Ideal would be villa/cabin type that is near to a good beach for the ladies. Close to some sort of restaurants but still not to far to drive for me to windsurf.
Any other hints or recommendations about windsurfing, kit hire or Maui in general would be welcomed.
Cheers
Steve
www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals/usa/hawaii/maui/upcountry
Should be comfortably under <$1000/week for accommodation.
Get a van from www.aloharentacar.com/
Around Pa'ia on North Shore is quite nice, and suitable if you want some quiet, if you want something more touristy and resort like, maybe look at somewhere on the south.
I spent a little over a week in Maui for the first time in September and stayed here http://www.flipkey.com/paia-vacation-rentals/p418354/
Nice little place that was close to everything. 2min drive to Paia town centre which has restaurants and an awesome little supermarket called Mana Foods. 2min drive to Hookipa. Short walk to Mama's Fish House (Highly recommend enjoying a meal here - if you can afford it!!)
This was the outlook from the balcony. The cane fields had just been harvested but the trade winds blew from behind the house so didn't have a problem with dust.
Was just opposite the place with the fence made of old wind and surfboards.
Really do need a car as everywhere is a drive. Rented a Dodge Caravan from Kimo's car rental - cheap and cheerful! Fitted everything inside plus room for 2.
Rented water toys from Bart at Kanaha Kai which the closet shop to Kanaha beach park. Made changing gear super easy as I mostly sailed at Kanaha. Can change between surfboard, sup, kite for no charge which was great so could go for a surf at hookipa in the morning before the wind picked up (and your not allowed to sail anywhere before 11am anyway, except a small area for beginners at Kanaha).
Rode a 86l Kode with a 4.3m Hot Sails Smack every day. Kanaha beach park is unreal. Little reef out the back with some gentle waves, boardies only, no sun burn, just watch out for the turtles!! 15mins or so from Paia down the Hana hwy.
Kihei is another spot for sailing flat(ish) water. Seemed that when there wasn't much wind at Kanaha, Kihei was blowing and vice versa. Something to do with the wind getting funnelled through the hills. About a 20-25min drive from Paia.
Also went down to Wailea a couple of mornings for some R&R. This looked to be the ritzy part of Maui. Lots of big resorts, golf courses, etc. Good snorkelling straight off the beach with more turtles. BYO gear though or buy in Kahului before hand as the hire prices are ridiculous. Think it took maybe 30mins-ish from Paia...?
Lookout for the Whole Foods Market stores. There's one in Kahului real close to Kanaha and was great for getting lunch. It's a health oriented supermarket that have these food buffet's that you can select from to fill up a noodle box type carton for $8/lb.
I also got a globalgig data only sim card for 20 bucks so could use google maps on phone to find my way around, viber to contact ppl back home, etc.
Absolutely love the place and can't wait to go back!
Hope that's a help
Paia is the authentic maui town with great restaurants and cool little boutiques to keep the shoppers happy.
Check out the paia inn. It's a great spot.
Kihei is full of 5 star resorts. It's like you could be anywhere. I suggest you drive over for breakfast one morning at the four seasons but that's all I would suggest.
The shopping in kihei is the very poor cousin of Waikiki. Luxury and mainstream brands only.
Spend a couple of nights in Waikiki for night time shopping and shoot some hand guns!!!
See my post on the aloha clinic. You should do this....AWESOME!
Contact Matt Pritchard
At Pritchard windsurfing
He can help u with everything
Never got to meet him but such a nice guy and very helpful
He hired out gear, gives lessons ,can suggest places to stay and where to hire car from
Definitely worth emailing him