Maui On My Mind

Aloha! Well I've been home from Maui for a week now and I gotta say it's been a big bummer adjusting to the time change and this fall weather!  I'm a summer time gal so I prefer the warmth of the sun over this overcast drizzle.  For anyone who is interested, here is a day by day overview of our trip.  We pretty much did "all the things" to some degree.

Day 1 got off to a slow start because we sat on the tarmac for nearly 3 hours waiting for our plane to depart.  So we arrived late but the nice inn keepers at The Inn at Mama's Fish House were able to accommodate our late arrival and even pushed back our dinner reservations.  

Things to note:  Mama's Fish House is a well recognized "must visit" restaurant located in Paia Hawaii (north east side of island).  It is the kind of place where the name of the fisherman who caught your dinner is listed on the menu.  It is that fresh.  We didn't recognize many of the types of fish, but our server was happy to tell us all about it and we were both happy with our choices.  The schooner sized Mai-Tai also added a lot of Hawaiian ambiance.  The grounds are beautiful and seaside, which patrons frequently roam while waiting to be seated.  Since we were staying at the Inn at Mama's Fish House we also used the beach (called Mama's) as our personal retreat.  We saw a sea turtle and a Macaw!  I'm not sure what to make of the Macaw, but we saw him sitting and singing in a coconut tree.  Just added to the magic of Hawaii.

I loved staying in Paia.  I ended up being a bit bummed that our plane was so late because we didn't have much time in this cute town, and the late arrival cut into our time here.  There are very few accommodation options here, and I don't think any of them compare to the Inn at Mama's Fish House, so just stay here.  There are 12 boutique type rooms/units all with some type of kitchen and sitting area.  To get all the details call me.

There is quite a bit of shopping and some good restaurant options too, and you are in a good location for your drive to Hana, which we did on day 2.

The Inn at Mama's Fish House

Day 2 started off super early due to jet lag.  We went out to Mama's Beach (with the provided beach towels and chairs AND welcome bananas and banana bread) to watch the sun rise.  After we greeted the day we set off on the road to Hana.  Which is sorta horrible and I couldn't recommend but also sorta neat so you should probably do it, ha!  Things to note:

Devote an ENTIRE day for this excursion if you want to make it to Hana or the southern entrance to Haleakala National Park (Kipahula).  Basically it's this super curvy road with over 620 hairpin curves and 50 one way bridges.  And because I wanted to experience EVERYTHING we went all the way to Kipahula.  We made a few stops but didn't spend a whole bunch of time at any of them and spent 10-11 hours round trip.  You can make the drive yourself, or you can book a tour (Tours are all pretty small because a large bus could't fit on this road.  It's all mini-buses.)  Things to see along the way: the sea, waterfalls, black and red sand beaches.  There is also hiking and food truck parks.  If you want to know more call me.  I have a lot of thoughts on this!

One of our stops on the road to Hana.  Black sand/volcanic rock.

Day 3 had us on the road again, this time to Haleakala National Park, but before we hit the road we took most of the morning to roam about Paia.  Paia is also where we discovered our love of Ululani's Shave Ice.  So Good.  Like I said, I like this town.  One of the "things to do" is to watch the sunrise (or set) on Haleakala, which is a dormant volcano.  You can do this on your own or book a tour, but we went mid-day and managed to miss the sun spectacle. As far as national parks go, we both like Volcano National Park on Hawaii, Hawaii better, but since we missed the sun at Haleakala maybe we don't have a good vantage point from which to judge.  If you want to hike, there isn't much hiking.  But you do get good views-we saw all the way to the big island. If you want to experience the sun rise, there are a few things you need to know before going.  Call me!

The top of Haleakala-above the clouds!

Proof we do what we say we do

Day 4 finally had us at the beach!  Hawaii is such an amazing place to visit because it is SO MUCH MORE than beach, but I do love the beach.  We stayed on Ka'anapali Beach, but more later on that, because today was our splurge activity of a sailing/snorkel tour to the nearby island of Lana'i.  Lana'i basically has one resort (The Four Seasons) and a little town.  Sad to say we didn't go on the tour of the town, but I'm not sad we had a SNUBA experience instead.  I didn't think I would want to SNUBA but the hubs did and it ended up being super fun, and now I'm even more comfortable snorkeling.  We went on this fantastic tour (that left at daybreak, another early morning, we have things to do!) and included breakfast, coffee, sailing, Hawaiian BBQ lunch at Lana'i and cocktails.  You need to book this tour.  Call me!

We spent the afternoon in the super cute and historic whaling village, Lahaina.  Tons of shopping and a free museum that offers history of Hawaii-it was a great place to spend some time.

Lana'i coastline

Me in probably the most fantastical pose of the trip

Fish in Lana'i

SNUBA!

Hulopo'e Beach at Lana'i (those green roofs are the Four Season)

Day 5 was my birthday!  And I spent it at the beach, which made it pretty much perfect for me.  We started at Ka'anapali beach which has tons and tons of sand and nice snorkeling.  There are a whole lot of resorts and condos here, so call me and I'll help you find the right one!  Next beach we visited was Kapalua which also had some snorkeling, but not as much sand.  It was a little more crowded just because it is smaller.  We also stopped by a few resorts so I could put my eyes on them-it's such hard work checking out beaches and resorts, but someone has to do it!  We stayed at The Whaler but got to look at quite a few other properties as well.  Call me to help you choose!

The sunrise from our room at The Whaler.  That's Ka'anapali Beach and Lana'i in the distance

Day 6 was another beach day.  We drove south down the coastline to the Wailea area, the location of a lot of upscale resorts.  Pro tip: all the beaches are public, even if located directly in front of a fancy resort!  This was one of our favorite days.  We spent most of the day on Ulua Beach which had FANTASTIC snorkeling.  Another pro-tip: buy your own snorkel gear.  It's inexpensive and you can more easily snorkel any time you want!  You don't need flippers, just get a mask and snorkel.  

On our drive back we stopped at the small city Kihei and saw Kamaole III beach, which would also be a great place to spend the day.  Kihei has quite a bit of shopping and restaurants too, and we enjoyed spending some time in this low key town.

Ulua Beach

Day 7, and we are sad that we are leaving today.  But the good thing about traveling from Hawaii is that all flights back to the main land leave in the evening, so you have a bonus day!  We spent a bit of time in the morning on the beach and I got to snorkel with a sea turtle!  It was so cool.  In the afternoon we spent some time at Iao Valley State Park.  There was a little hiking and a great waterfall.  We also made a visit to Wailuku for malasadas (which turns out is maybe more popular on Ohau, I had a hard time finding them on Maui) and some food truck Thai food.  Yum.  And a final stop at Ululani's, my favorite shave ice.

Iao Valley

Iao Valley

 Until next time Hawaii, until next time....Mahalo!

Cruise Line Comparison

 My family on the Disney Wonder

Me and my gal pal on the Norwegian Breakaway

Read on to see my thoughts on Norwegian vs Disney cruises.  I've heard great things about Royal Caribbean, so that is another recommended line, I just haven't sailed on it myself.  Enjoy!

I’m always hard at work for you…and since up until recently I had only personally cruised on the Disney Cruise Line, I thought I better see first hand what cruising on Norwegian was like. So I booked a cruise and asked one of my best gal pals to come along with me. And the conclusion is-there is a cruise line right for everyone, and Norwegian is great, it’s just not a match for me. You just have to know a little about the various lines and what clients may be the best fit.

Norwegian

I sailed on the Norwegian Breakaway out of New Orleans.  Now I don’t know if it was because I sailed out of New Orleans or not, but this ship seemed to have a serious party vibe.  And that was a theme throughout the cruise.  Upon setting foot onto the ship, I could see the line at the bar was 3 people deep. 

On our first day at sea we checked out the main pool deck and decided it wasn’t the place for us. We eventually discovered another pool which was much quieter, and I understand that there is even another more upscale pool location, but it is available for a fee and limited to a certain number of guests.  We mostly wanted to lounge and read, and the main pool was better for those looking to socialize and engage in the cruise sponsored activities…and PARTY.

There is no shortage of food, and Norwegian does not require specific dining times or locations. Which means you may occasionally have to wait for a table, but you can make reservations. All food is included, and there are several additional restaurants that foodies may want to take advantage of, but there is an extra fee.  Soda and alcoholic beverage packages are also available for purchase, which will give more of an all-inclusive experience. 

I checked out the children’s area, and there is good programming for children starting at 3, which is pretty common among cruise lines.  I saw counselors out with kids taking advantage of some of the things a large ship can offer like: mini golf, ropes course, and sport court areas. Some of the activities required a reservation or fee.

Regarding evening entertainment, there was something available every night.  A few shows required an additional ticket purchase, and most of the big shows required reservations.  You can make these reservations in advance or once you board the ship. Also, if you’re traveling with children/family, it’s good to know in advance that most of the shows were at minimum PG-13, so there isn’t a lot offered for families in the evening.  But if you enjoy casinos and art auctions, you are in luck with Norwegian!

Takeaway:

Norwegian is a match for:

·        “big ship” experience that offers things like rock wall climbing and mini golf

·        Casinos and more adult centered entertainment

·        Flexibility in dining

Norwegian is not a match for:

·        Young families

·        Structured dining

Disney

It’s no secret that my cruise heart is with Disney, but I understand it’s not for everyone.  Disney is a bit more pricey than other lines and does not offer casinos, which may be important to some guests.  Things I like about Disney are that soda and all evening entertainment is included in the base price.  You also have a structured dining rotation and have the same server and dining time throughout your cruise.  And while Disney is family oriented, you don’t HAVE to travel with young children to enjoy the top tier entertainment and service.

My most recent Disney cruise sailed from Galveston, and I always let out an audible relaxing sign when I step foot onto the ship.  Disney hosts have taken care of every detail, and I don’t have to think about when/where I’m going to eat, or what show is best to attend.  While there are options for evening entertainment, the set dining time makes it easy to plan what time to attend the main show, no reservation required!

I’ve sailed on the two smaller Disney ships, and I like the smaller size.  My family had everything we wanted, including a full-size theater running current Disney movies.  I especially like the Quiet Cove pool restricted to 18 and up, but the two main pools aren’t ever overly unruly either.  Disney does a great job of providing live music throughout the ship at different venues and lounges, and the music gave the ship a very upscale and relaxing vibe as opposed to a party vibe.

There is also a lot of food on the Disney cruise, and room service is even included! And the children’s programming is top notch.  Children under age 10 will especially love the children’s rooms, and older kids will love the video games and planned activities geared toward their age.  All main evening shows are family friendly and top quality.  Don’t worry though, adults, there are plenty of opportunities for entertainment that are designated 18 and up and kids clubs to watch your children while you enjoy the show or lounge! A Disney cruise does NOT equal a ship with unruly kids distracting adults from relaxation and a good time.  Disney does such a good job of entertaining the kids that my kids even prefer to be in the kid’s club other than anywhere else.  I also like that the kids rooms/activities are all included and reservations aren’t required (except for children ages 2 and under).  Plus the kids activities have extended hours to let the grownups enjoy the late night shows.  I was surprised that my kids closed down the clubs as late as midnight!

Take away:

Disney is a match for:

·        Multi-generational groups

·        Set dining/entertainment

·        Family friendly entertainment

·        Outstanding children’s programming

Disney is not a match for:

·        Gambling

·        Flexibility in dining

·         party atmosphere

PS: I've also taken advantage of the spa on both cruise lines, and both are equally wonderful and relaxing!

Why Should I Use Travel Agent?

Well, maybe the better question is why NOT use a travel agent?  You don’t have anything to lose by asking for a quote, and you have so much to gain! Like:

-personal service/shopper

-upgrades and amenities

-advocate

-save time

…at no additional cost to you!

Personal service/shopper: So you want to take a trip.  Maybe it’s an anniversary trip or a multi-family generational trip.  All trips are celebrating something special and wonderful, and it’s hard to choose just the right location! The world is your oyster.  You might want to go to Alaska, but you’ve always wanted to see Hawaii.  A travel agent can work with you to help select a trip that is the right fit for you by offering expert advice like best time to visit, common types of accommodations, and typical local experiences. Often your travel agent has either visited the destination or has a close colleague with inside information.

Upgrades and amenities: Sometimes a travel agent has access to special perks like early check ins or room upgrades.  Sometimes on-board credits and resort credits are offered.  So sure, you could book directly for similar pricing, but why not book with an agent and get a few freebies?!

Advocate:  We never expect travel incidents, but it’s a good idea to always be prepared.  Maybe you lose your passport in London or find your room is unsatisfactory.  A travel agent will have a copy of your passport and often a personal connection on location at your resort.  So your agent can help figure out your travel hiccup with you so you get back to enjoying your trip faster.

Save time: Maybe you are traveling with a group and need connecting rooms or want to hire transportation for 12.  You want dinner every night together but only half of you want to do pre-booked activities. Perhaps you want to go to Disney but the prospect overwhelms you. Let your travel agent make the calls and stay on hold for you while you take care of all the things you do in your regular life. I can walk you through processes and itineraries to make these tasks either less daunting or even take them off your plate!

I know for some of you using a travel agent is not really something you’ve considered-maybe you wonder how it works, what your cost is, or think it’s not for you.  To get the ball rolling just contact me with some basic information:

how many traveling in your group, potential date and location of trip, and a general idea of the type of experience you’re looking for (“once in a lifetime” or “family/budget friendly” or anywhere in between).  I can work with your budget and always look out for good deals!

Let me help you find YOUR perfect place!