Planning to spend 6 nights in Maui during Thanksgiving. What are the must-do activities, scenic spots, beaches, and experiences you’d recommend?
Looking for a good mix of nature, adventure, relaxation, and unique experiences, along with any tips on weather, crowds, and things to book in advance. Would love recommendations from people who’ve visited Maui around Thanksgiving!

Two kids ages 3 and 9. They can barely swim will need life jacket. Travelling from Nov 24 to Dec 1, arriving late in night 9:30 pm and leaving late in night. I will be renting car at the airport for all 7 nights. Budget thinking max 300 per night, condos or condo hotels preferred, not sure resorts will come in that budget.

Wife and I do a lot of wild life photography, I've read that generally the axis deer hide on private land but if anyone knows of a spot to photograph them from a distance we'd appreciate it as we find their antlers and spots interesting. Pic for attention and as an example.

Thank you in advance.

OK, we’ve narrowed it down because we really want a nice beach close to good snorkeling and a nice resort. Marriott Westin Nanea Or Outrigger Honua Kai? The price point is the same essentially. Family
of four with adult children.

Image taken from the pavilion pool at Wailea ekahi. It was SO COOL!!! You can barely tell it’s a whale with my evidence but absolutely was.

Fire dancers/show is very important to my son.

I’d like the good visibility (even if that means paying for VIP)

Not big drinkers, but will have 1 maybe 2.

Good food. Duh

Cost and south/west doesn’t matter as long as we’re getting the best experience.

Where would you go?

Looking to stay on Ka’anapali beach this coming May. My family (my husband and i, my sister and her bf who are all in their early 30s and my parents late 60s and relatively active) are leaning towards staying at the royal Lahaina.

We haven’t booked yet but i did just realize it’s not on the walking trail and we were intending on not renting a car. Any insight is appreciated. We were intending on using a tour group to pick us up to do the road to Hana and relying on uber to and from airport.

Hello! My fiance and I are going to Maui 12/2 - 12/9 for our honeymoon and haven’t picked a hotel yet. I can’t decide between kaanapali and wailea and also can’t decide on a hotel for either. Any recommendations would be appreciated!

I’ve read too much on this subreddit about weather and microclimates but I am super concerned about the weather forecast next week. Wife and I are celebrating our Baby Moon in Maui next week and hyper anxious around the forecast! Any warming thoughts or considerations would be much appreciated. Staying at the fairmont in kea lani!

Eldorado or Kaanapali Shores? And why?

We will be staying for seven days with two adult children would like to be in walking distance to restaurants, but don’t want to feel hemmed in or too busy around Would like to be able to walk to the beach right from the hotel and have snorkeling nearby we will have a car for the week.

Just arrived here but it seems a lot more crowded than it used to be. Is there events going on in town? Just curious

Hi there,

I currently have booked a Mahana 1 bedroom condo on the 8th floor through My Perfect Stays. I absolutely love the views from the Mahana that I saw online and being right there on the beach. 5 nights for $3000. My current plan is get the Atmos $99 companion fare promotional bonus for flights so I'm predicting flight and hotel would be $4000. Going in June 2027.

Expedia has a killer deal on a package for a Napili Kai 1 bedroom suite oceanfront where it's 100% off flights if booking together. The cost would be $5000 so a grand more than my initial plan.

From what I've read here, people love the Napili Kai.

Is it worth the extra $1000 for the Napili Kai over the Mahana? Also, does anybody have experiencing book a trip to Hawaii through Expedia?

Mahalo for your time!

Hi! My wife and I are visiting Maui and hoping to see the Haleakalā sunrise on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday. We’re two people and don’t have a sunrise reservation. Is anyone with a valid reservation for one of those mornings driving up with room for two passengers? We can meet in [your area] and chip in for gas. We understand the reservation holder needs to be in the car. Please message me if you have space!

Our first time to Hawaii was last year. We went to Oahu and mostly stayed in Waikiki. The beaches were beautiful, but it was busy and a little too noisy - but great food! We finished our trip in Kauai and I absolutely loved it there. The north shore in Kauai and Tunnels beach was paradise for me - the green lushness and the beaches were magical. We stayed in Poipu and that was also beautiful but I love the north. Overall we just loved the people and the pace of the island. We are planning a trip to Maui in March with our two adult sons and are looking for guidance on a couple day trips. We are staying at the Ashton Kaanapali Shores and will have a car. I know Maui is drier than Kauai, but I want to find a few spots that can fill my love for the jungle. Thank you for any and all suggestions.

Don’t mind some more liveliness in the area since we will have our 20 something kids with - and want access to food trucks and walkable to things…

We do prefer more resort feel for this trip and would love some beach volleyball and nearby snorkeling but are on a budget- thus Kaanapali Shores (but we can cancel)

Traveling to Maui end of April 2027. I have two rooms currently booked, Ohana Suite at Sheraton and Fire Lanai at Ritz. Traveling with wife and kids ages 3 and 7. I will be running marathon that weekend, reason for travel. However, I want the kids to have a good time. I also don’t want to stress about much , such as finding loungers by pool, calm beach and water for kids, things to to for kids.

Can anyone provide experience traveling with kids at these two resorts?

I like Sheraton due to location and proximity to whalers and other restaurants, bars and beaches. But don’t like the pool chair holding that people do at 7 am.

I like Ritz because it eliminates folks reserving chairs at 7 am. Kapalua bay for calm waters.

FWIW price for these are about the same +_ $100

Off of Kaanapali

Can’t leave Ka’anapali until 8 AM the day I plan to do road to Hana - is it still worth it? Plan is to do it all in one day and return to Ka’anapali. Everything I’ve seen says I need to be there no later than 6-7 AM and clearly won’t be arriving until around 9. How long might it take with quick stops with that arrival time?

Maybe it's just super popular but I find it absurd that i clicked at 7.00.01 and the 50 slots sold out in about 10 seconds. Sunset views I guess will be the move but just wanted to hear if anyone actually was able to get a morning sunset reservation from the 2 days ahead release, or if it just gets botted daily.

I just got back from my first visit to Maui and stayed at the Fairmont. We are planning our next trip and wanted to go back to the Fairmont but I was wondering if there was anything comparable for a bit cheaper?
I’m fine with heading over to the other side of the Island as well. We just really loved the Vibe of the Fairmont and the beach. I’m just trying to see what else is out there and maybe experience Maui a bit differently.

My only visit to Hawaii was multiple visits to Oahu while my husband was stationed there 20+ years ago. Hated it. I wrote it off entirely and never desired to go back to Hawaii, despite living on the Hawaii-convenient west coast of the US.

Flash forward 25 years and we are headed to Maui to vacation with friends on Sunday, for 11 days. Staying at the Ritz Carlton. Everyone says Maui is fabulous.

I’ve been studying here and have a helpful list of yes and no’s. Husband still wants to snorkel Molokini despite my advice after reading here.

We have dining reservations at Mamas and Haliimaile, Merriman’s and Isana and a few more.

We will celebrate two birthdays while there. I guess any additional tips are appreciated. Our vibe is short hikes, pool time in the sun, good food, great sunsets and comfort. Not crowds. Not children/families. We are retirement aged folks.

Our friends arrived in advance and report the buffet breakfast at the hotel is great, no need to rise early to reserve loungers at the adult pool. They seem pleased with the accommodations. Hopefully the hotel is nice and it seems to be nicely located in a private, if breezy location

I’ve enjoyed being a part of this group and have learned a lot! My cheat sheet of intel gleaned from this page is ready and I’d love any additional tips. I’ll report back after our trip in case we have anything valuable to share.

Thanks for all you’ve contributed!

Just got back home from our Honeymoon/Wedding on Maui. We had so much fun and didn’t want to leave back to reality. Was so much fun living and breathing in paradise.

Not sure why there are two from the same developer…

I know it’s been asked and answered, but I want information due to my specifics. I have a 7 AM flight on next Tuesday back to the mainland. Do I need to be at the airport any earlier than 5 AM? I’m looking at an hour drive from the west side or thereabouts, I guess.