What is the best way to book a hawaiian vacation- I want to stay in Maui for 7 days.?

You don't need a travel agent. Although some can be helpful, their commission is still in the back of their mind, so they may steer you toward a place that earns them a higher commission, but not necessarily be the best deal for you. Even with the best of intentions their tastes and preferences are probably different than yours and what seems like a great place to them, may not seem that great to you.

I would recommend doing some research on your own to decide on short list of places to stay. Make a list of what is important to you - is it an ocean view, luxury, or just some place clean and comfortable to sleep? Is a large pool important to you or would you rather go to an ocean beach? What is your budget? Would you prefer a unit with a kitchen to save some money by cooking some of your own meals and snacks? Then go to some websites and look at places that meet your criteria and read some reviews from other travelers. One of the best unbiased places to look at hotel/resort ratings, reviews and compare prices is Trip Advisor: http://www.jdoqocy.com/click-3894326-10775740?URL=...

I would check the top travel websites like Travelocity Orbitz and Expedia: http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-3894326-10517611 to find the best airfares and booking one of their air + a hotel or condo combo that you've already checked out on Trip Advisor may save you even more money. You can check airfares on Trip Advisor, too: http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-3894326-10806179

Personally I prefer staying in condos - they are much more spacious and I like having the kitchen to make snacks, drinks, store and reheat leftovers from restaurant meals or even prepare some meals. The last time I was in Maui we stayed at the Aston Maui Hill: http://www.jdoqocy.com/click-3885119-10775740?URL=... Aston has several resort condo complexes. Some are nicer than others, so I would again recommend reading the trip advisor reviews.

Some other suggestions: I agree that borrowing or buying a copy of Maui Revealed: http://www.amazon.com/Maui-Revealed-Guidebook-Andr... is an excellent idea!

Take a whale watching cruise with the Pacific Whale Foundation, go snorkeling, drive the road to Hana and watch the sunrise on Haleakala: http://www.squidoo.com/haleakala-sunrise-bike-trip

You might able able to save some money on your activities by getting a Maui Go card in advance: http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-3894293-10530298?url=...

Don't miss going to see the show at Warren and Annabelle's in Lahaina!

You can have a great vacation there for less expense than you probably imagined. Keep an eye on airfare to Hawaii because it can change dramatically day to day. Airfare to Hawaii has been much higher in the past few years, but I have seen some pretty good deals lately. Booking about two months in advance will usually get you a decent price. Check out Yahoo travel- http://edit.travel.yahoo.com/flights.htm%E2%80%A6 - use the "flexible dates" option. Travel to Honolulu (Oahu) is usually cheapest compared to other islands. But, if you are going to any of the other islands (Maui, Kauai, The Big Island) it can be less expensive due to the elimination of an inter-island flight from Honolulu.

The place where you stay can really affect the final cost of your vacation. There are plenty of lesser advertised resorts that are much less expensive than the more advertised, larger resorts. I have had very good luck with smaller complexes because we usually spend our time out and about. There is plenty to see and do, so having a clean, comfortable, quiet place to lay my head is what matters. Try researching here for places to stay:

http://www.sandwichislands.com/Maccom.ht%E2%80%A6

Click on the map (with aerial views) under the "Hotels and Resorts" heading for places to stay on Maui. Look for the resorts with a gold bar designation for the most bang for the buck. I sent you to the Maui map because this is our favorite Hawaiian island. There is plenty of everything for everyone and the beaches are the best (my opinion).

Getting a condo with kitchen, refrigerator, stove, washer and dryer access is a must for us. This allows us to save on some time and expense by having some meals in the unit. There are plenty of places like this, so do your research and decide what it is that is important to you.

If you have never been, you will be amazed by the place and the people. I was and can't wait to go back. Best of luck in your search and have a great time!

Source(s):

http://www.sandwichislands.com/index.htm

In Hawaii will energizes you the fresh, floral air energizes you. The warm, tranquil waters will refresh you and the breathtaking, natural beauty renews you so now is about the time to know this amazing place, starting from with hotelbye because look around! There’s no place on earth like Hawaii. In Hawaii, the six unique islands offer distinct experiences that will entice any traveller. In Hawaii you will discover your ideal travel experience. Waikiki is one of the Hawaii islands and is the Hawaii's biggest tourist attraction. A suburb of Honolulu, Waikiki is easy to reach and offers all the amenities and entertainment of a modern city. At the end of the crescent shaped beach is the extinct volcano known as Diamond Head Crater, adding a spectacular backdrop to the incredible sun drenched beach.

ANY of those 3 islands would be good choices to just relax. I've been to all three (I live in Oahu), and they're all wonderful places to go. If you're planning on driving around a lot then I would choose the Big Island.

I used Expedia and I had no problems at all. I also went to a travel agent after I set up my trip to compare pricing. Expedia was cheaper. When I set up my trips I always do a Google search and go right to a street view so I can see for myself what it looks like before I book it.

I have to agree with the person above me. We tried doing it by ourselves but its really hard to know where your hotel is located at and where the beach is if you want beach front cause they try and trick you. Luckily we then tried a travel agent and there was SO much less stress and it actually saved us more money. We are going to hawaii in june. Good Lukcy :)

What is it you want to do? Go online....and look around. Hotel, Condo, House?

Go out and buy the book... Maui Revealed.

Travel Agent!!!!!! Don't use online websites. Yuck!!!!! I understand not wanting to book a vacation by yourself, especially to hawaii. Travel Agents know best!!

i am looking for the same answear i am going to hawaii also

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