Where to stay in Maui
Maui is one of the most expensive Hawaiian islands and, in general, one of the most expensive places in the world.
Previously, Airbnb offered the best value for money; it is generally very popular in the US and there are a great many listings, but in recent years its listings have become comparable to those on the most popular site, Booking.com.
Where to stay in Maui
Although the island isn’t that big, it’s still worth planning your accommodation around the activities you want to do in Maui. Above all, however, there is one essential rule: book well in advance – at least 4–6 months. As the date approaches, the number of available offers drops significantly.
Stay in the capital,Wailuku, and nearbyKahuluiif you want to spend an active holiday and go on excursions all over the island. The proximity to the airport and many large supermarkets will certainly be an advantage.
In Kahului or Wailuku, you’ll also have the best chance of finding relatively cheap accommodation.
The western side of the island – the stretch of towns from Lahaina through Kaanapali to Kapaluu – is home to luxury resorts, where you’ll pay several hundred dollars a night, as well as beach holidays. These resorts are ideal, for example, for honeymoons and luxury holidays without compromise.
Whilst Kapalua and Kaanapali are true holiday resorts, where you’ll find practically nothing but hotels, beautiful beaches and luxury restaurants, Lahaina is more of a traditional town with supermarkets, cheaper fast-food outlets and amenities, but not such lovely beaches.
South Maui, centred around the town of Kihei and the resort of Wailea-Makena, is also ideal for a beach holiday; there are far more smaller beaches here than on the west coast, where the beaches tend to be larger and more open. The surrounding waters are ideal for snorkelling and diving.
The town of Kihei offers relatively affordable apartments by Maui standards (from 185 eur per night), whilst Wailea-Makena is home to luxury resorts and, much like the west coast, is ideal for a carefree holiday with every luxury.
The remote eastern side of the island, around the town of Hana, is ideal for a peaceful break away from it all.
The long and iconic drive from Kahului will take at least half a day, making Hana the perfect place to stay overnight before heading back. The dense green forests in the surrounding area, fewer people and dramatic cliffs plunging into the sea provide a breathtaking spectacle. However, you won’t find many beaches here.
Accommodation prices in Maui
Accommodation will be the biggest item in your budget. Even the cheapest hostels in Kahului or Wailukustart at 62 eur per night for a shared room, the average price for a rather basic hotel or guesthouse is 267 eur per night, whilst large hotels by the sea start at 308 eur – please note that the price may not include the 12 per cent tax, so read the specific offers carefully.
Some quote a total price, whilst others show the price excluding tax, which is legal in the USA.
Our accommodation tips
Are you looking for the cheapest accommodation in Maui but feeling a bit lost in the sea of offers on booking sites? Or perhaps you’re looking for a hotel that offers the best value for money? Take a look at our tips to help you make your decision.
The cheapest accommodation is offered bya popular backpacker’s Howzit Hostels in Wailuku, where you can get a private room from 144 eur per night for two people, and a bed in a shared room for 4–5 people from 57 eur .
For 164 eur per night in a twin room, you could, for example, stay at a lovely private bed and breakfast God's Peace of Maui in the inland village of Makewo, near the road to Mount Haleakala – a lovely guesthouse Wailuku Guesthouse in a quiet outlying area of the Kahului-Wailuku metropolitan area.
You can expectclassic 3* hotelsoffering the best value for money, with prices ranging from 164 eur to 287 eur per night for a twin room; however, you should ideally book several months in advance and, to get the lowest possible price, usually for at least four nights.
- Gardens at West Maui – A 3* aparthotel in the Kapalua resort in western Maui
- Napili Village Hotel – an aparthotel with fully furnished studios in the resort of Napili in western Maui
- Best Western Pioneer Inn – the cheapest major chain, with prices around 287 eur per night for two in Lahaina, in the west of Maui
Camping on Maui
Campsites are a significantly cheaper option for accommodation, where you can save thousands per night compared to traditional apartments or hotels.
Most campsites are managed by national or state parks, or directly by the Maui Island Authority. You can pay to stay in your own tent here; only one campsite in Waiʻānapanapa State Park allows camping in a campervan, so even hiring this type of campervan won’t be of much help.
All campsites are equipped with toilets and hot showers, which can be used free of charge.
- Hosmer Grove Camping – a popular campsite at the foot of Mount Haleakala; the fee for a tent pitch is 5 usd per night; bookings must be made months in advance
- Kipahulu Campground – a well-known campsite at the end of the Road to Hana and near the trail to the Waimoku Falls; the fee for a tent pitch is 5 usd per night; bookings must be made months in advance
- Pāpalaua Wayside Park – a campsite managed by Maui County, situated on the road between Kahului and the resorts to the west; the fee for a tent pitch ranges from 5 usd to 10 usd depending on the day of the week
- Waiʻānapanapa State Park – a large, modern campsite on the Road to Hana within a well-known nature reserve. Bookings must be made in advance; the fee is 10 usd per vehicle plus 5 usd for entry to the nature reserve
- Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area– a peaceful campsite in a beautiful woodland setting, completely off the beaten track. Booking is essential; the fee is 30 usd per vehicle, and there is also the option to hire a forest cabin for 100 usd. A 4x4 vehicle is required to reach the campsite at Polipoli
Sleeping in the car and under the stars
If you’re used to sleeping ‘in the wild’ wherever you fancy from other countries, then Maui – and the Hawaiian Islands in general – will unfortunately not be the right place for you.
Sleeping outside campsites or official accommodation is illegal.
Checks by the police or national park authorities are very common, even in remote areas where you would never expect them. Police officers are usually lenient towards tourists, but they are strict, and if you are caught repeatedly, you face heavy fines.
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