Did anyone notice I was gone?

[JulesMaximus]

I was in Maui last week on vacation so I hadn't posted at all really while I was away.

Anyway, Maui was awesome! We snorkeled at Molokini crater one day and took a helicopter tour of the north end of Maui and the east side of the island of Molokai. The helicopter tour was spectacular. Highly recommend it to anyone considering going to any of the islands. Breathtaking views and stunning beauty.

Expensive trip though. My wife and I took our 14 year old son and his friend who is 15. We booked two rooms, one for us adults and one for the two boys which worked out well. I brought $1,000 cash with me to spend on extras but it ended up being a lot more. The helicopter tour and the visit to Molokini we paid for in advance along with the airfare, hotel and rental car. Incidentals were an extra $700, we blew through all the cash and spent another $500-600 on top of that and that's not even including our excursion to Baron & Leeds where we picked out something special for my wife.

This is the beach in front of our hotel.

A nice sunset.

My son exploring underwater sights.

A clip from our helicopter tour. If you think that waterfall looks like the scene from Jurassic Park when they arrived at the island you're not wrong. That scene was filmed here on Molokai. The helicopter landing from the movie was obviously a stage set but the waterfall is real. We flew into this canyon from a low altitude and circled it three times eventually rising up out of the top in this clip. The views and beauty of these islands are simply amazing and you would never see sights like this unless you took a tour by helicopter. This particular spot is almost completely inaccessible by anything other than boat or by helicopter and since it is on the east side of the island you would never see it any other way. You can't drive to it or even hike to it. It is too remote.

 

[sdifox]

who?

 

[ponyo]

Maui is beautiful. I need to go back. Did you stay at all-inclusive? If not, $2,300 for a week of activity and food for four people is not much at Maui. I would consider that cheap.

 

[IronWing]

I cried a tear.

 

[BudAshes]

Maui is a special place. Last time I was there I watched the sunrise from the top of Haleakalā at 10k feet then road our bikes down and watched the sunset from the beach outside our hotel room.

 

[Schfifty Five]

Maui is beautiful. I need to go back. Did you stay at all-inclusive? If not, $2,300 for a week of activity and food for four people is not much at Maui. I would consider that cheap.

Don't think that includes airfare, hotel, car rental, prepaid excursions/helicopter.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Hi! What's your name?!

 

[JulesMaximus]

Maui is beautiful. I need to go back. Did you stay at all-inclusive? If not, $2,300 for a week of activity and food for four people is not much at Maui. I would consider that cheap.

No, not all inclusive. We paid for airfare, hotel and rental car prior to the trip. That was somewhere around $8k for all four of us. The snorkeling was another $300 or so and the helicopter tour was $1,000.

 

[ponyo]

Don't think that includes airfare, hotel, car rental, prepaid excursions/helicopter.

I know. There's no way you can do Maui for $2,300 if you do all that. I was talking about $2,300 for food and drinks for a week. I usually budget $500 a day for food and drinks for three of us at a resort. For party of four, I would budget $650-$700 a day on food and drinks.

No, not all inclusive. We paid for airfare, hotel and rental car prior to the trip. That was somewhere around $8k for all four of us. The snorkeling was another $300 or so and the helicopter tour was $1,000.

I thought the West Coast had all the cheap airfares to Hawaii. Regardless, typical week long Hawaiian vacation for four is around $10k.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Leave again so we can test.

 

[SKORPI0]

OPs username does not ring a bell at all.

 

[olds]

That beach is deserted

 

[Darwin333]

No shots of hotties in bikinis? Boo this man!!!

 

[McLovin]

I know. There's no way you can do Maui for $2,300 if you do all that. I was talking about $2,300 for food and drinks for a week. I usually budget $500 a day for food and drinks for three of us at a resort. For party of four, I would budget $650-$700 a day on food and drinks.


I thought the West Coast had all the cheap airfares to Hawaii. Regardless, typical week long Hawaiian vacation for four is around $10k.

Jesus christ

 

[Mayne]

sounds like you had an amazing time. wheres the helicopter pics..only see one.

 

[Mayne]

nevermind..its a video i'm not a smart man.

 

[highland145]

I cried a tear.

suck up

 

[ctbaars]

I get you confused with someone else. Are you the anti-SUV guy or the gas-prices-are-too-high guy?
Edit: By forum search: You're not dmcowen674, so you're the anti-SUV guy.
Welcome home.

 

[purbeast0]

Maui owns. Is Molokini the only snorkeling you did? The snorkeling from the shore is better in places than at the crater. The crater is pretty cool though with very clear water, it's just a lot of little fish though. I remember seeing some eels too.

Did you drive the Road to Hana? The park that you visit at the end of it where you hike up to the 400ft waterfall is incredible. It's like something straight out of LOST. Then you have the 7 sacred pools to hang out in too which is very refreshing after a day of hiking. Sounds like you didn't do too many "things" while there, which is okay because relaxing on vacation is also good. As someone else mentioned, watching the sun rise from the top of the mountain is incredible. Being above the clouds as the sun comes up is something to see in person.

We didn't get to do a helicopter tour because I was poor when I went (went for my honeymoon when I was 26) but if I were to go now, that is something I'd definitely do. I did one in Vegas to the Grand Canyon and that was cool.

Where did you stay? That definitely looks a bit more remote than the Kanapali area we stayed at. And as mentioned, the snorkeling from shore there was great.

As mentioned, $2300 for 4 for a week in Maui seems dirt cheap. We spent over $3k for a week in Aruba for me, my wife, and toddler. We splurge like mofo's on vacation though, that is what they are for. We're going to Grand Cayman in a few weeks for 5 days and before we are even there, it's costing about $3200 and that's including using points for all legs of the flights. Still had to pay some taxes though, and renting a car.

 

[Safeway]

I've had one too many trips to Hawaii. You can only enjoy volcano and lava field tours and ascending Mauna Kea on a bicycle so many times. Head to St. Lucia or St. Thomas next time!

 

[BoomerD]

Gone? Who the fuck are you, anyway?

I love Maui. I hated to sell our timeshare in Kaanapali, but the annual fees had exploded to the point where they were more expensive than renting a place outright.

We took the helicopter tour of the west side and down to Hana...and a van tour back to Kahalui where we caught the helicopter. VERY nice...expensive...but IMO, worth the price.
Scuba at Molokini (and Turtle Town) was hella fun. I did the snuba a couple of times. Also expensive...but fun as hell.

 

[IronWing]

New avatar is confusing.

 

[highland145]

New avatar is confusing.

It is, bird man.