Fodor's Maui 2012

Get inspired and plan your next trip with Fodor's ebook travel guide to Maui.

Intelligent Planning: Discover all of the essential, up-to-date travel insights you expect in a Fodor's guide, including Fodor's Choice dining and lodging, top experiences and attractions, and detailed planning advice.

Added bonus: At the end of each Fodor's hotel review, we've included snippets from TripAdvisor reviews. Plan your trip with the extra peace of mind that comes from knowing each of Fodor's expert selections is reinforced by consumer experience and feedback.

Easy Navigation for E-Readers: Whether you're reading this ebook from start to finish or jumping from chapter to chapter as you develop your itinerary, Fodor's makes it easy to find the information you need with a single touch. In addition to a traditional main table of contents for the ebook, each chapter opens with its own table of contents, making it easy to browse.

Full-Color Photos and Maps: It's hard not to fall in love with Maui as you flip through a vivid full-color photo album. Explore the layout of the city and popular neighborhoods with easy-to-read full-color maps.

What's Covered? Get to Know Maui: West Maui is a leeward, sunny area with excellent beaches ringed by upscale resorts and condominiums in areas such as Kā'anapali and, farther north, Kapalua. Also on the coast is the busy, tourist-oriented town of Lahaina, a former whaling center with plenty of shops and good restaurants that's a base for snorkel and other tours.

The leeward side of Maui's eastern half is what most people mean when they say "South Shore." This popular area is sunny and warm year-round; Kīhei, a fast-growing town, and Wailea, a luxurious resort area with some outstanding hotels, are here. Notable beaches include Mākena, mostly undeveloped and spectacular, and Wailea, fronting the resorts.

Between Maui's two mountain areas is Central Maui, the location of the county seat of Wailuku and the commercial center of Kahului. Kahului Airport, Maui's main terminal, is here, along with convenient shopping malls and a good selection of reasonably priced restaurants. In addition, local museums such as the Bailey House provide good background on Maui's history.

Island residents affectionately call the regions climbing up the slope of Haleakalā Crater, Upcountry. A visit to Haleakalā National Park to see the volcanic crater is a must-do. The town of Makawao retains its country charm but also has interesting shopping. Upcountry is a great place for agricultural tours too--you can visit a lavender farm or a dairy farm, among others.

The North Shore has no large resorts, just plenty of picturesque, laid-back small towns like Pā'ia and Ha'ikū--and great windsurfing action at Ho'okipa Beach. Baldwin Beach is a local favorite just off the highway. The towns are good spots for a break if you're heading out along the Road to Hāna. Inland, this part of Maui is lush and wild.

The island's northeastern, windward side is largely one great rain forest, traversed by the stunning Road to Hāna. Exploring this iconic, winding road with its dramatic coastal views can be the highlight of a trip. The tiny town of Hāna preserves the slow pace of the past; if you want to escape from it all, consider and overnight stay there.

Note: This ebook edition is adapted from Fodor's Maui 2012 but differs in some content. Additionally, the ebook edition includes photographs and maps that will appear on black-and-white devices but are optimized for devices that support full-color images.