[trip style = sun + beach + weekend getaway] {more pics below}
This past weekend, my husband and I conducted a tropical experiment. We did so during low season in case it was a bust.
The Experiment Fly to the tropics, in our case Maui, for an extended weekend. Leave on a Friday and return on a Monday. Easy getaway options: West Coasters = Hawaiian Islands East Coasters = Bermuda or the Caribbean.
Why We've attempted this crazy or not-so-crazy feat (depending on how you look at it) in the past for 4 nights/5 days, so being curious souls, we wanted to find out if it was possible to pull it off for a weekend. The idea of a short-burst trip filled with sun, relaxation and blue waters is soul soothing, so my goal was to see if it was doable for times when it's hard to get away for more than a few days.
The Verdict The experiment worked. Here are some best practices:
- know your destination well so you can hit the ground running
- only travel with a carry-on bag; time is of the essence!
- relax and don't try to sightsee like a maniac, in fact, leave sightseeing for another trip
- arrange a direct flight with departure and arrival times that aren't going to leave you zombie-like
- figure out if you can handle the time change {if applicable}
- make restaurant reservations before you leave so your getaway is dialed before you arrive
Details Flight We left out of Seattle on a Hawaiian Airlines flight (my preferred carrier for flights to Hawaii) at 10.30am Friday, and returned for the mainland on Monday at 3.05pm. These are great flight times allowing you to enjoy a portion of each travel day at your destination.
Hotel Having stayed at multiple hotels and condos in Wailea, Kihei and Ka'anapali, we chose to stay at the Fairmont Kea Lani because it's within a half hour of the airport, has a great reputation and a stunning location along the Wailea seascape. See my review of the Fairmont Kea Lani here.
Car Car rentals in Maui are close to the main airport, efficient (most of the time) and cheap. Even though we didn't do any major car excursions during our aloha-filled weekend, renting a car for 4 days is cheaper than taking a taxi or shuttle to and from the airport. In addition, our hotel offered complimentary parking, a perk you pay for in the rate, but something most other hotels on the island don't offer.
Restaurants Given we were there on a weekend, we made resos in advance at The Four Seasons Maui's Ferraros and The Grand Wailea's Humu Humu, leaving us with an open evening the day we arrived. Tommy Bahamas Cafe in the Shops at Wailea has a happy hour, or what they call island time, from 4-6pm and 9pm-close. We didn't have time to try it, but it would have been a nice option for Friday night.
Pictures
{Looking from the hotel to the ocean}
{Love the Arabian Nights-esque details}
{Tempted to pick one of the bananas on the property}
{Resort's chapel area}
Related Content How to Book a Very Last-Minute Tropical Getaway High/Low Booking a Vacation in Maui
[photos by moi & husband]