Best of Maui: Hotels, Beaches, Snorkeling, Food, & More
December 1st, 2021
| Maui InformationThings To Do In Maui
Written by the Maui Snorkeling team, operating Molokini Crater, Turtle Town, and Coral Gardens tours out of Maʻalaea Harbor since 1985. Tours are led by USCG‑licensed captains aboard a USCG‑inspected passenger vessel. We spend more days in these waters than on land.
Last updated: March 2026
Quick Answer:The Best of Maui Lists is a Maui trip-planning hub that brings together our favorite on-site guides for where to stay, what to book, where to eat, and how to shape your trip around your travel style. It’s a strong starting point for visitors planning Maui around snorkeling, beaches, family time, couples activities, food, and classic island experiences.
Main Takeaways:
Best For: First-time Maui planning when you want one page to organize the rest of your trip
What It Covers: Where to stay, beaches, snorkeling tours, water activities, whale watching, food, luaus, hikes, family ideas, couples ideas, arrival tips, and area guides
Snorkeling Angle: Especially useful if snorkeling is a priority, with direct paths into tour and beach planning
How To Use It: Start with the category that matters most to your trip, then click into the linked guide for deeper research
Bonus: Helpful for families, couples, and return visitors who want to build a Maui itinerary around their own pace and interests
Planning a Maui vacation can get overwhelming fast. So instead of sending you off to a dozen third-party “best of Maui” lists, we pulled together our own favorite Maui guides in one place. Use this page as your starting point for where to stay, what to book, where to eat, and how to shape your trip around your travel style.
Whether you’re visiting for snorkeling, beaches, family time, a honeymoon, or just a week of sun and great food, these are the Maui resources we’d start with.
Where To Stay In Maui
Where you stay changes the feel of your whole trip. South Maui is great for sunshine and convenience, West Maui is classic resort-and-sunset territory, and Upcountry offers a cooler, slower-paced side of the island. Start with our Where to Stay in Maui guide, then compare standout stays in The Best Maui Hotels blog.
Best Beaches In Maui
Some Maui beaches are best for snorkeling, some are better for long walks, some work well for kids, and others are all about sunset. Use our Best Maui Hawaii Beaches guide to narrow down the right beach for your day.
Best Snorkeling Tours In Maui
For many visitors, snorkeling is the main event. If you’re deciding between a smaller boat experience and a larger tour, start with our Maui Snorkeling vs Big-Boat Snorkel Tours blog.
Maui’s ocean options go far beyond one snorkel trip. For a broader look at popular ocean adventures, start with Maui Water Activities and Hawaii Excursions.
Best Whale Watching In Maui
Winter visitors should absolutely build whale season into their plans. Our Whale Watching in Maui guide covers timing, expectations, and what to know before you go.
Best Sunset Cruises In Maui
If a relaxing evening on the water sounds like your kind of Maui memory, start with Hawaii Excursions. It’s the best on-site jumping-off point for sunset cruise ideas and other easy-win ocean activities.
Best Restaurants, Breakfast, And Food Trucks In Maui
If a luau is on your Maui wish list, use our Best Luaus in Maui guide to compare options by style, location, and overall vibe.
Best Land Adventures In Maui
Not every great Maui day has to happen on the water. Our Things To Do in Maui guide covers scenic drives, cultural stops, family-friendly outings, and classic island activities worth adding to your trip.
From easy scenic walks to bigger trail days, Maui has strong hiking options across the island. Start with Maui Hiking Trails to compare the best hikes before you lace up.
Best Things To Do In Maui With Kids
Family trips work best when you mix adventure with easy wins. Our Things To Do in Maui With Kids guide is a great place to start for beaches, activities, and outings that actually work for families.
Best Things To Do In Maui For Couples
Planning a honeymoon, anniversary trip, or romantic getaway? Start with Best Things To Do in Maui for Couples for date-worthy beaches, sunset ideas, and memorable outings.
Best Arrival, Car Rental, And First-Stop Tips
Your trip gets easier when you plan your arrival day well. Before you land, review our Kahului Airport (OGG) Guide for rental-car, baggage, and first-stop planning.
Best Maui Area Guides
Once you know your region, it helps to dig one level deeper. Our Kihei Maui Guide is useful for South Maui planning, while Upcountry Maui gives you a totally different side of the island.
Trusted Maui Partners For Photography, Bike Rentals, And Extras
For a few trip add-ons that don’t need their own full roundup, use our Maui Partners page for trusted referrals on photography, bike rentals, and other activities.
Use this page as your Maui planning hub. Start with Where to Stay in Maui, then move into the guides that match your trip style, like beaches, snorkeling tours, family activities, restaurants, or couples' ideas. It’s the easiest way to narrow your options without bouncing between multiple separate lists.
That depends on the kind of trip you want. South Maui is great for sunshine and convenience, West Maui fits the classic resort-and-sunset vibe, and Upcountry offers a cooler, slower-paced side of the island. Start with Where to Stay in Maui, then compare options in The Best Maui Hotels
Start with Best Maui Hawaii Beaches. It’s the easiest way to compare beaches for snorkeling, long walks, kids, and sunset, so you can pick the right beach for the kind of day you want.
Families should start with Things To Do in Maui With Kids, then add beach, food, and area guides based on where you’re staying. It’s a simple way to build days that mix adventure with easier, more flexible family-friendly outings.
Before arrival day, review the Kahului Airport (OGG) Guide. It helps with rental-car planning, baggage expectations, and first-stop logistics so your first few hours on the island go more smoothly.
Maui has no shortage of ways to fill a great vacation. Start with the guides above, build an itinerary that matches your pace, and leave a little room for the kind of last-minute beach stop or sunset plan that becomes the highlight of the whole trip.
Sources & Updates: Before your trip and before heading out for the day, confirm current visitor alerts, road closures, park access, beach safety, and water-quality advisories using the official resources below. Verify hours, availability, and departure details directly with the business you plan to visit.
