My Honeymoon In Maui

After the 12-hour flight from New Jersey, we picked up our rental. This is extremely necessary, as it is very tough to get around without an automobile. Driving around Maui is very easy - basically, there are a couple of main highways and you just follow the signs to your destination. I recommend taking the bike tour to Mount Haleakala, snorkeling at Ka'anapali Beach, and also shopping and dining in Lahaina. I think the Road to Hana is overrated, but the black sand beach was beautiful. There are many more great things to do in Maui, you just need the time.

Quick Tips:

Definitely rent a car - I don't know how you can do without it. Bring your own snorkeling gear. Why pay when you can go on your own? Be careful on the Road to Hana - extraordinarily windy, very dangerous. But if you like hikes to waterfalls and to see the black sand beach, this is the way to go.

Best Way To Get Around:

Renting a car is the best way around. Some tour operators take you on a bus to Hana, which might be safer, and I am sure they can help you see sights on your way.

The Ritz Carlton is found in the town of Kapalua which is just north of the town of Lahaina. Situated on a hill on the northwest side of Maui, the views of the Pacific Ocean and Molaka'i are phenomenal.

You will be greeted with lei's as soon as you arrive at the Ritz-Carlton resort. If you rent a vehicle you have a choice of parking your own car or you can take advantage of the valet parking which has a separate fee. If you plan on constantly using your rental like us, I recommend parking your own vehicle.

As soon as you step into the lobby at the Ritz you know you will be treated like royalty. The service is impeccable and it seemed as if every hotel employee knew who you were.

The resort has six dining options available to you. All six restaurants/cafes have something different for everyone. Here is a brief description of each option.

- The Banyon Tree has received a AAA four diamond award. Here they serve "contemorary Australian cuisine" and dinner reservations are recommended. The dress code is casual resort wear.

- The Terrace is well-known for their first class breakfast buffet. A casual lunch and dinner are also served here.

- The Beach House Bar & Grill is located on the ocean. Lunch is served daily and dinner is available seasonally.

- Kai is a first class sushi bar located just off of the lobby. Open for dinner only.

- The Lobby Lounge is located on a balcony over looking the Pacific. The menu features bar room favorites with a twist, and a extensive cocktail and cigar list is available.

- The Pool Bar & Cafe features sandwiches, salads and cocktails.

Let's talk about the Ritz-Carlton's beautiful rooms. We stayed in an ocean view room on the "Club Level". Our main room featured a king size bed, cocktail bar, a desk with chair, television, and a sliding glass door which lead to our lanai. The lanai featured two chairs with a table so you could relax with a drink and take in the beautiful views. Our bathroom was decorated in marble with a separate shower and tub, double vanities, hairdryer, makeup mirror, and luxury bathroom toiletries. Do yourself a favor and walk around in the soft terry cloth robes for a while.

The "Club Level" was great. In the "Club Room" they serve five complimentary "meals" each day. Every afternoon my wife and I went for complimentary drinks and small appetizers. I highly recommend staying on the "Club Level".

The Ritz-Carlton is truly a first class resort. If you can come up with the extra cash you will be highly rewarded with a "dream come true" experience.

A very romantic dining experiance. We sat in front of the big shutter windows, which can be a bit breezy at night, so you might want to bring a sweater. A great view of the ocean from the top of a hill looking down over a golf course and pine trees. The food was very good, specializing in fresh fish.

This place is right on the strip in Lahaina. It's an open-air bar with a good view of the ocean. Hey, it's a Hard Rock -- what do you expect food-wise?! Come for the atmosphere.

Located at the Four Seasons in Wailea. This, if you didn't know, is a Wolfgang Puck restaurant. Very good food, with a very nice wine list. The service is a bit pushy (I wasn't feeling up to par to have wine, but the waiter was very insistent). Overall, it was a very pleasant evening.

Truly a great restaurant in a place where you wouldn't think to find one, in a minimall. Super-fresh sushi, with wonderful Japanese cuisine. Very helpful servers assist you in navigating the menu. A nice place to go for a bargain and eat very well.

Located at the Ritz-Carlton in Kapalua. Is found beyond the pool area in a Polynesian setting. We found the food to be pleasant but not off the charts. If you get a bit nervous around crawling critters, this might not be the place for you. Since there are open shutters, we saw a couple of tiny salamanders climbing on the walls next to our table. The service was mediocre at best. Maybe we just went on an off night.

We went on the Sunrise Tour. We were picked up at our hotel at 2am. The van proceeded to their home base, where we had a choice of bagel and muffins and were given windgear. Then we took a van to the top of Mount Haleakala, where our tour guide took us to the top of the crater to see the sunrise. 10,000 feet above see level can get a bit cold (40 degrees) and windy, so definitely dress accordingly.

After the beautiful sunrise, we retrieved our bikes and were given a quick tutorial. Basically, you just glide down winding roads, at midpoint you stop for picture-taking, and at the bottom of the volcano you have breakfast at a small restaurant. After breakfast, you follow your tour guide to a small church where you can take pictures and conclude your tour. The bus takes everyone back to their hotels and/or resorts. The overall experience will stay with us forever - how often do you get to glide down a volcano? The tour guides were friendly and helpful. They never hesitated to take a picture for you. For those who do not want the sunrise tour, you can do an afternoon tour. Hopefully this will be of help to you.

There is a nice reef right off the beach -- plenty of marine life, including eels and sea turtles. I was snorkeling with a bunch of scuba divers who paid $200 to dive in the same exact area. The very calm water makes this a relaxing place to snorkel. Although this is an active beach with honeymooners and people watchers, I did not find this a distraction.

A windy road that eventually leads you to the town of Hana. I think the Road to Hana was a bit overrated, but for those seeking waterfalls, private pools, hikes, and adventure, this might be just for you. I found the road to be dangerous, with a lot of one-lane bridges, and sometimes people are a bit uncautious. Always be aware of everyone else on the road. I think this would have been better if we had taken the bus tour to Hana, but hey, if you rent a convertible, you want to drive with the top down, right? There are books, guides, maps, and I have even heard of a CD or cassette that you play in the car, that gives you places to stop by mile markers to see the beautiful sights. Some sights are a decent hike away, and by stopping at these, this trip will take you the whole day. To see the Black Sand Beach, which is in Wai'anapanapa State Park, was worth the journey.