Lonely Planet Maui: Includes Moloka'i and Lana'i

We used the lonely planet Maui guide to plan a vacation to Maui. It is was superb. As with all guidebooks, some of the restaurants and shops were not updated, but that was to be expected.

Well, I'm headed there eventually, maybe NEXT summer, since we've always wanted to go to Maui. Travel guidebooks are a matter of taste. It's like shoes--you have to try on several pairs until you find one that fits perfectly. A good guidebook is your constant travel companion, like a pet dog. You'll refer to it all the time, consulting it, more than reading it like a novel. You want accurate information FAST, and access to information is critical. Printed on a semi-matte paper stock, in full color, this pocket-sized guidebook crams a lot of information in its 304 pages. Published by Lonely Planet--my favorite publisher of guidebooks, along with Insight Editions--this book is organized by location, and in the back portion of the book, has all the reference information. The type is small but readable, and the use of color to highlight the text is done well: it draws attention but doesn't distract. Color-tabbed on the pages' edges for easy access to each section, this book covers as astonishing amount of information in one compact volume. As with any guidebook, it's best to at least skim through a few pages to get a sense of how they handle the material. I tend to avoid text-heavy travel guidebooks with ONLY text in b & w and few photos, since I think color is essential for a travel guidebook, and the use of color in the text throughout makes it an easy reading experience. But the key issue, always, is the text. Is it accurate? Is it informative? Is it useful? Is it practical? Do you TRUST it? Ideally, guidebooks should be updated annually, but I suspect most of the material covered in this book will not change much, so I suspect this third edition is more an enhanced and revised version, building on what's gone before, which is fine. One real highlight of this book: the extensive and liberal use of maps. Essential. Indispensable, even. Bottom line: I tend to pack light when I'm traveling, because less is more when it comes to baggage fees these days. (All the airlines nick you for that second bag and third bag--expect to see first bag charges to become the norm with almost all carriers this year.) But this is small enough to pack and pocket-sized, so it'll fit in one of my cargo-style shorts or trousers. Maui, here I come!

Lonely Planet guides are generally very good and this guide on Maui is one of the finest jobs they've done yet. The beauty of the color pictures really makes the book all the more enjoyable to use, it becomes a treat in itself. The book is also packed with well organized information and great reviews about places popular and secluded, large and small that will really help the adventurous traveler plan their own perfect trip. The road to Hana chapter is also really cool and it even shows what adventurous secluded turn-offs one might want to take (or might just want to read about here!) There are also many other itineraries laid out to help one get a sense of what they can do, and of course you can plan so much on your own with the help of the information here on places to stay, places to eat, things to see. The book itself is great to look at and to read and might even be worth a read for those who are simply interested in Maui (but of course, if you are like me, after reading you might feel a bit inclined to start planning a trip of your own...)

I've been to Maui before, so when I picked up this guidebook I immediately looked for some of my favorite spots. Unfortunately, the ultra-budget hotel I prefer wasn't listed in the book, probably because it is lacking in many basic hotel amenities. But aside from that I found a guide that listed all the places I'd been, as well as illuminated a few new ones. No matter what kind of trip you want to take to Maui, this guide book offers great suggestions. Interested in ocean life? Dozens of great snorkeling spots. A land lubber? Just as many hiking trails. Want to pamper yourself and never be out of reach of room service? The only limit is how much you want to spend. This is my first Lonely Planet guide, and I am impressed. I can't come up with any complaints. Although I found that my first experience on Maui was exhilarating because of my lack of knowledge(take a drive to the volcano without looking at any pictures before-hand to see what I mean), this book provides lots of tips on places that might otherwise be overlooked.

Visiting Maui is an enigma. On the one hand, people visit it for a taste of tropical paradise, for its ties to all things Hawaiiana, and for escape from the ordinary. On the other hand, people live there, with the tourist-spawned traffic jams, artificial smiles, world-class housing prices (not a compliment), and the lines of bicyclists coming down Haleakala (temporarily suspended, thank goodness). Tourism is both a blessing and a curse. Lonely Planet's new version of its guidebook to Maui, Molokai, and Lanai is a roadmap to these three islands (focusing primarily on Maui, of course). In general, this book does what it is designed to do... introduce visitors to places and events. Whether you are looking for dining, snorkeling, or wine-tasting opportunities; eco-friendly businesses; or just some Maui history, this book will live up to your expectations. It's not as blunt as Maui Revealed (a competing guidebook); you won't find many negative reviews. This volume falls into the traditional, "don't worry, be happy" genre of guidebooks. First, what do I know? I don't live on Maui. However, I have relatives who homesteaded on Maui in return for land, and still have many extended family members living there. I've visited on multiple occasions, and have been there for business reasons or conferences, including a week long sea turtle workshop. There's a bunch of stuff I've never done on Maui, and a lot I have done: wine-tasting, plays, beach action, Haleakala hikes, diving, Molokini, lounging in Lahaina, and eating plate lunch. So I've been part of both the visitor and local scenes, and my comments stem from these experiences. In general, this book does what it is intended to do. I would caution you that it puts a positive spin on practically everything (except the Superferry), so be warned. Here are some specific comments: - The cover. If you've been to Molokini over the past 5 years, you won't see the Molokini characterized on this cover, with those 4 snorkeling adventure boats, widely spaced. Now, you'll see captains racing for the islet to get to their favorite spot to anchor, and the numbers will be 20+. Your guide will tell you to paddle close to the boat. Really, the experience is highly degraded with the number of operators allowed to exploit this marine ecosystem. Sad. So I wonder about the appropriateness of Molokini unexploited as a cover photo. - This book has a neat collection of "Island Voices" - real people from different walks of life - featured as vignettes and sprinkled throughout the book. I enjoyed these. - This volume of the Lonely Planet guide to Maui features businesses and organizations that have an "active sustainable-tourism policy." There's a special index at the end of the book listing these sustainable activities and organizations. Note, however, there is a real difference between "sustainability" and "sustainable-tourism." "Nuff said. - In a little box highlighting "Plants as Medicine" (p. 4