The storied places of Maui spark a deep connection to land and sea. Visiting means standing majestically atop a 10,000 foot volcano, exploring deep, lush valleys, or feeling the spray of the ocean while sailing along sparkling aqua seas. The call to come to the islands is strong, and visiting Maui now is more affordable than ever. Surrounding last year’s devastating wildfires, tourism took a pause. While we are on the road to recovery, lower tourism numbers mean there are exceptional bargains on everything from airfare and car rentals to our full collection of beach condos.

Here are 5 ways to save significantly on your Maui vacation by booking now.

#1 Save on Airfare

Typically people book flights 3 or 4 months out for good pricing. But a take a look at Google Flights– Round trip airfares are showing at $213 from the west coast! After Alaska Airlines announced plans to buy Hawaiian Airlines, Competetors like United and American added more flights to and from Hawaii. This combined with sluggish tourism numbers means bargain airfares.   Check Google Flights to see prices from all major carriers. Look at the fare calendar too. Sometimes shifting your flights to a Tuesday or Thursday can save quite a bit. You can also set up a fare alert, and get notified when your draft itinerary drops in price. The app also shows if the fare you select is low, average or high, based on past data. If it shows as a low price, you can make the reservation knowing you have scored a good deal. Airlines (and most vacation rentals) use artificial intelligence (called dynamic pricing) to automatically adjust prices based on demand. This mean you can also grab low-priced last minute fares if not enough seats are booked!

#2 Save on Accommodations

Less visitors means more competition for those providing accommodations, and lower prices for you! Destination Maui Vacations leads the charge in discounting beach condos on Maui. We use a combination of artificial intelligence to monitor market conditions and lower prices automatically, and human intelligence to make further reductions on condos that may have been overlooked by shoppers. Even though taxes have gone up since last year, condos are a better bargain than hotels.  In addition to having a kitchen, condos typically don’t have resort fees, parking fees, tipping and all the other costs that add up when you stay at a hotel. Let’s face it, even two people in a hotel room can feel tight. Give yourself some breathing room, and look at more than 100 Destination Maui Vacations beach condos here. There’s even a split cost calculator if sharing a condo with other adult family members.

Bonus: You will always save money when you book direct on destinationmauivacations.com. Like most accommodations, we list units on third-party sites to increase exposure for our owners. By booking direct with us, you avoid the high fees of those sites- on average 14% (or more!).

#3 Save Money on Food

We love eating out, and have some great suggestions for family meals on Maui that won’t break the bank. But if you eat out for every meal, it’ll be one of your biggest expenses on Maui. The best money saving solution is do some meal prep at your accommodations. Our Destination Maui Vacations condos have full kitchens. So, whether you want to do some simple meal prep to grill fresh fish outdoors, make some awesome breakfasts with the island’s freshest tropical fruits, or bag some protein-packed lunches for a day of exploring, we’ve got you covered.

To make adulting easier, stock your vacation condo fridge with grab and go items your family likes so you are not spending a lot of time on meal prep during vacation.

It is generally more expensive to dine out for dinner. So if you want to splurge on a big family meal, consider a breakfast or lunch. Kihei Caffe (with south and west side locations) have big portions for adults and a kids menu, including the EBT- One egg, one bacon and toast for under $5. Flatbread Pizza in Paia is a fun family stop for lunch, where you can see your pie go into the kiawe wood fired clay oven. Two pizzas will fill up a family of four, with leftovers! Or, stay in for an early dinner then walk out to the beach for sunset, and your favorite beverage in reusable cup- the best way to end a Maui day.

#4 Find Cheap or Free Activities

Maui is one of those places that has so much to do for cheap or free. Here are some of our favorites:

Drive the famous Road to Hana; take in the view from the 10,000ft Haleakala Crater; go hiking- there are trails for all skill levels; plan a picnic at a botanical garden or Maui Tropical Plantation (then grab ice cream or a coffee beverage for dessert!); visit museums or art galleries; snorkel from shore; go to the beach any time of day-early morning walks are magical, capture some sun during the day, or experience a sunset with a view towards distant islands.

There are a few fun things to do with a higher price tag. If you plan those in advance, and fill in with amazing free activities, your brood will have a fabulous vacation. Check out our Things to Do section for a wide range of activities to consider.

#5 Give and Take While You Reduce Waste

Most people’s first stop before going to their hotel, resort, or condo is Costco. This can be a good and bad idea. You’ll save money on a lot of stuff, but the problem is people often have a LOT of leftovers, and a raft of beach toys they won’t be taking home.  On a small island, it is important to keep waste to a minimum. Keep your early provisioning small, and fill in during your vacation with quick stops at local grocery stores.

If you do find there is an abundance of items you won’t be using before you leave the island, this Facebook Group, Maui Vacationers Pass it Along is a good place to not only make sure your left overs and beach toys get used, you can also pick up some free stuff yourself when visiting!

With a little pre-planning and savvy on-island decision making, your family can have the vacation of their dreams, on a budget!