How much does it cost to spend 4 Days in Maui? Budget, Itinerary and Packing list included!
Room views from Papakea Resort - Maui, Hawaii
Travel planning tips for 4 full days (4 nights) safely and socially distant in Maui, Hawaii - 2021
This answer obviously has many variables including how many people, age range, and what level of entertainment or activities you want to plan. I’m going to share what Josh and I typically do on our annual trips, which is a mix of relaxation, fine dining, local food trucks, and some activities. 2020 hasn’t made it easy on the island for activities and dining, so here’s what you can expect if you’re booking for 2021.
See more details from our WFH (work from Hawaii) trip in October 2020 with dining and social distant activity recommendations.
Travel and Lodging Expenses
Getting to Maui can be a challenge. Right now, you MUST receive a negative COVID test from a trusted travel partner BEFORE you board the plane to Hawaii. Airlines will vary in price depending on where you’re coming from, these are direct LAX-OGG (Kahului, Maui) flights.
COVID-19 Test: $150 (average price per person)
Airline Ticket - United LAX-OGG roundtrip: $345 each
Extra Legroom: $65 each
Checked Baggage: $30 (average price)
Total for air travel for the 2 of us: $1120
How to Save on Flights:
Use points! Chase Sapphire Card offers 1 to 1 points for miles on most airlines. Alaska Airlines Credit Cards also has a good companion pass offer, to purchase one ticket and your companion flies for $150.
Pack light! We didn’t end up checking our bags and brought two carry-ons instead. Don’t forget these PACKING ESSENTIALS
Where to Stay and How to Get Around
Car Rental (Jeep Wrangler): $375 for 5 days (including travel days)
You pretty much need a rental car since the island is so spread out. Uber is available, but not ideal for stops and getting around.
Condo Rental (tax and cleaning fee included): $170 night plus taxes and cleaning fee - $1020 for a 1 bedroom for 4 nights. $17 resort fee includes parking and WiFi
There are a variety of places to stay in Maui from 3-star to 5-star hotels or some sort of Airbnb/VRBO/vacation rental.
Total Travel and Lodging for 2 adults for 4 nights: $2545
Itinerary, Activities, and Food for 4 Days in Maui
There are SOO many ways to spend your days in Maui! We stay on LA time, so we typically go to bed around 9p and are up by 6a! Here’s how we spent the first 4 full days safely and socially distant as much as possible in Maui:
Day 1
7:00am: Uber to the airport $35
8:00am: Water at the airport - 2 large Dasani $7.78
8:30am: United flight departs LAX for Maui (OGG)
11:30am: Arrive in Maui; Pick-up Rental Car
12:30pm: Pick-up lunch from Tin Roof and eat along the beach
Tin Roof: 360 Papa Pl Ste 116, Kahului, HI 96732 Order ahead on website
Pork belly plate, chicken plate, babinga cake = $40
Beach: Papalaua Wayside Park Beach: 22 Honoapiilani Hwy, Wailuku, HI 96793 - Free parking along the beach
3:00pm: Check-in to hotel/condo
4:00pm: Grab snacks at Times Market- prosciutto, cheese, crackers, drinks - $35.18
5:30pm: Scuba dive - twilight and night dive with Extended Horizons $189/person with taxes $427.90 + $40 tip
We did a twilight and night dive with Dave at Black Rock and saw a ton of fish, lobsters, turtles, nudibranchs, and even a shark!
8:00pm: Eat leftover Tinroof for dinner
Total Day 1: $ 585.86
Related Post: Best Restaurants in Maui, Hawaii
Merriman’s Mai Tai
Day 2
7:00am: Breakfast at Java Jazz breakfast to go and eat at Honolua Bay overlook
Address: 3350 Lower Honoapiilani Rd, Lahaina, HI 96761
Call ahead to order - (808) 667-0787
Omelette with potatoes and bread, pancakes and bacon, juice = $38.55 +tip $45
8:30am: Hike Waihee Ridge Hiking Trail
Address: Kahekili Hwy, Wailuku, HI 96793
Drive along north shore to the trailhead. Parking is free but get there early for a good spot. The view stays pretty much the same as you hike up, you just are higher in elevation. It was a nice sunny hike that took us about 2 hours round trip, over 2 miles, and almost 1500 ft in elevation per my Apple Watch. Lots of parking, easy in and out, and porta-potties.
PACK: Drinking water, snacks, towels, hiking shoes
1:00pm: Pick-up lunch from Aloha Braised Food Truck on the way back from the hike!
Address: 58 Kupuohi St, Lahaina, HI 96761 *Only open on weekdays.
Get Volcano chicken plate and fries to share (since we’re having an early dinner) = $20
1:45pm: RELAX - swim in ocean/pool, read a book
4:30pm: Merriman's Kapalua dinner at sunset (check times for sunset and arrive an hour before)
Address: 1 Bay Club Pl, Lahaina, HI 96761
First come, first served. Get in line at 4:30p to get a table to watch the sunset or book a reservation ahead of time for their pre-fix menu in the open-air dining room. GET A MAI TAI!
Drinks, steaks, and dessert for 2 adults = $130
Total Day 2: $ 195.00
For just $3 get our Budget and Itinerary Template to plan your own Maui trip! Sample and packing list included!
Day 3
7:00am: Pick-up breakfast at The Bakery Lahaina $25
Address: 991 Limahana Pl, Lahaina, HI 96761
Just opened! Grab some donuts and pastries!
7:15am: Stop and get gas! There aren’t a lot of gas stations along the Road to Hana so fill up before you go. $30
8:00am: Drive along the ROAD TO HANA!
This is a FULL day activity! There are many options to choose from! See our post and try our Complete Road to Hana Guide for tips on the best stops, parking, food, lodging, and more! COMPLETE ROAD TO HANA GUIDE $7
Free to drive, but parking and some activities have costs. For two people, I’d budget approx $60 for parking, snack stops, and activities.
1:00pm: Stop for lunch in Hana Town, we like the food trucks, especially the burrito and shave ice trucks = $35
2:00pm: Continue along the Road to Hana Head back before it gets dark as the road isn't lit well at night.
7:00pm: Pick-up Dinner from Maui Brew Co
Address: 4405 HI-30 Ste 217, Lahaina, HI 96761
After a long day, you might want to call and order some food and brews to go to eat back at the room!
Chicken wings, nachos with pulled pork, 3 32 oz beers $65 + tip
Total Day 3: $ 250.00
For just $3 get our Budget and Itinerary Template to plan your own Maui trip! Sample and packing list included!
Kaanapali Beach by the Hyatt - Maui, Hawaii
Day 4
8:00am: Pick-up breakfast at Island Press Coffee
Address: 2580 Kekaa Dr STE 104, Lahaina, HI 96761
You can’t go wrong with an egg, cheese, and bacon croissant along with a Mac nut latte! They also have other croissant variations as well as other pastries (try the crumb cake). Take to eat on Kaanapali Beach!
9:00am: Snorkel Black Rock
Address: 2605 Kaanapali Pkwy, Lahaina, HI 96761
Located in front of the Sheraton Resort, you can find turtles, sharks, octopuses, beautiful tropical fish along the reef on Black Rock. To be safe these days, you might want to bring your own. Buy a snorkel set on Amazon and send it to the hotel! Approx $45 per snorkel set = $90
1:30pm: Freshen up and have prosciutto, cheese, and crackers purchased from the market
1:45pm: Relax - swim in ocean/pool, read a book
5:30pm: Dinner at Sale Pepe (Best Italian food and pizza on Maui)
Address: 878 Front St #7,8, Lahaina, HI 96761
Order ahead online. We ordered 2 pizzas and a pasta dish and got 3 meals out of it for the 2 of us. Our favorite pizza was the Tomato, Fior di Latte, Red Onion, Pecorino, Maui Cattle Co. Meatballs Pizza = $62 (tip included)
Total Day 4: $ 182.00
Kaanapali Beach at Sunset - Maui, Hawaii
Travel Day
Depending on what time your flight leaves, you might have time for ONE more activity! Here’s a suggestion:
8:00am: Hawaiian Village Coffee
Address: 4405 HI-30, Lahaina, HI 96761
Pick-up coffee and some to-go breakfast foods = $30
8:30am: Quick Hike or Snorkel around Kapalua Bay
Address: Kapalua Coastal Trail, Lahaina, HI 96761
We're always so sad to leave but try and get one last hurrah in before our flight!
11:30am: Pick-up tacos for lunch at TaquerEATa Food Truck
Address: 737 Waine'e St, Lahaina, HI 96761
I had the chicken fajita which was amazing! We also made a few build your own breakfast tacos with a combination of egg, cheese, bacon, and pork! There are lots of salsa options from mild to hot to complete your perfect taco. Total for 4 hearty tacos = $21.65. We took them to eat at a park along the beach!
11:35am: Get gas in the rental car while waiting for your tacos! $30 to fill up the tank.
2:30pm United flight departs Maui (OGG) for LAX
Pick-up food or snacks for flight; Charge electronics; Download movies to iPad
Total Travel Day: $ 82.00
Total for Trip for 2 (4 nights, 5 days): $3,839.86
For just $3 get our Budget and Itinerary Template to plan your own Maui trip! Sample and packing list included!
Still too expensive? Here are a few ways to save while in Maui:
Buy food, coffee, and beverages at the supermarket to make your own meals. Having a full kitchen at a condo is a plus!
Don’t rent a Jeep Wrangler - we love it, but it’s on the higher end for rentals. You’ll probably save on gas too!
Don’t check bags and don’t pay for extra legroom. Airline credit cards might give you benefits such as free bags or use points for the extra legroom upgrade.
Check out what your condo rental has - boogie boards, surfboards, snorkel gear, beach chairs, etc. They might even offer tennis, shuffleboard, cornhole, and other free resort activities.
Go for 3 nights, take the first flight in the morning for arrival into Maui, and a red-eye home! This gives you about 4 days and 3 nights, but that all depends on your flights, of course!
Please note this is not a sponsored post and based on my own personal experience, all thoughts are my own.
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