The Rough Guide to Maui (Maui (Mini Rough Guides),1999) [Audiobook] [Paperback]

Greg Ward (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1999 | Series: Maui (Mini Rough Guides),1999

A pocket guide to one of Hawaii's most popular vacation destinations, this text features insiders' reviews of resorts and hotels, inns and restaturants, and gives the low-down on the sun, sea and surf, plus activities from snorkel cruises to helicopter flights.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Greg Ward has written for Rough Guides since 1985. He is author of RoughGuides to  Hawaii, The Grand Canyon, Brittany & Normandy, Las Vegas Directions and Maui Directions. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Climate and when to go

Although Maui's high season for tourism is mid-December to March, when room rates rise by perhaps $20 per night, its climate remains pretty constant year-round.

Throughout the year, sea-level thermometers rarely drop below the low seventies Fahrenheit (around 22¡C) in the daytime, or climb beyond the low eighties (around 28¡C); at night the temperature seldom falls below the low sixties. The only reason to bring warm clothing is if you plan to drive up to the summit of Haleakala; at dawn, the most popular time to visit, temperatures regularly drop below freezing point. In principle the rainiest months are from December to February, but where you are on the island makes far more difference than what time of year it is, and the main leeward tourist areas seldom receive more than the occasional light shower even then. The highest peak, in the West Maui Mountains - a place you almost certainly will never glimpse, let alone visit - is deluged by over 400 inches of rain per year, but all the coastal resorts, including Ka'anapali, barely five miles away, get less than twenty inches.

The only seasonal variation of any great significance for tourists is the state of the ocean. Along protected stretches of the shoreline, you can expect to be able to swim all year round in beautiful seas where the water temperature varies from 75¡F to 82¡F (24-28¡C). Between October and April, however, high surf can render unsheltered beaches dangerous in the extreme, and some beaches even lose their sand altogether. Conditions on specific beaches are indicated throughout this book; see also the "Sea Sports and Safety" section on p.39. Other factors that might influence the timing of your visit include the annual sojourn of migratory humpback whales in the offshore waters, between late November and late March; the peak season for the flowering trees along the Hana Highway, in June; the blossoming of the extraordinary silversword plants of Haleakala in July and August; and the island's various annual festivals - detailed on p.37.

Despite the much-publicized onslaught of Hurricane Iniki on Kauai in September 1992, hurricanes are very rare. Similarly, tsunamis (often erroneously called tidal waves) hit perhaps once every fifty years, generally as a result of earthquakes or landslides caused by volcanic eruptions. Civil defense procedures are adopted in such events and are posted widely throughout the island.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Rough Guides (March 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1858284015
• ISBN-13: 978-1858284019
• Product Dimensions: 5.7 x 4.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,354,775 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

My latest book, the Rough Guide to the Titanic, is a definitive guide to the most famous maritime disaster in history.

Read about it on my blog, blogtanic.wordpress.com, and website, roughguidetitanic.com.

For Rough Guides, I've written fourteen travel, history and music books as sole author, and shared authorship on several more.

My photographs have been published in my own titles, and also in magazines, newspapers and other books.

As an editor, I've been responsible for many titles in the Rough Guides series, including commissioning the original guides to India and the USA, and editing the guides to Elvis, Soul and Conspiracy Theories.

I also do freelance writing and editing for other publishers, including various websites and online publications.

Please contact me if you'd like to invite me to talk about the Titanic, to commission me as a writer or editor, or to license my photos, or you have any questions about my books, apps or other work.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Accurate, Up-to-date, Compact, and Fun, Highly Recommended, March 27, 2000

By 

Amrit Tiwana "www.bus.iastate.edu/tiwana" (Decatur, Georgia, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Rough Guide to Maui (Maui (Mini Rough Guides),1999) (Paperback)

I went through many books on Maui before I picked this one up. Lucky me! This turned out to be the best ten bucks invested in my trip to Hawaii. This book is small enough to carry in your pocket, yet is chock full of detail. I was impressed when I took a trip to the southern edge of Maui solely relying on this book. Every shop, corner, and area of Maui matches the description in this book. It is very accurate and upto date. The tips included by the authors were very helpful. When we wanted to mail coconuts from Maui and were really lost, this book helped. A few hints for Maui travelers: some USPS offices in Maui have officers dressed in Hawaiian attire, so do not be confused and doubt if it really is a post office guy when you see him dressed like a Hawaiian beach bum! If you go to the southern edge of the island, you can actually buy coconuts at the post office and mail 'em too. Permanent markers that you use to address coconuts are awfully hard to find, so pack a Sharpie with your stuff! Overall, if there is just one travel guide you'd buy, pick this one. The book's binding is very good, and it held up after all the beating around and abuse that was showered on my copy. Don't let the small size fool you--this one is very detailed, and more importantly, very accurate (verified by us in Jan 2000). Highly recommended.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Helped me make the most of my trip., November 19, 2000

By 

Timothy Shell (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Rough Guide to Maui (Maui (Mini Rough Guides),1999) (Paperback)

This little book really helped me get the most out of my Maui trip. It's restaurant and activity recommendations were right on the mark. It gives you a great overview without being overwhelming.

4.0 out of 5 stars Awesome book. Must have, April 19, 2011

By 

Matthew (Newville, Panama) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Rough Guide to Maui 2 (Rough Guide Mini Guides) (Paperback)

These books are very handy. I totally reccomend it. It lead us to some very awesome things to do that we normally would not have found on our own.