Shirt: J.Crew perfect tee – size XXS (buy here in several colors)
Skirt: H&M {recent} – (similar here and here)
Hubby and I were really looking forward to our vacation to Maui since we missed out going anywhere last year. We usually like to take at least one major vacation each year. This year we are planning on making up for it and going on two! We stayed at a resort in Wailea . The hotel was extremely crowded and the resort was not what I had hoped for. The service was lacking and you would think for this caliber of a hotel, you would get decent service. I was thoroughly disappointed. For the price I paid, it was not worth it. We would have been better off at the Four Seasons which is where we spent most of our time.
When I go on vacation, I like to get away from everything. I don’t like crowds or busy touristy areas. I like to relax and do nothing. It was really hard to do that where we stayed. I was hoping to get the “Hawaiian” feel with the language and people but I hardly heard Aloha or Mahalo. I love hearing and seeing different cultures but all I heard was English! I know we are still in the United States but still…I was expecting a tiny slice of the beautiful and exotic Hawaiian culture.
It was the first time I traveled with only carry on luggage! I actually managed to do it for 10 days. I had to carefully plan each outfit and shoes to maximize my tiny suitcase (more on that later).
It was also the first time I traveled with a DSLR, tripod and remote. I had a bad experience the last time someone else took a picture with my cheap point and shoot in Mexico, the lady was drunk and dropped my camera face down on the marble floors. Bless her heart for offering to take a picture but that was a major bummer that my camera broke at the beginning of my trip. So every since then, hubby and I have tried the “set the camera on the table and attempt to use the self-timer” technique which doesn’t seem to work very well. This time, I wanted to make sure we were able to get pictures of us together without worrying.
There was so much to do and see and to be honest, hubby and I didn’t want to do any of it. We mainly wanted to be noodles on the beach but it was difficult to relax because of the crowds. No matter where we went, it was just insane. We did manage to find a private little cove that is a popular wedding spot. I got to witness several weddings which was a treat.
We loved this place so much, we went back a couple of times. Everything is made fresh and the french fries were the best I have ever eaten.
I was looking forward to this post – of all your vacation pics!
What a beautiful, magical place. 🙂
xoxo
http://natashafatah.com
I vacationed in Maui this past October/November and I didn't think it was too crowded at all. The weather was gorgeous and it was incredibly relaxing for me. I stayed at a resort in Wailea also (but from your pics it looks like I stayed at a different one). I'm really not sure, but the only thing I can think of is that maybe the time of year made a difference. Hopefully your next vacation will make up for this one 😉
LOVE your Maui post! FI and I are getting married there this Sept. and we absolutely cannot wait!
LOVE your post on Maui! FI and I are getting married there in Sept. and we absolutely cannot wait!
When I was a senior in high school, my best friend & I went to Maui for a week with her parents and we stayed in this same resort! I recognized it instantly from your pictures…sad to hear it wasn't what you wanted, but hopefully you still got to relax and have a good time! 🙂
Oh no…I wish you had written to me. There are some experiences on Maui that you may have enjoyed if you wanted something that gave you more insight into the Hawaiian culture. Also, Hawaii is not just made up of Hawaiians, it is really a mixed plate of Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Filipino, Portuguese, Puerto Rican, just to name a few. We don't all walk around speaking Hawaiian (except at special Hawaiian immersion schools) but Aloha and Mahalo are definitely words I write on a daily basis. But not many speak it regularly. There is also a definite "local" culture which is a blend of all the different ethnicities and events that would have given you more insight into Hawaii. Hana is a place that is still very untouched and has a large percentage of people with Hawaiian blood but there isn't much to do there but it is beautiful and there are a few small hotels in Hana, certain times of the year they have an outdoor event with lei making, Hawaiian live music, a farmers market and hula dancing and the event is not geared toward tourists, it is very local style. There are many farm tours which are done quite well where you can see some of the local practices for taro farming and upcountry Maui is gorgeous. For less crowded beaches, I would've recommended Kauai or Lanai. The beaches in Wailea to me are not as crowded as they appear but the resorts put all the chairs out on their beach for their guests (which they are not allowed to do I might add, it prevents local access). It makes me angry and I think it takes away from the beauty to see a beach I grew up going to filled with chairs and umbrellas (I live on the mountain directly above Wailea, the area above that main highway right before you get to the end and turn down to head The Shops at Wailea). If you ever do come back, do not, I repeat do not go to Honolulu because if you thought Maui was crowded, Honolulu is a 100x more so.
Amazing necklace! regards
Ah! When we were in Maui, it was all about culture and aloha and Mahalo for us. Im surprised you didnt get to see much of their culture as they use those as their selling points! And it wasnt crowded too.. so that made it perfect for us.
Sorry to hear that the resort was not what you had expected and the beaches were too crowded, but you should be glad you got to spend much needed break with your husband. The scenery is simply breathtaking. The lastvery place ilooks want toto visit is Honolulu. Our trip to Hawaii is coming up in a few months and we will be going to Kauai, it is supposed to be very beautiful and less touristy. Cant wait.
love the skirt! lace is a big trend this season and i love it!
xoxo
Mady
thegirlfromthemirror.blogspot.com
Ahhh beautiful pictures Annie! I've never been to Maui, would love to go one day 🙂 Sorry it wasn't all you expected but it does look like you still had a great time 🙂
Your pictures are beautiful. Fresh fruit & waffles yum! I hope your next vacation becomes everything you hoped for.
http://ohtheendlesspossibilities.blogspot.com/
Maui is so beautiful! Alas, I have never been to Hawaii but I would love to visit *some day*
I love the first pic. You look like a celebrity 😀
Hi Annie,
I enjoyed your pics from Hawaii – so colourful and gorgeous! The resort my family and I like is in the Kihei part of Maui, on Kamaole beach 2. It is a small condo, right on the beach, and although it is not anywhere near as fancy as where you stayed, it is very quiet and relaxing. I think also, this time of year is very busy there, and it depends on where you stay. I still really love Maui, but perhaps one of the lesser known islands might be better for you next time. I absolutely loved your Bali pics from two years ago!
Did you stay at the Grand Wailea? My BF stayed there once during a business trip. He said it was nice but definitely not worth the price! He thought the water elevator was cool. Even though I was born & raised in Hawaii, I haven't been to Maui before. If I ever do go, I really want to stay at the Four Seasons. As someone already said, I think Kauai or Lanai would be better options if you want more culture.
Yes, was just there in April for a few weeks. We went to the beaches in Wailea for better surfing although our family definitely enjoyed the Kihei vibe. Lahaina and Paia were fun excursions but to each his own, right? I would suggest Kauai next time for more solitude.
Love how that necklace looks against the same-coloured shirt. : )
great landscape, i really love this photos!
xx
Beautiful photos! I love your lace skirt and belt! Very cute.
http://fiveminutefashions.blogspot.com/
I've never been to Hawaii but woulda thought that Maui was less busy than the other islands. Sorry you didn't quite enjoy it as you thought! Such a bummer! Nevertheless, you looked fab on vacay!!!! Those fish tacos look scrumptious! Can't wait to see more self-timered shots!
so i was telling this lady in a food truck in wailea that i thought it was pretty touristy around this part of the island. she asked me, "where are you staying at? " i said, "near lahaina." she said, "oh bc we think it's touristy up there." how odd. When i did go to makena, there were a lot of ppl. i'm really surprised it was voted best beach not so long ago. i thought it was a nice beach, but it was choppy and hardly anyone was in the water. i guess i was looking for more like calm bays & coves.
omg, when we went to black rock, which is a snorkeling spot right in front of the sheraton, u couldn't imagine the crowds!!! people everywhere! i dont mind the crowds as much as you do, but it was BS i thought bc u had to be guests of the hotels along that coastline or be a patron of the mall to find any parking remotely close to there. luckily there was a hidden parking lot w/only like 10 spots. we were lucky to find someone leaving.
overall, i actually didn't enjoy maui too much. the Big Island still is my favorite. like i said via twitter, i will one day make it to the french polynesian isl.
The pics are gorgeous! We just got back from Oahu a couple of days ago since we got married in Hawaii. We have never gone to Maui before, but your pics are spectacular. Very similar "paradise" views in Oahu. Gorgeous.. I hope that I'll be able to someday move to Hawaii.
Your pics are amazing! We just got back from Oahu a couple of days ago… got married there and pics do not do Hawaii justice… seriously Hawaii is such a pretty place… it makes you feel like your in a "bubble" because it looks so unrealistic, almost like your in a painting. We are thinking of visiting Maui on our "next" vacay… from those pics I definitely want to visit each island! Just gorgeous!
Whenever the fabric ruches near the top, it gives off the feeling that the top is too snug. I actually like the skirt, but top just has to go.
Hi Annie! If you were looking for a more “Hawaiian” experience, I probably wouldn’t have stayed in Wailea or Lahaina–those places are notoriously FILLED with tourists! If you truly want to get away from everything the next time you visit Hawaii, I recommend you visit Kauai or even the Big Island (also called Hawaii) instead. Less crowded, less tourists, more authentic experience. But even then, you won’t find everyone speaking the Hawaiian language fluently. English was used well before Hawaii even became a state. (It was the British who discovered the Hawaiian islands in the 1700s.) But if you get the chance to converse with a local, he/she may sprinkle a few Hawaiian words (and Japanese, and Chinese, and Filipino, and Portuguese words, etc.) in there…after all, Hawaii is a melting pot of a lot of cultures, not just Hawaiian.
Take it from someone who was born & raised in Hawaii. 🙂
Thanks Caroline! Wish I would have talked to you before going 🙁
http://www.StylishPetite.com
These are genuinely enormous ideas in concerning blogging.
You have touched some pleasant points here. Any way keep up wrinting.
Right here is the right webpage for everyone who hopes to understand
this topic. You understand so much its almost hard to argue with you (not that I
personally will need to…HaHa). You certainly
put a fresh spin on a topic that’s been discussed for many years.
Wonderful stuff, just great!
I have read so many posts regarding the blogger lovers except this piece of
writing is genuinely a good post, keep it up.
Amoxicillin Cat Reaction To [url=http://buyciali.com]cialis 5 mg[/url] Precio Levitra Farmacia Amoxicillin Resistance Children Tonsillar Infection
Buy Accutane Mastercard Keflex And Holy Basil Cialis Receta Medica [url=http://catabs.com]priligy 60 mg costo[/url] Viagra Achat Net
Competencia De Kamagra [url=http://drugslr.com]generic cialis[/url] Women’S Viagra For Sale
Propecia Mercafutbol Viagra Rezept Apotheke [url=http://curerxfor.com]viagra[/url] Potenzmittel Viagra Levitra Priligy De L’Inde Levitra Suisse
Cialis Alcolici Keflex Medicine Cialis Sovradosaggio [url=http://buycheapcial.com]cialis 5 mg[/url] Sildenafil Tab 100mg Amoxicillin Contradictions
Levitra Se Vende Sin Receta [url=http://cialislis.com]cialis generic[/url] Cheapest Generic Levitra Keflex Generic
Tadalafil Without Perscription Hydrochlorothiazide 25 Mg Jelly Kamagra [url=http://cialislis.com]cialis without prescription[/url] Best Place To Buy Viagra Online Buying Antibiotics Online Zithromax Discount Coupons
Levetra From Canada [url=http://brandciali.com]cialis 20mg for sale[/url] Best Place Buy Strattera Atomoxetine
amazing !! very glad to see this