Technology has made it easier for people to travel these days. We rely on our smartphones for everything, from booking our flights to searching for the best vacation rentals.
If you’re in the process of planning a vacation to Maui, you might be wondering which Hawaii travel apps you will find useful for your trip. As you know, there are tons of travel apps out there. They are extremely useful, especially if you are traveling to The Valley Isle for the first time. These apps can help you navigate the island, search for the best restaurants, book Maui vacation rentals, and so much more!
Drops or Duolingo
While English is the main language spoken every day in Hawaii, you will hear some locals utter Hawaiian words and phrases when you visit Maui. It’s common to overhear local people conversing in a beautiful flowing Hawaiian language. Thus, the best way to connect with the locals is to learn a few Hawaiian words. Language apps like Drops and Duolingo are very useful when it comes to this. These apps can help you learn some basic Hawaiian words and phrases, allowing you to converse with the locals and immerse yourself in the local culture.
Uber or Lyft
Ride-hailing apps like Uber and Lyft are very useful when getting around Maui. Plus, they are much cheaper than using the local taxis. These apps will make it easier for you to travel around the island, especially when you first arrive at the airport, and you need to go to your vacation rental in Maui. They are easy to use as well. You just type in your pick-up location on the app, and the driver will come to pick you up in that exact place. There’s also an option to pay with your card, which comes in handy when you first arrive in Maui and don’t have cash available just yet.
Hawaii Revealed
Hawaii Revealed is an award-winning guidebook available in the app format. It’s renowned for its “no-bullshit” approach to expressing anonymous reviews on everything in Hawaii, from restaurants to beaches, resorts, and more. The app includes a concise summary of resorts and hotels in Hawaii and how far these places are from the beach. It will also reveal whether a certain hotel has a pool or other amenities.
Yelp
When going out to eat in Maui, you can rely on the Yelp app to help you find the best restaurants. Users of the app will leave helpful reviews of the restaurants giving you an idea of which restaurants are really good. The app will also help you search for any restaurants near your accommodation. For instance, if you are staying at a vacation rental in Wailea, you can refer to the app and look for highly-rated restaurants in Wailea. It also provides a copy of the menu, so you know what to order.
Tip Calculator
You’ll find that tipping in Maui is expected in most establishments, especially when dining at restaurants. In fact, many restaurants on the island pay their employees less with the expectation that tipping from guests will make up the difference. So, keep in mind that the tip you will give to waiters will be a major part of their income. To help you compute how much to tip, download the Tip Calculator. This app will calculate how much you are supposed to tip. The standard practice for tipping in Hawaii is 10 to 20 percent, depending on how satisfied you are with the service.
Instacart
Most of the vacation rentals in Maui come with a kitchen. So, if you don’t feel like going out to eat, download Instacart and have some groceries delivered. That way, you can prepare your own meals and not have to go out to eat. Instacart will connect you to personal shoppers who can pick up groceries from supermarkets near you. You can schedule the delivery for the same day, or even six days in advance!
KHON2 WX – Radar & Forecasts
The weather in Maui can be quite unpredictable due to the tropical climate. Therefore, consider downloading the KHON2 WX weather app. It provides fast and accurate local weather updates. This app is famous for being one of Hawaii’s most precise hour-by-hour weather forecasts for the next day and the coming weeks ahead. It’s so easy to use, too! To change from Fahrenheit to Celsius, simply hit the top right arrow at the Radar/Weather section. The best part is that this app is free to use!
Open Table
Open Table is a very useful app for making dinner reservations in Maui, especially in the Lahaina and Wailea areas. The app lists down some of the best restaurants in these areas, allowing you to make reservations with just the tip of your fingers. It will reveal all the best restaurants near you. For instance, if you are staying at one of the condos in Wailea, it will search all the restaurants in that area. You can browse the list and choose which restaurants you can book for dinner. Take note that bar seats are always available for walk-ins and on a first-come, first-serve basis. The app will also allow you to cancel or change your reservations as you wish, so it’s very convenient.
Shaka Guide
Shaka Guide is an app that will serve as your local tour guide in Maui if you are traveling by car. The app features GPS location-based audio tours and will provide you with directions to some of Maui’s most famous attractions. Shaka Guide is a self-driving tour guide, allowing you to explore Maui at your own pace. It’s a great app to use to discover the island’s best spots by car and stop whenever you can. The app will also share interesting stories, history, and facts about Maui during your journey. If you plan on driving the famous Road to Hana, the Shaka Guide will be the best app to use as your guide.
So there are the current best Hawaii travel apps for your Maui vacation! We hope you find them as useful as we do. Mahalo! Aloha! And have a wonderful time on The Valley Isle! If you’re looking for more information on traveling to Maui, be sure to check out our other blog posts. We cover everything from where to stay and what to do, to the best places to eat and drink. And if you still have questions after reading our blog posts, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Our team of experts is happy to help make your Maui vacation perfect in every way!
