If you’ve never been someone who loves the cold and snow that typically shows up around the holidays, planning a last-minute Christmas vacation to Maui this year could be exactly the right choice! Here, you can leave stress behind and swap out that winter parka for sunscreen and sunglasses instead. With your toes dug in the sand, you’ll still find a festive vibe to enjoy on the island, and whether you’re traveling solo or with family and friends, it’s a holiday destination you won’t soon forget.
Maui is an Outdoor Enthusiast’s Dream Come True at Christmastime
It’s fair to say that Maui is a picture-perfect place to find yourself on a last-minute vacation at Christmas if you have a heart for sunshine, sand, and surf. Here, the month of December is typically marked by daytime highs in the 70s and 80s. This makes it refreshingly easy to spend every afternoon out and about exploring. Even the ocean remains warm enough for snorkeling and swimming, and the beaches are certainly open for afternoons of sunbathing as well.
If you’re someone with a passion for wildlife, you’ll be thrilled to find that your last-minute getaway puts you in Maui right at the start of whale watching season. That means you have options to pair your holiday fun with a tour that takes you out to see humpback whales moving through the waters on their migratory routes. When it’s leisurely island vibes you’re after this year, you’ll always find them here, starting the moment you arrive on your impromptu getaway.
Savor the Holiday Experience
While a last-minute trip to Maui at Christmas might not leave you a lot of time to make reservations at all the top eateries, there are still plenty of great places to treat yourself to a delicious moment while you’re here.
When you’re looking for a place where you can easily pair casual dining, shopping, and entertainment this time of year, The Shops at Wailea has you covered. This inviting shopping and dining complex hosts a variety of easy-to-access restaurants on-site, including Tommy Bahama Restaurants, Lineage, and Longhi’s, just to name a few. The surrounding live entertainment this time of year often makes a meal even more meaningful, and dinner can always be followed up with time picking up last-minute gifts on your list as well.
Another terrific place to consider checking out when cravings come calling during your last-minute getaway to Maui at Christmas is the Hali-imaile General Store. Located upcountry near Makawao, the Hali-imaile General Store serves up traditional and locally sourced Hawaiian cuisine daily between 11:00 am and 8:00 pm. You don’t need a reservation to enjoy a meal here, and it’s a place that’s loved by visitors and locals alike.
Make Room on the Agenda for Christmas Shopping
The beauty of planning a last-minute Christmas vacation to Maui is that you won’t have to worry about snow impeding your travel plans, and you won’t have to worry about fitting gifts into your suitcase either. That’s because Maui is filled with fantastic places to invest in one-of-a-kind holiday gifts once you arrive. That frees up your bags for souvenirs and gives you the peace of mind you deserve this holiday season.
Once you get here, we would recommend making your way to the Hui No’eau Visual Arts Center. This is where you can explore the on-site galleries and history rooms, but also browse the handcrafted wares on display at The Gallery Shop. Throughout, you’ll find skillfully crafted goods from local artisans that make for amazing holiday gifts, and help support the artistic community across Maui, too.
Holiday Events to Enjoy
Your trip to Maui this Christmas might be last-minute, but that doesn’t mean it has to be without any of the traditional holiday fun you love during this season of the year. If you head to Polo Beach in Wailea on Christmas Eve, you’ll be right on time to see Santa and Mrs. Claus arriving at the shoreline in a traditional outrigger canoe. It’s a family-friendly event that’s one-of-a-kind, and pairs island heritage with holiday fun for everyone.
Over at The Shops at Wailea, there are also opportunities to participate in lei-making classes or take ukulele lessons over the holidays. Attending the Fairmont Kea Lani Tree Lighting event is always an experience to remember, thanks to the more than 20,000 holiday lights on display, fantastic food, and hula performances to enjoy. From the annual Jingle Rock Run on Maui to the Christmas day luaus on Wailea Beach, there’s always something wonderful to look forward to this time of year.
Book Your Vacation to Maui Today
No matter when your travels bring you to Maui, the team at Maui Life Vacations has the home-away-from-home you need to top off your island stay in style. Reach out to our team today to learn more about our inviting last-minute Maui vacation rentals available for a Christmas stay, as well as our beautiful properties to book year-round. We can’t wait to see you here soon!
