The holidays are a time for rejoicing with loved ones, indulging in your favorite meals and giving thanks for all the blessings in your life. It is a special time of year that deserves a special celebration. So why not take that celebration to Hawaii for a Maui family vacation in paradise!

If you are considering bringing your loved ones and flying to Hawaii for the holidays, then here are some airline travel tips and advice for getting the crew together and landing safe and sound so you can all enjoy some mai tais on the beach. Travel during the holidays can be stressful, so here’s everything you need to know about how to make the most out of your Hawaiian getaway experience.

Travel Light & Pack Smart
Do you really need 10 bottles of sunscreen for your holiday vacation to Maui? Probably not. Do your best to pack as light as you can so you don’t have to pay a lot in baggage fees. Make a list and consider what items you can purchase when you land instead of shipping them over. You’ll be glad you did.

Research the Best Place to Land
Plan ahead of time to make sure when you get to Hawaii, everything is set in place. Make sure you research the nearby airports too. Maui has two options- Kahului and Kapalua. It will save you a lot of time and hassle to research these locations and see what airport works best for you and which one comes with the best price. Also, keep in mind ubers don’t pick up at these locations so you should definitely look into renting a car.

Book Your Flight Early
This one is a no-brainer! It never hurts to book early and shop around so you can get the best deal possible on your flight. There are many online travel places that will compare prices. Even Google has an easy-to-use search with Google Flights. Just put in Maui, Hawaii if you want it to search prices on both airports. You can also monitor the lowest price for this trip, and receive price alerts and travel tips by email.

Note: Don’t forget, it’s also good to reserve your accommodations early too. We have some incredible Maui vacation rental deals that give you a hotel resort experience without the price tag! Plus, when you book direct, you don’t get all those additional, and sometimes hidden, booking fees those large travel sites have.

Avoid Peak Air Travel Times & Dates
You’ll be so happy you did. You do not want to be stuck in an airport with dozens of crying babies, excited toddlers, and stressed out parents trying to make their connection. On Thanksgiving, Wednesday is not the day to travel, so if you can book your flight a little bit before you’ll save yourself a lot of trouble. Christmas and New Year’s peak holiday travel dates change so plan ahead and double check your dates of travel so you can expect smooth sailing.

Treat Yourself & Upgrade
Have you always wanted to have a first class experience? Well, now may be your chance. Maui is a long ways away from a lot of places so it might be worth upgrading to first class so you can enjoy the extra leg space and comfortability during the long flight. You deserve it!

Those are some of our top tips for airline travel to Maui this holiday season. If you haven’t booked your stay in Maui then make sure to check out some of the vacation rentals we have featured. And, if you’re bringing the whole family, be sure to take a look at our 2 bedroom accommodations and 3 bedroom vacation rentals. We have plenty of great condos on Maui to choose from along the island’s south shore where all the great beaches and shopping can be found. Contact us with any questions you have and we hope you found these tips useful.