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For many good reasons the Hawaiians say "Maui no ka oi," which means Maui is the best. Ranked annually in traveler polls as the best island in the world, Maui captivates everyone. A trip to Maui is a vacation you will want to repeat time and time again. Maui is blessed with wonderful weather, mild tropical breezes and abundant sunshine year round.

An issue with many islands is how much "human involvement" has taken place. Sure, it's nice to see an island that is untouched, but then again, we all love our air conditioning and our fine dining. In my opinion, Maui has a great balance of development. There are enough hotels, condos and restaurants to suit every desire and budget but not yet so overdone as to interfere with the timeless beauty of the island. To say that Maui is paradise is an understatement; it gets under your skin in a good way, calling you time and again to its shores to once again repeat the adventures that thrilled you, to discover new ones, to seek out its beauty once again and to relax at one of its fine resorts returning home refreshed and renewed and glowing with the spirit of aloha.

You can choose from various locales to call home base, whether it is Kaanapali or Kapalua to the north, or Kihei, Wailea or Makena to the south, yet easily explore any other part of the island in a day or less. Must see sights include the 10,000 foot Haleakala National Park, the road to Hana and the Oheo Gulch through tropical rainforest and spectacular waterfalls, the gorgeous Iao Needle and the quirky town of Lahaina. Adventures abound on Maui including biking down from the volcano, horseback riding in the crater or on the beach, hiking along the coastline or through the rainforest, golfing the superb golf courses, swimming and snorkeling in the beautiful bays, surfing, scuba, windsurfing, parasailing and more.

During the winter and spring months, whale watching is a joy as mother whales give birth to babies and the whales in general are relaxed and often playful. Whale watching is available both on boat tours and even from the shore as the whales love to swim and play along Maui's coast, making Maui the number one choice for whale watching in Hawaii.

Maui has some of the best snorkeling in North America. Whether you are snorkeling in one of Maui's gorgeous bays, out at the crescent shaped crater of Molokini or at neighboring Lanai, you will be overwhelmed by the undersea beauty, the colorful tropical reef fish, the coral and, of course, the amazing green sea turtles.

There are numerous golf courses on Maui as well. Most resort areas have several courses to choose from. The guy's love the variety and beauty of the courses.

Eating on Maui is also an adventure with nationally acclaimed chefs creating mouth-watering dishes, utilizing the abundant fish found in local waters as well as fresh produce grown on the island. You can find a wide variety of restaurants here from the typical U.S. chains to very high end gourmet experiences. Shopping is also an adventure with locally made Hawaiian crafts and colorful aloha wear fun souvenirs.

The best reason to visit Maui is the spirit of aloha that you will feel while you are here and that you will bring home with you. This is a place to truly relax even while partaking in all the beauty and adventures around you. Spend some time relaxing on one of Maui's lovely beaches or at your hotel's swimming pool. Memories of your Maui vacation will make you smile, fill you with aloha, and eagerly plan your next visit! If you ever have been to Maui, you know that one trip simply isn't enough!

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ravel agents aren't going the way of the eight-track tape just yet. They are also increasingly expected to know about and be able to advise travelers about their destinations, such as the weather conditions, local ordinances and customs, attractions, and exhibitions.These agents are the critical connection between the customer and vendor of the service that the customer is wishing to book. Travel Agents are experts in helping tourist with how to move within the country, where to stay & what to do are are held to a high standard of care and are relied upon by consumers.

When traveling abroad to a new destination, having a travel agent who has actually been there is a huge plus. Face to face is still the best way to do business and it's sad that the Travel Agent is considered an obsolete commodity these days. I had an aunt and uncle who would tell their travel agent when they had a vacation coming up and the agent would find a great trip for them year after year.Some people are also inexperienced travelers and speaking/planning face to face with an expert would make them much less anxious.

Good travel agents focus on finding deals during nonpeak times, which is when you can score the cheapest rates and greatest selection. Because they book trips in volume and have longstanding relationships with travel providers, travel agents routinely get preferred rates and extra amenities that you and your favorite travel site will rarely match. Written off as dinosaurs not so long ago, agents are seeing a welcome bump in business, with the 2006 average weekly sales per agent location up 15% over the year before. Many agents have become a specialized bunch, some offering adrenaline-fueled adventure trips, others pricey safaris. Other agents go after even thinner slices of the travel pie, with specialties ranging from twins-only cruises to kosher dude ranches. Some agents charge anywhere from $150 to redeem a frequent-flier award to a $500 consulting fee for arranging customized trips. In the 1980s, agents were the gatekeepers of travel, booking nearly 80% of all airline tickets.

I am not defending all agents, as there isn’t a standard, or requirement to become an agent,(other than basic computer skills) therefore, there are many agents that just wanted to get out of the house. I guess my point is: Lower your expectations, as many agents don’t know much more than the general public, although they have access to the info. The same would be for a lawyer, a real estate agent, a hair dresser and I can go on and on. So why do people think you do not have to do your research or get a referral to find an excellent travel agent. There are MANY great travel agents out there and the value of having a good one is ten times better than booking on the internet.

Travel agents are agents of the travel providers, receiving commissions from the travel providers for sales they make. You will find travel agents are like doctors, accountants, book-keepers and any other service professional. They are in the business of selling advice and service, not commodity products. MOST travel agents are continually learning about destinations and suppliers; who to work with and who Not to work with.They are there, though, because they work for you. Whether times are good or not, these agents are your secret weapon, hiding in plain sight.

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