Aloha Fellow Wanderers,
My wife and I will be on our first Rick Steeves Tour in April, 2025 which starts in Palermo. Will be arriving several days early so looking for advice on restaurants, accommodations and any other bits of wisdom from the group.
Thanks in advance.
Steve P
Posted by
OP
Maui, Hawaii
5 posts
Not sure of our exact itinerary yet. Just booked the tour and waiting for more info from RS. Tour starts 4/15 in Palermo.
Posted by
OP
Maui, Hawaii
5 posts
Thanks for the info.
Posted by
Sidney, BC, Canada
962 posts
You could try and make a reservation at the same hotel that RS is using - you should get the info with your booking confirmation. It saves having to pack up and change hotels and hopefully you will not have to change rooms. Just tell the hotel you are on the RS tour arriving on such and such a date. You may get a bit of a break on the price. If the first hotel info doesn’t come with your confirmation, contact the office to get it, explaining you will be arriving a few days early.
Posted by
OP
Maui, Hawaii
5 posts
Thanks for the tip.
Posted by
Idaho, USA
7690 posts
Hi,
I stayed in Palermo five nights in May and had a wonderful time! The link below has my details. I really liked the hotel where I stayed - wonderful room, very clean, excellent location, and I met a couple at breakfast who were staying there pre-RS tour.
Posted by
Idaho, USA
7690 posts
Also, how are you doing now in Maui? We were so sad to hear about the fire at such a beautiful vacation area! I see on your profile that you were a firefighter.
Posted by
OP
Maui, Hawaii
5 posts
Due to the many negative factors currently surrounding Maui, visitor numbers are down noticeably during a peak season time. Very little traffic on the roads and the beaches are uncrowded. From a long time residents perspective the island is in a sad decline. So many restaurants have closed along with many small mom/pop businesses. The once thriving Maui food scene has evolved into food trucks and parking lot clusters of trucks with picnic tables and plastic wear. Lahaina was the main tourist center of Maui and with that now gone forever, the island will never be the same. Looming is the promised re zoning of 6,000 rental vacation condos on the west side (Lahaina) in an attempt to "solve" the housing crises. Condo sales across Maui have completely bottomed out with current owners very nervous.
Maui is still one of the most beautiful places on earth with ideal weather so we are here for the long run. The future is very uncertain though.
Aloha