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Road to Hana tour question again

gstepic

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I have been looking on-line for tours and they pretty much all now go all the way around the southern tip of Maui because of the road being open. Last year we drove about halfway and came back and drove up to the volcano because we only had three days and could do only so much.

This year we want to relax and take the tour. Nearly all go clockwise but there is one that goes in a counterclockwise direction. My intincts are saying going counterclockwise will not be best for photos since much of what I will be seeing will be in shadows. My wallet likes the counterclockwise tour because it is about $20 bucks cheaper per person.

Has anyone ever taken a road to Hana tour that starts on the west side of the island going south and then comes back on the east side of the island? The more I am thinking about this the more I think I need to forget about saving the money because there is a reason why nearly all the tours start off on the east side of the island.

Gary


update: the more I think about it the more I will rule out the couterclockwise tour as the time of the day makes a huge difference in photos and it would be a waste to be in such scenic places during the wrong times of the day. I think we will go with Valley Isle Excussions.
 
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Harry

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Cousin Marty

One of the big tours has a guide who calls herself Counsin Marty. She is great and all the tour booking people know her. She is somewhat of a legend.
She is a native of Hana, one of 23 kids, educated at CAL, and knows just about everybody who was born and raised on the island. That was one of the best tours we have ever had. I am not sure if they go counterclock or not, and you are correct about the light.
 

gstepic

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I understand how important a good tour guide is

So far we really have not had a bad tour guide which means we probably are a little spoiled. Of course we really have not been on that many tours come to think of it.

About 6 or 7 years ago we went on our first trip ever to Hawaii, staying in Oahu. I will never forget our Polynesian Culteral Center tour guide, his wit really added to the tour and it was a great experience (Cousin Essay I believe, probably not spelled correctly). So last year we went on the PCC tour again, telling some of the folks about how good our guide was a few years back. I kept telling my wife the current guide sure reminded me of the same guy we had several years ago and the stories kept sounding more and more familiar.

Sure enough, it was the same guide, I had just forgot his name so when he told us his name originally nothing clicked as far as our memory. It just so happened he basically retired from giving the tours and now works at the front office of the PCC, but that day they were short of tour guides so he pinch hit, and as far as we were concerned hit a home run again.

In fact when I knew who he was I tipped at the beginning of his tour, something I never do, because I knew what we were in for.

Gary

PS: When we book our tour I will ask for that guide and find out which company she is with. Valley Isle so far seems the most appealing.
 
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