Thanks to its superb beaches, ravishing tropical scenery, an exhilarating range of activities, and magnificent hotels, the island of Maui can justly claim to be the world's most glamorous destination. The slogan Maui No Ka 'Oi - "Maui Is the Best" - may gloss over the fact that it's both the second largest and the second youngest of the Hawaiian chain, and ranks a distant second to Oahu in terms of annual visitors, but for island inhabitants and devotees alike the "Valley Isle" has a cachet its neighbors could never match.  Maui is what's known as a "volcanic doublet," consisting of two originally separate but now overlapping volcanoes.  Like its neighbours, Maui has concentrated almost all of its tourist development on its sunbaked leeward shorelines, with its major resorts either lying north of historic Lahaina in West Maui, or along the southwestern flanks in what's known as South Maui.

Maui DIRECTIONS has all you need to get the most out of the island: the top places to stay and eat, the most scenic hikes and natural attractions, the best shows and the pick of the beaches ... in short, the best the island has to offer.

Browse the full-colour ideas section for a wide range of things to do. Then flip to the places section to explore the island, with every resort, restaurant, club and trail located on our easy-to-use maps.

It's like having a local friend plan your trip.