Maui just beat Paris as the world’s most romantic destination, according to a Travel + Leisure article published this week. For an island still working to regain its prior tourism momentum, the recognition is flattering, complete with the familiar magazine’s tropical imagery to make couples want to book flights. The magazine’s October 27 story doesn’t address the large gap between dreaming about a romantic Maui getaway and paying for one once the costs start adding up.
Maui’s victory over Paris isn’t exactly new.
Travel + Leisure’s story relies on a 2024 survey of 2,000 Americans conducted for Funjet Vacations, in which Maui edged Paris 34% to 33%, a one-percentage-point difference. The findings made the rounds in 2024, Travel + Leisure covered them again in 2025, and now they’ve returned in 2026 as fresh news.
The romance is free. The Maui vacation isn’t.
Imagine a couple planning a weeklong anniversary trip to Maui. They picture an ocean-view room, sunset dinners, perhaps a drive to Hana, and plenty of time doing absolutely nothing beside the water.
Then the numbers start arriving. In September 2026, Wailea hotels averaged $621 per night, down from earlier in the year, according to the latest state hotel report. Seven nights at that average rate would cost $4,347 before taxes and any additional charges. Add a rental car, resort fees, parking, restaurants, and airfare, and a romantic week can become a substantial financial commitment. We’ve documented how Maui resort fees and parking charges can add hundreds of dollars to a stay. One Royal Lahaina guest recently reported $667 in resort and parking charges over eight days, beyond the room rate.
Paris has its own expensive hotels, restaurants, and tourist traps, of course. But couples can also choose a small neighborhood hotel, explore much of the city on foot or by Metro, and enjoy cafes and restaurants without renting a car. Depending on where they’re traveling from and the kind of vacation they want, Paris could actually be the less expensive romantic escape.
Maui isn’t uniformly priced at the highest Wailea levels, either. During our August reporting trip, we stayed in Kaanapali before moving to Wailea and found the West Maui experience offered considerably better value than we’d expected. You can enjoy Maui without paying top resort prices, but finding them takes more homework than the romantic postcard suggests.
Maui’s popularity and its visitor numbers tell different stories.
The latest available reports add another dimension to the romance ranking. Maui welcomed 201,789 visitors in August 2026, down 5.5% from the previous August, while visitor spending fell 9.6%. Yet for the first eight months of the year, arrivals were actually up 6% over 2025. The recovery has clearly been uneven.
For longtime Maui visitors, there’s another consideration that can’t be measured in hotel rates. Lahaina’s loss remains part of the island’s present, even as businesses reopen and visitors return. Couples planning a carefree getaway may find that Maui asks for a little more awareness than the national travel-magazine version suggests.
If you’re planning a romantic anniversary or honeymoon today, would Maui still beat Paris once you consider everything and the total bill? For couples who have priced or taken a Maui getaway recently, we’d like to hear whether the island experience justified the spend, or if the costs are pushing your celebrations elsewhere.
Lead Photo Credit: © Beat of Hawaii at Kaanapali Beach, Maui.
By Rob and Jeff, Beat of Hawaii.
Some of Hawaii’s most meaningful parts are the ones visitors walk right past without knowing they are there. We’ve spent nearly 20 years finding them firsthand for BOH as full-time Hawaii residents reporting on travel, culture, and island life, and telling you what they mean for your trip. Join us →
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