When Is the Cheapest Time to Book a Maui Vacation Rental in 2026?
Spring is the cheapest time for a Maui vacation rental: Hawaii DBEDT data shows Maui County rentals averaged $596 a night in May 2026 and $609 in April, against $698 in February. How to time it, which areas cost less, and how to compare Vrbo, Expedia and Homes and Villas by Marriott Bonvoy through ShopBack.
For a US traveler, spring is usually the cheapest time to stay in a Maui vacation rental, so pick your dates, then book through ShopBack before you pay, where ShopBack Cashback works like a discount, only easier than a promo code. Hawaii's Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) reports that Maui County vacation rentals averaged $596 a night in May 2026 and $609 in April, the lowest months of 2026 so far, against $698 in February. Those averages include cleaning and service fees. Fall is quieter too: DBEDT's 2025 reports show Maui rental occupancy lowest in September and October.
ShopBack US is a free app and website that returns part of what you spend at partner stores as cash you can withdraw. Before you book a rental on Vrbo or a hotel on Expedia, go through ShopBack first, then finish the booking. Join ShopBack US for free, then open the Vrbo page on ShopBack before you book.
When is the cheapest time to book a Maui vacation rental?
April and May are the cheapest months to stay in a Maui vacation rental in 2026, according to DBEDT's monthly vacation rental reports. DBEDT's figures cover listings on Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo and Tripadvisor, and report the average daily rate as a total rate that includes cleaning and service fees.
Here is Maui County, month by month, as DBEDT reported it for 2026:
| Month (2026) | Average rate a night | Occupancy |
|---|---|---|
| January | $675 | 55.2% |
| February | $698 | 62.3% |
| March | $691 | 56.3% |
| April | $609 | 51.6% |
| May | $596 | 47.9% |
| June | $652 | 50.2% |
| July | $679 | 52.7% |
| August | $649 | 44.0% |
Source: DBEDT Hawaii Vacation Rental Performance Reports, January to August 2026.
What the numbers say:
- May was the cheapest month of 2026 so far, about $102 a night below February.
- February was both the priciest and the busiest, with 62.3 percent of available rental nights booked.
- Summer climbs again: June and July averaged $652 and $679.
- August was quiet but not cheap: occupancy fell to 44.0 percent, yet the average rate stayed at $649.
For fall, look at last year. DBEDT had not published September to December 2026 at the time of writing. In its 2025 reports, Maui County rental occupancy was lowest in September (40.1 percent) and October (42.4 percent), and December carried the highest average rate of the year. A quiet month gives you more choice of homes, even when the average rate does not drop much.
On when to book, not just when to stay: in the busiest months, such as February, there are fewer free nights to choose from, so booking well ahead gives you more options. In quieter months, you can usually take more time to compare.
Maui vacation rentals in 2026: what they cost and where
In 2026, a Maui vacation rental averaged between $596 and $698 a night each month from January to August, according to DBEDT, and where you stay changes the price more than the month does.
DBEDT splits Maui into areas. In August 2026:
| Maui area (August 2026) | Average rental rate a night | Occupancy |
|---|---|---|
| Wailea and Kihei (South Maui) | $438 | 42.8% |
| Lahaina, Kaanapali, Napili and Kapalua (West Maui) | $858 | 46.4% |
| Maui County overall | $649 | 44.0% |
South Maui averaged about half of West Maui's rate in August 2026. If price matters most, Wailea and Kihei are where to start. West Maui listings averaged far higher, so compare carefully if you want to stay there.
Rental or hotel? DBEDT's August 2026 report put Maui County hotels at $526 a night against $649 for vacation rentals. Per night, the hotel was cheaper. DBEDT also notes that vacation rentals often sleep more guests than a hotel room, so for a family or group the cost per person can still come out lower. Statewide, vacation rentals averaged $528 in August 2026 against $372 for hotels.
Taxes to expect. According to the Hawaii Department of Taxation, Hawaii's general excise tax is 4 percent for most activities, and Maui County adds a 0.5 percent surcharge from January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2030. Short stays may also carry lodging taxes. Booking sites show the total at checkout, so compare totals rather than nightly rates.
DBEDT also notes that the legality of any vacation rental unit is set at the county level. If you are unsure about a listing, ask the host or property manager before you book.
Maui vacation rentals: best deals for US travelers in 2026
The best Maui vacation rental deals in 2026 come from stacking the cheap months, the cheaper area and the lowest effective price. A simple order to follow:
- Pick your months. April and May had the lowest average rates in 2026, and September and October were the quietest months in 2025.
- Pick your area. Start with Wailea and Kihei if price matters most.
- Pick your bedrooms. Price per person matters more than price per night for groups.
- Compare the total with fees and taxes on Vrbo, Expedia and Homes and Villas by Marriott Bonvoy for the same dates.
- Go through ShopBack before you book on the store you choose, then book.
- Compare the effective price. The effective price is what you pay minus what ShopBack returns.
If you are still booking flights, our guide on the best order to book flights and hotels for a Hawaii trip covers the sequence.
Vrbo vs Homes and Villas by Marriott Bonvoy for Maui: price comparison
Vrbo and Homes and Villas by Marriott Bonvoy both rent whole homes in Hawaii, but they suit different trips, so compare the same dates and bedroom count on both.
| Vrbo | Homes and Villas by Marriott Bonvoy | |
|---|---|---|
| Who runs it | Expedia Group, which owns Vrbo | Marriott International |
| What it lists | A wide range of vacation homes and condos | Whole homes grouped into Luxury, Premium, Select and Midscale tiers |
| Loyalty program | One Key, shared with Expedia and Hotels.com | Marriott Bonvoy |
| ShopBack page | Vrbo on ShopBack | Homes and Villas on ShopBack |
How to compare them fairly:
- Same dates, same bedrooms, same area. A two-bedroom condo in Kihei is not comparable with a four-bedroom house in Kapalua.
- Use the total. Cleaning fees, service fees and taxes change the ranking.
- Check the cancellation terms. These vary by property, and a slightly higher refundable rate may be worth it if your dates could move.
- Think about the loyalty program you already use. If you collect Marriott Bonvoy points, Homes and Villas keeps your stay in that program. If you already use One Key on Expedia or Hotels.com, Vrbo keeps it there.
Vrbo, Homes and Villas by Marriott Bonvoy and Expedia for Maui
For a Maui stay, Vrbo and Homes and Villas by Marriott Bonvoy are where you compare homes, while Expedia is where you compare hotels and packages with flights. Expedia is part of the same group as Vrbo and Hotels.com, so a flight and hotel bundle there can be worth pricing against a rental plus a separate flight.
Our guides to saving on Expedia and Vrbo deals go deeper on each.
Why the price after ShopBack is the one to compare
ShopBack works like an automatic cash discount on your online order. Cashback lowers what you actually pay for an order. It comes back as cash, so it works like a discount on the price, not like points or miles. The effective price is what you pay minus what ShopBack returns.
Compare effective prices. A booking that costs a little more can end up cheaper once the cash from ShopBack comes back. Check the live rate on each store's ShopBack page before you book.
To make sure it tracks:
- Open the store's page on ShopBack US, such as Vrbo, Expedia or Homes and Villas by Marriott Bonvoy.
- Go through to the store and book.
Cashback on travel is usually confirmed after your stay.
Can you combine One Key, Bonvoy points and ShopBack?
You can often earn card rewards and ShopBack Cashback on the same Maui booking, because they come from different places. One Key on Vrbo and Expedia and Marriott Bonvoy on Homes and Villas are the stores' own programs. No code is needed for Cashback. Pay with the card that earns the most on travel.
Frequently asked questions
When is the cheapest time to book a Maui vacation rental?
Spring is usually the cheapest time to stay. Hawaii DBEDT reports that Maui County vacation rentals averaged $596 a night in May 2026 and $609 in April, the lowest months of 2026 so far, against $698 in February. Fall is also quieter: in DBEDT's 2025 reports, Maui rental occupancy was lowest in September and October.
What is the most expensive time to rent a vacation home in Maui?
Winter and early spring are the priciest. DBEDT reports Maui County vacation rentals averaged $698 a night in February 2026 and $691 in March, with February occupancy at 62.3 percent, the busiest month of 2026 so far. In DBEDT's 2025 reports, December had the highest average rate of the year.
How much does a Maui vacation rental cost per night in 2026?
Hawaii DBEDT reports Maui County vacation rentals averaged between $596 and $698 a night each month from January to August 2026, including cleaning and service fees. August 2026 averaged $649, against $526 for Maui County hotels. Individual listings can be well above or below these averages.
Which part of Maui has the cheapest vacation rentals?
In DBEDT's August 2026 report, Wailea and Kihei vacation rentals averaged $438 a night, against $858 in the Lahaina, Kaanapali, Napili and Kapalua area. South Maui is usually where to start if price matters most.
Is a vacation rental or a hotel cheaper in Maui?
Per night, Maui hotels averaged less in DBEDT's August 2026 data: $526 against $649 for vacation rentals. DBEDT notes that rentals often sleep more guests than a hotel room, so for a family or group the cost per person can still come out lower.
Is Vrbo or Homes and Villas by Marriott Bonvoy better for Maui?
They suit different trips. Vrbo is Expedia Group's vacation rental marketplace with a wide range of homes and condos. Homes and Villas by Marriott Bonvoy is Marriott's vacation rental site, which groups its homes into Luxury, Premium, Select and Midscale tiers. Compare the same dates and bedrooms on both, then go through ShopBack before you book.
What taxes apply to a Maui vacation rental?
According to the Hawaii Department of Taxation, Hawaii's general excise tax is 4 percent for most activities, and Maui County adds a 0.5 percent surcharge from January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2030. Short stays may also carry lodging taxes, so compare the total at checkout, not the nightly rate.
How do I get the best deal on a Maui vacation rental in 2026?
Travel in April or May if you can, look at South Maui first, compare the total with fees on Vrbo, Expedia and Homes and Villas by Marriott Bonvoy, and go through ShopBack before you book so part of what you pay comes back as cash.
Can I earn ShopBack Cashback on a Maui vacation rental?
Yes, on stores that are on ShopBack US. Go through the Vrbo, Expedia or Homes and Villas by Marriott Bonvoy page on ShopBack before you book. Cashback is confirmed after your stay, so check the live rate on its ShopBack page first.
What is the effective price of a Maui rental booked through ShopBack?
The effective price is what you pay minus what ShopBack returns. Compare that number across Vrbo, Expedia and Homes and Villas by Marriott Bonvoy rather than the sticker price, because the cheapest listing before ShopBack may not be the cheapest after it.
Related reads
Go through ShopBack before you book at: Expedia · Vrbo · Homes and Villas by Marriott Bonvoy
About this guide
Rates and occupancy come from the State of Hawaii DBEDT Hawaii Vacation Rental Performance Reports for January to August 2026 and for September to December 2025, compiled by Lighthouse Intelligence from listings on Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo and Tripadvisor, and reported as a total rate including cleaning and service fees. DBEDT restated its historical data in 2026, so monthly figures are compared within the same year only. Tax rates come from the Hawaii Department of Taxation. Homes and Villas details come from Marriott's Homes and Villas site, and Vrbo and One Key ownership from Wikipedia.
Disclaimer
The views and recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author. Vacation rental prices, fees, taxes, availability and Cashback eligibility vary by property, date and store and are subject to change. Check the total and terms with each provider before you book. This article is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be considered professional or financial advice.
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