My husband and I stayed a week in Audrey's cabin. I read the descriptions from past guests and was excited to stay away from the hustle-bustle of the beach atmosphere. We are both country people, used to country life in rural Ohio before moving to Florida. We wanted someplace quiet where we could unwind after days of exploring. I would describe Audrey's cottage to be like your grandma's lake cabin. The décor was an eclectic mix of old things collecting dust to jars of twigs, and bowls of straight pins. But décor aside, the problem we found was the entire place needed a thorough cleaning. The linens and towels were crisp and clean, but there was dust, and the bathroom had dead bugs in the bathtub, and soap-scum. Perhaps it had been awhile since the last guests, or perhaps the cleaning people just overlooked the dust and dirt due to the abundance of "stuff" sitting around. It just needs a major going-over. There are geckos inside but they don't bother you. We kept the door shut but I did notice a gap in the wall in the kitchen and I guess they found a way in. The kitchen items all seemed clean, but the silverware really looked like Grandma's, so we opted for plastic. Having said all this I want to mention that Audrey had a bag of Maui coffee beans next to the coffee maker, and she was quick to bring us a brand new cooler when the other one turned up next-door missing a lid. She was also kind enough to let us leave our luggage late since we had a late flight out. I assume the cleanliness issue is not hers, but that of her cleaning staff. I don't think I've ever left a negative review but the prompt said to be genuine and honest, and I'd want to know in advance if it were me coming here for the first time. Hopefully the issue will be addressed and all will be well.
Up country is cooler and quieter than the resort areas on Maui. The breeze in the screened windows at night was wonderful. The night air is cool and refreshing. There are birds, frogs and creatures stirring at night that sing you to sleep, and completely different ones wake you in the morning! Our favorite perk of Audrey's cottage was that you were about 30-40 minutes from everywhere; and the close proximity to Haleakala! We drove up for sunrise (make sure you make a reservation thru the national park site) and we went back for sunset! I had never seen the Milky Way before this, but if you stay up on Haleakala at night after sunset, you can see it. A.MAZ.ING!! We also loved the drive to Hana from Audrey's cottage because it was so easy to get on the road from there. Make sure you make the hike up to Waimoku Falls on the Pipiwai Trail on the southern part of Haleakala National Park, about 12 miles beyond Hana. Also, use the gypsy Maui; the guide narrates each sight to be seen. We found Makawao town to be very quaint, and we also enjoyed Paia, though parking can be tricky there. Get out and explore using Audrey's as your base.