Jan

Me and my Hubby are considering taking a vacation next year for our Anniversary either to Aruba or Maui Hawaii.. <BR>I need some help deciding which place to go?? <BR>We've never been to either. We did take a cruise to Freeport and Nassau Bahamas, honestly didn't care for either island. Please advise which island would be romantic and lots of fun!!! (also least expensive) <BR>Thanks!!

Amy

Expense..well it would depend on what your budget is and also what area you would be travelling from (west coast is closer to Hawaii and therefore airfare is less). Also, Hawaii is a lush tropical island and Aruba is a desert island with a special charm all its own! <BR> <BR>Check out: <BR> <BR>http://www.travelunlimited.com

June

I have been to Hawaii 13 times and Aruba 8. They are both great and expensive. Maui hands down is the most beautiful island with more to see and do. The mountains and Haleakala the volcano you can visit are spectacular!!! The resorts are wonderful and many from which to choose. Try the Hyatt in Kaanapali (just stayed there in Aug.) and definately up to par. However, If you live on the East Coast Aruba is much more accessible as far as flying time and money. Aruba has casinos if you are interested in gambling. Palm Beach is absolutely fantastic as far as swimming and white sand, but alas very crowded. Note though the beaches in Maui are beautiful but waters are dangerous to swim in many time and sand is a mucky dark yellow. in Aruba there are only 2 places to consider staying; The Marriot and The Hyatt. Marriot is quieter and more isolated, but Hyatt had better restaurants and the best casino on the island. Either choice is a great one and I could go on and on about both. E-mail me if you want more honest info on the islands and Good Luck!!

Jim

Aruba is beautiful!! I love the place. The people are so friendly and the landscape is awesome. To me it is paradise. <BR> <BR>Hawaii is nice, but I would always choose Aruba! <BR> <BR>Jim;HereHuGo.com <BR>The Travel Search Engine <BR>http://www.herehugo.com <BR>

Karen

You may want to consider that the month that you go might be one of those "windy" ones ... although they don't have hurricanes, per se, they do have healthy gusty winds that will send the sand blasting at you! It makes beaching it very uncomfortable and it HURTS! Those Divi Divi trees are bent over because of the constant wind in Aruba. The topography is interesting, arid and desert like, the beaches are stunning but be aware that most hotels are hi rise and it is very Americanized.

Noah

Why didn't you like Freeport and Nassau? <BR>Was it because of the overdevelopment? <BR> <BR>Be aware that Aruba has become overdeveloped.

Noah

I would definitely choose Hawaii. Frommers.com lists accomodations in all price ranges. Have you considered Kauai? It is supposed to be spectacular.

Noah

I decided to copy a reply I posted on the rec.travel.usa-canada newsgroup: <BR> <BR>"I am also on the E. Coast, in NYC , and I hope to go to Hawaii one day. One of the biggest obstacles is the very long trip from the E. Coast: around 6 hrs. to California and then another five hours or so to Hawaii plus the strain of the time-differences. I have also seen non-stop flights available from Newark, NJ for a much higher price but it is obviously a very long flight. <BR> <BR> <BR>What seems to me like the best way to do it is to stay in California (or whatever changeover city you would stop at) for at least a day or two (perhaps even only overnight if you can't afford any more time) before continuing on to Hawaii. This seems like it would disrupt your body's normal rhythms and cycles less. Ideally, I would like to combine a trip to Hawaii with at least a short trip to California. <BR> <BR>My first suggestion to you is the Frommer's website: <BR> <BR>http://www.frommers.com which has a lot of useful information and lists accomodations in every price-range. <BR> <BR> <BR>I suggest you subscribe to their daily email newsletter which tells you about a lot of good deals. <BR> <BR> <BR>Kauai appeals to me the most. It is supposed to be the most lush of the islands and not at all overdeveloped. I saw several 'budget' accomodations on Kauai listed on frommers.com which looked nice. <BR> <BR>The official tourism website is: http://www.gohawaii.com <BR> <BR>See my post of travel url's for more Hawaii websites. <BR> <BR>Best wishes and please do keep us updated! <BR> <BR>Aloha!" <BR> <BR>

Confused

To Noah: I find it quite amusing that you have not travelled yet you speak about islands that are "overdeveloped". <BR>Aruba is wonderful and if you do not want the Americanized hi-rise are..then the low-rise area with the Bucuti and the Manchecho fit the bill. Though some of your info is OK..anyone can read about an island but to visit and know first-hand is totally different. Or could it be that Aruba has some beaches that have a few topless people that gets your goat?

Noah

Dear 'Confused', <BR> <BR>First of all, just because I have not been to Aruba or Hawaii does not mean that I "...have not travelled." <BR> <BR>No less an authority than Arthur Frommer describes Aruba as being overdeveloped as did Fodor's own Jordan Simon, who hosted the special Caribbean forum from Nov. 1-21. I have seen MANY other people say that Aruba has become overdeveloped, so it was perfectly reasonable for me to describe it as such. <BR> <BR>The fact that there may be some parts of Aruba which are not overdeveloped does not invalidate referring to the island in general as being overdeveloped. <BR> <BR>There are some pockets of tranquility and seclusion in S. Eastern Florida, yet most would not quibble with describing the region in general as being overdeveloped. <BR> <BR>'Overdeveloped' is a relative and subjective term. What one person considers to be overdeveloped, another may not. <BR> <BR>Finally, I don't appreciate your completely gratutious and rude comment about topless sunbathing. You take away from your credibility when you engage in such cheap personal insults.

CHRIS

JAN, YOU CAN"T GO WRONG BY GOING TO MAUI. IT IS AN INCREDIBLE PLACE WHERE THERE IS ALMOST TOO MUCH TO SEE AND DO ON ONE TRIP.I WILL SAY THAT GOING TO THE BIG ISLAND OF HAWAII IS MY FAVORITE. WE JUST CAME BACK ON SATURDAY FROM A WEEK THERE.OUR FAVORITE RESORT IN HAWAII IS THE HILTON WAIKOLOA RESORT.CALL AND GET A BROCHURE AND YOU WILL SEE.IF MAUI IS ON YOUR MIND,AND YOU WANT SOMETHING LESS EXPENSIVE, LOOK INTO A CONDO THERE BECAUSE THEY ARE ALOT TO CHOOSE FROM AT GOOD WEEKLY RATES. EMAIL ME IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.IF YOU GO TO HAWAII, REMEMBER TO GET A CONVERTABLE.THE ONLY WAY TO TRAVEL AROUND THE ISLAND.

Noah

Chris, in case you are not aware, using caps only online is considered 'shouting' and is against netiquette.

sylvia

I haven't been to Hawaii, but we stayed at the Marriott in Aruba last year and had a wonderful time. The Hyatt next door is also nice. I didn't find it crowded (just downtown where the cruise ships dock). We rented a jeep and had no trouble with traffic. I would go back tomorrow!

dorothy

NOAH ARE YOU SURE YOU DON"T ALSO GO BY THE NAME DECENT TROPICAL? <BR>YOU ARE JUST AS ARROGANT AS HE IS&gt;WHY NOT DO US ALL A FAVOR AND GO HANG OUT IN THE ""I KNOW EVERTHING ABOUT EVERTHING FORU

Noah

Dorothy, <BR> <BR>I never tried to hide the fact that I used to post under 'Decent Tropical'. When I started posted my under my real first name, I would put in parentheses 'formermly known as 'Decent Tropical' but after a while it got too tedious to do that and it really wasn't necessary. <BR> <BR>I don't appreciate your rudeness and your lack of netiquette by using caps only speaks for itself.

dorothy

Het Noah, <BR>well surprise ,surprise,you are Decent tropical after all,never thought you were trying to hide the fact,just that you came across as arrogant and rude as him and you are him .I am not the only one who thinks so ,everyone on this board does.And as for your comment about caps,WHAT WOULD YOU KNOW ABOUT NETIQUETTE?????????????????

Keith's Nan

Hey, don't be so hard on Chris. It looked to me as though it was excitment - not yelling. When people first starting using EMail, Internet, etc. they do not know about the caps, bold, etc. By the way,Chris, I am glad you had a great time. Perhaps pointing this out before jumping to conclusions would be better. <BR> <BR>While I am at it, do any of you know the price for a week at Gallows Point, St. John during shoulder season? Are they all one bedroom there. We just got back. Rented a villa with another couple but kept running back and forth to town. Might like to try the condo route next time but definately need AC. in bedrooms Thanks

Noah

1. Dorothy- <BR> <BR>Not "everyone on this board" agrees with you. There have been several people who have defended me in several threads as well as several people who have thanked me for my input. See my post entitled: 'List of Travel URL's - Includes many Caribbean'. <BR> <BR>You have shown yourself to be a mean and petty person. I pity your family. <BR> <BR>2. Keith's Nan- <BR> <BR>I did not attack Chris or accuse him of anything. I simply said, <BR> <BR>"Chris, in case you are not aware, using caps only online is considered 'shouting' and is against netiquette." <BR> <BR>How is that anything other than what you suggested I do? <BR>

Noah

Keith's Nan- <BR> <BR>Ironically, you are the one who has done to me what you have accused me of doing to Chris. <BR> <BR>You said, "Perhaps pointing this out [that using caps-only is against netiquette[before jumping to conclusions would be better." <BR> <BR>If you would have read my post more carefully, you would have realized that all I did was to politely point this out to Chris and I did not jump to any conclusions.

Noah

Dorothy- <BR> <BR>Also see the 'Kosher food in the Carribean?' discussion in the recent hosted forum w/ Jordan Simon where the original poster as well as Mr. Simon himself thanked me for my input. <BR>