First Time Hawaii trip

Old Apr 9th, 2013, 07:33 AM
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First Time Hawaii trip

My husband and I are 66yrs. old and making our first trip to Hawaii. We are conservative and on a modest (retired) budget. We will only have 7-8 nights, possibly 9, so we need to have a very well thought out itenerary in order to make the most of our once in a lifetime visit to the islands. We are both still very active and love outdoor activities. Need best advice for hotels. We don't need resort luxury but we don't want run down and trashy unclean. Nice, clean, and view is what we would like to have. Which islands should we mainly focus on and how many days at each? Would appreciate any help we can get. Thanks
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Old Apr 9th, 2013, 08:10 AM
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For a first time visit, I would focus on Oahu and maybe one other island eg Maui or Kauai. Apart from Waikiki (which I think is a must see), Oahu has lovely scenery in the north and east of the island and lots of activities eg snorkelling at Hanauma Bay.
Maui has alot to see eg Haleakala, the road to Hana, Iao valley, upcountry etc plus has very nice swimming beaches. Many like Kauai for it's beautiful scenery and outdoor activities, there aren't so many swimmable beaches but there are a few.
Would you consider a condo? We have holidayed in Hawaii 3 times and preferred a condo vs a hotel. It definitely helps with the budget.
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Old Apr 9th, 2013, 11:26 AM
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Personally I'd stick to one island with less than ten days, it takes part of a day to transfer to another island.
My personal favorite is Kauai, but Maui is a good island for first timers. I would also recommend a condo over hotel. You can cook breakfast (or even just have toast and coffee and fruit) plus you will have a lot more room, most have washers and dryers also, pools, etc.
What time of year are you going?
You do need a rental car anywhere outside of Waikiki.
I used these folks last trip, their prices are good:
discounthawaiicarrental.com
Book your car when you book your airfare.
What do you want to spend per night for lodging?
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Old Apr 9th, 2013, 11:45 AM
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I would also recommend Maui. The condo recommendation is a great one, as it will help you manage food costs. But if you do want to consider a hotel, try the Ka'anapali Beach Hotel. The location cannot be beat, it is clean, it is *super friendly* and it's on one of the best spots on Ka'anapali Beach. It is a little dated, but it's got a lot of aloha spirit. Truly a gem for budget hotel lodging.
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Old Apr 9th, 2013, 01:13 PM
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Why did you choose Hawaii for this "once in a lifetime" trip, and what are you hoping to see and experience there?
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Old Apr 9th, 2013, 01:18 PM
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We don't know where you are flying *from*, but usually the best flights -- one long leg on a widebody aircraft -- will be into HNL. So...Oahu is a default stop. You could split a stay between Honolulu and north shore Oahu (not in winter).

With little more than a single week, I'd plan ONE island. I'd also recommend a condo for savings on meals and drinks, and just to have some *space*. If you feel you must see a second island, Kauai is small and feels still smaller because so much of it is only to be seen by helicopter or boat.

Most forum posters prefer on-land stays, but there is an NCL cruise that departs Honolulu every Saturday. A Plain Jane cabin can make this a decent way to see highlights of three islands -- room and board and transportation. People often rent cars at ports for DIY sightseeing instead of buying expensive ship's tours.

You need a rental car everywhere outside of Honolulu proper.
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Old Apr 9th, 2013, 01:30 PM
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Personally I feel Waikiki reminds me of a warm San Francisco. When I go to the islands I want the tropical feel, beaches, jungle, not city. I concur with picking one island, we love Maui and Kauai and definitely condo over hotel. October is one of the least busy times, thus less expensive. The weather is wonderful, not too hot or humid. I usually find booking separately, flight, condo, car, etc. cheaper. But for Hawaii I have found some fantastic package deals. Try Alaska Airlines to see what Vacation packages they have, but always price out individually as well. Have not used VRBO.com or Homeaway.com for Hawaii, but use it all the time for San Diego and Washington DC, with great success. Another consideration is doing the Time Share deal, yes you have to live though 2 – 2.5 hours of pressure, but have gotten some amazing places to stay for dirt cheap and just a little hassle.
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Old Apr 9th, 2013, 06:17 PM
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I recommend Oahu for first-time visitors. You see the iconic Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head (and they are certainly tropical), you can visit Iolani Palace, Chinatown, and the Aloha Tower downtown, and then you can rent a car and drive around the island stopping at beautiful Hanauma Bay, the Blowhole, and Kailua beach, continuing around the island and finding yourself as much alone in paradise as on any outlying island. Another day you can take in Pearl Harbor, Punchbowl Cemetery, and the Pali Overlook.

For reasonably priced hotels, look a few blocks (maybe just two or three) off the beach. Many of the rooms have a kitchenette where you can easily have breakfast as well as cooking any other meals you like. The Ocean Resort is one such, and one we enjoyed while sharing with my brother and sister a couple of years ago is a suie hotel, the Aston Waikiki Sunset, 229 Paoakalani Avenue, Waikiki, Oahu 96815, Phone: 808-922-0511. If you want, you may pay a little more for a partial or more for a full ocean view, but be sure to ask exactly how partial!

Enjoy your trip. You certainly won't run out of things to do in a week.
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Old Apr 9th, 2013, 06:19 PM
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Oh! That should be suite hotel, not suie.
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Old Jun 6th, 2013, 09:17 PM
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It has been a while since I first asked for advice but we have finally decided we are going to the Big Island and Maui and we have 9 nights. We will be flying out of Houston on Oct. 22 to ITO on Big Island; stay 4or5 nites then fly to OGG (Maui)for 4or 5nites then back to IAH on Oct 31. Not real sure how to split the nites between the 2 islands. Been looking at condos on both islands.Has anyone stayed at the Hale Kona Kai condos on the Big Island and if so which unit? What about the Paki Maui condo on Maui? Open to other suggestions for condos with ocean front/view that are clean and not run down. Doesn't have to be luxurious; just like to have a beautiful view that is nice and clean. Any other suggestions you can offer, I am open to consider.
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Old Jun 7th, 2013, 05:19 AM
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Since you're flying into Hilo, I assume you are planning on visiting Volcano National Park?? if so how many days to you plan to stay on the east side?? Or are you going to drive to the west side of the island, where Kailua-town is located, to enjoy the sun and beaches immediately?

DH and I have visited the BI many times (21 at last count and next trip is in December)and are often on a budget and we are also in our 60's. If you have any specific questions, I'll be happy to try to answer them.

We always stay in cottages or houses mostly found on VRBO. When we're on the west side of the island we usually stay in the area around Kealakekua Bay in south Kona (rural, uncrowded, but 20 minutes from Kailua-Kona). And when we're on the east side, we try to stay in Puna at Kapoho Beach Lots (still close enough to Volcano for a day trip--but more likely to be sunny and with warm tide pools). There are lots of rentals in both places.
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Old Jun 7th, 2013, 08:38 AM
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I'd just split your time in half between the two islands, 4+ nights each. I don't think which island you add the 1 extra day really matters. Sounds like a nice trip.
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Old Jun 13th, 2013, 04:56 PM
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Condo the way to go to save money on eating out...condos on Oahu that are fairly reasonable:.Waikiki Banyan and Aston wakiki Sunset. Prefer the Sunset but both are within walking distance to beach, have pools, bar-b-ques and close to just about everything. try VRBO for good prices on both......Kauai, the condo's might be more costly. Kapaa would probably be more reasonable than Poipu and SeaLodge in Princeville is not too costly if I remember.. Again try VRBO
10 days you could take in 2 islands but you lose time in airport time and flying and having to wait to check in at 4:00 when you check out at 12:00 from the other hotel or condo....Oahu no car is needed but on the other islands yes, you need a car and rent one before you get over there otherwise you might pay quite a bit more...I love Kauai and Big Island (stay in Kona for more reasonable places). Depends on what you want to do I guess......Don't wait much longer to book as it is getting late...
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Old Jun 13th, 2013, 04:57 PM
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You also might try getting a book from Barnes and Nobel on Hawaii as they would have hotel prices and things to do. Not sure if rick Steves has one on Hawaii but def. Frommers or Fodors.
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Old Jul 5th, 2013, 09:06 AM
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We have decided to stay on the East side of the Big Island since most of the things we want to do are on that side.My husband wants to visit the large horse ranches and ride in the open range if possible.We want to explore the Volcanos and see other things on the east side.I have been looking on vrbo and just not sure what area would be best to stay 4 nights and still be able to easily get to all the places of importance on that side of the island.We don't need fancy, we just need NICE & CLEAN.Location is more important for us on the BI.We plan to up grade to something a little nicer in Maui 5 nights. If anyone has stayed in a nice B&B or vacation home on the EAst side for 2 people I would love to here your suggestions. Alos help with nice hotel under $300/nt.in Maui.
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Old Jul 6th, 2013, 04:52 AM
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Do you know to which horse ranch you are going? All the ones I could find with a google search are in the Waimea and Hawi areaes (see below)

http://www.parkerranch.com/
http://dahanaranch.com/
http://www.panioloadventures.com/
http://www.naalapastables.com/

These areas are about a two hour drive from Volcano. If you would like to stay somewhere between Volcano and the Waimea area, check VRBO for the Hamakua Coast rentals--here are some examples

http://www.vrbo.com/114321#rates we stayed at this one several years ago--loved it--the view down the coast is magnificent
http://www.vrbo.com/438077
http://www.vrbo.com/451016
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Old Jul 6th, 2013, 05:35 AM
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Since you have opted for the big island, I'm sure you will have a car. It's an absolute must. You really should do an island drive one day (the entire drive around Hawaii is approximately 6 hours). I did it one day (leaving from the Kona area) and thoroughly enjoyed passing through the various landscapes: green and tropical to black lava rock to hill country around Waimea. Hawaii is so diverse!

I'm also about your age, and will be going to Honolulu for a week, solo, in August. Oahu is always my first choice. I've probably been about 10 times now.
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Old Jul 6th, 2013, 07:39 AM
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How about a shorter stay on *only* the Hilo side of Big Island while you do VNP, then a week in a condo on Maui. Condos make more sense for a week -- for better pricing and the time invested in 'provisioning'. Your DH can ride from coastal and Upcountry stables on Maui. The only ride I'd find unique on Big Island would be a horseback tour into Waipio Valley.

I would only include the Big Island stop if you really, really want to see the volcano. The other option would be to stay ONLY Big Island and spend time in both Volcano and Kohala area. You have about the right time for one island, and NOT hopping will save you money and a half-day wasted 'in transit'.
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Old Aug 5th, 2013, 01:54 PM
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Thanks for all the help. I found the perfect house in Hilo on VRBO and great deal in Maui on Travelocity. Bought Fodor and Frommers books to read & have started booking excursions. Any suggestions for finding the best deal on rental car outside airport.I was told that cars are more expensive at the airport. We will be on the Big Island Hilo side for 5 nts. and Maui 5 nts.Could someone give some advise on the best choice for a helicopter ride on the Big Island and the best choice for a luau on Maui. If you have any suggestions on an absolutely "must see & do" on either Maui or Big Island please tell me. We are seniors but are fairly active and like the out doors. My husband likes to horse back ride but he is an experienced horseman and does not want to do a "nose to tail" ride with a bunch of people who do not know how to ride.(We have 5 horses and he rides every week)Are there any places that do rides for experienced riders only?Open to all suggestions even though I know I will not be able to do everything. Planning on your own is hard work and very time consuming but things are coming together and I am finally getting excited.
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Old Aug 6th, 2013, 03:37 AM
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Looks like the Wrangler Ride with these people might be what your husband wants - suggest you give them a call to verify what they offer. http://www.panioloadventures.com/
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