My fiance and I are trying to figure out where we should be going for a honeymoon... we had been planning to go to Hawaii but now I'm wondering if we're playing too close to home.<BR><BR>Specifically, interested in understanding prices if we went further out to Fiji/Tahiti or Bali. In Hawaii, we had planned on staying at the Lodge at Keole and the Four Seasons Wailea - price per night was averaging about $325. Could we hope to do any of our other options for this price? I've looked at a lot of websites but I'm seeing prices at $500+ and I'm wondering if these are just rack rates and we might be able to score better deals. Also wondering how meal prices will compare. <BR><BR>Anything else we might want to consider that would help us decide between these destinations? Travel times, etc.? (We're leaving from Chicago.) Thanks in advance!

Hi<BR><BR>I have been to all of your choices, and these are things to consider:<BR><BR>1) Time you have<BR>2) Type of vacation you want<BR><BR>All of the destinations you mention have drop dead $500++ accommodations. If you are after a beach vacation- stick with Hawaii. It will cost less to reach Hawaii, and apart from Lanai, all of the islands have spectacular beaches.<BR><BR>If you are more interested in "travel" and by that I mean interacting with other people and other cultures and leaving the hotel, then you should consider the other options.<BR><BR>Also, a trip from Chicago to anyplace that you have mentioned beyond Hawaii, will cost much more in terms of time getting there and airfare.<BR><BR>Tahiti is the next closest, about 9 hours from Los Angeles. The nice thing about this option is that it is "exotic" and there is literally nothing to do but swim in the lagoon. It is a perfct honeymoon destination, BUT very expensive. Little things will add up. <BR><BR>Fiji has nice resorts on outer islands, but you will need to budget about 2 days travel before you are finally on the beach. Do you really want to waste all that time getting there? Why not save Fiji for a vacation stopver when you visit New Zealand and Australia later in life?<BR><BR>Right now, even though Bali is paradise, and NOT muslim, it is unwise for an American couple to go to that part of the world. Bali is gorgeous, but it is very far and again, would be better off as part of a "grand tour" of Asia on another trip especially one timed to when things have quieted down. I hope I've helped, feel free to ask more questions.<BR>well, Lodge at Koele is 45 minutes from the beach which is located at its sister resort, Manele Bay.

Hi<BR><BR>I have been to all of your choices, and these are things to consider:<BR><BR>1) Time you have<BR>2) Type of vacation you want<BR><BR>All of the destinations you mention have drop dead $500++ accommodations. If you are after a beach vacation- stick with Hawaii. It will cost less to reach Hawaii, and apart from Lanai, all of the islands have spectacular beaches.<BR><BR>If you are more interested in "travel" and by that I mean interacting with other people and other cultures and leaving the hotel, then you should consider the other options.<BR><BR>Also, a trip from Chicago to anyplace that you have mentioned beyond Hawaii, will cost much more in terms of time getting there and airfare.<BR><BR>Tahiti is the next closest, about 9 hours from Los Angeles. The nice thing about this option is that it is "exotic" and there is literally nothing to do but swim in the lagoon. It is a perfct honeymoon destination, BUT very expensive. Little things will add up. <BR><BR>Fiji has nice resorts on outer islands, but you will need to budget about 2 days travel before you are finally on the beach. Do you really want to waste all that time getting there? Why not save Fiji for a vacation stopver when you visit New Zealand and Australia later in life?<BR><BR>Right now, even though Bali is paradise, and NOT muslim, it is unwise for an American couple to go to that part of the world. Bali is gorgeous, but it is very far and again, would be better off as part of a "grand tour" of Asia on another trip especially one timed to when things have quieted down. I hope I've helped, feel free to ask more questions.<BR><BR>I would like to add that although I have been to all of the abovementioned places- my husband and I always take an annual hawaiian vacation- apart from the fact that you are using US currency and driving a familiar car- Hawaii feels very exotic. I would suggest Hawaii or Tahiti if you feel you have to do something "different"- but the Hawaiian tourism industry is hurting badly and your booking may be a nice way to show support for the US.

Favorite Question, thanks so much for your candid input. Your comments have been/will be very helpful as we put together final plans.<BR><BR>A friend mentioned that Bali will be voting the week prior to our potential arrival, which makes that location a very difficult one and less appealing than it might have been!<BR><BR>My fiance have discussed this at length - although we are usually more culture-focused travelers, our honeymoon is likely to be an exception to this rule. And if we are looking for a beach vacation, we're left wondering if it might not just be better to go to Hawaii. Your comments are leading us to believe this might be the best decision - and have inspired us to hit these other destinations on future trips! Not to mention, its funny but I never thought very much about spending the money in the US versus abroad - a good point, and I think it makes our decision even easier.<BR><BR>Truthfully, I think we were just needing some affirmation that it was OK to go to Hawaii instead of all the exotic locales our friends have been visiting! But after all, we have only ourselves to impress. <BR><BR>Just curious - we've looked at both the Lodge at Keole and Manale Bay on Lanai (basically both incredi-resorts). We picked the Lodge because it seems a cozy/romantic place to curl up in front of a fire place (in mid-September, I'm always ready for a bit of winter) but have you stayed at both resorts? Are we missing something if we forgo Manale Bay? You don't give the beach there a ringing endorsement, so perhaps better to limit our Lanai adventure to 4 days and head to beautiful Maui...

Hi-<BR>It is me again. The nice thing about the lanai resorts (at least when we were there) are that they are owned by the same company- sister resorts- and a shuttle bus runs between the two a few times a day- here are the pros and cons-<BR><BR>koele is, indeed, a gorgeous gorgeous building- a great place for dinner, and if you are a golfer- the perfect setting for a golf weekend. but it is located on a large lawn with pine trees and a view of the tiny town. there is a path through the woods...<BR><BR>the manele is also beautiful, but in a way that several other resorts are in hawaii - very asian influenced and gorgeous rooms. we were very excited about the beach- but when we were there (it was late april- the hot season) the water was too rough for swimming- this was really surprising to us.<BR><BR>can i make a suggestion? there is a wonderful hotel called hana maui on the far side of maui - and it has privacy and its own private beach that is absolutely one of the prettiest i've ever seen. it is a drop dead 5 star resort with individual cottages- president and hilary clinton stayed here when they came to hawaii in the 90's. nearby are hikes and horseback riding...and very little else. lanai is a special place but it can be very dull for an entire week or two.<BR><BR>i would also hate to see you make such a long flight and only see one island. you can spend a few nights on one or more islands and get a flavor for what makes hawaii special.<BR><BR>the best beaches in my opinion are waikiki on oahu (but too bustling for a honeymoon); the princeville on kauai (another amazing hotel where you will not be disappointed) and kauai has much to offer if you like hiking and scenery; kapalua bay on maui. lanai is not exactly known for its sun and sand.<BR><BR>then there is the big island (the one with the volcano) - some of the nicest 5 star resorts in the world are on the sunny kohala coast here- you would not be disappointed with the four seasons, kona village, even the sheraton orchid (a former ritz carlton).<BR><BR>for a honeymoon, kona village is popular for its no phones policy - you leave a coconut outside your thatched roof cottage.<BR><BR>i think you are really right to ask a lot of questions - hawaii is really confusing. but please be assured it is not just like a strip of buildings on a beach- every hotel will have cultural programs and chances to interact with nature - hawaii feels like a foreign place- you will love it.<BR><BR>and feel free to ask more questions. i am very happy to help!

One more thing<BR><BR>The Big island resorts also all have beutiful beaches...and the Hana Maui beach is a short shuttle bus away- not right on your doorstep- the resort is set on a rolling hillside...<BR><BR>

Thank you, again, Favorite Question! I'm going to start contacting you directly for input because based on what we've checked out ourselves, it seems dead-on.<BR><BR>We've actually been to Hawaii before to attend a wedding - we stayed on Maui for a few days at Kapalua Bay (loved the beach and the hotel!) and then went to the Big Island - the wedding was at the Mauna Kea. We felt like we didn't get enough time in Maui, and wanted to go back and stay in Wailea.<BR><BR>Yesterday I was checking out the website for the Hotel Hana-Maui and they offered a four day package for $960 via auction which seemed incredible.<BR><BR>So our itinerary might be - four days on Lanai, three to four at the Hotel Hana-Maui and then five at the Four Seasons Wailea. Friends of ours from Hawaii gave us the nod to go to Lanai instead of Kuaui - I think we'll eventually get there, but it sounds like there is a lot of exploring to do on that island which might be a better non-honeymoon vacation.<BR><BR>We are so so so excited. Any other advice/reaction to our itinerary, feel free to pass it along!

That sounds like a perfect plan - especially that Hana Maui deal...Those rooms are usually minimum 300 a night...and if you like that "Old Hawaii" feel you'll be charmed by the town of Hana - there is realy not much to do, but you feel like you're in Hawaii...don't miss the hula show...<BR><BR>On the Big Island- if you want to leave the 4 Seasons (doubt it) - the Canoe House at Mauna Lani has great, great food and a pretty setting by the water. Very friendly service. I'm still thinking about the lobster salad and the salmon....<BR><BR>Congrats on the wedding and I'm glad you chose Hawaii - it will be such a nice honeymoon for you - hassle free. Be sure to tell everyone it's your honeymoon- you'll be drowning in complimentary champagne...<BR><BR>To be honest, while Tahiti is very pretty- 2 weeks there would be too long. And there is no comparison with the friendliness of Hawaiians.<BR><BR>

Gina,<BR>It sounds like you are planning an amazing trip to Hawaii. My one concern is that you may be moving around too much. Remember how much time packing/unpacking, checking into a hotel/checking out,driving time/getting lost, etc. takes out of your day. Not to mention getting to the airport/flyiing time/getting your bags/getting a shuttle to the hotel would take if you're going to island-hop. I'm all for experiencing the different islands, but when we went to wine country (Calif.) for our honeymoon, I felt like we spent the whole time in the car and covered too much area. My advice would be to pick two places max. to visit and do some day trips in the car if you get restless. Congrats on the wedding and you're going to have a ball in Hawaii. Don't miss Bora Bora on your next vacation - only two and a half hours further on the plane, and really feels like you're in a different world.

Lanai is one of our favorite islands-we stayed at Manele Bay. Watched the spinner dolphins come innto the bay every morning, wonderful snorkelling at the beach, great excursions, and so few people. The town of lanai is very small and quaint-the island boasts only 2,000 people. Don't need to rent a car as there is a shuttle bus every half hour stopping at the town of Lanai enroute to the resorts. Here there is diversity in climate and activities. You can dine and play at both resorts-if they still have the 4X4 package check it out. We found it was well worth it.

I've been to Hawaii and to Tahiti (Bora Bora and Moorea). As a honeymoon destination I would definitely choose the islands of Tahiti. <BR><BR>And, there is plenty more to do than swim in a lagoon. I have been to many islands and had the time of my life on Moorea and Bora Bora. I can get you a list of activities to do if you're interested.<BR><BR>I also hear Fiji is wonderful.<BR><BR>Theresa

Hawaii is great, sounds like you have your mind made up? <BR>If you want to reconsider Fiji, I highly recommend it. It's a completely different experience. Are you planning on having children? If so, are you ever really going to be able to go anywhere in the South Pacific in the next 15 years or more? Fiji does not have to be a $500+ experience. I went to two Islands, Beqa, which we spent about $250 (as I recall in '98) which included all GOURMET meals. We then flew (very inexpensive) to Taveuni (the Garden Island) and stayed at a beautiful little place called Coconut Grove for less than $100 a night, but did not include meals. Don't mean to throw a wrench in your plans, but I'd go to Fiji for a true honeymoon experience.

Forgot to include the address for Beqa's Marlin Bay Resort. Here it is:<BR>www.marlinbay.com/<BR><BR>And here's Coconut Grove:<BR>www.coconutgrovefiji.com/

I don't mean to harp on Fiji, I really don't, and I swear I don't work for the people at Marlin Bay, but for a honeymoon destination it just does not get any better...so I called the 800# for Marlin Bay, and they have a special right now of $1,849 for a week stay (diving not included) that includes airfare from LA. I'm sure it would not be THAT much more from Chicago! And of course for 'Honeymooners' they throw in a bottle of champaign and huge fruit basket, will arrange a free massage, and lot's of extras for honeymooners. They have also added a full size pool that they did not have when we were there. And don't forget the Firewalkers. They originated from Beqa Island so you'll get to see the real deal! It's heaven, I promise. I went to Maui for my first anniversary and while it was nice, Fiji is IT.

Hi, I've read all comments to your travel plans while your on your one and only honeymoon. I have not been to Fidji,but to Bali and to all Hawaiian islands. And I would like to suggest,<BR>that it will be your one and only honeymoon. People on Hawaii are absolutely and no doubt about it friendly and the choosen locations and hotels are absolutely deluxe.<BR>... but your honeymoon should be perfect, romatic and touched by the excotic moments that you will personally remember for your lifetime.<BR>And - even if you think it might be too far for you, it' isnt at all - or would n you not walk a long way for and with your love. I'm sure if you choose the Four Seasons at Jimbaran (220square meters<BR>villa and priv. pool overlkg. the sea, and also let you chauffeur for just two nights to the Four Seasons at Ubud between the rice fields and the jungle, <BR>there is absolutely nothing that you will forget about that unique experience.Dont hesitate to ask for further questions.<BR>Shain/Germany/D&uuml;sseldorf

OK...just wanted to put in my 2cents worth.<BR><BR>I am planning a wedding/honeymoon too. I live in Australia.<BR><BR>I have done an insane amount of researcvh on all the places you mention and have been to Fiji 3 times.<BR><BR>What I discovered through talking with travellers, agents reading books etc is that if you are looking for romance, privacy, solitude and that ideal of paradise we all have - the South Pacific (ie Thiti or Fiji) is IT!! Hawaii is beautiful but has a different climate, geography and ambiance. If you want untouched white beaches and turquoise lagoons, go to Fiji or Tahiti. If you want amazing beaches, exotic culture, amazing service go to Bali. Personally I would go to Hawaii for the volcanoes but it wouldnt be my choice for beach honeymoon. <BR><BR>I am originally from the UK so i am not biased by airfares etc.<BR><BR>From what I have researched - accomodation in Bali is out of this world and far cheaper than Fiji, Tahiti or hawaii.<BR><BR>EVERYONE in the US seems to go to Hawaii for ther honeymoon- do something different!!! (please dont post loads of messages saying this is a generalisation - i know it is!!!)<BR><BR>There is so much of the worl out there to see, seems a shame to go next door.<BR><BR>

We haven't made our minds up quite yet, so it's interesting to see people's other comments. To be honest, we are torn because it is true what people are saying about going further, someplace you wouldn't go again, etc. for your honeymoon. That's why we were originally hesitant to commit to Hawaii.<BR><BR>Those of you who have posted resorts to check out - that info will be very helpful. We'll check to see if anything else pops up as interesting.<BR><BR>But right now, we can fly free (miles) to Hawaii and we have great deals located at all of the places we're interested in staying at. We've said that we will definitely go to Australia during future travel, and may consider going to Fiji then for a shorter stay. And Bali is now officially out of the question since my best friend (a VERY adventurous traveler) warned us against it - and since voting will be happening just before our arrival.<BR><BR>At any rate, we'll continue to keep digging and appreciate any other hotel/resort suggestions you'd like to pass along. Thank you!

OK--must throw in my 2 cents. I have been to Hawaii many times, but TRUE paradise was discovered in Tahiti. I think for the perfect, unique honeymoon you MUST do an overwater bungalow in Tahiti. We were in Moorea and it was beautiful, but hear Bora Bora is also quiet lovely. They deliver your breakfast by canoe, you can snorkel off your deck (shower outside on deck), the water is absolutely fabulous and the green lush trees took my breath away each day. Look on this website for pictures and prices: Pleasantholidays.com Recommended hotels are the Pearl Beach and Sheraton--think there are specials with free nights. Also try to get at least breakfast included in your price--food is pretty expensive. You can do Hawaii anytime. PS--The flight from LA is only 7 1/2 hours--take Air Tahiti Nui. Or get your air free to Hawaii then buy connectors to Tahiti--only 2 1/2 hours south.

hi<BR><BR>there is an error in the last post- hawaii is at least 5 and a half hours from tahiti when i looked into it.

When considering Hawaii vs. the S. Pacific, one should take into account that much of the S. Pacific contains certain health and/or safety risks that are absent or at least far, far lower in HI.<BR>