schectec

Let me begin by saying we are young at heart and though 40 years, very on the go. Have done an Italy cruise, but not Greek Isles. We loved it. Have not been to Hawaii. We have a great price on a group tour on the cruise which, price wise, is about the same as Hawaii. We are not thrilled with staying in a condo in Hawaii. Hotels found online in Maui and Kauai that are equivelant to luxury in i.e., a Caribbean resort, are very expensive. If you have stayed in a condo on Maui or Kauai and have cruised the Greek Isles, please let me know which you enjoyed most. Did you still get the "wow" out of staying in a condo. Also, are those the two islands you would select in Hawaii. Thanks so much.

padams421

Greek Isles.

Hawaii is a nice place. It has very lush vegetation. The beaches are good. It is very expensive. Hawaii has a sort of generic atmosphere-none of the charm and atmosphere of the Greek Isles. The only reason to go to Hawaii is so you will have been there. You can find much nore charm and atmosphere, and just as nice beaches and resort hotels, for less money in the Caribbean.

cavergirl

We have been to both Greece and Hawaii (where we have stayed in condos and luxury hotels)several times. We have visited all the Hawaiian islands including Molokai and like the Big Island and Kausi the best. Maui used to be good 25 years ago but the traffic is so horrible now and it is so over built that we don't go there any more. Hawaii has a great deal of diversity with Volcanoes National Park, orchid farms, the up country area with the big ranches (Parker ranch is most famous), great beaches and wonderful snorkeling (near the City of Refuge). Kauai can't be beat for its sheer beauty. There is also a lot to see there with Waimea Canyon, the Dry and Wet Caves, Napali Coast (take a zodiac tour along the coast if you aren't up to hiking it), Luhamhai Beach (where South Pacific was filmed), etc. Those would be our 2 choices of islands.
There are advantages to staying in a condo - being able to have breakfast in your bathrobe rather than dressing to go out for breakfast and price - but it is also nice to have someone bring you a drink when you are thirsty. Our favorite place on the Big Island is the Four Seasons (we just went there last year for our 25th anniversary) but it is VERY expensive. There are other wonderful luxury hotels that are not so pricey. Look for ones in the Waikoloa area.
That said, if I had a choice of Hawaii or the Greek Islands, I would definitely go to Greece. We have cruised the islands but prefer island hopping on our own just because we don't like pulling up to an island and then having only the day to tour it. You are limited in what you can see and do and while you can have lunch on the island, it is so nice to go to a taverna for dinner. The food and wine is great, and the atmosphere can't be obtained on a cruise ship (we have cruised on Crystal and Wind Star). Still it is a great way to get an overview of the islands in general. You can then decide which ones you want to go back and visit another time on your own. Hope this helps.

cavergirl

I guess in answer to your question, of whether or not you get the "Wow" out of staying in a condo, the honest answer is "No". It isn't as nice as having someone wait on you in a luxury resort. I am 58 and my husband is 60 and as I mentioned, we celebrated our 25th 2 years ago. Thinking about your scenario, I would not recommend a condo to celebrate your 40th. That is too big a milestone for a condo trip.

Weadles

I agree with everything that's been posted above. If you're really looking for the "wow" factor, go to Greece. But arrange it on your own, especially since it is your 40th, and you don't want to rush through the islands. There's hardly a more romantic place on the planet than Santorini. It's one of the most beautiful places we've ever visited in many years of traveling. We haven't been (yet!), but I hear great things about Naxos and Paros, two smaller islands which are easily accessible from Santorini. Or, you could take the hydrofoil to Crete, and the amazing harbor town of Chania, whose culture is a blend of Venetian, Turkish and Greek. We loved it there.

Have a wonderful time, and congratulations!

cavergirl

Thank you Weadles for agreeing with me and echo your sentiments about Santorini. We have been in Bali, Tahiti, and a ton of other exotic places and nothing beats the view from Oia on Santorini. I recall sitting there and watching the cruise tenders bringing people into Fira (the main city) at 9 AM then watching the ship pull out of port at 5 PM. People on that ship probably went to the archeological digs and maybe shopped in Fira but probably never got out to Oia which is the best part of the island. We stayed on Paros, too and loved it. Like Weadles, we also heard Naxos is great. We have also gone to Rhodes (very interesting from a historical standpoint plus beautiful beaches), Corfu, Delos (you can do a day trip there from Mykonos or Paros - well worth the time - it is uninhabited but full of ruins), Mykonos (very busy but pretty) and of course Athens is good for a day (no more than that) just to see the Acropolis and walk in the Plaka. You can do a day trip to Delphi or Olympia (by bus) from Athens if you are so inclined. We flew from Athens to Rhodes, flew from there to Santorini and took a ferry to Paros. Air fares between islands weren't bad. You just get to see so much more than popping in for a few hours. It is so romantic sitting out in a taverna in the evening, listening to music on a warm evening.

nanabee

There's really no right answer, both Greece and Hawaii are wonderful. Which ever one you pick -will mean (darn) another trip at a future time.
Having said that, I love Hawaii and we stayed in a rental house in Kaui and loved it. My two favorite Hawaiians islands are Oahu and Kauaii. (I've stayed in all the islands except Molokai).
I love Oahu because the beaches are spectacular (especially up in the North Shore), the history is superb (the Iolani Palace, Bishop Museum, Pearl Harbor to name a few), and it is exciting and cosmopolitan in the south and rural with mountains in the North Shore.
Kaui is how I would imagine the Hawaiian Islands 100 years ago. It is very tropical, lush, beautiful beaches, varied landscape, quiet and peaceful.
Whatever your choice though will be a wonderful holiday.

Weadles

You could also take an easy day trip from Athens by hydrofoil to either Hydra or Aegina. Hydra is the weekend home of many Athenians. Its dotted with stone mansions dating from the 1800s, many of them captains' houses, and has lots of small boutiques selling local handmade items from jewelry to clothes. It can get quite busy in the summer months, but oh, those views from the top of the island near the monastery (!), and the lovely seaside restaurant just uphill from the harbor...

Haven't been to Aegina yet, but both islands are very accessible from Piraeus, the big port in Athens. Hydra takes about 90 minutes each way.

BeniciaChris

Hands down Greece!!!! We have been to Greece twice-stayed at several Islands. There is something about Greece-the water-the people-the everything.
My husband & I got married in Hawaii and have been to all the Islands-while it is beautiful it has grown in the 26 years we have been going there.
My vote Greece.

schectec

Thank you everyone for all of your input. We decided on Hawaii this year and will do Greece next. Italy was our last big vacation so we decided to try something different this year. All of your help is so much appreciated.

Reisender

For our 40th (in 2007) we did a cruise that departed Venice and visited several stops in Greece and Croatia, with return to Venice. We then rented a car and explored Tuscany for several days before driving, via the Cinque Terre, to Malpensa Airport for flight home.

It was a wonderful way to spend our 40th. We have also been to Hawaii and like it, but this seemed more special to us (it was not our first time to Italy but the first to Greece).

We sailed on Royal Caribbean by the way.