We have more than six months before our trip to Maui and Kauai. Should I lock in our hotel rate now, or wait until something good turns up in the future? Should I call the hotels direct, or their 800 number if I want a specific room, or should I go through a "discount" venue? Can I make a reservation and then change it if something better comes along?

We are going to Maui and Kauai the first two weeks in June and just booked our trip through our travel agent. My suggestion is to go through your travel agent, they can always find some promotion/deals. For instance, we are doing the Hyatt in both M & K, if we stay 7 nights in one of the two we get buffet breakfast every AM in both hotels. This promotion was through our travel agent w/Classic Custom Vacations. I should mention, however, this is our first time in HI and a honeymoon and didn't want the hassel of calling ourselves. So, if you do call hotels maybe you can get deals through them! Good Luck and have fun!

Is it true that a travel agent can get me a better rate than I can on my own?

It's definitely worth a shot. It doesn't cost you anything to have the agent look into it. Then you can compare between your deals and the agents. Like I said earlier, going through a travel agent is convenience. It's less of a hassle.

Last Sept we went to Kauai. I purchased my flight in May from Expedia after arranging for my own condo accomodations in April. I did not use a travel agent though I have in the past. I didn't see where they could have gotten me a better deal.

I am hesitant to ask a travel agent for help, because then I feel guilty if I do not use him/her for booking in case I find a better deal. Like a lot of you out there, I usually spend copious amounts of time researching before I make my final plans.

Honestly, my wholesaler is usually the same or lower than what the specials are....and the wholesaler includes the hotel taxes (which in Hawaii is 11.416%). Keep in mind when you use a wholesaler everything is prepaid so you don't have to worry about dealing with hotel bills (other than incidentals).

If the wholesaler is higher than what is being promoted, they will usually match the lower price. In the few instances where I can't beat what a client has, I'm honest about it.

By booking now, your chances of getting the room type that you want, at the hotel that you want are better.

Good Luck,

Bobbi

Aloha Maggi,
We made our reservations for this Decemeber when we left Kauai this past January! But when you find a place that you really like, you stick with it! ;^D

Since we were Hawaii "newbies" in '89, we went thru a TA and she got us a good deal/package after we told her where we wanted to stay on Kauai (friends recommended the Kauai hotel to us and we've been back ever since)and left Molokai & Oahu up to her.

As mentioned by prior posters, I see no problem comparing what you can get from all sources, the 800#, contact the hotel directly, and TA. I think they are all used to it by now. You work may save you $$$ in the long run.

Mahalo,
Kal
308 days

My husband and I are going back to Maui in March and made our reservations in Oct/November - we had trouble getting one of our hotels (Grand Wailea) because of the "high" season...I tried 3 travel agents and did a lot of research myself by calling the hotels DIRECTLY and looking on the internet...we are staying at 3 hotels - the Embassy Suites, Sheraton, and Outrigger Wailea...all in all we are getting about the same rate as the best travel agent (the other 2 were a lot higher - and didn't seem interested in helping me). By the way, I normally only use one travel agent, but since no one seemed interested in helping me, I kept calling until someone did. Since I made the reservations myself, we have been able to "tweak" our stay (i.e., thinking of staying one night in Hana) and did not have to "pre-pay" except one night's deposit for 2 of the hotels. (which we might be sorry for when the credit card bill arrives) Also, we have up to 72-hours before arriving cancellation policy, just in case something happened and we had to cancel our trip. I have also been keeping track of the rates and have not found anything better (in fact, the rates are higher and the room views not as good) since I booked. I am using the Entertainment Card at two of the hotels (50% off Rack Rate - OF rooms) and then a special Starwood Preferred Guest Rate and 6th night free at Sheraton. Also, the hotels told me if better deals came along I could change my reservation.
Good luck with your research - sometimes a GOOD travel agent is worth not having to spend so much time, but I'm very analytical so would do it anyway
By the way, the Hyatt on Kauai is GREAT!

Maggi,
September is the start of low season so I wouldn't worry about booking so soon. I've never had any problems booking less than 2 months in advance (even in high season) but then again I'm not too picky and always have 2nd/3rd choices in mind. But if you're concerned or if there is a specific property and/or room category you must have, then by all means go ahead and reserve. If you reserve through the hotel directly, you can always cancel. Be careful with packages as they can carry steep penalties for cancellation. And always price both packages and the components individually. I have found instances where I couldn't come close to the package prices by doing it myself but have also found packages that were $1000 more than going direct. The bottom line is always check many different sources. You don't have to go thru a travel agent to find out package pricing if you feel guilty, several of the Hawaii wholesalers will quote you prices directly. Hope this helps.