25th Anniv - Help us plan a trip to HI
 

We will be celebrating our 25th anniversary on Oct. 1st. Other than a European trip and camping, our only other trips have been to Florida - we live in Iowa. Still relatively young (mid 40's). Hoping to leave children home (kids ages 18 months to 21 years, yes most ppl our age don't have babies but we adopted two little ones). My husband works in a factory and I am stay-home-foster-mommy and we really could use some special time together.

Could you help give some suggestions for which island to travel to, what to do, places to stay, etc? Definitely budget travelers, would like to spend time lying on beaches, see waterfalls, beautiful scenery, flowers, sunsets. We are not big night scene people (who is with five kids?). Resorts are likely beyond our budget. We never had a honeymoon, our Europe trip was with kids, so we'd like something special for our 25th. Originating airport would be DSM. At this moment, dates are flexible. We are thinking the last week in Sept/early Oct for perhaps a week. Childcare will come later, once we plan a trip.

All constructive advice is welcome!

With one week, stick to one island. If you can add a couple days, then two islands.

Lots of info including sites with free brochures for all islands:

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34812564

I'd invest a little money (or visit the ibrary) in a guide book that covers the major tourist islands and read about each one and get a feel for them. One or two will rise to the top. Frommer's and Fodor's multi-island books are good and would give you a helful overview.

Happy anniversary!

Get yourself to a teavel agent... perhaps AAA or someone you know... they can do all the work and put together a package based on your available budget... consider Oahu or Maui for your first trip due to the amount of activity and the range of choices... either will give you a better bang for your buck... you have enough going on at home with the family to take on planning this special trip... let a pro do it!!!

That TRAVEL agent not teavel, sorry

Go to Kauai, home of beautiful waterfalls, beaches and sunsets and lots of laid back people. Not far from the Lihue airport is a small town called Kapaa (or Kaapa). go online and look for packages all containing some of the close to ocean places, condos, beachside hotel, I know there are a couple ones right there on the beach between airport and near Kapaa. You won't even need a car. You can walk to kayaking, waterfall, the one Im thinking of has a luau (sp?) Kapaa has some great restaurants, groceries are expensive but there is a wholesale grocer place but eat out, you deserve it. Have breakfast at the Coconut Marketplace, YUM. Upstairs in the S. end of Kapaa is a great relaxed place to eat and drink. No dressy clothes, flip flops work everyday. I love Kauai. Or, we always rented a beach property a couple miles towards Princeville area (mile 13 is how they mark it). Anahola bay. google that. check out a sm beach place. you will need a car but you can get a deal if you rent ahead since you will need to drive for groceries, etc. The beach there is fabulous, practically totally empty. Sunscreen. thats all you need and your smile!! Book your flight directly to Kauai, saves $. Forget Waikiki.