Tentative BI Itinerary :

Who: me and DS ages 55 and 27. We work out, so I'm in relatively good shape for my age endurance wise. We will have a 4 wheel drive rental. For reasons I'll not go into here, I'm trying to be very frugal in some areas (food and lodging in general) while splurging on some activities. A/C is of prime importance to us, so please don't try talking us into a place that doesn't offer this...the places are relatively 'set'. Also, been to Maui and Oahu, so no sway to there, please.

When: May '07 (the 2nd or after)
Where: 5nts. Keauhou Beach Resort, 1 @ a B&B in Hilo and 1 on VNP @ Kilauea Lodge
Flight: Out of ATL to Kona. Hilo to LIH. Hopefully a direct, non-stop flight to HI and back.

arrive ~3PM – settle in and relax, maybe explore nearby areas.

Question 1) Are there any outstanding rates/coupons for this resort or the lodge in the Entertainment Book? (less than $ 118). I plan to purchase one after the rates fall the first of the year, but would like to go ahead and make my reservations now.

1st Day: Surf lessons that AM for DS then tour Hwy 250 areas up to Hawi to shop/ short hikes/ snorkel Two Step at Place of Refuge. Come back the coastal route, stopping as needed. - Could I do this while DS is doing day 2 activity?

Question 2) Is the above too much to plan for one day? What to cut/re-arrange?

2nd Day: Trike Ride (Powered Hang Glider) for DS while I snorkel? Shop?

Question 3) What do you think that a mom would like to do that may not interest DS as much.....probably shop! I'm not big on lounging on the beach or pool for a tan. I like to activities. Would like to do my lounging in the evening to view the beautiful sunsets. Probably at a beach bar. Maybe I could do the Green Mtn. Coffee tour at this time (not prime importance, but I'm a coffee freak and DS is not).

3rd Day: Seaquest snorkel tour vs kayaking (if calm) to Cook's. I'd prefer to kayak with a group if possible (for a security blanket)...we have our own snorkel gear.

4th Day: Manta Ray Night Dive. We're not certified so we may just have to snorkel instead of the acutal dive, unless they can give us a quick lesson in order to do this. (No diving experience what-so-ever).


5th Day: Maybe sleep in and check out for Hilo check into B&B. See Thurston Lava Tubes, Akaka Falls, Waipo Overlook
Maybe the Tsunami Museum and some of the beautiful gardens?falls

6th : Leave Hilo. More of whatever we missed on day 5....or begin hiking the VNP area? Check into VNP Kilauea Lodge. Do the day & night lava hike. Hope to go see the crater (I know, only as far as is safe).

7th Day: Leave via Hilo Airport for Kauai.

Question 4) How long will it take us to get there from the lodge?


Kauai Trip Planning:
5 nts. Islander on the Beach

Day 1: AM Helicopter to waterfalls.

Day 2: Little Grand Canyon hike(s)

Day 3: Catamaran or kayak the Napali Coast

Day 4: Snorkel Tunnels and Ke'e . Hike the 1st couple miles of Kalalau Trail.

Day 5: Maybe snorkel Poipu and fly out in the afternoon ~ 3 PM

Question 5: Are there direct flights back to US from Kauai (or do you have to go through HNL, as I think I recall)?

DS will have only 10 work days to use and he will have to drive back 5-6 hrs by car from the airport after we arrive in ATL, so I'm trying to plan him time to fly back and get home to MS without getting in trouble with his new job.

Question 6) What would you swap around in the interest of better planning? I know there is so much more to do than what our time allows, but what would you recommend we substitute, if anything? Any day better than the next besides the wind/rain/surf conditions?

Qustion 7) I did consider just breezing by Hilo in order to spend two nights in Kilauea...any thoughts?

Mahalo to all! I'm looking forward to your suggestions, esp. regarding the activities.

Also, looking for a GTG with Matinikstym (see the other forum)on BI, and auntiemaria on Kauia...did I leave anyone out? If so, jump in!!

I'd cancel Kauai and spend all the time on The Big Island. More to do, see eat, party.
Whoever gave you any Kauai advice is crazy.

Krazy Kal

Ps...before anyone jumps you, you mean "flights back to the mainland".
and yes...Non stops from Lihue to SF and LA.

Oh...and BTW...

THE SAND BAR IS REOPENED!!!!!
\/ ><

Duh!!! How could I have forgotten and made such a slip!!!!! Apologies to all you US Hawaiian citizens!!!!!

None back to ATL from LIH?? I really want to avoid stops as much as possible.

Kal, notice how I just ignored that 'other' remark??

And thanks for the info!

Soooo, you're really taking the Kaua'i plunge, eh? I'll play my answer "straight", which is going against type. :-"

If you're into gardens, Kaua'i has some amazing ones. When you're up on the north shore one day, check out Limahuli Gardens just down the road from Ke'e Beach. A very cool place.

Another very cool spot is the Kilauea Lighthouse/Bird Sanctuary. It closes at 4pm.

Get off the highway in Hanalei and take a drive down to the pier and walk the beach or go for a swim. Do this in the am on your way up to Ke'e or Makua (Tunnels) Beach.

A great bar to watch the sunset is the Living Room at the Princeville Hotel. Ditto the Happy Talk Lounge at the Hanalei Bay Resort.

One of my favorite areas to hike on Kaua'i the Mahaulepu area just south of the Hyatt in Poipu.

Happy planning!

-Bill

Big Island, Day 1: Hawi and Two Step are quite a drive from each other. You might be better off to split these into different days. When you go to Two Step, check out the Place of Refuge. I loved snorkeling at Two Step.

Hawi was beautiful, and there's good ice cream there, too.

Thanks for the tips, iamq...I hope to check out that garden...just alot to do an so little time, we'll see. An definitely want to see Hanalei Beach (hope to stay up there on some future visit).

kurieff: Oh, I somehow got confused and thought it was near Hawi...see now that it's closer to Kona. I'll have to give it more thought as to changing it around. I presume the ride up to Hawi and back will take at least 1/2 day? What about doing the Place of Refuge and snorkel Two step before riding north on Hwy 250? Would that work?

I think you could do both in a day; it's just a lot of driving. The distances seemed somewhat deceptive to me; it just took longer to get places than I expected because the roads are narrow and there are a lot of curves.

I would combine Hawi with Waimea and the Waikoloa resort area with a stop at Hapuna Beach for boogie boarding.

Maybe you could combine Place of Refuge and Two-Step with the coffee plantation visit.

I used to live in Hawaii for 10 yrs and we travel there all the time. ( well, once a yearLOL) Here is my 2 cents.

I find the entertainment books aren't that great. Go to their site and see if there are any coupons that might help. I always found them to be a waste.

If you go to Kauai Yes the North Shore is awesome and go to Poipu to see the seals.

Also, if I had to chose 1 tour there, I would do the Niihau cruise. it also goes by Napali coast line too. It is worth it.

Now as far as these tours..if you can say NO, do a time share presentation. They will save you around 50% on your tickets for activities. Some of them can book things on all the islands for you so you don't have to go to multiple ones. Just make sure you say NO.

As far as airline tickets...always call for rates after 12am on Wed night (12 AM of where their main office is) This is when the airline reset their prices. So if there is a reduction, you will grab it before all the seats at that rate are gone.

We flew from Cleveland last year for $480 to Maui. So it is worth it.

Another thing is check priceline for your hotel. I have gotten great deals from there.

Go to http://p070.ezboard.com/bpricelineandexpediabidding first and see what people are winning bids at and you can view what the hotels are for the various stars.

Anyway, that is it for now. If you have any other questions, you can email me or post here again

Have fun.

Belle, congratulations on your upcoming trip.

There is a hotel section in the Entertainment Book. This section is separate from the coupon section.
The listings are for all states.

Outrigger Keauhou Beach Resort is on the list. Couldn't find any of the others.

I've never used the hotel section of the book.

But, this is how it works (I think)

You have to make reservations through them.

By phone: 1800-50-HOTEL (1-800-504-6835)

2 nights $10 rebate
3 or 4 nights $20 rebate
5, 6 or 7 nights $30 rebate
8 or 9 nights $50 rebate
10 nights $100 rebate

Online: www.entertainment.com/hotels

Rebate is doubled for online reservations

There is a rebate certificate in the book (also you can print a form online)

Send in rebate form after your stay at the hotel.

Rebate amount will be credited to your credit card.

There is also a statement at the bottom of the hotel listings that states:

Go to www.entertainment.com/hotels for the entire list of over 15,000 properties.

So the other hotels may still show up.

The biggest problem I see is that booking the hotels eliminates any savings by not being able to book package deals.

You can look at these for package deals. Both expedia.com & hawaii.com allow for multiple destinations.

www.expedia.com

www.hawaii.com

Free brochure:

www.bigisland.org

www.kauaidiscovery.com

o2: Thanks for your response! I don't want to waste a minute and have very little patience with sales people, so will skip any time share 'deals'. I consider my time as money.

I did find the ET book beneficial for our Oahu and Maui trip last year, but bought it when it was only $9.99(either April or May) and therefore did not get the car rental or hotel savings benefits.

I would like to try that after 12AM tip, but how do you find out the time(s) of where their main office(s) is(are)?

I've only Pricelined once with the help of iceeu2 and OWJ holding my hand and telling me how to do it for the area I wanted (ATL). I would be terrified to try it for Kona!

I didn't see your email listed, did I miss something?

Thanks dusty! I'l check out the ET thing and see if it beats the 5th night free offer. I'm hesitant to do a package...less control. Have had some communication break down with it before.

Belle, if you are planning to fly Delta from ATL to KOA, be aware, they are messing with the flights right now. And, if you do use Delta, the flight is Atlanta to Salt Lake City to Kona.....now, you can get a direct flight from HNL to ATL.

And, I think a few years ago, I saw that you can fly Continental and maybe a couple of others from Lihue to Atlanta...don't remember.

Oh, what fun!!

iceeu2, Thanks! Did you get my earlier email?

Have you gotten your flights yet? With whom?

Yes, our Delta flights are ATL-KOA with a stop in Salt Lake City. However, it appears they are not going to have a flight for the day we have booked and we will have to leave a day earlier!!!

And, coming home we are doing HNL-ATL non stop.

Got your email and will respond tomorrow. Don't ya just love it when a plan comes together???

Thanks and yes...just praying it actually does!

ttt

OSB!
Bad enough you'be lowered your standards to go to Kauai....you're actually staying at The Islander?!?!

Have you lost your mind dear girl?!? Best to cut your losses and make the best of it since the flights are booked. Just make sure you pack lots of food, bug spray and flashlights, cuz you ganna be needin dem!

And be careful with the crowd at the newly opened bar. From all I've heard they are a reckless crew with a crazy wild kahuna dude that will only cause you trouble!

Lookin' forward to hearing all there is to know about BI!

It would be a shame to miss Polihale while on the Waimea side of the isle.

More later....

You screwed up and are stuck going to Kauai....wooooohooooo!!!
Sistah

icee dahling! share my address with this dear girl if she has any q's I might help with.