Big Island/Kauai Plans &???
Aug 9th, 2006, 03:47 PM
#41
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Hi OSB! (I'm heading to your state briefly next week.
To answer some of your questions:
I stayed at Kilauea Lodge (actually in its Tutu's Cottage) and loved it--you will too. You'll love their big lodge dining room--bkfast included in room price-and the big fireplace. I'd say stay there two nights--have dinner there on of those--and skip Hilo. Or two nights in Hilo, skip Kilauea Lodge. Either way, Volcano Village and Hilo are so close, it'd be a few hours wasted (IMHO) to pack-unpack-repack after for such a short drive.
WHICH Keauhou Resort? Sheraton has one, and what used to be Aston, then Outrigger/Ohana (still?) has one. I've stayed at the latter--love it. Saw the Sheraton, didn't stay, and was glad, tho' this was before their grand reopening (of a long- abandoned hotel) in 2005.
SInce youre staying at Islander in Kapaa( have stayed there too)... some evening,take a flashlight and walk south along the beach maybe 1/4 mile to the Kukui heiau on the small hill--on the Lae nani condos property. Under the stars, at the edge of the ocean, it's easy to imagine the first Polynesians arriving from afar. ( Don't have TOO many drinks at Islander beforehand tho
--easy to trip on the trail coming down).
Have a wonderful trip with your DS!!
To answer some of your questions:
I stayed at Kilauea Lodge (actually in its Tutu's Cottage) and loved it--you will too. You'll love their big lodge dining room--bkfast included in room price-and the big fireplace. I'd say stay there two nights--have dinner there on of those--and skip Hilo. Or two nights in Hilo, skip Kilauea Lodge. Either way, Volcano Village and Hilo are so close, it'd be a few hours wasted (IMHO) to pack-unpack-repack after for such a short drive.
WHICH Keauhou Resort? Sheraton has one, and what used to be Aston, then Outrigger/Ohana (still?) has one. I've stayed at the latter--love it. Saw the Sheraton, didn't stay, and was glad, tho' this was before their grand reopening (of a long- abandoned hotel) in 2005.
SInce youre staying at Islander in Kapaa( have stayed there too)... some evening,take a flashlight and walk south along the beach maybe 1/4 mile to the Kukui heiau on the small hill--on the Lae nani condos property. Under the stars, at the edge of the ocean, it's easy to imagine the first Polynesians arriving from afar. ( Don't have TOO many drinks at Islander beforehand tho
--easy to trip on the trail coming down).Have a wonderful trip with your DS!!
Aug 12th, 2006, 02:43 AM
#46
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OSB, going to NE corner, Texarkana. I'll let you know when we travel a bit more and head south!
Daughter fell in love with a guy from your state, enough to leave SFBay Area and live in the Lone Star State. After first visiting in March, I posted on FFRR a rave for Texans who must have something in their water supply --are you all really that wonderfully welcoming to strangers? Anyway, i loved it.
OK, back to your trip...
So glad it's at Ohana/Outrigger Keauhou Beach. The snack shack there makes the BEST tuna salad sandwiches, and sitting in that casual breezy open air place near ocean's edge is bliss. This is between the hotel and the beach (Kahuluu) --a whopping two minute walk. There are heiaus, and a cottage of the Hawaiian royal family there. You'll love it. For your and your son who work out, there's a small exercise room off the lobby. Sweat while you look at the Pacific! Sea turtles congregate in the water in front of and under the hotel--you can't miss 'em!
I've used the Entertainment card for hotel discounts. Ask for "travel club" rate and bring your E card with you. In May, according to the Outrigger web site, travel club rate for a room is $120, if that seems a good deal to you. An oceanview room is a little more. We stayed in the "deluxe ov room" when it was an Aston room's lanai goes right out over the ocean, with great views of those turtles in the clear water beneath you. Ahhhh....
When there, head south of Keauhou to small towns between there and Captain Cook. There are some great bkfast places(one was in an old theater, will try to recall name and find out if it's still there). Further on is Kealakekua Bay (no grass shack though) coffee plantation country, small roads with "honor boxes" for buying leis strung on a tree, Place of Refuge.
How're you gonna get through the next ten months???
Daughter fell in love with a guy from your state, enough to leave SFBay Area and live in the Lone Star State. After first visiting in March, I posted on FFRR a rave for Texans who must have something in their water supply --are you all really that wonderfully welcoming to strangers? Anyway, i loved it.
OK, back to your trip...
So glad it's at Ohana/Outrigger Keauhou Beach. The snack shack there makes the BEST tuna salad sandwiches, and sitting in that casual breezy open air place near ocean's edge is bliss. This is between the hotel and the beach (Kahuluu) --a whopping two minute walk. There are heiaus, and a cottage of the Hawaiian royal family there. You'll love it. For your and your son who work out, there's a small exercise room off the lobby. Sweat while you look at the Pacific! Sea turtles congregate in the water in front of and under the hotel--you can't miss 'em!
I've used the Entertainment card for hotel discounts. Ask for "travel club" rate and bring your E card with you. In May, according to the Outrigger web site, travel club rate for a room is $120, if that seems a good deal to you. An oceanview room is a little more. We stayed in the "deluxe ov room" when it was an Aston room's lanai goes right out over the ocean, with great views of those turtles in the clear water beneath you. Ahhhh....
When there, head south of Keauhou to small towns between there and Captain Cook. There are some great bkfast places(one was in an old theater, will try to recall name and find out if it's still there). Further on is Kealakekua Bay (no grass shack though) coffee plantation country, small roads with "honor boxes" for buying leis strung on a tree, Place of Refuge.
How're you gonna get through the next ten months???
Aug 12th, 2006, 03:04 AM
#47
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I don't know - answer to the last ?
But I have another....I made reservs at the Keauhou two nights ago. Got a Senior rate of $139 'moderate room' (least expensive).
Are you telling me the travel club is the E card? I saw the travel club listed, but didn't know what it was.
Do you think that I would have any trouble changing the reservations after buying the Entertainment Book?
Also made reserves for 1 nt. Emeraldview B&B in Hilo and 1 in Kilauea Lodge yesterday. Dinner reserved at 8:00.
I had hoped to do the night lava walk, but may have to miss that for coming back early enough to eat dinner.
Would it be better to book dinner early - say 6:00 and then go for the lava walk at night? Flashlights and hiking stick in hand?
What is the dress code at the Lodge for dinner?
Thanks for all the good detailed info!
But I have another....I made reservs at the Keauhou two nights ago. Got a Senior rate of $139 'moderate room' (least expensive).
Are you telling me the travel club is the E card? I saw the travel club listed, but didn't know what it was.
Do you think that I would have any trouble changing the reservations after buying the Entertainment Book?
Also made reserves for 1 nt. Emeraldview B&B in Hilo and 1 in Kilauea Lodge yesterday. Dinner reserved at 8:00.
I had hoped to do the night lava walk, but may have to miss that for coming back early enough to eat dinner.
Would it be better to book dinner early - say 6:00 and then go for the lava walk at night? Flashlights and hiking stick in hand?
What is the dress code at the Lodge for dinner?
Thanks for all the good detailed info!
Aug 12th, 2006, 10:48 AM
#48
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OSB.....did you book your air yet? Don't count on Delta getting you to Kona.......I just spent over an hour on the phone with them getting our flights changed since they no longer fly into Kona. You can send me an email since your email address is at work.
Cali....I don't think OSB is from the Lone Star State.
Cali....I don't think OSB is from the Lone Star State.
Aug 12th, 2006, 12:08 PM
#49
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Hey Again,
Sorry I was out of town for a few days. I'm back
I would just call reservations and ask them where their hub is. I think Continental is Cleveland and American is Dallas ( I think).
Then according to their time zone for their office, call in at that time and they will reset the prices.
I just used it this week and save $100 a ticket to Nevada. I snatched up one of the last seats.
That's great you were able to use the emtertainment book. See, I bought the for I think $25 and found most of the coupons were not what I was interested in.
You can email me...I am not sure if I can give it out with out them blocking it but it is this screen name and then "atAOLdotcom" you know what I mean. LOL
Good luck
Sorry I was out of town for a few days. I'm back
I would just call reservations and ask them where their hub is. I think Continental is Cleveland and American is Dallas ( I think).
Then according to their time zone for their office, call in at that time and they will reset the prices.
I just used it this week and save $100 a ticket to Nevada. I snatched up one of the last seats.
That's great you were able to use the emtertainment book. See, I bought the for I think $25 and found most of the coupons were not what I was interested in.
You can email me...I am not sure if I can give it out with out them blocking it but it is this screen name and then "atAOLdotcom" you know what I mean. LOL
Good luck
Aug 12th, 2006, 01:38 PM
#50
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SouthernBelle, you're right--the Entertainment Card rate is the "travel club" rate. (I refuse to use the "old" part, as you're younger than I!)
You'll have absolutely no trouble changing the reservation type if you call Outrigger.
For $130 you can get a partial ocean view room using the E car/travel club rate, or moderate room for $120. You can use any state's Entetainment card--doesn't have to be Hawaii's--for those rates.
Don't forget to add on that HI state hotel tax which last time i checked was 14%.
All lanai rooms at the Keauhou face the ocean--some are just closer than others.
You can request a higher level floor.
BTW (you probably know this)if you and DS play tennis, they have tennis courts on the grounds. My nephew loved that feature.
Icee, thanks for the locale correction. Belle, I thought you lived in Texas??? oops.
We dressed "casual" style for dinner at Kilauea Lodge-- tee shirts, slacks. No one in the dining room was "dressed up." We too made a late, last seating dinner reservation--can't recall exact time, maybe 8:30?-- and just made it, speeding up Chain of Craters Road from the end of the road by the old lava. However, we did not walk all the way to the lava flow -- a 3 mile trek at that time (1998). Conditions change all the time--hopefuly when you are there the flowing lava will be lots closer to the road (you can get updates on lava location Volcano Nat'l Park web site.
Folks at Kilauea Lodge were very helpful about the juggling the time; I recall specifically they said they had dinner guest all the time who came in from seeing the lava. Check with them, and maybe a sunset chart for that time of year, to see if you're better off with a very early vs very late, dinner.
Good news, OSB: only NINE months.
Think of it it as the gestation period for a wonderful trip.
You'll have absolutely no trouble changing the reservation type if you call Outrigger.
For $130 you can get a partial ocean view room using the E car/travel club rate, or moderate room for $120. You can use any state's Entetainment card--doesn't have to be Hawaii's--for those rates.
Don't forget to add on that HI state hotel tax which last time i checked was 14%.
All lanai rooms at the Keauhou face the ocean--some are just closer than others.
You can request a higher level floor.
BTW (you probably know this)if you and DS play tennis, they have tennis courts on the grounds. My nephew loved that feature.
Icee, thanks for the locale correction. Belle, I thought you lived in Texas??? oops.
We dressed "casual" style for dinner at Kilauea Lodge-- tee shirts, slacks. No one in the dining room was "dressed up." We too made a late, last seating dinner reservation--can't recall exact time, maybe 8:30?-- and just made it, speeding up Chain of Craters Road from the end of the road by the old lava. However, we did not walk all the way to the lava flow -- a 3 mile trek at that time (1998). Conditions change all the time--hopefuly when you are there the flowing lava will be lots closer to the road (you can get updates on lava location Volcano Nat'l Park web site.
Folks at Kilauea Lodge were very helpful about the juggling the time; I recall specifically they said they had dinner guest all the time who came in from seeing the lava. Check with them, and maybe a sunset chart for that time of year, to see if you're better off with a very early vs very late, dinner.
Good news, OSB: only NINE months.
Think of it it as the gestation period for a wonderful trip.
Aug 22nd, 2006, 10:53 AM
#52
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Hi Calinurse, This question is for you about Tutu's Place. We'll be there in November, family of four. I can only see the living room picture on the Kilauea Lodge website-how are the bedrooms and bathroom? Is there a garden and lanai? How's the road/surroundings? Mahalo for any info. you can give me!
Aug 27th, 2006, 03:20 PM
#55
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I've been at a meeting at Perdido Beach all week, so haven't been able to post.
I'm planning on ordering the ET book tomorrow so that I can re-book the Keauhou at the better rates.
Am re-thinking the one night in Hilo, but haven't made a change ( and may not - just generally waffling ).
I'll try to post the tentative itinerary thus far later this week to see what you guys think.
I'm planning on ordering the ET book tomorrow so that I can re-book the Keauhou at the better rates.
Am re-thinking the one night in Hilo, but haven't made a change ( and may not - just generally waffling ).
I'll try to post the tentative itinerary thus far later this week to see what you guys think.
