Change in plans--possible trip to Hawaii, not Boston
 

While Hubby and I may have our hoped-for Spring trip to Boston scotched, a Friend living for a while in Hawaii has invited us to visit. This would be November.

Friend is in a 2bd/2ba place on Oahu, with parking for 2d car and a car rental is 2 blocks away! How perfect can you get. I just need to wear long sleeves or use high level sunblock. I went to Hawaii 26 years ago with my parents and did not use a high enough sunblock. Limited but severe 2d degree burns leading to an ER visit. So laying in the sun is not for me; laying in the shade is just fine. Hubby has to be careful, too. He's Mexican but fair-skinned; in fact, with his features, height, and large build, most people already think he's Japanese, Korean, or Samoan--who happens to speak really good Spanish!

Friend suggests a 3-4 day tour of the other islands, so I'm looking into that. We could have as much as 11 days! Hubby wants to see Pearl Harbor/Arizona Memorial. We both want to relax and see beautiful vistas.

All is dependent on Hubby actually being able to get the time off. Assuming he does, are there things/places that advanced reservations are really required or can we play things by ear? Any activities or sites that are sooo touristy they should/can be skipped? Or shouldn't be missed?

Oh, we're not drinkers (due to medications) and REAL hiking's not our style. I'm hoping to see some sights but mostly get poor Hubby to relax.

When in "Spring"? Whale Season is Jan.- Mar. and best viewed from Maui.

This is also High Season in Hawaii with many places reserved a year in advance.

You could have a change of scene right on Oahu -- with no time lost hopping to another island. Stay both Waikiki and North Shore.

Where is this 2 BR condo? I'm assuming Honolulu.

November.

Oops! I see it now. November. Thanks, sf7307!

You could still enjoy Turtle Bay (protected bay), but better snorkeling will be south.

Visitors with at least ten nights in Hawaii can do two islands. A three-nighter would put Big Island out of the picture unless you only wanted to do Volcano National Park (Hilo). November isn't the greatest time for Kauai's most gorgeous north shore, but you could stay Poipu. Hmm...we are back to Maui, or possibly Lanai?

If this is primarily R&R, just stay on Oahu, possibly splitting between Honolulu and north shore.

I could easily spend all 11 days on Oahu myself. I'd be in heaven! Staying with your friends, then renting a car to go out around the island there's plenty to see and do to fill your time (without laying in the sun or drinking). But it's also enough time if you want to add one other island. Just depends on you.

Friend suggested we at least take a multi-day tour of other islands, which sounds like a good idea. Highlights of other islands but in-depth on Oahu.

@suze, that's our style: wandering a bit and seeing the local stuff and local spots. Well, in addition to the tourist sites.

Perhaps you friend is talking about the NCL cruise that departs Honolulu every Saturday afternoon and goes to Kauai, Maui and Big Island? It's the only sane way to glimpse the highlights of three islands in only one week.

Visiting more than one other islan in ten nights would show you primarily airports and car rental agencies. Many organized 'tours' are for Asian tourists or Seniors.

One week, stay on one island. Ten nights, two islands. Two weeks, three islands -- unless one is Big Island of Hawaii which needs a week, minimum.

The NCL Pride of America cruise is not for people who love to cruise -- quite plain. It can be reasonable if you book a basic cabin and don't take every ship's tour. Many people book a rental car at some ports.

If you like to wander and be low-key, just stay on Oahu. There's plenty to fill your time. Things I have enjoyed most around Waikiki include things like the Farmers Market (Sat AM at Kapiolani CC down near DiamondHead), seeing the free music and dance shows you'll find around, maybe a couple tours (I loved Doris Duke's Shangri La estate, but there's also Bishop Museum and Iolani Palace). Chinatown in Honolulu. Maybe a car rental for a day or two and do the 'circle tour' of the island.

a quick plane ride and you can be on Maui or Kauai both enjoyable for 3-4 days. Prefer Kauai over Maui.. Kasuai... Poipu Beach area, Waimea Canyon (drive up to it or fly over it in a helicopter), Bike riding in Kapaa, Hanalei for a day, should cover 3-4- days. I'd def.go to another island for a few days. You never know when you will be back. BTW a fairly easy hike (even the young kids do it) is Diamond Head on Oahu The views are spectacular and you can work off some the Luau food!

pardon the spelling above. It has been a long day for me. that should be KAUAI!

Well, Hubby is trying for the days off. He works at a hospital, so things can be difficult.

I've read that Diamond Head and Pearl Harbor are both better earlier in the day, so we'll shoot for that. Hubby wants to relax and just laze, totally unlike our vacation to DC/NYC, where we DID slow down here and there.

Once we find out it's a go, I'll be getting flights and looking into a few days on another island.

One thought - if your husband can't get the full time off but could get some (4-6) consecutive days, you could go for the full 11 days - relax, shop, take in local activities and he could join you for more of the tourist activities and some relaxing days too.

You can book advance tickets to Pearl Harbor USS Arizonal Memorial online now...www.recreation.gov - just search for Pearl Harbor. This saves you time from waiting on line for tickets when you get to the site itself, but there is a $1.50 online booking fee which is more than reasonable for a guaranteed time spot. If you're just doing the USS Arizona Memorial, reserve at least 2.5 hours here as there is a lot to see in the museums prior to you boarding the ferry to the memorial itself. If you intend to visit all the other attractions at Pearl Harbor, like the Bowfin submarine, and the destroyer (these are not free I think) then you definitely will need more time here.

For 10 days...I have spent 10 days in Oahu and I thought that wasn't enough time. Me and my husband are type of travelers that like to explore one day and relax the next and we are big foodies too. We loved the farmer's markets and touring the north shore, windward sides, and finding unique local places to eat all around the island. We stayed in a condo in Waikiki. If your'e staying with friends, that's even better! I think maybe you'd want to spend the bulk of time with them and then aybe spend 2-3 nights on your own at a resort in Ko Olina (west side) or the north shore towards the end of your trip? By then you should have seen most of the sites and maybe would like some time to chill on your own.

If you really want to do another island, I am thinking maybe Kauai or Maui because Big Island really deserves more than a few days. I've been to Hawaii in november before (pre-Thanksgiving) and it's just wonderful, weather was perfect, the crowds are LOW, and lots of great deals, making it my favorite time to go. Have fun!

Thanks everyone, especially size, shar, and tiff!

Tifa, are you my long lost twin?! That is EXACTLY what we want to do--toodle around and relax! I figure we can spend part of the time taking thebus and rent a car for our jaunting days.

Well, we got our plane tickets. Finally! Looks like we're going. American--prices were within $10, whether through the airline, kayak, expedia, amex, whatever, United was comparable. Less than $900 for us both, total. Early morning departure from Fresno and connecting flight in LA; reverse for the return.

Hubby is transferring departments at work and will have been at his new job only 3 weeks before taking off! The new boss okayed it.

I have a "pages" sheet that will go to my phone, with hot links for sightseeing and eateries. Worked great in DC/NYC, so I figured I do it here. It takes a bit to make up, but research is needed anyway. This makes it easier to explain to Hubby.

Now what I need advice on is a rental car. Since we're staying with a friend who has two parking spots, no fee there. We're thinking of renting a car the whole time, even if we don't take it everyday. I could use some opinions on this, and which rental company. I can get some discount through AAA or USAA on some companies.

Anybody have input I can consider?