patreese

I am going to Hawaii for the first time. Jan.29 2015 until February 16 2015(17 nights). We are flying into Oahu and home from Maui. Any and all help will be appreciated!

Tomsd

That's great. A little info about what you want to do, spending range, etc - would help others provide advice - and have you read the many threads in here on Hawaii.

kanunu

We have done the exact same trip as you, several times.... and every time was different. Hope to do it again in 12 months.
As Tom said, providing more info will help us help you.

patreese

Good morning all,
A quick update for help, we are 2 couples, non avid swimmers, so no scuba diving(maybe snorkeling)
Budget for accommodations approx. 300 a night.
Condo over hotel?
Prefer less children, but not party crowd
2 islands or 3?
Want to do the tourist things but also want real Hawaii as well.

wekewoody

Keep it simple and stick with Oahu for the first part of your trip and Maui for the last part since you are flying into one and out of the other. If you wanted to see Volcano National Park, you could squeeze in two or three nights on the BI near Hilo or the in the park.

There are lots of nice condos in Waikiki and on Maui.
In your price range check out the Park View in Waikiki and Grand Champoins in Wailea as a starting place.

ChiSue

This is a very popular time to visit Hawaii. People reserve condos and hotels as much as a year ahead. There are snowbirds avoiding harsh mainland winters, and there it is Whale Season (Jan. - Mar.), best enjoyed from Maui. It's also winter in Hawaii, with better weather and ocean conditions south on Kauai, Oahu and to some extent on Maui. (Still fine to *tour* north on these islands.)

You can 'do' three of the smaller islands in 17 nights -- if you want. Remember that each interisland 'hop' will eat about half a day, door to door, due primarily to TSA rules at the airports. You will need a rental car everywhere outside of Honolulu. (I'd get one there too; economy of scale with four people.)

Think about what you want to see and do on each island, then allocate you time accordingly. Reserve rental cars as soon as you choose your islands.

For about twenty years, my husband and I stayed two to four weeks on each of the four major islands in winter. (Don't worry about being bored!) Now we stay South Maui for two months. This is not Hawaii's best season, but it sure beats snow and cold at home, and there are whales!

A condo is nice for stays of a week or more. I'd use a hotel for a somewhat shorter stay on Waikiki. Few condos will have two master suites. (If you will use two condos, you might alternate which couple gets the MBR.)

This site has aerials and reviews of most lodgings in Hawaii: www.hawaiirevealed.com

I'm going to give you this site for South Maui condos to spur you to get busy booking -- once you see the tight availability! www.mauiownercondos.com

Ozarksbill

A couple of years ago we went to Hawaii as we had hoped for years. Ours was a Road Scholar program including a stay in Honolulu and then on board Pride of America to visit other islands. This won't be your plan but hope you enjoy the islands as did we. Seeing the volcanoes, Iao Valley St Pk, craters, rain forest was special. I will mention that the movie "The Descendants" seen afterwards was enjoyed.
http://www.fodors.community/united-s...ii-finally.cfm

Shar

VRBO.com to find condos. R u saying $300.00 total or $300.00 per couple? cannot help you on Maui as it is not my favorite. DH and I always got to Kauai unless it is BI. Go to Honolulu for girl time with sis. Aston Waikiki Tower is lovely on Oahu but would run you more than $300.00 for a 2 bedroom 2 bath. You could get a nice condo (VRBO) at Waikiki Shore. Right on the beach, great lanai 2 bedrooms but only 1 bath but it is quite large. Waikiki Sunset or Waikiki Banyon ...2 condos would run you slightly over $300.00.

Tomsd

If you get a good deal on Maui - you could also do a day trip to the Volcano on Big Island (into Hilo - and the Volcano is maybe a half hour away/up the hill from the airport) - or even take along an overnight tote and spend a night at either the Visitor's center or in nearby Volcano Village.

patreese

Good Morning and a quick update! I think the plan is to stay 7 or 8 days in Oahu, then hop to the big island for 2 to 3 days(to see the volcano) then over to Maui for the remainder.
What I would like to know is where to stay city, location wise, really confused about this. The budget is 300 per night each couple.(this can be changed if needed) Prefer to stay separate but will we get better deal for 2 bedroom?

martym

We went to Oahu 2 years ago and stayed in this condo in the Ilikai Marina building (not to be confused with the Ilikai Hotel and Suites)--It was as the photos show--very nice--overlooking the marina just to the west of Waikiki--Duke's Lagoon which is in front of the Hilton Hawaiian Village is a 5 minute walk away (you can see it in the photos). http://www.vrbo.com/148073 is the condo we stayed in

The following link is the VRBO listing for all the condos for rent in that building (appears there are 39 of them) All are one bedroom--so you could rent 2--and many are within your price range. The building has a parking garage--I don't remember what the daily rate is--but it is Waikiki so somewhat expensive but you have in and out privileges. Ala Moana shopping center is less than 10 minutes away and has a supermarket.

http://www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals.../ilikai-marina 39 rentals

sylvia3

"spend a night at ...the Visitor's center"
I suppose you could hide in the bathroom until the place is locked down for the night (5 p.m.)?!
Lodging within the park can be found at the Volcano House: http://www.hawaiivolcanohouse.com/
There are also very neat cabins available nearby for much less $$ (have to reserve through the Volcano House site). (Go to the army base down the road for a hot breakfast)

On Maui, right across from the Kamaole Beach Parks (I, II, III), you'll find the Kamaole Sands, Hale Kamole, and Maui Kamole condo complexes well within your budget; all are well equipped, have very nice grounds, and are well located, near Kehei, but far enough to avoid any noise. Also puts you in easy access of the terrific beaches of the west to south part of Maui.
http://www.mauikamaole.com/
http://www.kamaolesands.com/
They also have lots of availability on VRBO.http://www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals...ui/kihei/south

wekewoody

We stayed here on Maui recently and liked it a lot. Lots of space for two. There are lots of listings for one bedrooms at Ekahi Village on vrbo.com.

http://www.vrbo.com/438450

I think your plan sounds great.

patreese

Thanks for all the info!
Can anyone recommend which part of Maui to stay in early February.

ElendilPickle

You've gotten some great responses in the posts here. We stayed in Wailea and liked it.

Lee Ann

ChiSue

We are in South Kihei most winters. Look at the links Sylvia and Woody provided you.

South Maui is more convenient for the first time visitor who wants to see the whole island. It's 20 minutes from Kahului (airport), which is where you begin the highway to Haleakala and the Road to Hana. Iao Valley (in Wailuku) is also on the Kahului side of the island. You can drive into West Maui and be at Lahaina in 45 minutes -- Napili and Kapalua a bit farther.

Weather should be OK from Kahana on south, but the oceans will be calmer off South Maui. I wouldn't choose Napili or Kapalua in February -- wind, rain.

wekewoody

Wailea in February has always worked for us.