When we stayed at Club Med in the Bahamas for a week with our 3 and 5 year old kids, we were told the rooms were for 2 only and we could have adjoining rooms, but not 4 in one room. Since they wouldn't budge, and kids under 6 were free that month (which is why we went to Club Med), we went ahead with the adjoining rooms and it was wonderful! The two kids are now 23 and 25 and remember that as their greatest vacation ever because they had their own room!

Ashley: sometimes when I have 4 or 5 hotel choices, I send an email to them all, with all of them listed on the same email, and tell them I am traveling with my family, am interested in their hotel, request what I want and can they offer it and at what price - you might try that and save yourself some phone calling first and see what you get.

I do think the trick is to get away from the general booking and reservations websites. Try to reach a live person who actually works at the hotel front desk. I'm not sure about the big chain hotels, but this works perfectly with independent places.

By the time I arrive I'm already "friends" with the manager or person in charge of the front desk.

With a family of four, I've occasionally lied. Although most of the time, I didn't have to. The majority of the properties we stayed at allowed 2 children under 18 with two beds (up to 4 diamond props).

Unless you are going somewhere that is extremely difficult to get into I wouldn't book anything a year in advance. The main issue would be you will be paying more generally than if you wait. What you can try is looking at roughly the same time period this year and get prices to work out a more accurate budget.
This trip is turning out to be our most expensive as far as airfare we are going the end of June. I saw fares over a $100 pp less for departures the first thru mid June. I think if you try less farout dates you will get better response even on the websites.

I called the following hotels directly and talked to the person in charge of room reservations. I asked if they allowed four people (2 adults, 2 children) in a standard room. I also asked for summer prices. Here is what I found out:

Halekulani: Only three people to a room. Family plan would get you two rooms in ocean view category; first room is 535 and second is "discounted" at 405!

kahala: Accepts four if children are under 18. They only have rack rates available for next summer. Ocean view is 695 a night.

JW Marriott Ihilani: Accepts four with children under 18. Ocean view is 359 a night.

Turtle Bay: Yes to four with above age guidelines. Ocean front room is 338-367 (depends on size of balcony) and a cottage with two queen beds is 635 a night. Both rooms have a 15.00 service fee.

Thanks for nudging me to call. Obviously we won't be staying at the Halekulani! It looks like I will have to keep checking back at the Kahala for their better rates or book at the Marriott for a couple nights. Then switch over to Turtle Bay for a few nights too. Anyone have an opinion which is better, Kahala or Marriott? Maybe I should post that question on its own thread.

The JW Marriott Ihilani at Ko'Olina? IF so, it is a beautiful place with lagoons that your young children will love. You'd need a car as it is pretty far removed from Honolulu. The restaurants are really good too.

Marriott has timeshares that rent and they have nice 2 bedrooms and are next to Ohilani. The 2 bedroom units have a full kitchen and washer and dryer in unit. They also have a 1 bedroom unit that is a "lockout" for the 2 bedroom. It has a mini kitchen with refridgerator, microwave, coffee pot, toaster and dishes etc. The couch in the sitting area is a pullout and perhaps your kids could sleep in it. No privacy for you. We went there on a timeshare presentation deal and even with the 9o minutes salestalk, it was well worth it.

Marriott Ko'Olina:
http://marriott.com/hotels/travel/hn...na-beach-club/


I googled marriott ko olina and came up rental sites that might work to get a place their two.

One more thing, I would seriously think about whether you really want to move mid stay to go to another hotel. Wasted time packing, have to check out at 10am or so and won't get into new room until 4 pm. What is really to be gained? If you have a car, you can drive to North shore.

I am not sure how long you are planning to stay, but if only a week or so, I'd suggest staying in just 1 place. Also, not sure about your kids, but some might take a while to adjust to new surroundings and if you move to another hotel mid vacation, they'll have to acclaimate all over again. IMHO

Hope this helps..
Debi

I also would not change hotels mid-way in a relatively short trip. Stay somewhere near Honolulu the entire time and take a day trip to the North Shore. Or stay at Turtle Bay the entire time and day trip once into Waikiki.

By accident I found the best place.
I was told it is actually where the locals stay when they are island hopping.
It is called the Pagoda Hotel & restaurant 1-800-367-6060
Located 1525 Rycroft Street in Honolulu www.pagodahotel.com
It was a SMILPLE room, with 2 queen beds & 4 of us stayed in the same room.
No worries & there was a real feeling of OHANA. I even had a great view from the 3rd floor to the ocean.

My dh prefers being away from the crowds. But we have never been to Oahu. So I was thinking at least one or two nights in Honolulu so we can visit Pearl Harbor in the AM and hike Diamond Head in the AM. Also would like to visit the Palace. Some of the other things we want to do are closer to the north like the Polynesian Cultural Center. I think my dh would prefer to stay at Turtle Bay because he likes that type of Hawaiian feel (similar to Kauai with a small town feel) but for convenience sake I thought it best to stay in Honolulu for a bit while doing the above mentioned sites. Am I wrong?

No, you are not wrong. For visiting the Arizona Memorial and for hiking Diamond Head, if you are on Waikiki, it is much more convenient.

Just a thought...it's not on the beach, but on the yacht harbor so is oceanfront and right next door to the Ala Moana Beach Park......check out the Hawaii Prince. Great hotel. We stayed there recently and liked it a lot. They have suites that are great.

Not to change the rant going on (hate liars too!)...but I have been researching hotels around Diamondhead and the customer comments (on travelocity and expedia etc) sound like there are a boatload of run down third world shacks! What's up. Where to stay??? Been to Oahu years ago ..just dropping in for a night this time to surprise my new husband with a visit to Arizona/Missouri. Have 2 kids...ideas?

Leslie-in-Florida:

Please start a new topic and you'll get plenty of replies!

Try the New Otani on Waikiki. Great restaurant there too.

Go Travel, what makes you think that "The hotels make more money when they are full with two people in a room than when they are full with four people in a room."?

Less labor and much less overhead.

BTW, my statement comes from years of hotel experience.\

Go Travel, you may have years of hotel experience but it wasn't at a senior management level (or even a junior management level). "Overhead" expenses do not increase with the number of people staying in a room. Cleaning and housekeeping is an operating expense, not an overhead expense. Also, any competent hotel manager would be aware of the major and growing contribution of food and beverage revenue to total hotel revenue, and the fact that food and beverage revenue DOES increase if more people are staying in each room.

Go Travel, exactly what did you do in the hotel industry for all those years?

Ashley -- I'm late to this thread, but since it sounds like you're looking for a nice hotel that's kid-friendly, why not call the Hilton Hawaiian Village and request rates for the Ali'i Tower? It's a four-star hotel, so I think any of the rooms would be suitable, but the Ali'i is more upscale and ONLY tower guests are allowed in. (We stayed in the Tapa Tower, the next one over, and loved it.)

Leslie, try Outrigger Luana, get a 1BR unit, kids can go on sleeper sofa while you have a room to yourselves.

Karemeli,
Thanks for your advice. I am looking into the Hilton. I hear it's at the end of the strip, is that true? Is there a nice beach in front? Does it feel Hawaiian without being overly crowded?