Bengaligirl

Hello all, my husband and I are planning to our first time honeymoon visit to Hawaii Mid-April/May from Washington DC for approx 9-14 days and staying at 2-4 island depending on affordability . We are comparing prices on multi island packages and would really appreciate some help.

what we are expecting from this trip:

-1st preference Maui,Kaui and Oahu
-3 days on each island (we cant swim and wont be doing snorkeling or other water activity and we are not great hikers either so 3 day will be okay for us)
-Affordable mid priced hotels
-Does not have to be THE best location if it's a great value deal


Our budget for roundtrip arifare and accomodations is $3k. Is 6k realistic for an overall 3 island trip?

Has anyone used YCtravel?Is this a good multi Island package to HI,Oahu,Maui and Kaui for 13 days at $2350 pp.? I know the locations and hotel they are offering aren't the best but seems the most affrodbale from what I've seen.

http://www.ytravelc.com/SplendorsofHawaiiEscorted.htm

Thanks a lot in advance for your help!

dusty56438

I just looked at the site.

That doesn't seem too bad of a price. But, it is from Los Angeles or San Francisco.

So you are looking at about $400 more for each of you which makes it $2750 each.

That is for 13 days (12 nights).

Meals seem to be not included except for one continental breakfast when you first get to Honolulu and for the luau on Kauai.

The tours that come with the package on the islands are ones you can easily do yourselves for a few $$$ in gas and a few $$ in national park fees.

They also mention "optional" things to do on each island. They can get rather expesive and you can also do them yourselves.

You can get a package deal which includes air/hotel/car 5 nights each on 0ahu and Maui for under $1700 each, more if you want better hotels amd/or upgrades.

www.hawaii.com or 1-800-282-6487

www.expedia.com or 1-800-551-2534 or 1-800-342-8516

Both sites appear to have the exact same prices.

If you try the sites, you can click on multi-destinations. Also click on the air/hotel/car package. You can only put in two destinations on these sites. If you want more, call them.

When the prices come up, they will be over $2,000 each. That will be for the hotel the site selected on Oahu & Maui.

In the block for the Oahu hotel, at the bottom it will give an option for 68 hotels. Click on it.

When the list of hotels comes up, it will be by "our pick". You can change it to sort "by price".

Then do the same for the Maui hotel.

Try it for 6 days on each island.

I think you would be more than happy with 2 or 3 islands and be on your own instead of with a tour group the entire time.

Lots of info:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34696831

www.mauihawaii.org

www.visitmaui.com

www.bigisland.org

www.kauaidiscovery.com

www.kauai-hawaii.com

Tsi2quick

We are going to Hawaii in May as well and trying to figure out the best way to do this. It looks like the package you picked out certainly visits a lot of things in Hawaii which almost makes me tired just thinking about it! lol If you like the structure and such of a trip like this it sounds good but if you wanted more flexibility you may want to see what you could do on your own. Maybe split your trip up with two islands and do it yourself so you can explore as much as you want or as little as you want since you are on your honeymoon! Good luck with your planning.

Bengaligirl

Thanks to both of you for responding with the helpful tips. I poste dmy message on Frommers and tripadvisor as well and got the fastest response here!

I think you are right dusty56438. It does not include meals and activities or "guided" tours or activities which can get so-o expensive.

Since, I posted this I went to Hawaiivisitorcenter.com. and got instantquotes on 3 island 10 day package including air and transportation from DC between $2800-5000 depending on no. of days and hotel class. I will post this here shortly.

The good news is we'll get 5 star hotels in Maui and Kaui: Westin Maui), Grand Hyatt (Kaui) and a mediocre hotel in Oahu i.e. the Castle Island colony for under 5k. I have to call them during business hrs and see if they can include any extras like buffet breakfast and champagne.

Also, I was able to find cheap $180 round trip fares from DC-SF but you 've to purchase tickets by March 9th and fly before Aug 03 which is okay. But I realized I am able to find $1400 round trips for 2 from DC including all inter-island airfares to Maui-Kaui-Oahu ,so less hassle for us.

But you know I've tried both Expedia ,Priceline and hotwire. I noticed that if you stay for 5 star hotels if you get a round trip air,hotel from DC it comes to around $1700 for just one island!! I checked recently but I will check once more. But, the Hawaiivisitorcenter has Maui & Oahu deal starting at sth like $1200+ with nice hotels.

When I try to do a round trip fare from DC-HNL-LIHUE-MAUI, the price is outrageously expensive even with 3 star hotels.

LindainOhio

Since you are interested in visiting several islands, have you considered taking a cruise? It would be a lot less expensive than the trip you are planning. At each port, you could rent a car and see the island.

I haven't taken a Hawaiian cruise but www.cruisecritic.com is a very good site for cruise information.

dusty56438

Unless you like cruises a lot, forget a cruise in Hawaii. The short time you have in each port will not do Hawaii justice.

You are better off sticking to land.

BTW, the $1700 for an Oahu/Maui package was from A6ril 17 - April 27 (actually getting back on 28th).

You can probably do a lot better by calling the 800 numbers and giving them a bunch of date to work with.

Bengaligirl

I really appreciate the suggetsion for the cruise but I really want my first time trip to be land based. Next time when we have less to spend we will def. give it a shot.

I plan on calling travel agents soon. Dates really make all the diff. I've been playing around with diff. and looks like it's possible to the trip longer staying at 4-5 hotels based on dates.

Thanks a lot!

Tsi2quick

Has anyone around here booked through www.hawaiivisitorcenter.com before? I priced some various packages and it appears they are cheaper than any other site I have found so far (expedia, travelocity, orbitz, hotwire). I used Halekulani, 7 nights with a convertible rental car as my test subjects.

iamq

One thing that is hard to communicate to people that have never been to the islands is this "magic" thing that happens to you there. You have to experience it. Moving from place to place is not a great way to experience the islands.

I don't island hop when I go. It is not fun in my opinion and too much like work. Only two or three days on an island is a cruel tease in my opinion. Luxury, however is being able to spend 10 -14 days on an island (any island). If it were me I'd do one island, but many people balk at that idea, so I would cut back to two islands, and do at least 5 nights in each one.

There are plenty of non-water/hiking things to do (like relaxing and smelling the plumeria wafting on the breeze). You will not get bored, believe me.

-Bill

Bengaligirl

Bill, I appreciate the response. I've read many,many messages on travel forums giving the same advice to spend a min. of one week on each Island.Well,atleast 4 on each.However,realistically it won't fit in our budget.

Another reason I want to do 3 is because the flight is soo long and don't know when I will go back.Then it was hard to decide which of the 3 islands to pick. I've read negative and positive reviews of Oahu and would like to decide for myself.

I've planned early arrival to every island and made sure inter island flights are not more than 35 mins.
Also the way I'm planning my itineray there will be plenty of relaxation time in between.

Unfortunately, my husband and I are non-swimmers and not great hikers ..so we are limited to activities ont he islands. We'll only be doing sight seeing, boat and easy nature tours, and a helicopter ride. There will be a lot of driving around but we are staying at central locations...we will enjoy it no matter what since it's our first trip.

Most importantly, the package was perfect price...best hotels at a little over 5k including roundtrip inter island air fares, transportation,taxes for 11 nights..could not resist. I just don't want to come back wout seeing one island or another.

Carib_Ruby

Hi!

1st of all, Congratulations on your honeymoon!

I understand your wanting to see more than 1 island.... the "I don't know when I 'll get back there factor" But 3 islands in 10 days is REALLY a lot of traveling. why not compromise and do 2?

Since you have done a lot of research I am sure you know Oahu (honolulu) is like a very busy city, with many many Japanese people there on business. All signs are written in both English and Japanese.
It has character, just be prepared it is not an island oasis. IMO

Maui has become touristy but is just beautiful! We love Lahina. The shops, resturants right on the water

Kauai, I have not been there for several years but I remember the watefalls, and rainbows. I am not much of a hiker either but did a very nice horseback ride. You mentioned the Hytt Kaui and it is an amazing resort.

Good luck with your choices, and let us know!

kamahinaohoku

Carib_Ruby...all signs on Oahu are written in both Japanese and English?
Some, maybe...but all?...Not by a long shot.
And while Waikiki may not be an "island oasis", if you drive 15 minutes outside Honolulu, you can literally be in the country.

Bengaligirl

Carib Ruby, thanks for the input. I think I shd. expalin why I want to go to Oahu since there is so much difference of opinions from diff. travellers.

The decision of whether'To go to Oahu or not to go to Oahu', trying to choose Oahu and Kuaui REALLY was the hardest decision...an agony I would say, drmatic as it may sound.

But, Im sure I made the right choice of picking 3 over 2 based on our personalities. Everyone has their own preferences...Kaui for more than 3-4 days wd be too much for me..too sedate,too country... more chances of getting bored at night.

Don't get me wrong. I know it's the most beautiful of all Islands and I'm absolutely dying to experience it. There are fun activities like an ATV in on muddy roads or ziplining through jungles, the boat tour to Napali coast,Waimea Canyon,fern Grotto will be awesome!!!

But I know for my hubby and I Oahu will be fun too..we have to combine non-quiet nights in the trip and Waikiki beach will be very lively entertainment.


I've read a LOT of reviews here,Frommer's and Tripadvisor before making up my mind to go to include Oahu..more importantly also chatted with people I know who have been to all Islands, 2 of my acquaintances have lived in Hawaii and highly recommend Oahu.

Btw, here's a quote from an email a friend sent me who has lived there for 3 yrs and helped me make :



"I would say - 5 o'clock afternoon rush hour in Honolulu is like a Saturday morning in Rockville/White Flint. There is nocomparison. DC traffic is a bsolutely 10x's worse than any time in
Hawaii. We have normal 5-7 miles of backup on the beltway. Honolulu's
major highway is only about 15+ miles. So, a 1 mile back-up is bad for
them but for us, that is great! As for noise and pollution - again,
that is all perspective. I live in the city so what is noisy to one
person is may not be noisy to me

If I had to recommend something to you
(knowing this is your first time there and you are not really
out-doorsy), I would recommend you stay at the best place you can afford
in Waikiki. There are plenty of things to keep you busy. The beaches may
be crowded but it is no worse than our beaches here in the Ocean City,
MD or Dewey, Delaware. Go earlier to the beach and you will get a spot.
Also in Waikiki, there a lot of stores to shop from Gucci to The Gap.
You can go to clubs, the beaches and see evening shows. During the day,
think about exploring Oahu. Go sight-seeing to Pearl Harbor, North
Shore, Blow Hole, and Waiamea waterfalls. I also recommend you go to a
Luau. The Hale Koa hotel use to have a Luau on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

If I had to recommend something to you
(knowing this is your first time there and you are not really
out-doorsy), I would recommend you stay at the best place you can afford
in Waikiki. There are plenty of things to keep you busy. The beaches may
be crowded but it is no worse than our beaches here in the Ocean City,
MD or Dewey, Delaware. Go earlier to the beach and you will get a spot.
Also in Waikiki, there a lot of stores to shop from Gucci to The Gap.
You can go to clubs, the beaches and see evening shows. During the day,
think about exploring Oahu. Go sight-seeing to Pearl Harbor, North
Shore, Blow Hole, and Waiamea waterfalls. I also recommend you go to a
Luau. The Hale Koa hotel use to have a Luau on Tuesdays and Thursdays."

Enough blabbing..thought it wd hlep someone else make their decision since I found these chat forums incredibly helpful!

Bengaligirl

kamahinaohoku.. you are so right..outside Waikiki and Honolulu Oahu also has the lush,scenic,country feel..perfect not the best scenary of all but the perfect combination. I'm looking forward to the North shore, Waimea Bay,Byodi In temple,Lanikai beach etc etc shd be great!

DawnCt

We are going back for the forth time and the hardest part is always deciding which islands. We are spending 3 days on Oahu which is enough for me. What we didn't do the last time (China Town, the Iolani Palace) we will do this time plus some of our favorite "repeats". We have five nights on Kauai which will be enough. Its beautiful but I can be happy with 5 nights. When we visit the Big Island, we usually stay 5 to 7 nights. We have 9 nights planned for Maui. Maui fits in with our itinerary every year.

Bengaligirl

Dawn what is your fav Maui experience?

hammeba

Our family just returned from our wonderful Hawaiian trip last week. It was my wife and I and our two kids, my parents, my brother and sister in law and my sister and brother in law and they're daughter. We all had a blast. We used a travel agency by the name of Hawaii 5-0 There web site is Hawaii 5-0.com Everything turned out wonderful. Ask for Tricia. She was excellent and a great help. Having lived on Oahu for several years Tricia was a great resource for us. She's based out of New Jersey. I have to admit I was a bit skeptical about booking through some agency outside of Ohio but we knew someone who had already used them and let me tell you Tricia is great to work with. I would recommend her to anyone. We flew out of Detroit. We visited Oahu, Big Island and Maui. We had a condo on each island (Oahu-ResortQuest Waikiki sunset, Big Island-Kanaloa at Kona and Maui-Kaanapali Shores) and a minivan on each island. On Maui we were suppose to stay at the Paki Maui but when we got there they had overbooked. So we got lucky and they put us up in the Kaanapali Shores resort. A very nice place. Our total cost for the entire trip was just over $2,000pp. That's airfare from Detroit, interisland airfare, taxes, minivans and condos. We couldn't beat the price anywhere. A friend of mine just called Tricia and saved $1400.00. The cheapest he could find in Tennessee was $5,000.00 for 14 days and Tricia got if for him for $3600.00. He was very happy. If you call Tricia tell her that Brad from Ohio referred you to her. If I were you I would recommend 2-3 islands and not 4. There are so many things to do that you run out of time and having only 3 days on each island simply is just not enough time. We did 14 days and 3 islands. We were very busy. The next time we go we are just going to go to Maui. It's by far are favorite island. Good luck and enjoy.