sf7307

OP means "Original Poster".

I'm in San Francisco too - the good news is you can fly to several different islands non-stop from here. Depending on fares, it might be worth it to get an Alaska airlines credit card. Two years in a row, we are going to Hawaii (last year Kauai, this year Maui) and the second fare is $99.00.

dwooddon

I agree with much of the advice given here so far - some not so much. I'm on an eight day stay in Waikiki now followed to be followed by a nine day stay in the Poipu area of Kauai. I lived on Oahu for 3 years, been to all the main islands many times years ago, and these were my choices for my first trip back in 15 year

First - the advice I don't agree with is that Waikiki is always cheaper than outer island visits. My eight days in Waikiki is costing me more at a moderately priced hotel 3 blocks off Waikiki Beach than the 9 days in a Kauai ocean front condo will cost. Choose which island you want to visit and you can find accomodations within any reasonable budget - just don't expect oceanfront for cut rate prices.

I'll have a rental car on Kauai but keeping a car in Waikiki is unnecessary and expensive (at my hotel $32 a day for guest parking). I've been using Honolulu's transit sytem, called The Bus, and it's easy and relatively quick. It's also relatively cheap at $2.50 a ride with a same direction transfer, no matter how long the ride is. That means you could ride completely around the island, making one stop along the way, for $2.50. I've been using their 4-day pass for $25. If you don't expect to use it much, paying by the ride is probably cheaper. If you have used San Francsico's system,you should have no problem with The Bus.

For your boy, there are several good snorkeling beaches within an easy bus ride from Waikiki. Just be sure to check on local conditions before going in the water. Snorkeling on a beach that was safe yesterday may be way dangerous today with changing conditions. Usually, a sheltered bay such as mentioned in earlier posts will be safer than water open to the ocean.

I also have one more word of advice - use high-octane sunscreen thickly and frequently and always wear a broad-brimmed hat when outside in the daytime. This is a near-tropical location and the sun will do a number on you more quickly and severely than at home if you let it.

I'm not going to give you advice on what to do or see. I'm a 70+ year old guy and the things that attract me are probably not what might attract you. If you need tips on what to see or do, searching this forum using Hawaii or the island you plan to visit will give you a great deal of information you can use to plan your trip.

Whichever island you choose, Hawaii will be a treat for you and your son.

Marginal

Even better is to also get the kid a rash guard and boardshorts to wear while snorkeling.

Something like these:

http://www.coolibar.com/boysclothing2-16.html

You can find cheaper ones in Walmart or maybe Costco.

wekewoody

Alaska Air flies nonstop from San Jose and Oakland to Maui, Kauai and BI. When you buy your tickets and before your travel the price of that ticket on that flight on that day goes down, they will credit you the difference. That recently happened to us. We bought at $589 and I checked one dsy and noticed they had dropped to $503. I called them and got a credit on my Alaska account which I used when I fly on one of their routes this summer. Not exactly a refund, but I think it is good business.

suze

<If I spent YEARS pinching pennies and saving for a dream trip, Oahu wouldn't be it.>

I don't disagree with that remark. The Hawaii "of your dreams" looks more like Kauai or Maui imo.

I was thinking of it from the perspective of 'where I have been that was the least expensive but a very fun vacation in Hawaii?' And for me that has been Waikiki.

It's a bit trickier to plan than just getting a hotel, but I also agree that a vacation rental (like from VRBO) could work too.

I'd start with checking flights from SFO or whatever airports are most convenient for you, to see which islands you can get to non-stop, and pricing.

suze

And check out a stack of Hawaii guidebooks from the library, then you & your son together can look and see what the various islands offer. Maybe some will grab both your interests!

Marginal

I would also explore the packages offered by Hawaiian Airlines or Alaska Airlines. From the Bay area, you have lots of choices of airports and may be able to use that to your advantage.

Again, look for a condo in an inexpensive area. Maui is a beautiful island with lots of great snorkeling and lots to seen. And again, you would need a rental car, so factor that into your budget. A one-bedroom condo with a sleeper sofa would be the cheapest way to go.

Tomsd

Still say - package deals to Waikiki are usually the cheapest (two people sharing a hotel room a block or two from the Ocean)- but please let us know if you find trips to other islands that are the same price.

We usually arrange for a condo when we go - which you can do - but again - have found over the years a "package" deal is the cheapest - and a couple times we have taken a two or three day one to Hono/Waikiki before heading to an outer island.

There is a lot to see on Oahu even if you don't rent a car - or you might rent a car for a day and drive around the island - or take the bus as suggested.

Tomsd

Use this as a starting point:

http://www1.pleasantholidays.com/Ple...waii-Oahu.html

Tomsd

One more thought: You might check with the likes of Pleasant (Hawaiian) Holidays - and maybe they could give you a split package - say 4 or 5 nights in Waikiki - and maybe 2 or 3 nights over in Kaulua or up at Turtle Bay on the North Shore.

Marginal

The only reservation I have about recommending a hotel package is that the cost of meals will be really high for what you get and you are really better off eating at your own condo- breakfast cereals, snacks, sandwiches, and can splurge on some lower cost local food for dinner.

Tomsd

Marginal - it's all a trade off - but if we are in a hotel rooms for a few days - we buy an inexpensive styrofoam cooler (for under $10? and have a mini-fridge in the room (and sometimes we take it in the back seat of the car).

With some ice - it's good for breakfast stuff - such as the great fruit you can buy in Hawaii, milk, drinks, lunch meat for sandwiches, etc - and you can also find inexpensive dining in and around Waikiki.

5alive

My inlaws are thinking of doing a Hawaii trip with us so I am following all these threads and appreciating everyone's advice.

We have done the Alaskan vacation packages to Anaheim and San Francisco, and they did not include (or even offer) meals--do they in Hawaii?

Marginal

No

No meals included.

Hawaii only has one all-inclusive hotel and it is in a more remote area on Maui that is not usually where most people stay for their holiday.

The only other idea is to get a club level room at the Ritz-Carlton, but those are probably about $500+ a night and not likely to be included on an Alaska Airlines package.

sf7307

>>

Even better - we're flying Alaska to Maui next week. We used a companion ticket as I mentioned. Today we got an email from them that they reticketed us -- same flights, same seats, but they issued us a $148.20 credit! We didn't even ask.

suze

Meals aren't part of a air/hotel/car package.

In Waikiki there are ALL kinds of great budget options for eating. I do recommend a small frig in the hotel room if possible. You can easily make breakfasts & lunches with just that (don't need a full kitchen). You can get a picnic lunch at any ABC Store for under $5 pp.

Marginal

I meant to say that over and above the cost of the hotel, then there are the meals to consider and hotel meals are notoriously expensive.

Tomsd

Point well taken Marg: We usually don't dine in the hotels - as they are not only pricey - but we like to also get out and explore.

If we have a small kitchen - we might make banana pancakes for breakfast sometimes, or buy some fresh fish (say mahi mahi) and cook fish-burgers for lunch - or also buy some Ahi and make sushi/sashimi, etc. Heck - if there is a BBQ on the deck/Lanai - have also grilled the hot Portuguese sausages, or made Teriyaki chicken, whatever.

But even if you don't have a kitchen or small fridge (we have even used the garbage bin if we didn't have a cooler - using one of the plastic bag/liners to hold the ice, etc) - - you can still make do fairly inexpensively in Waikiki if you check around - and take advantage of some of the specials.

Again, grab some of the tourist mags when you first arrive at the airport and see who has what deals.

suze

But in Waikiki there is no reason you'd ever be eating at your hotel. There are literally a dozen restaurants within any 3-block area of central Waikiki, all price ranges. Some very economical. Even the grocery store (Food Pantry) has an excellent selection of prepared meals to-go.
suze

Marginal

OP has to consider the cost of feeding an active 12 year old. It might be quite a budgetary concern!