Mellyz-I believe, and my "frosty friend" can correct me if I'm wrong, it's in the Safeway Shop/Ctr between the Safeway and Pacific Cafe in Kapaa.
We're down to 34!
Have fun! :-D

Ugh, Kal yer killin me..... Answer me on the wine os post unless you'll be outta town by then.....

Aloha here_today_gone2maui,

Just had to share in the excitment of your "new" home in paradise.

How exiting... please keep posting.

Aloha!

> What is the name of the cottage you
> stayed at in Paia, if you don't mind?


http://windsurfari.com/accom/prop_tb.html

It was fabulous. We went to sleep every night to the sounds of the surf, and it was only minutes walking distance to Charley's. It is right behind the firestation and next to the Buddhist temple, if you know Paia at all.

Mahalo, makai1!

It's just a little slice of paradise. My husband lived on Makena nearly 30 years ago and has been working towards this day ever since. We plan on making the move within the next year, but it gets harder and harder to get up and go work each day knowing that I have a house Kihei waiting for me!

Here2todaygone2maui

I'm very jealous!!! What a blessing. Me and DH often talk about moving to Maui. Wow, that is soooo nice... I guess I'll keep dreaming!!

My husband and I just got back from Kauai. We do low budget vacations. Our airfare from Tucson cost $1080. We spent $688 for a studio condo in Princeville, that was for nine nights. Our car rental was through Priceline and cost us $249. For food, gifts, and gas, we probably spent another $250. So we spent about

My husband and I just got back from Kauai. We do low budget vacations. Our airfare from Tucson cost $1080. We spent $688 for a studio condo in Princeville, that was for nine nights. Our car rental was through Priceline and cost us $249. For food, gifts, and gas, we probably spent another $250. So we spent about $2300. We have been to Kauai before so we didn't spend money on activities. We hiked, we walked the beaches we drove around. We didn't snorkel th

My husband and I just got back from Kauai. We do low budget vacations. Our airfare from Tucson cost $1080. We spent $688 for a studio condo in Princeville, that was for nine nights. Our car rental was through Priceline and cost us $249. For food, gifts, and gas, we probably spent another $250. So we spent about $2300. We have been to Kauai before so we didn't spend money on activities. We hiked, we walked the beaches we drove around. We didn't snorkel this time because the waves were hugh. The papers and the newa

My husband and I just got back from Kauai. We do low budget vacations. Our airfare from Tucson cost $1080. We spent $688 for a studio condo in Princeville, that was for nine nights. Our car rental was through Priceline and cost us $249. For food, gifts, and gas, we probably spent another $250. So we spent about $2300. We have been to Kauai before so we didn't spend money on activities. We hiked, we walked the beaches, we drove around. We didn't snorkel this time because the waves were hugh. The papers and the news said that these were some of the biggest waves since Iniki. If you like low budget it can be done.

Teresa, where did you stay .. I like your numbers ! Bet you're already plotting a return trip :)
Maybe I'll have to try Priceline, haven't taken that plunge yet. Thanks, Paul.

$250 for food, gifts and gas for two people for nine days?? That's $28 per day for two (or $14 per day per person). How did you manage that? Most people can't live that cheaply at home !!

We stayed at the Paniolo condos. We booked it at www.anniescondos.com. Not a great place, but fine for us. You hardly spend any time in the room.
The reason we get away with eating so cheaply is because we are not big eaters. We ate cereal and fruit for breakfast. Skipped lunch, had a early dinner, and a little dessert later. We bought groceries, deli meat, cheeses, bread, soup, roasted chicken and salads. We only ate out four times. Our most expensive meal cost us $20.00, for the two of us.
I've been to Hawaii many times and know most of the tricks of doing it cheaply.

This is a really interesting thread. We go to Hawaii annually. In general, things don't seem THAT much more expensive than they do at home (which is Los Angeles for us). We eat out frequently at home so we are used to restaurant costs (and giant portions--we usually split a dish!).

Totally worth splurging on: Luxury accomodations, spa treatments, golf, scuba, one or two fancy dinners in great restaurants, a couple of "foo foo" overpriced drinks a day. All of these will make you feel "on vacation."

NOT worth it: Expensive lunches, lavish dinners every single night, breakfast buffets (try to get them included in your hotel package), convertible rentals (SUCH A FREAKING RIP-OFF! Sure, they're fun, but God, do they overcharge for these! You can sightsee just as well in an economy car!), tours (just hop in your car and go for a ride).

Questionable: Luaus. Helicopter rides. Haven't tried either of these!

For the first two weeks in March, 2004: From Boston via United all the way -- coach fare and upgraded to first class with United Miles to Maui. Staying at Aston Mahana Condo on the Beach at Kaanapali for the first week. Full size Hertz car for the week. Inter-island flight to Honolulu and one week stay at Aston Waikiki Beach Condo (right on Waikiki Beach) and another full size car from Hertz for that week. Same United flights back to Boston. Total cost (not including food and Island activities) for two weeks = $6,162.56.

On the Big island, we ended up spending $50-$100 per person, per day for restaurants and activities in the moderate range.

We got a great deal on an SUV for $40 per day, including tax. It was from Alamo. There were a couple of glitches, but overall, it worked out well.

My husband and I went to Oahu/Maui for our 9th anniversary in October. We spent roughly $4500 for 12 days (flying from the midwest). I guess it's all personal opinion what is "worth" spending your money on. For us, we saved some money by getting an oceanfront condo in Kahana (Maui) for $90/night. You can find amazing deals on condos at vrbo.com. We figured we wouldn't be spending much time inside anyway and we wanted to save our money for great dining. I think resort areas that are a little out of the main traffic areas (like Kaanapali)tend to be better deals, and little quieter. And everything is still within a few minutes drive of restaurants/shopping.

We ate some breakfasts/lunches at the condo (still cheaper than eating out even with milk costing $7 a gallon and a box of cereal costing $7--take 2 minutes to sign up for a free discount card at Safeway), although it was hard to fit in all the great restaurants we had read/heard about, so we used some lunches to try them out. Lunch is also a cheaper way to enjoy the pricier restaurants. The best meal we had was lunch at Mama's Fish House (Maui), and the beautiful sunny view of the surf could not have been matched at night. (Tab: $105 for 2 entrees and 2 drinks, but well worth it.)

I also disagree with the previous poster on the convertible. It was more than a regular compact rental for sure, but hubby and I both would not have done it any different. The weather is so amazing you won't want to be closed up in a car for any time at all! We would never have been able to experience the Road to Hana like we did in the convertible (although we did get a flat tire--what a memory!), because there's so much to see, especially ABOVE you. Golf is a MAJOR expense that we chose not to incur, although I'm sure it's wonderful if that's your thing.

It really just depends on what you enjoy. I would recommend deciding what activities are most important to you and your husband, and go all out on those (how often will you get to go to Hawaii??). Then do some research on how to save money on the areas that are less important to you. Have a wonderful time--we were ready to go back even as we boarded the plane to come home!