Honeymoon Help! Lanai and Kauai, or Lanai and Maui?
 

Hello! We are planning on Hawaii for our November honeymoon later this year. My fiancée and I wouldn't classify ourselves as "tropical" people.. we tend to prefer something cozy in the mountains, lots of sight seeing, castles, beautiful lakes and treelines, etc. But our honeymoon seems like the perfect time to give Hawaii a try! I have no doubt we'll love it since we are easily amused and taken by beautiful scenery, so now it's just a matter of which islands to try. We'll be doing about 5 nights on one island, and 4 on another.

I think we've settled on ENDING our honeymoon with 4 nights on Lanai at the Lodge at Koele because it looks like a very unique part of Hawaii with its country manor that's more our "style". I'm nervous about it being such a small and possibly expensive island, but we are looking forward to it. The pictures look amazing and it has a very charming appeal that we both really want in our honeymoon. It seems like the best of both words for us; tropical meets English style country manor!

Our decision for the FIRST portion of our trip (5 nights) lies between Kauai and Maui, and this is mostly where we need some advice. We like Kauai because we've read time and again that it's the most beautiful of the islands, and that's very important to us. However Maui seems like one of the most popular islands with tons to do.. we don't necessarily "need" great nightlife, but it would be fun to have lots of options and to contrast our relaxing Lanai island with something more exciting. And besides.. it's Hawaii, I'm sure Maui is beautiful too!

I'm concerned that if we do Kauai and Lanai that they will be too similar.. very peaceful and beautiful, but not as much to do. I figure Lanai will be the big "sit and relax" portion of our honeymoon while the first island will be our more adventurous activities. Do you think this combination would be too laid back? I don't want to get tired of seeing the same things. We want some excitement!

On the other hand, if we do Maui and Lanai, I'm afraid we would miss out at some of the best sights Hawaii has to offer by skipping Kauai. At the end of the day, I think we'd rather see absolutely beautiful landscapes and scenery that we can't find anywhere else. But we still want to have FUN too, aside from that!

Decisions decisions. Any advice from some of you have been to all three islands?

Maui is a lot more developed than Kauai. But that doesn't mean it has a lot of nightlife -- it doesn't.

Kauai is beautiful (gorgeous, spectacular, really) and laid back. The hotels are not high-rises. Maui has developments like Kaanapali Beach lined with condos and hotels, both high-rise and not (Hyatt, Marriott, Sheraton, etc.).

I personally love both, depending on my mood!

Lanai will be a great place to just relax and enjoy each other in peaceful bliss. Kauai has many more spectacular scenic and varied topographies than Lanai so the two will not be redundant. For the most awe inspiring scenery, I would recommend Kauai especially if you take the helicopter tour. I would then go to Maui for an anniversary. After you've been to Hawaii once, it's impossible not to want to go back again.
Have fun!

I've been to Lanai. It is beautiful and the Lodge at Koele will not disappoint. BUT if you don't golf, there is next to nothing to do. The beach is probably 20 minutes away and there is very little town to speak of. Don't get me wrong, I loved my visit, but you should know going in that there's nothing to do. If you decide on Lanai, you MUST get up to Garden of the Gods. We had a local drive us in his 4 wheel drive. I wouldn't drive on my own. No signs, unpaved. But we really enjoyed talking to the local and hearing all about living on the island. At Garden of the Gods, we got a spectacular view of 3 islands and that cool, exciting vibe energy everyone talks about. Very eery, spiritual, awesome. We also went to Shipwreck Beach, which was interesting but not much to write home about. On any other island, it wouldn't be a tourist attraction.

Personally, if I were in your shoes, I would do Maui on the front end of the trip (with a day trip to Lanai by ferry with a guided tour by a local) and Kauai on the back end.

Hope that helps! Happy to answer any other Qs you might have.