Honeymoon in just 2.5 weeks! Help please
 

Hi there, <BR> <BR>Love reading all these postings and learning from people who have actually experienced it all. We are leaving for our honeymoon on Oct. 14-Oct. 26 to stay at BI, Maui and Lanai. I would so much appreciate any personal input/advice/warnings of things not to miss and places to eat, etc. For the BI, it seems that many people say to spend a day at Hapuna Beach--is that far from the Four Seasons? What about a drive to the Volcano and a snorkel cruise on Fairwinds? Waipio Valley? Of these, which do you think are best. <BR> <BR>On Maui, we will do the road to Hana but do you need a 4wheel drive car for that? What else should we definitely do there? <BR> <BR>Lanai looks to be mostly relaxation, but does anyone have any input. I know the spa building at Manele Bay is being renovated--should that be a problem? <BR> <BR>Thanks in advance for any help/suggestions! I'm so excited and really would appreciate it.

You definitely don't need a 4 wheel drive car there. I would suggest a compact car. The roads are narrow and it's much easier to have a fairly small car. <BR>Another suggestion would be to visit Haleakala. You actually drive through clouds. It's really neat. Being there for sunrise is very popular. You mght what to consider doing that. <BR> <BR>Great places to eat on Maui... <BR>Haliimaile General Store - Haliimaile <BR>Joe's Bar and Grill - Wailea <BR>SeaWatch - Wailea - great for a special breakfast... great views. It's on the Wailea Gold Golf Course. <BR>Nick's ... (haven't eaten there but it gets rave reviews...it's in the Four Seasons or Kea Lani in Wailea ... sorry I'm not sure which.

Congratulations on your upcoming marriage. Big Island suggestions: <BR> <BR>Definitely go to Volcano National Park - wonderful rain forest, volcanoes - well worth the trip! Plan an entire day for doing this though. <BR> <BR>Snorkeling in the bay (near the church on the Kona side). <BR> <BR>Places to eat on Big Island that I really enjoyed: <BR> <BR>Cafe Pesto <BR>Merriman's <BR> <BR>

Thanks! Getting even more excited if you can believe it!

Hi ls, <BR>I just returned from the Big Island yesterday. Definitely take some time off and visit Hapuna Beach. It's beautiful. Snorkeling is decent here. It's no more than 10 miles from the four seasons. Take Highway 19 north and enjoy the beautiful scenery. <BR> <BR>Definitely, check out the volcano nat'l park. Be prepared to spend an entire day. Also not far from the park is the lava flow. This is a must do!! Seeing the lava flow enter the ocean at night was breathtaking. Go on 130 East. Bring a flashlight if you plan to vist at night.

I went to Maui for my honeymoon last year. I read a lot of posts about needing a four wheel drive for the road to Hana. We reneted a 4 wheel drive Jeep Wrangler and never needed the 4 wheel drive. The road to Hana was winding but not scary or dangerous.

I was in Maui in June - you will love it, I promise. The road to Hana really isn't as windy as people make out - I'm from the UK and many of the roads in Scotland and also in the Alpine areas of France are much worse. I actually found it quite difficult to keep speed down! You certainly won't need a 4WD car for it, but I would not suggest using the smallest car you can rent either. <BR> <BR>You should get one of the guide tapes for the road. They are quite good and will tell you where to stop and where things are. You should also look out for some of the waterfall pools - pretty early on in the drive you will see on the right a stand serving - I think - coconuts and the like beside a gate. Climb the gate, follow the path into the forest and you will find a waterfall with a huge pool - don't forget your swimsuit! <BR> <BR>I would also suggest Haleakala. We didn't go up for the sunrise as it meant leaving our hotel at 2am! However, the view is spectacular - you can see the Big Island - and even if it's cloudy it's strange looking down on the clouds. Take a sweater and jeans or something, though - it was pretty cold at the top, even in June. <BR> <BR>You could also go on a snorkelling trip from Lahaina to Molokai to see both fish and also the turtles. However, if you get seasick - as I did - I wouldn't recommend it!

One small anecdote about taking jeeps to Hana. A while ago, I went to Maui and we rented a jeep (based on everyone saying you needed 4 wheel drive). So on the day we were going to Hana, we packed up the jeep - very excited about the trip - got those audio tapes - we were on the way! We were about 8 miles into it - gazing at all the beautiful flowers, etc when I started feeling cold. I looked down at my feet and all the way up to my knees was dark brown. It turns out that jeeps have a rubber "stopper" on the floor and this one was missing. The mud from the road had come up through the hole and had absolutely ruined the slacks I had on. We ended up turning around because the one thing we hadn't brought was extra clothes (didn't know it was necessary) and we didn't have anything to block the hole with (not alot of stores on that road). So - if you get a jeep - just make sure that there are rubber stoppers in any holes you might have in the floors!