Which cities or part/side of the islands should I start my hotel search in?

Thanks!

Lots of info. There are about 10 sites good for all islands & a couple sites for Kauai & Big Island.

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...1&tid=34812564

When are you going? I am somewhat familiar with kauai as we go every year for the last 10years.

I appreciate your responses and will definitely use the websites from that link when I get into more of the planning. But I would like your opinions... We are going to Kauai and have been to Maui. I would like to visit one other island, which island should it be? How many days should we spend there? And what area should we stay in?

TIA!!!

Well cabrack, when you are going to Kauai really has a lot to do with best part of the island to stay on. For one reason, Kauai is the most northern of the Hawaiian islands so gets cooler temperatures in the winter.

The general rule of thummb is to stay on the South Shore in the winter and maybe late fall, and North Shore in the summer. In winter the surf on the North Shore is often very rough and not swimmable and the boats that visit the Na Pali coast do not leave Hanalei. This kind of reverses in the summer when surf can be higher on the South Shore.

Personally we stay at the Marriott in Lihue which is a nice central location.

We stayed on the north shore of Kauai in September -- I think it is a great spot for a honeymoon.

http://www.kauaivacationrentals.com/...o&Avail=&Stay=

We have a timeshare in Lihue and feel that it is central to the north and south shores which makes day trips easier. The Marriott is right across the street from our timeshare and the the beach in wonderful since it is protected. There a many options for food too in the area and soem are walking distance from the Marriott.

If you want to go out and see the Na Pali coast, I suggest Kauai Sea Tours out of Port Allen. We have done the sunset cruise three times and each time we have spotted whales and dolphins.

If you will be on the Islands for more than a week, maybe visit the Big Island as your second island. It is such a diverse ecology.

Oahu is the most populated and does have some great scenery to see and other attractions to see but lots of people.

Big Island is my favorite. Two things I love most, fire and water from the center of the earth and snorkeling, are both there. I understand volcanic activity is low now, but the park is full of other interesting things to see. We like to spend a couple of days there, then spend most of a sightseeing day driving around the north end of the island, via Akaka Falls and Waipi'o Valley, to Kona. Lots of good snorkeling on Kona including at Keauhou Beach where you are often nose to nose with grazing green turtles. Will be there for a few days the end of April and am going to make it toPu'uhoua O Honaunau Park this year, which I understand is well worth seeing, and will snorkel in Kealakekua Bay.