Hi,

Thinking of going to Lanai instead of the ol' standbys (Maui, Oahu, Big Island, etc.).

Anyone a big fan of Lanai? I typically like tropical vacations with privacy: where my husband and I can lay out without lots of children screaming and people chatting us up.

Thanks,

Servy

If privacy and solitude are high on your priority list then Lanai will fill the bill very nicely.
2 great resorts there, each quite different from the other, owned by same group.
Nothing much in the way of civilization beyond the resorts (Lanai City is quite a tiny hamlet).

Check if a convention will be at Manele before you go - when I was there lot's of kids in the pool daytimes (the pool is NOT large), and the pool taken over for convention parties early evening.

I am not fan. I found the service there to be very spotty - sometimes rude. I'd opt for the ol' standbys.

Do a search for previous posts.

Search "Manele" for long list of posts.

With regards to privacy I didn't find any during my hotel stay this July. Lots of rowdy ill behaved kids. The hotel runs a special buy 1 room get the 2nd one free for kids. A person can't move the covered lawn chairs away from the pool therefore if you want to be out of the sun you're stuck in the crowded area. I am still looking for the perfect Hawaii hotel for peace & quiet. At the Lodge, however, you could hear a pin drop but you're 20 mins away from the ocean. So far the best I've found is the FS BI. Will visit Mokokai this winter, I think that may finally be the place.

Natalie - I could not agree more. There wasn't any room to swim in the pool or to relax around it. I wasn't so thrilled with the beach or the snorkling either. It is fine if you have kids though there are better beach destinations for little ones as well IMHO.

I stayed at the Lodge at Koele a few months ago and really liked it. It is considerably smaller than Manele Bay - so less prone to conventions and swarms of small children. In fact, when we visited Manele Bay there was a convention going on and the hotel was a bit crowded - very different from the Lodge. The Lodge is located 'up country' - near Lanai city. A shuttle bus runs between the two hotels and town. (The lodge is within walking distance of town, too.) The Lodge was very quiet and sedate and we had a great time. There isn't too much to do on Lanai -some hiking, a few restaurants outside of the hotels, the beach (or pool - at either hotel). The service was also very good at the Lodge. Manele bay seems to have more mixed reviews. Lanai is a bit short on beaches compared to the other islands - even on Oahu you can probably more easiler find beautiful, easily swimable, relatively uninhabited beaches.

I assume that you have been to the "ol' standbys" on previous visits. I would not suggest Lanai for a first visit to Hawaii. It is a place that will appeal to only a small minority of people, and if you do not fit in that minority you will not enjoy your vacation. I suggest that you do the ol' standbys and do a day trip or an overnighter to Lanai to check it out. If you like it go back for a longer stay on your next visit.