Is this a new honeymoon?
 

We are planning to book the following July honeymoon vacation this weekend and were wondering if we made the right choices. <BR> <BR>Maui: 6 nights (5+1 free) at the Hyatt, Kaanapali. Partial ocean view, including breakfast for $300 Canadian per night. <BR> <BR>Kauai: 5 nights (4+1 free) at the Hanalei Bay Resort, Princeville. Tropical view, because they (Thomas cook agency) don't offer ocean view. This also includes breakfast for $150 Canadian per night. <BR> <BR>The questions I have are: <BR> <BR>1. Which island to go to first? <BR>2. Hotel choices good? <BR>3. Is it a good deal? <BR>4. Anything else you want to comment on... <BR> <BR>Your help is GREATLY appreciated! <BR> <BR>Thanks! <BR> <BR>

GOOD...I meant GOOD honeymoon...not NEW!!!

Sounds good! If this is a honeymoon, and after the chaotic wedding etc, you deserve to relax. Kauai is definatly more relaxing and quieter than Maui. <BR>The hotels are both nice, although Princeville does get a lot of rain. <BR>If I were going I would stay at the sunny south of the island in Poipu. <BR>There is a Hyatt that is very nice and the Embassy Resort is quite nice to if you are into a suite/condo type room. <BR>Have a great time!

Looks like a nice itinerary. I'm biased, though, it's quite similar to the one I put together for our honeymoon 10 years ago. I think Maui and Kauai are the 2 islands to try first (having been back several times now). While I like Wailea a little better than Kaanapali, some people feel strongly the opposite. The Hyatt is the best choice in Kaanapali. You'll have a great time. <BR>We stayed in the Poipu area on Kauai, partly because of the weather, but drove up to P-ville. P-ville is, of course, a much prettier area. I don't know anything about the HBR though. <BR>I'm not sure which sequence I'd prefer if it were my trip, but K then M could have some advantages. The weather may be a bit of a drag in P-ville at times, but you're going to want to have a few days to decompress and unwind when you first get to Hawaii, and that might be the best place to do it. It's a much quieter, more relaxing environment than on Maui. Then on to the more active part of your trip on Maui. The best hotels on Kauai are the Hyatt and the Princeville. If these don't fit into your plans, stick with what you've got. I expect you'll have a GREAT time.

Is rain a problem in Princeville even in mid-July?? <BR> <BR>I really don't want a damp honeymoon... <BR> <BR>Where the waters at Poipu swimmable in July? (another concern)

I was in Princeville last June. Yes, it rained a couple of days. But that made it even more beautiful!! Stay at the Hanelei Bay--it is a nice hotel with an awe-inspiring view and great sunsets. The snorkeling at Tunnels beach if fun. <BR>Don't miss the Lumahali Gardens! <BR> <BR>The other side of the island is drier but, in my opinion, is not as pretty.

Yes, it can and does rain in Princeville in July (one part of the mountains near Princeville, if I recall my geography trivia correctly, gets more rainfall than anyplace in the US) but the rains in Princeville aren't like daylong storms...they're more cyclical and episodic. I wouldn't necessarily change my plans for that reason. Poipu area is not as pretty. It's a tradeoff.