Just back from Kaui
Apr 8th, 2007 | 07:12 PM
#1
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Joined: Jul 2005
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Just back from Kaui
Hi all..
Just back from our every other year vacation in Hawaii. We traded our Marriott Timeshare in Orlando for a week at the Marriott Kaui Beach Club. Given that it was just prior to Easter, we were happy to be able to exchange, however, the property isn't up to part with other Marriott timeshares we've stayed at (Newport Beach, Palm Springs, Lake Tahoe, etc), and rightfully so, given that it's the old Kaui Surf Hotel, and the units are really a basic hotel suite - one that needs a good deal of work. That said, the weather in Lihue was better than over at Poipu, where the trade winds were blowing each day at a pretty good clip. Yes, the hotel is just a few miles from the airport, but we never heard much in the way of noise. We enjoyed watching the NCL ships come and go from the harbor adjacent to the hotel every few days... Ritz Carlton is developing homes adjacent to the hotel if you've about 4.5 million to spare...
We ended up logging about 300 miles between the hotel and Poipu over the week because of our becoming addicted to diving. Our 18 year is certified, none of the remaining family was. But, a simple $35 introductory hotel pool dive was the ticket to eight more dives over the week and most likely will translate into certification for a few more family members.
Frankly, having been confined to snorkle in the past, the dives were far superior, and even if you've had only passing thoughts of diving vs. snorkle, I'd recommend that you give diving a chance. Coming face to face with green sea turtles is an awesome experience (just do not touch). Of course, if you're like me, in your 50's, do check with your doctor first before diving. Ok, for those asking was I frightened in diving? Granted, I was first down of the four in my group on my first dive, and sitting 32 feet down on the bottom, holding on to the line was a weird experience at first. But, in the end, there's a certain peace undersea that's hard to find anywhere else.
And..nothing but praise for both Sacred Seas and Five Fathom, which provided top notch equipment and very patient instructors.
Not all of our trip was underwater though...
We had a blast on Blue Dolphin, heading up the coast on their 5 1/2 hr sail. Hundreds of dolphins, at least two dozen wales...and of course, the view of the Na Pali coast is simply amazing. What really made the difference with Blue Dolphin vs other cruise operators we've used in the past was the crew - simply the best - always mingling with the passengers with plenty of stories to share. (Oh, my son did scuba instead of snorkle which is an option not found on most boats) The cost, for the four of us, in the mid $500's for the day. Over on Maui, we've usually chartered a sail boat and crew for the day for about $800 instead of fighting the crowds, but our boat on Kaui wasn't wall to wall people as you'll find over on many of the Maui boats.
As to food, after a couple of $200 so-so dinners at Dukes and Roys (yea, I know Roy's is everywhere, but everything always sounds sooo good), we turned to the local Star Market, stocked up on Swordfish at $3.99lb and some Ribeyes, used the hotel BBQs, grilled them along side some of the sweetest pineapple and ate well for less than $30 that night. There are some hidden gems for dining in Kaui, but with the kids, well, you tend to give up a little in what's for dinner.
BTW, flights over on United were overbooked both ways...families were scattered all over the 757's and not happy about it. If not for using frequent flyer miles for our kids, we'd never flown direct to Lihue - not for $1350 RT per person. But, for two of us at that fare and the kids flying free, it was cheaper than doing the SFO-HNL on UA and HNL-LIH on GO! for four of us.
Well, that's Kaui. Next up, RCL to Alaska this summer.
Travel is a great addiction, isn't it?
Just back from our every other year vacation in Hawaii. We traded our Marriott Timeshare in Orlando for a week at the Marriott Kaui Beach Club. Given that it was just prior to Easter, we were happy to be able to exchange, however, the property isn't up to part with other Marriott timeshares we've stayed at (Newport Beach, Palm Springs, Lake Tahoe, etc), and rightfully so, given that it's the old Kaui Surf Hotel, and the units are really a basic hotel suite - one that needs a good deal of work. That said, the weather in Lihue was better than over at Poipu, where the trade winds were blowing each day at a pretty good clip. Yes, the hotel is just a few miles from the airport, but we never heard much in the way of noise. We enjoyed watching the NCL ships come and go from the harbor adjacent to the hotel every few days... Ritz Carlton is developing homes adjacent to the hotel if you've about 4.5 million to spare...
We ended up logging about 300 miles between the hotel and Poipu over the week because of our becoming addicted to diving. Our 18 year is certified, none of the remaining family was. But, a simple $35 introductory hotel pool dive was the ticket to eight more dives over the week and most likely will translate into certification for a few more family members.
Frankly, having been confined to snorkle in the past, the dives were far superior, and even if you've had only passing thoughts of diving vs. snorkle, I'd recommend that you give diving a chance. Coming face to face with green sea turtles is an awesome experience (just do not touch). Of course, if you're like me, in your 50's, do check with your doctor first before diving. Ok, for those asking was I frightened in diving? Granted, I was first down of the four in my group on my first dive, and sitting 32 feet down on the bottom, holding on to the line was a weird experience at first. But, in the end, there's a certain peace undersea that's hard to find anywhere else.
And..nothing but praise for both Sacred Seas and Five Fathom, which provided top notch equipment and very patient instructors.
Not all of our trip was underwater though...
We had a blast on Blue Dolphin, heading up the coast on their 5 1/2 hr sail. Hundreds of dolphins, at least two dozen wales...and of course, the view of the Na Pali coast is simply amazing. What really made the difference with Blue Dolphin vs other cruise operators we've used in the past was the crew - simply the best - always mingling with the passengers with plenty of stories to share. (Oh, my son did scuba instead of snorkle which is an option not found on most boats) The cost, for the four of us, in the mid $500's for the day. Over on Maui, we've usually chartered a sail boat and crew for the day for about $800 instead of fighting the crowds, but our boat on Kaui wasn't wall to wall people as you'll find over on many of the Maui boats.
As to food, after a couple of $200 so-so dinners at Dukes and Roys (yea, I know Roy's is everywhere, but everything always sounds sooo good), we turned to the local Star Market, stocked up on Swordfish at $3.99lb and some Ribeyes, used the hotel BBQs, grilled them along side some of the sweetest pineapple and ate well for less than $30 that night. There are some hidden gems for dining in Kaui, but with the kids, well, you tend to give up a little in what's for dinner.
BTW, flights over on United were overbooked both ways...families were scattered all over the 757's and not happy about it. If not for using frequent flyer miles for our kids, we'd never flown direct to Lihue - not for $1350 RT per person. But, for two of us at that fare and the kids flying free, it was cheaper than doing the SFO-HNL on UA and HNL-LIH on GO! for four of us.
Well, that's Kaui. Next up, RCL to Alaska this summer.
Travel is a great addiction, isn't it?
Apr 8th, 2007 | 07:31 PM
#2
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,849
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Sounds like such fun you had! I hope pictures are following?
DS and I are currently working on getting diver certified so we can enjoy some of the same things next month while on the BI and Kauai.
Where were the locations of your dives? Which was best?
DS and I are currently working on getting diver certified so we can enjoy some of the same things next month while on the BI and Kauai.
Where were the locations of your dives? Which was best?
#39;(
Apr 9th, 2007 | 03:44 PM
#5
Original Poster
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 58
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As to dive locations - Five Fathoms was pretty cool about going where the group wanted to go. You want caves, you get caves. Want sharks, you get sharks. A zillion Tangs, well, that's pretty much the norm in Hawaii.
Kaui isn't up to some of the other islands in terms of dive quality, but if you're gonna do Kaui, well, what's better than a dive boat that takes you where you really want to go?
Kaui isn't up to some of the other islands in terms of dive quality, but if you're gonna do Kaui, well, what's better than a dive boat that takes you where you really want to go?
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