Kauai for St. John, USVI Lovers
Aug 29th, 2007, 04:38 AM
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Kauai for St. John, USVI Lovers
We LOVE St. John - and want to explore someplace new - but equally beautiful - that is hard to do! We toyed with the idea of Costa Rica - but I am a bit fearful of the drving there - among other things...call me a woos! In any event, I believe Kauai will fit the bill!
My husband, 20-yr. old son & I plan on going mid March for 9 nights. I've read that the Poipu beach area tends to be the sunniest that time of year -are there other areas that are sunny too that we should look into? For a St. John lover who LOVES Gallows Point (a condo resort affording more space, kitchen, etc - yet daily maid service, beautiful grounds & pool - and restaurant) - what places can you recommend we stay? Are 9 nights on Kauai too long? Should we take in another island as well? Do we need AC in mid March?
What are the best nature related things to do and see? I have osteoporosis - so horseback riding is out - as are some other more physical things... Is the helecopter thing a definite "do?" I've been in litte 6-passenger planes - but the copter scares me. Can I see spectacular sights & vistas by boat? We definitely want to stay away from anything contrived and too touristy - but I must admit - a luau does seem fun
!
Thanks everyone!!
Lisa
My husband, 20-yr. old son & I plan on going mid March for 9 nights. I've read that the Poipu beach area tends to be the sunniest that time of year -are there other areas that are sunny too that we should look into? For a St. John lover who LOVES Gallows Point (a condo resort affording more space, kitchen, etc - yet daily maid service, beautiful grounds & pool - and restaurant) - what places can you recommend we stay? Are 9 nights on Kauai too long? Should we take in another island as well? Do we need AC in mid March?
What are the best nature related things to do and see? I have osteoporosis - so horseback riding is out - as are some other more physical things... Is the helecopter thing a definite "do?" I've been in litte 6-passenger planes - but the copter scares me. Can I see spectacular sights & vistas by boat? We definitely want to stay away from anything contrived and too touristy - but I must admit - a luau does seem fun
!Thanks everyone!!
Lisa
Aug 31st, 2007, 07:17 PM
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Hi Lisa,
Bill (iamq) will probably get back to you with some great information. He has been to St. John and is definitely a Kauai lover, so he's a great person to answer some of your questions. Hopefully he'll see this post.
Carole
Bill (iamq) will probably get back to you with some great information. He has been to St. John and is definitely a Kauai lover, so he's a great person to answer some of your questions. Hopefully he'll see this post.
Carole
Aug 31st, 2007, 07:43 PM
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We've been to St. John and Kauai - love both! We also love Costa Rica, but the beaches there can't compare to those in Hawaii and St. John. We go to Costa Rica more for the wildlife. Personally with 9 days, I would do 2 islands. We've been to the Big Island and Maui as well - both were amazing, and I think either one would be a great addition to your trip.
We really loved the helicopter tour of the Na Pali coast; it's one of the most amazing things we've ever done. Also enjoyed seeing it by boat on a sunset cruise. Kauai is gorgeous! Loved Ke'e, Tunnels, and Poipu beaches - watch out for the currents.
We did our luau on Maui at the Old Lahaina Luau - very fun, and glad we did it once, but we would probably not do it a second time - just fun to experience it once. The Big Island offers the Volcano National Park - we got to hike out to see the lava flow at night and thought it was amazing. The lava is always shifting though, so you never know what it will be doing by the time your trip rolls around. We loved Hapuna Beach also - stayed at the Hapuna Beach Prince and really enjoyed it.
We really loved the helicopter tour of the Na Pali coast; it's one of the most amazing things we've ever done. Also enjoyed seeing it by boat on a sunset cruise. Kauai is gorgeous! Loved Ke'e, Tunnels, and Poipu beaches - watch out for the currents.
We did our luau on Maui at the Old Lahaina Luau - very fun, and glad we did it once, but we would probably not do it a second time - just fun to experience it once. The Big Island offers the Volcano National Park - we got to hike out to see the lava flow at night and thought it was amazing. The lava is always shifting though, so you never know what it will be doing by the time your trip rolls around. We loved Hapuna Beach also - stayed at the Hapuna Beach Prince and really enjoyed it.
Aug 31st, 2007, 09:12 PM
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I love both places, but they are both very different. I've been to Kaua'i 4 times and St. John once.
In contrast to volcanogirl, I think 9 days is barely enough time. We've been for two weeks and feel that is a wonderful amount of time. We returned recently from an 11 night trip and it wasn't nearly enough time. Next time we'd like to go for at least two and hopefully three weeks. I don't like island hopping, so I wouldn't suggest you do that.
We stayed in Poipu our first two trips, but ended up spending most of our time on the north shore because we fell in love with the beaches up there. We've stayed in Hanalei the last two times and I wouldn't stay anywhere else, regardles of time of year. Because of my job, we visit in the summer and that is ideal for weather and water conditions up there. I'd like to return in the winter/spring some year to experience it at that time of year. It would be a different type of trip than what we have in the summer, but who cares?
It sounds like you've decided to stay in Poipu. For places like Gallows (we've stayed there too) you could look into Whalers Cove. It is probably the nicest condo on the island. Kiahuna Plantation is another nice complex in Poipu. It is on a nice beach and it is where I would stay if we were ever to stay in Poipu again. Most condos on Kaua'i don't have a/c, so if that is important it is going to narrow your choices. Kauai isn't nearly as humid as St. John. I'd never rent a place in St. John without a/c, but we've never had it on Kauai and have been fine.
Unlike many visitors, we don't do a lot when we are there. The only paid excursion we've done in the Holoholo all day NaPali/Nihau trip. We spend much of our time at the beach and doing some lower key hikes around the island. I'd never do a helicopter trip as I've been on island twice when there were crashes and it's left me with an awful, tragic feeling.
Fodors and Frommers both have good Hawaii guide books and I also like Underground Kaua'i by Lenore Horowitz. For personal reasons I no longer use the Kauai Revealed book.
Hope this helps.
In contrast to volcanogirl, I think 9 days is barely enough time. We've been for two weeks and feel that is a wonderful amount of time. We returned recently from an 11 night trip and it wasn't nearly enough time. Next time we'd like to go for at least two and hopefully three weeks. I don't like island hopping, so I wouldn't suggest you do that.
We stayed in Poipu our first two trips, but ended up spending most of our time on the north shore because we fell in love with the beaches up there. We've stayed in Hanalei the last two times and I wouldn't stay anywhere else, regardles of time of year. Because of my job, we visit in the summer and that is ideal for weather and water conditions up there. I'd like to return in the winter/spring some year to experience it at that time of year. It would be a different type of trip than what we have in the summer, but who cares?
It sounds like you've decided to stay in Poipu. For places like Gallows (we've stayed there too) you could look into Whalers Cove. It is probably the nicest condo on the island. Kiahuna Plantation is another nice complex in Poipu. It is on a nice beach and it is where I would stay if we were ever to stay in Poipu again. Most condos on Kaua'i don't have a/c, so if that is important it is going to narrow your choices. Kauai isn't nearly as humid as St. John. I'd never rent a place in St. John without a/c, but we've never had it on Kauai and have been fine.
Unlike many visitors, we don't do a lot when we are there. The only paid excursion we've done in the Holoholo all day NaPali/Nihau trip. We spend much of our time at the beach and doing some lower key hikes around the island. I'd never do a helicopter trip as I've been on island twice when there were crashes and it's left me with an awful, tragic feeling.
Fodors and Frommers both have good Hawaii guide books and I also like Underground Kaua'i by Lenore Horowitz. For personal reasons I no longer use the Kauai Revealed book.
Hope this helps.
Sep 1st, 2007, 04:08 AM
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Hi all - thanks for the feedback!!
We have booked our trip (Expedia) and will be staying at the Sheraton - ocean front!!!
As Bill pointed out - condo lodging w/o AC was limited - and some didn't have daily maid service - something I MUST have while on vacation -(love coming back to a clean, tidy room with fresh towels!) At least the Sheraton has a fridge - and I think for our first trip to Kauai, it may be a little bit more festive to stay there.
We don't want to split the 9 nights with another island because given the weather in March, I want to have as many non-rainy days as possible... if split, I cut our sunny-day chances.
Like Bill - we plan to do Holoholo all day NaPali/Nihau trip and low key hiking... I'm not too keen on getting into a helicopter - although if I hear good things about the plane tours -I'd consider that (we'd been in a float-plane in Alaska and it was one of the highlights of our trip). The one touristy think I'd like to do is a luau (if I can convince my husband - he hates touristy things) ... WHICH one is the least corny? (We'd been to one at Disney and it was like a huge poorly done Bar Mitvah - with cruddy food and lousy service and we were sooooo far away from the performance... talk about TOURSITY!!!!)
THANKS ALL!!
Lisa
We have booked our trip (Expedia) and will be staying at the Sheraton - ocean front!!!
As Bill pointed out - condo lodging w/o AC was limited - and some didn't have daily maid service - something I MUST have while on vacation -(love coming back to a clean, tidy room with fresh towels!) At least the Sheraton has a fridge - and I think for our first trip to Kauai, it may be a little bit more festive to stay there.
We don't want to split the 9 nights with another island because given the weather in March, I want to have as many non-rainy days as possible... if split, I cut our sunny-day chances.
Like Bill - we plan to do Holoholo all day NaPali/Nihau trip and low key hiking... I'm not too keen on getting into a helicopter - although if I hear good things about the plane tours -I'd consider that (we'd been in a float-plane in Alaska and it was one of the highlights of our trip). The one touristy think I'd like to do is a luau (if I can convince my husband - he hates touristy things) ... WHICH one is the least corny? (We'd been to one at Disney and it was like a huge poorly done Bar Mitvah - with cruddy food and lousy service and we were sooooo far away from the performance... talk about TOURSITY!!!!)
THANKS ALL!!
Lisa
Sep 1st, 2007, 04:50 AM
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Just FYI, our horse rides with Princeville stables was not really jarring. From what I've read here, the boat tours can be very jarring, so choose carefully. And yes, the heli tour is a must in my book.
(even with calm, mellow horses - you never know when they will get skiddish)
Sep 1st, 2007, 10:12 AM
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olesouthernbelle is right; the boat tours can be extremely jarring; we were bouncing all over the place - really strong waves. Hopefully you will have a smooth excursion. Regarding the helicopter, there was a crash on the island when we were there too - it does happen, but I don't regret going for a second. We took Dramamine just in case, but the ride was very smooth. Best of luck on your trip - if you love St. John, I think Kauai will be a good fit for you.
Sep 1st, 2007, 11:55 AM
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Sep 1st, 2007, 02:11 PM
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LPOWMACBACK, I think you'll have a wonderful time. We've been to St. John and twice to Kauai. I think the north coast of Kauai is more like St. John, but I agree that staying at the Sheraton is a good idea.
Driving up the Waimea Canyon is beautiful, and at the end of the road, you can get out and hike just a little (maybe a mile or so?) for some amazing views.
The last time we were in Kauai we had our kids with us (who were ages 21, 18 and 16 at the time); we stayed there for eight days, and they loved it.
If you plan on snorkeling, I recommend you bring your own snorkeling equipment. If you'll get an early start up to Ke'e Beach, you can hike a little bit, and then go back to the beach for snorkeling.
We've done a helicopter tour of Kauai. I don't think I'd do a helicopter tour again (have heard too many things since then), but it was truly amazing.
Have a great time planning your trip!
Driving up the Waimea Canyon is beautiful, and at the end of the road, you can get out and hike just a little (maybe a mile or so?) for some amazing views.
The last time we were in Kauai we had our kids with us (who were ages 21, 18 and 16 at the time); we stayed there for eight days, and they loved it.
If you plan on snorkeling, I recommend you bring your own snorkeling equipment. If you'll get an early start up to Ke'e Beach, you can hike a little bit, and then go back to the beach for snorkeling.
We've done a helicopter tour of Kauai. I don't think I'd do a helicopter tour again (have heard too many things since then), but it was truly amazing.
Have a great time planning your trip!
Sep 1st, 2007, 05:15 PM
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LPOW, I know you will have a great time in Kauai. I just wanted to mention that we stayed at Kiahuna Plantation (next to the Sheraton) and had daily maid service. We booked our unit through Outrigger, but I know maid service will vary if you use a different agent. I walked through the Sheraton and would not consider it "festive", but the beach is absolutely gorgeous and I'm sure you'll be happy in an oceanfront unit. Have a great trip - I'm jealous!
Sep 8th, 2007, 11:35 AM
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We went to Smiths Tropical luau on Kauai two years ago. It is on the eastern side of the island. When you first get there you board a tram which gives you a tour of the grounds which are beautiful. Then you watch the unearthing of the pig ceremony. The luau food was very tasty. Afterwards you watch a show in a separate outdoor arena. We found the experience very enjoyable.
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