Lodging tips/suggestions for first trip to Hawaii
 

My husband and I are planning our first trip to Hawaii this February and can't decide which island--all have pros & cons to me. We only have one week so more than one island may not be feasible. Our lodging budget is in the $2000-$3000 range (total)& we're planning to rent a car. Things we'd like to do/see: snorkeling,surfing, whale watching,waterfalls, volcanoes,rain forests, island culture, natural beauty. We'd like some night life but are really looking for quiet seclusion & romance. Ideally we'd want something similar to the individual hales at Kona Village but don't want an all-inclusive. When I see pics of the Honolulu/ Waikiki area I cringe-- high rises & big city are the exact opposite of what we're looking for. Any helpful hints & suggestions as to which island and which resort?(daily maid service, room service and direct access to a swimmable beach are must haves for this trip) Thanks so much for your help!

If you want an active volcano, the Big Island is the only choice and it would have all the other things you want also. As to a resort on a beach-- try the Hapuna Prince, located on Hapuna Beach. Here is a helpful website to check the location of hotels in relation to beachs http://www.wizardpub.com/bigisland/bigresort.html

I would not wait to book something--February gets very busy in the islands.

Thanks Marty,

Love this website! I definitely feel more comfortable having a 'visual'. Melissa

If you go to the Big Island, Hapuna Prince is a fantastic choice. It is harder to find swimmable beaches on the BI and Hapuna Beach is considered one of the best in the world. We love the property, too. The wonderful infinity pool is very close to the ocean, and makes for a very relaxing atmosphere, (and you can have lunch right there).

For natural beauty, waterfalls, rain forests, and some nightlife, I would suggest Maui. It has many great beaches and you could stay in Kaanapali or Wailea and get everything you could possibly want. Although you could snorkel at Molokini, there are lots of places in Maui where you can just wade in and see tons of gorgeous fish.

I believe your budget goes a little farther on the BI than on Maui, but of course, things are pricey in Hawaii. If you haven't already, a search here will give you an amazing amount of information, and will really help you decide where you would enjoy yourselves the most. You can do a hotel search for both islands, restaurant search, etc etc,

You will love Hawaii whereever you go, its paradise.

Outside of Honolulu, Oahu is rural much like the other islands.

The only island with live lava is Big Island. But right now the lava flow is in a remote area & the only way to see the lava is by helicopter.

Lots of info including sites with free brochures for all islands:

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34812564

melissaklob, I'm also in the stages of planning my first trip to Hawaii and have decided on the Big Island. If Kona Village really appeals to you, check out their Bed & Breakfast plan on the Specials page. That way you get the best of both worlds--the romance and individual hale rooms of Kona and the freedom to explore the island without feeling tied down to a mealplan.

My husband and I will wind down our vacation next year at Kona and we're debating which package plan to do.

Thanks for the feedback Bikom, Dusty & EJCrowe
-- it is much appreciated! After researching online & polling friends I've come up with more questions and to the conclusion that no matter what we end up with we'll have a wonderful time--it's Hawaii!! Since we're doing this somewhat last minute, hotel availability may dictate our choices. Regarding the location of the Hapuna Prince on the BI, love that beach. What are the advantages of staying on a natural beach vs a manmade one? Would we be better off staying at another property & driving to the beaches? Anybody have any feedback on the Hilton Waikaloa Village?

Also, since the lava flow at VNP is somewhat remote right now, would it still be worth it to stay in Volcano and do a night trip to see the active lava? Could the park be done as a day trip from the Hapuna Beach area?

"Also, since the lava flow at VNP is somewhat remote right now, would it still be worth it to stay in Volcano and do a night trip to see the active lava?"

There are no night hikes right now. You may be able to find a helicopter for a night flight or for twilight hours.

About 5-6 months ago, the lava was flowing into the ocean & you could hike at night & get within 1/4 - 1/2 mile of the lava.

Then it stopped for a week or two & now it is flowing in a completely different area that is in a remote section of the park. It is nowhere near the ocean right now, nor close to any trails.

By February it may be in a more accessible area.

Thanks Dusty, I didn't realize that the night hikes may not be available.

We've stayed at the Hilton Waikaloa, with our kids. Unless you have kids along, I wouldn't recommend it. On other trips, we'd drive to Hapuna Beach and it is gorgeous. I'd choose that hotel.

Unless you want a very nice, small condo complex. Our favorite place to stay on the Big Island is Sea Village, a small complex just below Kona. It is close to Disappearing Sands, which is a snorkeling cove popular with locals. Sea Village condos are individually-owned, so Google it and you'll find lots. The place is about 8 buildings that are three-stories, most of them facing the water. It's a very well-kept place, nice little pool, free tennis, garden area with free barbeques. We've stayed there two or three times, in a 2 bdrm/2 bath unit directly over the ocean. (No daily maid service, though.)
:)>-

melissaklob, you certainly have the right attitude, it IS Hawaii, and you will love it. As Maureen says, the Hilton is best enjoyed if you have children along, plus there is no beach at all there. (They have a mad-made lagoon). Its such a huge property that I think its worth a stroll along the grounds, where you can take the boat shuttle ot the train shuttle, and you can have a nice meal there, but I personally wouldn't stay there without my kids.

Thanks MaureenB & Bikom, My sister & brother-in-law stayed at the Hilton Waikaloa for a business meeting a couple years ago and thought it was fabulous. I'm sure the fact that it was on the company dime helped! I know our boys would love it but this trip is just for grown-ups. We actually teased our nine year old son, who is 'dying' to go to Hawaii, that they don't allow children into the state. We usually do condo/cottage rental trips with the kids which I think is part of the reason I've resisted these types of properties for this trip. Haven't had a "pampering" resort vacation since our honeymoon (St. Lucia Sept.'94--tropical storm knocked out main island water pump days before our arrival--no showers or flushable toilets for a week. Not so romantic)

I'm definitely leaning toward the Hapuna Prince. Are there any rooms you would recommend or areas of the resort to avoid?

Does anyone know if you can purchase tickets to the Friday night luau at Kona Village if you aren't staying on property? Would anybody recommend this?

melissa, yes ... you can purchase tickets for the Kona Village luau though you don't stay there. At least, that was their policy a few years back. My sister went, and said the whole experience was very "authentic."

The Kona Village is open to all, and we have enjoyed it twice.

If you're looking to splurge on the Big Island, there's the Fairmont Orchid and the Mauna Lani. Both are upscale and very nice.
:)>-

Thanks Elsiemoo, just curious about those quotation marks around authentic--is that in a good way or in a cheesy, over the top way? Maybe all luau's are somewhat cheesy & over the top to a degree?

melissa, I mean it in a good way. The food is the real thing, and the dancers know what they're doing, according to my sister.

Yes, luaus are a little cheesy and overpriced, but I think if you do Kona Village, Old Lahaina on Maui, or the Polynesian Cultural Ctr. on Oahu ... you will have done one of the best and be glad you did it. :)

Thanks Elsiemoo, I was hoping that was what you meant. We will definitely try to hit the one at Kona Village.
Maureen, thanks for the suggestions. I looked at the Mauna Lani and really liked what I saw, but they didn't have availability for all of the dates I was interested in. I'd love to hear more on the Fairmont Orchid from people who have stayed there & esp. if you've stayed at both the Hapuna Prince & the Fairmont. Anybody?

Also, I was originally thinking of heading to Volcano first, spending a night or two then heading up to the Kohala Coast. After checking flights I'm not sure this is the best idea (many don't arrive till almost 10pm). Any thoughts on the best time to fit VNP into the trip, beginning or end? Or any suggestions for something closer to the airport(Kona) for the first night, then head to Volcano for one night, then to Kohala?

Melissa, we haven't stayed at the Orchid, just the Mauna Lani. They are side by side, so we'd walked to the Orchid and eaten a meal there. It is very nice, and I think I remember that it has a nice beach.

The luaus are fun, and something that's good to do at least once. We went to the Kona Village one, and it has a good setting with good food. I think I remember its cocktails may have been expensive, but I could be confusing it with another luau we went to another time. One had free cocktails, and one had expensive ones.

Even though we've stayed on the Big Island three or four times, we've never gone to the volcano. Just never been too interested in it, I guess, so I can't help with that.

There's so much to do on the Big Island, but we like to stay in one place for a week at a tiime because part of vacation is sleeping in and relaxing, not moving.

Try not to overdo it, so you can get into the Mahalo spirit of Hawaii. It's wonderful there, whatever you do.
:)>-

Melissa, you and your husband are going to have such a wonderful time!

We went to the Big Island last year (have been to Hawaii 4 times, but this was first time to Big Island.)

We stayed for 10 nights, and we could have stayed longer.

The last five nights we stayed at the Fairmont Orchid, and we thought it was great. It's about 45 minutes from Kona. The rooms were nice, the grounds were incredible. We loved the fact that they didn't pipe in music, and when we were lying around the pool we could hear the waves and the breeze through the palm trees.

We did stay for 2 nights in the Volcano area. We started out with 3 nights in the Kona area, then 2 nights near volcano, then 5 nights at the Fairmont Orchid. We like to save the most luxurious lodgings for the end of our trips, so we don't feel like we "moving down." If you do stay at the Fairmont, join their club (not sure what it's called) online before you go. It might help to get you some extra perks.

You can click on my name to find my trip report. I think I posted it in November of 2006.

We went to the Hapuna Beach, so we saw that hotel. It seemed nice, but my preference would be the Fairmont. The beach at the Hapuna is better, but the beach at the Fairmont is nice, too, with lots of good snorkeling (and many, many sea turtles swimming all around!)

Are you flying directly to the Big Island, or are you going through Honolulu? If you're stopping at Honolulu first, you should have several options for flights to Hilo that would arrive earlier than 10 p.m.

I would choose the Fairmont over Hapuna, too--we have stayed there and it's a really nice property. My first choice would be the Mauna Lani, if you can swing it.

The BI is my favorite Hawaiian island, but I usually recommend Maui or Kauai for a first-timer, as they are smaller and a little less intimidating to explore (the BI really is quite big!). As someone else noted, though, there's only volcanic activity on the BI.

Thanks for all the great feedback! Gellers, I haven't actually ruled out Maui but was leaning toward the Big Island for the following reasons: Volcano NP & Mauna Kea summit (my husband is a big science/astronomy nerd and LOVES this kind of stuff) as well as the thought that our $ may go a little further. Samsaf, I saved your trip report-Thanks!- and completely agree with saving the best accomodations for the end of the trip -hate leaving & feeling disappointed knowing it could have been better. Regarding flights, we are using frequent flyer miles with Northwest (while we still have them!) so that limits us. It's at least a 12 hour flight from Michigan, more depending on time between connections. When last I checked it seemed a lot of flights went through Honolulu and only in time for a late flight to the BI, hence the 10pm arrival time. Obviously we'll be trying to arrive as early as possible but in the end it's free so I won't complain too much! Regarding resort choices, from what I've seen on their websites I prefer the look of the rooms at the Fairmont (& Mauna Lani) to the Hapuna Prince. Just trying to decide if it's worth the extra $100+ per night. My husband returns from 2 weeks in Europe (business)tomorrow night so we'll actually be able to hammer out a plan together! Hoping to make some decisions and reservations by Sunday. I'll let you know what we come up with and I'm sure I'll think of more questions once we know "what & where". You have all been so helpful-- I can't say thank you enough! (this whole planning thing is kind of addicting though isn't it!)
Melissa

Melissa, we were able to find a "fifth night free" promotion at the Fairmont. I'm not sure if you would be able to find that deal in February.

Okay, update time. My husband arrived home safely from Europe and reminded me that we have both Marriott and Hilton rewards. So with an eye toward future planning we decided to sacrifice the great on-property beach and booked at the Hilton Waikaloa Village for Saturday through Thursday. The price was right at $259/nt. We're using miles and flying Northwest this trip. (Again, can't beat the price-$24 for two!) Unfortunately this limits us wrt arrival time and we land in Kona at 9:15 pm (Hilo was not an option w/NWA). We had originally hoped to spend Thursday and Friday night in Volcano then head to the Kohala Coast for the last six nights. I now think it would be best to stay in Kona the first night. Any suggestions as to a good place to sleep and also someplace open to grab a bite to eat? (FYI: DH thinks we should drive to Volcano regardless). Would staying just one night in Volcano be enough time? Also, do most hotels require a two night minimum in that area on weekends? I inquired at Kilauea Lodge (they had availability as of Weds) but really like the look of Hale Ohia. Thoughts? Any feedback is appreciated as always! Melissa

Re: Driving to Volcano from Kona--after flight. We have been on the BI several times, most recently Nov. 2006. Since we are on the West Coast, we arrive in early afternoon and usually drive to a resort at Sea Mountain on the southern tip of the Island--about 50 miles.. From there it is about 20+ miles to VNP. I would not really like to drive that road in the dark. We have driven, at night, to a nearby town for dinner--less than 10 miles and driving either way is not great as there is little ambient light along the road
The same would be true when you get 10 or so miles past Kona.

I'd pick a motel in Kona, and get up early in the AM to do the driving. It is a pretty drive most of the way in the daylight. This is just my opinion. Ciao. mhm

Melissa, in your original post you said, "When I see pics of the Honolulu/Waikiki area I cringe-- high rises & big city are the exact opposite of what we're looking for."

Well, if you're staying at the Hilton Waikoloa, be prepared to cringe a little. It's by far the biggest, most sprawling resort on the Big Island. Think Disneyland, without the rides (although the Hilton does have tram and boat rides), and with thousands upon thousands of Asian tourists. Please note I'm not making any judgments here, I'm simply telling you what you're going to find at the Hilton. Just getting from your room to your car entails a 10-15 minute walk (or combined tram ride/walk).

If avoiding a Honolulu-like experience is high on your priority list, and you're limited to choosing either the Hilton or Marriott I'd recommend the latter of those two. It's smaller and less crowded, and is closer to A-Bay (the nearest natural white sand beach in the area).

Mercy, we've definitely decided to stick around Kona for the first night and do a leisurely drive to Volcano the next morning.

Fdecarlo, thanks for the warning. Marriott was our first choice of the two but there was a booking conflict with the dates we needed (couldn't get them all and didn't want to hop around too much). Maybe I'll keep checking to see if anything opens up next month.

melissaklob, fdecarlo is right about the guests at the HWV, regarding the massive amounts of Asian tourists. I've only visited there while staying at the Marriott, and noticed that. I would choose the Marriott because of it's location on A-Bay. Be sure to eat at Roy's in that area as it's one of his best. :)

One more thing, melissa. I would not drive to VNP until early the next morning, as others have suggested, and I would go the Northern route ... so beautiful!

Thanks Elsiemoo, I guess I had always imagined taking the southern route and circling around but I suppose either way could work. Can anyone explain the significance of having a large amount of Asian tourists staying at the same resort?(I've seen mention in guidebooks as well as other forums and I'm not sure I really get the significance.)

Melissa, most travel guides recommend doing the Northern route rather than the Southern. Taking the Southern route is a lot of time and driving to see what you see, IMO, and the lush, green tropical beauty found on the Northern route is what I go to see, really. The information regarding many Asian tourists at a particular resort is what it is ... just giving you as many facts as possible about a place.

If the live volcano is a must-have, then your island choice is already made for you!
:-)

My wife and I just returned from Maui yesterday. We managed to get a package deal through Expedia that covered air fare from New York and condo on the beach that would fit your budget. I don't know if you are set on the BI.While we enjoyed our tour there in March, we really fell in love with the west coast of Maui. The package we had gave us a week in a studio condo at ResortQuest at Papakea. I would not hesitate to go back there in a minute. They do have a web site if you google their name. Driving can be expensive with gas at $3.84 on Maui and $4.26 on Lanai. For deals on car rentals my wife found them on Hotwire about 4-6 weeks before leaving. This trip we had a car from Alamo for $12/day. I remember several words of wisdom from a tour guide on the BI. Don't pick up any rocks for fear of Madame Pele's wrath and lots of bad luck and when you go to see the lava flows, you are too close when your shoes start to melt. One final thought. Norwegian Cruise lines have 7 day cruises through the islands. My wife and I did one in March on the Pride of Hawaii and used the boat as a floating hotel. If you go to the cruise forum here you will see mixed reviews of these trips. Experienced cruisers tend not to like the trip where we came with no expectations and had a great time. Some of their 7 day trips have gone as low as $595 pp. This was just another thought on a way to get a taste of all the islands. No matter where you go I am sure you will have a wonderful time. Hawaii is beautiful!

Anyone stay at the Wyndham Kona Hawaiian resort or the Mauna Loa Village?
Has the situation with the Lava flow changed? Can one see it up close?

tdypnp,

Suggest you start a new thread requesting the information you seek. Your request is buried here and may not be seen.