need help finding those Hawaii bargains
 

I'm assuming there are travel agents out here who read this board. My family is researching our vacation to Hawaii from Dec. 20th to Dec 30th. We have 3 places in mind (and are open to any you might suggest). The 3 places are Outrigger reef on the beach and waikiki on the beach and Kanapali Beach Resort on Maui. Need air from Seattle and a car in either place. Kids ages are 14 and 12. Please post or email questions or resutls. Thanks

KG-Don't be surprised if you are innudated with all kinds of spam from travel agents. Travel agents lurk undercover on this site because they are not welcome here. Travel agents get paid commissions for steering you to certain properties that may or may not be in your best interests. Travel agents do not care one iota about you. They are only interested in making $$$$ off of you. That said, you would be better off to find the info. yourself. Start with travelocity and expedia, check the airline websites, then check hotwire, cheaptickets or biztravel.com or priceline.com. Don't be taken advantage of just because you are lazy....

not a travel agent found my rental on Hanalei through www.vacationspot.com I did not directly rent from them but got a referal from a property that posted with them. In any event it gives you great ideas on condo rentals

KG travel agents who expose themselves here as agents are immediately thrashed and shunned. <BR>So don't expect lots of TA's to be lurking here looking for business, (though there always seem to be a few). <BR>If you already know the hotels and dates you want, most of your work is done. You simply need to compare the cost of booking yourself versus thru an agent. Call the hotels yourself AND check their websites (prices can vary). Then check a couple agents who do a lot of business in Hawaii. Check locally and with national groups like Classic Hawaiian, etc.

9 times out of 10 if you insist on letting the travel agent do the work for you, your best deals will come from Hawaii based travel agents. Cheap Tickets, do you know anyone who beats their prices (I don't), operations began in Honolulu, Roberts Hawaii, Pleasant Island Holidays. Of course they have closer relationships with the hotels in their home state. Would anything else be logical. I still think that Condo's and biding for your ticket are the most cost efficient option. Find any hotel you like save for the grand Dam's like the Halikulani, Moana and Royal Hawaiian and see if there are condo options on the property. The Ilikai in Waikiki if you go there does very affordable condo's in there main building (don't go to annex). Hanalei Bay Resort on Kauai has a condo option as does the Marriott and countless others. I am sure you will have similiar results on Maui. Good Luck!!!

Expedia.com has some incredible packages.