My husband and I are planning a trip to Hawaii in July for our one year anniversary. I have read several books and have been on several websites and am now starting to get overwhelmed on which island to visit, how many should we visit on our first trip and where to stay. We have champagne taste with a beer bottle pocketbook - love the warm sunny weather, the beach and just strolling. We are considering Maui and the Big Island or Oahu. For all you experienced travelers, can you help us out. Are sites like travelocity, etc. good to use.
Thanks all.
Thanks all.
Sylvia,
I am eager to see what the real travel pros say...we too are planning a first trip to Hawaii....two weeks of relaxation / sightseeing / and hopefully some tremendous golf....ok posters help Sylvia and me out, please.
All the islands...only 2 + Oahu ???
What say you?
I am eager to see what the real travel pros say...we too are planning a first trip to Hawaii....two weeks of relaxation / sightseeing / and hopefully some tremendous golf....ok posters help Sylvia and me out, please.
All the islands...only 2 + Oahu ???
What say you?
I'd vote for Kauai and Maui. I thought they were the best as far as Hawaiian beauty and things to see and do.
I hated Oahu and unfortunately had to be there for like 8 days because of a conference hubby went to. It was like New York City with a beach. I thought Waikiki(sp?) was one of the crummiest beaches I had ever been to. The traffic was horrible in the city and the people were rude. I enjoyed Pearl Harbor, but that was about it.
Maui was probably the most diverse. It had lonely spots and populated spots and plenty to see and do. We were only there for 5 nights and I could have stayed twice that number, same with Kauai. It was spectacular.
As far as the big island goes, we were there for 5 nights and I could have made it 3. There wasn't much there after you went to the volcano and drove all over the island. The beaches were small and the place we stayed wasn't that great.
We too have champagne taste on a Bud budget, so other than the Hilton Alii tower which we had for the conference, we picked medium priced properties and had excellent luck with all but one. The one that we weren't happy with was because they had so many boats anchored near their tiny beach the water was full of floating oil and you really didn't want to go in it.
You are going to get many opinions here. Good luck.
I hated Oahu and unfortunately had to be there for like 8 days because of a conference hubby went to. It was like New York City with a beach. I thought Waikiki(sp?) was one of the crummiest beaches I had ever been to. The traffic was horrible in the city and the people were rude. I enjoyed Pearl Harbor, but that was about it.
Maui was probably the most diverse. It had lonely spots and populated spots and plenty to see and do. We were only there for 5 nights and I could have stayed twice that number, same with Kauai. It was spectacular.
As far as the big island goes, we were there for 5 nights and I could have made it 3. There wasn't much there after you went to the volcano and drove all over the island. The beaches were small and the place we stayed wasn't that great.
We too have champagne taste on a Bud budget, so other than the Hilton Alii tower which we had for the conference, we picked medium priced properties and had excellent luck with all but one. The one that we weren't happy with was because they had so many boats anchored near their tiny beach the water was full of floating oil and you really didn't want to go in it.
You are going to get many opinions here. Good luck.
In our 1st trip to Hawaii, we spent 6 days on Maui, 3 on Big Island, 2 on Oahu.
I would recommend at least 5 days on Maui. It has the most to do & the widest variety of things to see.
For a 1st trip, I would say the Big Island is a must, just to see Volcanoes National Park. If I were to go back, I might stay 1 or 2 nights and maybe stay in Hilo. We stayed in Waikoloa last time. The resorts are beautiful, but surronded by not a lot but lava rocks. And it is a long drive to Volcanoes.
For our 1st trip, we could not avoid Oahu. We were using FF miles and Delta only flew to the Mainland from Oahu. We decided to stay there 2 nights, pretty much just to see Pearl Harbor. We did that, drove around the island, and visited a pineapple plantation.
If you are planning a 2-week trip, more than 3 islands would probably be too hectic.
On Maui, the Kaanapali Beach Hotel is a nice, "inexpensive" place to stay. Very Simple. Very Hawaiian. Very friendly. Sits on one of the nicer stretches of beach in Kaanapali. Pool is small.
On Oahu, we stayed at the New Otani. It was relatively inexpensive as well. Sits at the far end of Waikiki, near DiamondHead. Away from the hustle and bustle of Waikiki. Nice restaurant in the lobby that looks out over the beach.
I would use Travelocity to figure out what hotel, what flights, etc. I would not book through them however. Generally, with internet sites, you are paying upfront & that makes it difficult to change reservations if needed. For hotels, I prefer to go directly to that hotel's web site. Worst case, you will get the same rate as, let's say, Travelocity, but probably not have to pay the entire amount up front & should be able to change reservations easier. The hotel's web sites may also offer deals not seen on a web travel agent site. For example, Marriott has a special running if you are a member of their Rewards program. Anyone can sign up. You'll get a rate $20-$50/night less than Travelocity. Some else mentioned on another thread that Sheraton has a similar deal for their program members. The Entertainment Book also has discount coupons for some hotels.
If you are a member of Costco, BJs, or Sam's Club, I would recommend looking into their travel programs, especially for rental cars. We got a great deal on rental cars for our trip there in July. Far lower than any internet price.
I would recommend at least 5 days on Maui. It has the most to do & the widest variety of things to see.
For a 1st trip, I would say the Big Island is a must, just to see Volcanoes National Park. If I were to go back, I might stay 1 or 2 nights and maybe stay in Hilo. We stayed in Waikoloa last time. The resorts are beautiful, but surronded by not a lot but lava rocks. And it is a long drive to Volcanoes.
For our 1st trip, we could not avoid Oahu. We were using FF miles and Delta only flew to the Mainland from Oahu. We decided to stay there 2 nights, pretty much just to see Pearl Harbor. We did that, drove around the island, and visited a pineapple plantation.
If you are planning a 2-week trip, more than 3 islands would probably be too hectic.
On Maui, the Kaanapali Beach Hotel is a nice, "inexpensive" place to stay. Very Simple. Very Hawaiian. Very friendly. Sits on one of the nicer stretches of beach in Kaanapali. Pool is small.
On Oahu, we stayed at the New Otani. It was relatively inexpensive as well. Sits at the far end of Waikiki, near DiamondHead. Away from the hustle and bustle of Waikiki. Nice restaurant in the lobby that looks out over the beach.
I would use Travelocity to figure out what hotel, what flights, etc. I would not book through them however. Generally, with internet sites, you are paying upfront & that makes it difficult to change reservations if needed. For hotels, I prefer to go directly to that hotel's web site. Worst case, you will get the same rate as, let's say, Travelocity, but probably not have to pay the entire amount up front & should be able to change reservations easier. The hotel's web sites may also offer deals not seen on a web travel agent site. For example, Marriott has a special running if you are a member of their Rewards program. Anyone can sign up. You'll get a rate $20-$50/night less than Travelocity. Some else mentioned on another thread that Sheraton has a similar deal for their program members. The Entertainment Book also has discount coupons for some hotels.
If you are a member of Costco, BJs, or Sam's Club, I would recommend looking into their travel programs, especially for rental cars. We got a great deal on rental cars for our trip there in July. Far lower than any internet price.
Sylvia--
I've got experience with the Big Island, Maui, & Kauai. My personal favorite is Kauai, followed by the Big Island, with Maui a close third. My wife & I honeymooned on the Big Island and Kauai about five years ago; we started off on the Big Island, and within 12 hours of our arrival our rental car had been stolen. Not a typical experience, by any means, but one that colored the rest of our stay. The Big Island is still the least developed of the major islands, so if you're looking for wide-open spaces, this is probably your best bet. My inclination would be to stay on the Hilo side--wetter, I know, but Hawaian rain isn't hard to take, and you avoid the more Spring Break-y crowd in Kona.
Kauai is the sleepiest of the islands I've visited. It's got the golf-courses and resorts, but the feel was more laid-back. Kauai doesn't have the volcanic moonscapes of the Big Island and Maui, but it's got some of the most lush scenery I've ever seen. My wife and I aren't golfers, we don't do boutiques and that kind of stuff; Kauai has struck me as being the least "touristy" of the islands. We're going back for our fifth anniversary this June.
Maui was nice. We were there two summers ago. There's a fair amount of cookie-cutter touristy stuff there, lots of googley-eyed honeymoon types, but if you get even a little bit off the beaten track, things quiet down. Everybody does the drive to Hana, now, but if you stop at the Seven Sacred Pools take the time to walk the two miles upstream; it's an easy hike, there are lots of quiet pools along the way to swim in, the falls at the end is spectacular, and you'll leave behind most of the barking masses at the highway. Very romantic, and, best of all, 100% free. Pick the guavas along the way, too.
I've never stayed on Oahu, but my folks have. They didn't like it. Too urban, too built up, too loud. If you like the city thing, then maybe Oahu would be okay. If not, just change planes and be on your way.
You really can't go wrong with any of the islands. For my money, the secret is to get out of your resort and away from the rest of the people. Rent a car, talk to the locals. If you're interested in strolls, there's are a couple of books by a guy named Craig Chisholm that describe hikes on the different islands. Most of them are very easy. We use it like a bible.
As far as the travel websites go, we've used Travelocity and Expedia. They're both pretty reliable, especially if you cross-reference your results with a guidebook. The only catch can be if you need to change your reservations or plans at some point: you often have to pay penalties or extra fees; you lose some flexibility.
You don't have to pay an arm and a leg to stay on the islands if you're willing to forego the big resort amenities (golf courses, four restaurants, on call massage therapists, etc...). There's a place called the Lahaina Shores on Maui that's simple, well-maintained, and very convenient. It's beachside, close to things in Lahaina, and most of the rooms have kithenettes. No luxury, but we loved it. We had breakfast every morning on our own private balcony with a view of the mountain (more interesting, actually, than the ocean view, and cheaper, too).
My wife and I are staying at a place called the Aston Islander-on-the-Beach in Kauai. I'm not entirely sure what to expect, but at $76/night for a beachside hotel, I'm not gonna complain much as long as the room is relatively critter-free. We got that rate on Expedia.
Take along lots of sunscreen, a bag of snorkeling gear, and towels, and bring them with you wherever you go. You never know when you'll see the "perfect beach."
Enjoy your trip!
I've got experience with the Big Island, Maui, & Kauai. My personal favorite is Kauai, followed by the Big Island, with Maui a close third. My wife & I honeymooned on the Big Island and Kauai about five years ago; we started off on the Big Island, and within 12 hours of our arrival our rental car had been stolen. Not a typical experience, by any means, but one that colored the rest of our stay. The Big Island is still the least developed of the major islands, so if you're looking for wide-open spaces, this is probably your best bet. My inclination would be to stay on the Hilo side--wetter, I know, but Hawaian rain isn't hard to take, and you avoid the more Spring Break-y crowd in Kona.
Kauai is the sleepiest of the islands I've visited. It's got the golf-courses and resorts, but the feel was more laid-back. Kauai doesn't have the volcanic moonscapes of the Big Island and Maui, but it's got some of the most lush scenery I've ever seen. My wife and I aren't golfers, we don't do boutiques and that kind of stuff; Kauai has struck me as being the least "touristy" of the islands. We're going back for our fifth anniversary this June.
Maui was nice. We were there two summers ago. There's a fair amount of cookie-cutter touristy stuff there, lots of googley-eyed honeymoon types, but if you get even a little bit off the beaten track, things quiet down. Everybody does the drive to Hana, now, but if you stop at the Seven Sacred Pools take the time to walk the two miles upstream; it's an easy hike, there are lots of quiet pools along the way to swim in, the falls at the end is spectacular, and you'll leave behind most of the barking masses at the highway. Very romantic, and, best of all, 100% free. Pick the guavas along the way, too.
I've never stayed on Oahu, but my folks have. They didn't like it. Too urban, too built up, too loud. If you like the city thing, then maybe Oahu would be okay. If not, just change planes and be on your way.
You really can't go wrong with any of the islands. For my money, the secret is to get out of your resort and away from the rest of the people. Rent a car, talk to the locals. If you're interested in strolls, there's are a couple of books by a guy named Craig Chisholm that describe hikes on the different islands. Most of them are very easy. We use it like a bible.
As far as the travel websites go, we've used Travelocity and Expedia. They're both pretty reliable, especially if you cross-reference your results with a guidebook. The only catch can be if you need to change your reservations or plans at some point: you often have to pay penalties or extra fees; you lose some flexibility.
You don't have to pay an arm and a leg to stay on the islands if you're willing to forego the big resort amenities (golf courses, four restaurants, on call massage therapists, etc...). There's a place called the Lahaina Shores on Maui that's simple, well-maintained, and very convenient. It's beachside, close to things in Lahaina, and most of the rooms have kithenettes. No luxury, but we loved it. We had breakfast every morning on our own private balcony with a view of the mountain (more interesting, actually, than the ocean view, and cheaper, too).
My wife and I are staying at a place called the Aston Islander-on-the-Beach in Kauai. I'm not entirely sure what to expect, but at $76/night for a beachside hotel, I'm not gonna complain much as long as the room is relatively critter-free. We got that rate on Expedia.
Take along lots of sunscreen, a bag of snorkeling gear, and towels, and bring them with you wherever you go. You never know when you'll see the "perfect beach."
Enjoy your trip!
For my husband and me, three weeks on the Big Island wasn't nearly enough, there was so much to do and explore.We were active all day. Admittedly,we are not "lie on the beach" type people, but can't imagine being bored. I guess you'll have to ask yourselves what you most want out of your vacation. So much has to do with lifesyle; seems like many people who have constant stress all year really need that lie back and chill beach environment. The Big Island has some lovely beaches, with amazing snorkling and swimming, but they're more spread out than the other islands. Knowing that we wouldn't be at our accommodations all that much during the day, we went with a condo rental, which included everything,was very clean and comfortable, and was extremely reasonable. The Big Island is quite large. You don't say how long you have, but for a shorter trip, one week or so, I'd stay here most or all of the time,basing yourselves in the Kona or Hilo area or both, or do Oahu and Maui,. There's plenty to see and do away from the resorts on all of the islands that is free or inexpensive.
