We will be in Oahu in a few weeks for 4 nights. Then off to Maui for 9 nights

Should I be making reservations at some restaurants or can we just go where we like depending on what we feel like eating while there. I don't know what we will feel like having or where we will be at a particular day especially in Maui as we are just going to decide each day what we want to do

In Oahu we are planning a morning at Pearl Harbor and another day at the Polynesian Cultural Center but we aren't doing the meal options or the Horizons show there so we will probably head out for dinner somewhere. The first day we are there will be a wash because our flight gets in at night and we will most likely be tired so we will just grab something quick at the hotel. We are staying at the Moana Surfrider

One place we want to try while in Oahu is Sam Choy's probably not the one in Diamond Head but the other location. Is it recommended that we make reservations here for dinner? How about if we decide to go for lunch?

In Maui the couple of places we definitely want to go to are Spago at the Four Seasons, Roy's in Kihei, Aloha Mixed Plate in Lahaina. I would think that Spago and Roys I would have to make reservations but how far in advance?

Thanks

I don't think you'll die if you don't make reservations, but you may have to wait a while at Sam Choy's BLC. They do have a bar in the back so if it's not a big deal to you, you could eat there instead of at a "real" table.

I made a reservation at Spago - a lot more kids were there than I would have thought. Just so that you are aware, they advertise their childrens menu in all the magazines. I was NOT impressed and had a much better dinner at Nicks Fishmarket.

Thanks, I think we will just wing it or make reservations a day before

We are too traveling with children and they have been to other Wolfgang Puck restaurants before and we are all looking forward to eating there. So I guess we will add to the kids total at that restaurant on a particular night

Can I ask a honest question? Why do people think that when you are traveling with children that you shouldn't go to the nicer restaurants? My kids enjoy gourmet restaurants. Of course we don't go all the time when on vacation but if we never started taking them they would never have know how to behave in them or enjoy them. We enjoy spending time with our kids that is why we vacation with them and not leave them home. We both work long hours and our vacations are times to really reconnect with the family

I dunno....I guess it depends on the kids? It's great that your kids enjoy gourmet restaurants--my nieces & nephew do, too. I think they may be contrary to the norm, though. I've seen many other kids hating the food in the restaurants. Or in the case of one friend's kid, she was into throwing loud tantrums no matter where we were!

It wouldn't hurt to call Spago's or Roy's before you go, if you know for sure a night you want to eat there. but you're probably fine once you're there calling a day or two ahead. I wonder if a Friday or Saturday night would require an earlier call? And one more thought, how about for your first night meals? It might be nice, depending on your flights, to know you already have reservations at a nice place, then you can really relax and enjoy. Have a great trip.

Don't forget you can book reservations (and make special requests) online at opentable.com. We had a nice OpenTable experience with Spago in Maui when I made a note that we wanted a nice table with a view for celebrating our wedding anniversary. We got an excellent table (great view, quiet, romantic) and they brought us a complimentary dessert. Very nice touch. Meal at Spago was the best of our trip. Enjoy.

I'm sorry if you read my post the wrong way. We actually took our kids to Spago as well and they loved it - the adults, not so much.

However, if you were making this a romantic trip you might want to know this in advance. You have to admit, some kids are not good in restaurants and can have a negative impact on other diners meals.

Thanks for the advice and suggestions everyone

Tusion - thanks for the clarification but I didn't take it that way at all I was just making a point because I have read so many posts of how people are annoyed when they see kids at more upscale restaurants whether they are well behaved or not.

I think on our arrival day we will just grab something quick wherever we are. I don't think I want to "have" to be somewhere at a certain time after checking in, unpacking, etc and I am sure my kids will not want to wait to hit the pool. We get into Maui at 1pm, then we have to get our rental car, drive to Wailea, check in, etc

Off Subject, but if you get a chance and your kids want to go snorkeling definitely go to haunama bay. We are on Oahu now, 3rd time, but had read some negative comments about the reef being dead and to crowded, no fish. We hav e gone 3 days in a row, today we snorkeled with 3 huge sea turtles, more colorful and a bigger variety of fish than all the fish we saw on Kauai last week at 4 snorkel spots combined. Our son does not swim and from the shore he saw an eel swimming two foot from shore, and several other varieties very close. I forgot how much I enjoyed Oahu, it is a

Cut myself off. Have a great time Oahu is an awesome island.

I would definitely make a reservation for Duke's if you choose to go there.

We went to Sam Choy's twice during our visit in January to Oahu (try the Plantation Iced Tea!), and I don't think that reservations seemed necessary, but it never hurts.