Please help my friend with her 1st Hawaii trip!
 

I received an email today from one of my college roommates and I just know you guys will help me out...Her email states, in a nutshell..."DH and I are seriously considering a trip to Hawaii to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary which is in May, but we will go in June and want to make reservations soon. What advise and info would you give to 1st timers like us? Where to stay (hotels and island) what to see? We are not into crowds we enjoy the more private remote places. Some shopping. We like to eat in nice restaurants and see nature."
xoxoxo

So, please all of you professionals..help me. I have recommended fodors, flyertalk and frommers ...tripadvisor...hawaii.com..wizardpub.com..gohawa ii.com..driving and discovering hawaii...

Please top some of your most recent trip reports, etc for her...and I will email her and get her to check out fodors today. Let's initiate her properly

((r))((r))((r))

And, of course, I think she should go to Kauai since that is my favorite island!

Is $) money no object, or is there a price range((?))

Money is an object...1 child just started college, 1 child still in high school..her DH is an accountant!
So, JD, I'm gonna say..mid range with the most bang for the buck.:-d

I'm guessing midrange is ~$200/nite. In my limited experience, that would exclude the top two: Hyatt or Princeville Hotel on Kauai, and personally would want to be toward P'ville in June. So for around $200/nite that leaves Sheraton (Poipu), Marriott or Radisson in Lihue.

Personally would go with an ocean front P'ville condo (e.g.~150-$200 <font color="blue">www.vrbo.com</font>) visit nearby P'ville hotel or other restaurants etc. for splurge events.

Other island of choice would be Maui, and I can't recommend a hotel ~$200/nite, though many nice condo's can be found.

I'm most familiar with midrange$) on the Big Island, though I am not sure I would send first timers there unless they would really like a chance to see an active volcano, or are really into snorkeling/scuba.

I have seen lots of midrange hotel choices on Oahu and there is also a lot to do there, but may be too crowded. I'm sure others can help with this.

Hope this helps!!!

So, which websites would you suggest to her to first select an island?

I think you listed some good sites (e.g. <font color="blue">www.gohawaii.com</font>).

For learning about various properties on individual islands this site helped us, also you can ((T)) and get TA advice:
<font color="blue">www.travel-hawaii.com</font> and I recall some here also reference (haven't used much personally):
<font color="blue">www.pleasantholidays.com</font>.

Thanks JD....anyone else? She will be home from work and I want to email this thread to her!

I would tell her it is way too early to be making reservations for May or June 2005. She has lots of time to do the research and find the best island(s) for her.

I think it was beachgirl who just recently posted a couple of excellent trip reports covering Oahu (Waikiki), Big Island and Maui.

I wouldn't say its too early to make reservations for summer 05. I already have reservations(cancelable of course) It doesn't hurt to book at hotels, and keep checking the rates to see if they go lower.

On my way to the Big Island in a few weeks, but here are my trip reports:

Kauai from June 2004
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34508517

Maui from July 2003
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34436140

love
roxy