suggested time on Hawaiian island
 

Hi everyone!

I really want to go to Hawaii and am looking up options to see if it'll be at all possible for my anniversary in January - lucky for me it's supposedly one of the more expensive months.

Because budget is the main issue, along with job / vacation days, I wanted to know if you guys think 5 days on an island would be enough? We live in Miami, so the flight over there is +/- 14 hour marathon. I'm thinking of keeping things simple, more economic, and just spending the time on Oahu.

BUT, I don't want to half @ss it either. If it's not enough time, then I think I rather wait until we have more time to go.

what do you guys think?

I have gone to Oahu for only 5 days, and it was OK, but I only fly from Seattle (6 hour nonstop flight). Also I did not find January a particularly expensive month (neither for airfare or hotel).

That siad, honestly as much as I love Hawawii, I wouldn't spend the money to come all the way from Miami for only 5 days.

Take it from a fellow South Floridian, DO NOT go to Hawaii and only visit Oahu! Actually, January is a less expensive month to go unless you are traveling right after New Years. There are lots of ways of having fantastic Hawaiian vacations very reasonably. What kind of a budget do you have? 5 days is really too short of time to really experience the beauty of Hawaii. We generally fly into another island and then fly out of Oahu. American Airlines has nice flights from FLL to Maui connecting in Dallas. We use Priceline's "name your own price" and have stayed at some wonderful resorts for around $100to $150/night. Check out the website: Biddingfortravel.com I hope you can stretch out more days and are able to enjoy more than one island-they are all wonderful, but if you just go to Oahu and stay in Waikiki, you more than likely will leave disappointed as it can seem much like downtown Miami, L A, etc. Oahu does have much to offer such as Pearl Harbor, Haunama Bay, the drive around the east side of the Island up to the North Shore. If you have to stay on Oahu only, make sure you don't hang out only in Waikiki. Hope this helps you a little. I love Hawaii and I'm in the process of planning our 9th trip back....and my favorite time to go is during whale season....which includes January!!

<if you just go to Oahu and stay in Waikiki, you more than likely will leave disappointed>

Obviously that's a matter of personal opinion, that's what I've done for many vacations myself. I like Oahu and I ADORE Waikiki. Disappointed? Hardly :-)

I think Waikiki is fun, but if I lived in Miami, I wouldn't fly 14 hours to spend 5 days in Waikiki. I'd want more time in Hawaii in total, of which a stay in Waikiki could be a part (for the experience).

From the title, I thought your question was going to be more along the lines of how much time to spend on EACH island. I'd say coming from Miami, I'd want at least 5 days on each of two islands!

I'd wait until you have more time. At least 1 week. Or 10 days and do 5 days x 2 islands.

You are right "Suze" it is a personal opinion, and I should have stated it that way. I have spoken to many people who only go to Waikiki and then say they don't see what the attraction is to Hawaii. If you want to travel for 10-14 hours and then stay in a congested city, with challenging traffic jams, and go to Waikiki beach (which isn't near as pretty as Florida beaches)and enjoy the nightlife, maybe Oahu is for you. I am speaking for those that are looking to see the natural beauty that Hawaii has to offer. In Florida we lack mountains, waterfalls, rugged coastlines, and whales. When I'm in Hawaii that's what I enjoy...what I don't have easy access to at home.

I need to add, mostly my answer has nothing even to do with Hawaii. I wouldn't spend the money to travel a distance of 14 hours *anywhere* if I only had 5 days vacation.

I do think the fact that the person is living in Florida should weigh heavily in the decision (not like you've never seen a nice beach before!).

Hey - go for it. :) But you might try to stretch it to say 7 or 8 days over in Paradise - (maybe take a redeye over and/or back?) and try to see another island.

Suggest you spend 3-4 days on Oahu - where there is plenty to see and do - and then spend 4+ days on Kauai (the Garden Isle is the greenest, most lush) or the Big Island (most things to do - including seeing the Volcano) or trade wind balmed Maui - arguably the best beaches and the most night life.

I love Hawaii but I also love St. John. I would go there or somewhere else in the Caribbean. It's a heck of a lot closer and is still a wonderful anniversary destination. I wouldn't fly all that way for 5 days.

I agree. Head to the Caribbean!!!!! Save Hawaii for when you have more time.

No way would I take Tomsd's "advice" to try and see 2 islands on such a short trip. That's just making a bad situation even worse!

So, I'm guessing you have a week's vacation, and the 5 days on island is because the other 2 are spent traveling? You say you "really want to go to Hawaii," but are you expecting to see and do there that you'd spend +/- 14 hours traveling both to and from?

sigh....s/b "but WHAT are you expecting..."

Geesh - more people who have forgotten their wonderlust. Shame.

Will say - in the winter - the Carribean is nice - not much humidity. If you really want a lush island - check out St. Lucia - favored by my friends who live on Antigua and have sailed all around the Carib. http://stlucianow.com/?src=orgRedirection

Yeah, I'd go to the Caribbean instead of Hawaii for 5 days. I spent 9 days on the Big Island and that was nice, but I sure wouldn't have gone all that way for just 5 days.

thanks everyone for your feedback! i think i'm definitely going to wait until we have more time to go :)

Gosh Tomsd, I most certainly haven't "forgotten my wanderlust".

Rather since I have limited funds for travel, I like to maximize the money spent for the plane ticket by staying a longer time away. It's getting the most out of your total cost *per day*.

Do the math. Pay $500, stay 5 days, that's $100 per day before you even add the hotel, food, etc. Pay $500 but stay two weeks instead, it becomes only $35 per day.

If I was rich, didn't work, had unlimited time and resources, sure I'd fly anywhere for any length of time. But unfortunately for most of us here, that is not the case.

Glad our OP has decided that five days isn't enough 'payoff' for the cost in flight time and expense.

I'd wnat ten nights Hawaii to stay on Oahu + Maui in January. (Or Oahu + Kauai if not in winter.)

Oahu can be less expensive for lodging and food -- and you don't need a rental car within Honolulu as you do *everywhere else* in Hawaii.

AA would work well, flying DGW-HNL, hopping to Maui, flying OGG-DFW. The long legs are on a 767.