nelsonian

I have booked our airfares to Hawaii Mid May 2014, now to look for accommodation. I would appreciate any recommendations for budget/reasonably priced accommodation on Ohau, Maui, Hilo, Kona, and Kauai. No we are not going to all these places, just haven't decided where yet.

Would it be better to wait to book accommodation? I understand that May is not peak season. Does Travel Zoo ever do discounts on hotels in Hawaii?

Odin

We stay in Napili Bay, Maui where there are several options for budget accommodation eg Napili Surf condos. The location is beautiful and convenient for getting into Lahaina.

taitai

On the Big Island, you will want two bases. One in the Kohala District. So, Waikoloa Beach Resort, Mauna Lani, Hapuna, something along those lines. This area is mostly condos although there are several very nice hotels (the Four Seasons is one of the nicest I have ever visited). My favorite beach is the one fronting the Mauna Kea but we prefer condos in the Mauna Lani complex for their beach club access. It is also very Hawaiian with the fishponds and other cultural aspects. Then, you want a separate base on the HIlo side for all that. I suggest staying in Volcano. There are a number of really lovely B&Bs and Inns in that teeny, tiny town.

Just note that the development on the Big Island is different from the other islands. There are very, very few, if any, bit resorts or condos on the beach. The beaches are kept more open in this area. Most of the development has been away from the beaches. This is unlike Maui or Oahu where the beachfront is lined with large developments.

Kona, IMO, has seen better days. A bit tired and tacky. There are some waterfront options there but very little, if any, open ocean access. Much more rocky, volcanic shoreline. It also has vog. The best beaches and sunniest skies are in Kohala.

voyager61

I wouldn't wait to book accommodations...the best and most affordable accommodations for the Hawaiian Islands go first, leaving the most expensive or worst ones to chose from. It's really a year-round destination; I think September and October are officially the slowest months. There are probably a lot of May honeymoons that get booked to Hawaii.

I an dividing up areas between "local ambiance" and "manicured resort" feeling, so you know what to expect.

For Kauai, check VRBO/HomeAway for either Hanalei (local), Princeville (manicured) or Poipu (manicured and local mix) areas, depending on where you want to stay. On Maui, Napili (locall) is an affordable area. Look at the Napili Kai Beach Club or Napili Surf. This area isn't a resort area like Wailea on Maui, so keep that in mind, but the beach is pretty and some people (including us for a while) go back year after year. If you want manicured resort area, try Ekolu Village in Wailea (VRBO/HomeAway again). Beaches are amazing in Wailea (that's why a lot of the best hotels are there); if you can afford staying there, it's also a good location for Haleakala excursions and convenient to the airport. Kihei (local ambiance) is next to Wailea, but a normal, unmanicured town with good grocery stores and small eateries. Kihei has a lot of affordable condos, and you are still close to Wailea beaches and Haleakala.

As noted above, choose Big Island accommodations on the Kohala Coast (manicured resorts, mostly, except for Puako, which is tiny but close to good beaches). For me, Hilo, Volcano and Kona are just stay-one-night or day trip places because of rain and vog, but you will hear other opinions.

Others can cover Oahu; I know nothing about it other than what I've heard. Maui will be more expensive than Kauai and the Big Island, most likely. If you are getting a really low-priced place on Maui, probably something wrong with it.

Sounds like a great trip!

nelsonian

Some great comments here, I will start researching!!, more comments and suggestions welcome.

cd

We stayed a month in Kona and had no vog. The Kohala coast is beautiful with beautiful resorts but for a month we needed something more reasonable. We choose the Kona Reef, an oceanview condo and was very satisfied. The oceanfront pool and BBQ area was great, It was within walking distance to the little town of Kona which we did at least every other day for the market. We spent many one day trips north to Kohala and beyond and south to the Black Sand Beach and 2 Step Beach and beyond. We spent one night in Hilo (because of the rain) and drove the entire island The Kona Reef is next door to a small sand beach but the front is all rocky with no beach: http://www.hotels.com/ho218362/castl...united-states/

cd

ps meant to say, we only spent one night in Hilo because it is 70% chance of rain all the time and it did rain the one night 2 days we were there.

jamie99

Hanalei Bay Resort on Kauai is nice, be sure to rent through an owner or property management company rather than through the hotel so you do not end up in one of the timeshare rooms there (they are starting to update them though finally). May is beautiful on the North Shore there and hopefully the bar and Happy Talk Lounge will be open by then, they are working on them now and shooting for April at the latest.

carolyn

We last stayed at the Aston Waikiki Sunset, 229 Paoakalani Avenue, Waikiki, Oahu 96815, Phone: 808-922-0511. It is a suite hotel with a kitchenette supplied with dishes and cooking utensils and is about three blocks from the beach and is at the Diamond Head end of Waikiki. I really liked the Princess Kaiulani which is across the street from the beach and more in the middle of the main drag. It would be a little more expensive.

ChiSue

nelsonian -- What didn't get answered in your earlier post with the 65 responses? Exactly what is your new question? What is the lodging budget? How long will you be in Hawaii? Are you flying in and out of HNL?

wekewoody

No that it really matters but, nelsonian's new post is more about lodging. Her last post was more about which islands to visit and when to go.

nelsonian, On Maui, I like the Wailea area. The Wailea Ekahi complex is one of the more affordable complexes of condos on the beach side of the Wailea Alanui Drive . Few of the units are actually beachfront, but many of ocean views, most are within a 5 minute walk to the beach, and there is a nice beach pavillion with pool on Keawakapu Beach. There are many units listed on vrbo.com.

I am partial to Hanalei on Kauai, but in the Poipu area, I like the Kiahuna Plantation. It is on a nice stretch of beach. Again, many units are available for less money on vrbo.com than from the major listing agents.

For great aerial shots of most resorts on all the major islands with reviews go to www.wizardpub.com and navigate to "Free Travel Information", click on an island, then click on "resort aerials and reviews".

nelsonian

Thanks for your suggestions.

ChiSue the answers to your questions are all in the previous post. This post is just wanting suggestions of places to stay. I guess our budget would be classed as "budget" $ 150.00 a night or less if possible for decent comfortable accommodation.

ChiSue

You see, most of us do not have time to re-read a long previous post. You haven't settled on an island. I don't know how large a condo you need, but $150/night is a little low for a short stay almost anywhere. ARE you flying into HNL? There are more -- and more inexpensive -- lodgings on Oahu. You wouldn't need a car within the city, and you wouldn't be paying for any 'hops' between islands.

nelsonian

Which is why I started a new post!! Yes we are flying into HNL we have no choice about that. Only need accommodation for 2 people. We will definitely be going to the Big Island and probably Maui as well as a few days in Oahu.