Take Chairs and Umbrellas?
 

Let me start by saying I don't think this is a good idea, but I figured I should get the input of some folks who have already been there / done that. We are making our first ever trip to Hawaii next month, and my spouse believes we should lug some of our own chairs and umbrellas on the trip. We are staying most of the time at a condo in Maui, which may not have its own chairs and umbrellas available. I'm highly skeptical of this idea, figuring we'll already have enough to lug around (traveling with two kids - 11 and 15). Has anyone tried taking their own, or can anyone offer advice on keeping expenses low and convenience high for these items? Many thanks!

OK, spouse hereby wins and retires the I-can't-pack-light award.

Why not contact the condo or timeshare company or whomever you're renting from and find out what they have available. Hawaii is just a regular long distance phone call.

If they don't have, the last thing I would do is bring my own. There are ABC (like 7/11s in the States) stores everywhere in Hawaii. Some are small and sell basics, but others are quite large and sell everything. I'm sure you can find a beach umbrella and some chairs. Those plastic lounge chairs (the ones that fold in on the center and open to lounge size) are only $10/$12 on the mainland, and other type sand chairs are about the same or less.

Do you really need a chair for everyone? And how many umbrellas do you need? Assuming the prices are a little higher (most things do cost more in Hawaii) - I can't believe your expense would be $100 total.

And for this you'd haul your own stuff with you? People at the airport will think you were traveling to a remote unpopulated island "somewhere"? You take your own to your summer beach rental, but not to Hawaii.

Get real, make a phone call, and if they don't have, buy what you need and then leave the stuff for the next occupants.

I've never seen anyone lug chairs or umbrellas on the plane to Hawaii. Most likely your condo has its own. Definitely check. And if things go really wrong, yes you can buy some chairs there as a last resort. Many of the beaches have palm trees which provide areas of shade, so umbrellas may be less important than you think.

You can rent chairs from Snorkel Bob's, I don't know about umbrellas. But, you can go to Costco (near the airport) and buy the lot for not very much. Your condo may have chairs, you'll find out when you get there.

This is a terrible idea! Even if your condo won't provide any and Maui is utterly sold out of cheap chairs and umbrellas, there is simply a reasonable limit on what you should haul onto a plane, and this crosses it by a mile. Call ahead to ask if the condo has any, and if not, plan to buy cheapies and donate them to the condo. (I just bought collapsible chairs with footrests, the kind that come in a shoulder bag, for $8 each at Target. Surely you could manage to add another $50 to the cost of your vacation??)Your husband means well, but he's overthinking the whole thing, as men are wont to do!

Agree with E - this is a terrible idea!

Has your husband EVER traveled before????!!!

It's Hawaii - you can always find chairs and umbrellas. It would be a traveling nightmare to have to carry all that extra, unnecessary stuff.

Please convince your husband that as much as you undoubtedly love him, he is thinking crazy!

(Have a great time!) :)

Karen

OK, I'll be the first to admit I have done this. I went to South Beach once and packed 2 beach chairs and a rolling collapsable cooler in my pullman. Since I took summer clothes that don't take up much room, I did have the room in my luggage. I really was glad I took this stuff with me. However, I could have purchased it in Miami at Wal-Mart or some other place like that.

My advice would be if spouse wants to bring it, have spouse carry it. Also, keep in mind the amount of sand that will get all over the chairs.

For the record, the spouse in question is my wife, not husband. :) Thanks for all your feedback (including GoTravel's admission of having done this!). We have a question out to the condo owner to confirm the presence of chairs or lack thereof. If the answer comes back "no", is there someplace likely in the Napili area to pick up chairs and such? Our flight lands after 9pm, so we can't hit Costco on the way from the airport. Thanks again!

How funny that we all assumed it would be the man with the harebrained idea! Oopsie...