Just saw this posting and am a Canadian retiring in another year or so as well. But the prices on the sites mentioned on this thread are pretty steep for us snowbirds. Would one expect to be paying in the neighbourhood of $2500US or more for a month in paradise? For a condo? I know we can get something in Florida (I know, I know!) for around $1000 - I guess this is out of the question for Hawaii?

For who's record Tani?
http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/na.htm

Think that the confusion comes in when you discuss the continent. Think Hawaii is part of North America but is not part of the Continental U.S. Just as Great Britain and Ireland are considered part of Europe but not on the continent.

Yes FF miles frequently refer to Continental U.S not North America otherwise people would be trucking over to Hawaii or down to the Caribbean. But Retiree has already stated that she is not using Frequent flyer miles.

topping for wannabe..any budget condos?

You can stay at the ilikai in Waikiki for about 1000 and it faces a marina. There are also options on other islands that would not take you over. Do need to search though. I say a rental in princeville for 400 a week.

Once you go to Hawaii though you will never compare it with Florida. I think a closer comparison is New Zealand or Costa Rica. Apart from landscape Florida is a very poor state with many of the problems that go along with that. Yes there are affluent communites but many many drifters find there way down there. I understand they have one of the poorest educational systems in the country. Been to both states think the economies are visually vastly different . Think this is why it can be so cheap to stay there.

Call a realitor on your island of choice. Diamond head is another option. Go online also.

Thanks everyone. xxx - I've been trying to go online for 2 weeks and can't get any budget accommodations. Maybe I'm not looking in the right places! And Sam, I'll check the ilikai.

call the condo desk you can get there number by calling the hotel. City views are really reasonable parking is free or use to be. Ask them to fax or mail you a map of the main building I have never been fond of the annex. I stayed there three summers in a row. Thing is the outer islands are more rural and that is more to some peoples liking or expectation to Hawaii. But you can get a great sense of community on Oahu and there are a million and one activities to take part in.

I can help you search retiree. What is your budget? Will come online after work and tell you what I know about on Kauai rentals. Where do you want to go? I am not a travel agent just a tad obsessed with Hawaii.

don't know last time Sam was in Ilikai but having done search best price I could see at the Ilikai Marina was $553 and that was per WEEK! And where in Princeville can you rent a place for $1200 week?? Retiree is looking for a place for cooking so that means a furnished apt. or condo and in Jan. Feb. to boot!! No way at $1000 for that kind of accom at that time of year! And sarah - where are you talking about? You never gave the name of the place??? Florida may be grey rinse city but its affordable for snowbirds - Hawaii is not!

That is if you rent from the hotel you must call the condo desk on the second floor see Sarah's email

I rent in Hanalei every year for under 1200 last year a three bedroom stand alone house this year a 2 bedroom stand alone house. Just have to open your eyes. That 1200 figure was for one month and in Princville condo not the hotel if that is what you were thinking. Will give details later but it is not hard to find. It is the only reason I can go to Kauai every summer for a couple of weeks.

My properties I have rented in Hanalei are for 1-2 weeks at a time expect for Ilikai (Honolulu)were I stayed 1-2months for three consecutive summers. Have noticed that prices do fall when you rent by the month and some realitors deal exclusively in monthly rentals seem to remember one in Diamond head like this. Retiree just let me know your budget but if you are uncomfortable doing that I will list links later this evening or tomorrow.

OK folks time for a reality check here. I have been retired for 8 years and we are "snowbirds", escaping the cold winters every year. The Canadian dollar sucks. I have tried to find accommodations that are "reasonable" to our dollar for many years in Hawaii and there just aint any. Sarah - you rent in the summer. That's a huge difference for us canadians wanting winter accommodations. Our dollar is 1.6 which means for $1000US, we pay $1600 Canadian. There is no way there is a decent apt., condo, whatever anywhere in Hawaii in the winter for $1000US a MONTH. We have had to abandon our hopes of spending the winter there. Arizona and Florida is where we have to go. I would love to hear same type of stories as Sarah has but in the WINTER!

Thanks Sarah for the information. I was hoping to find a one bedroom place with a kitchen (would love a pool too!) in a place where a rental car is unnecessary. I was hoping to pay around $1000-$1200 for a month. But "iam" is correct - we do want to rent in the winter - probably Jan and Feb.

Retiree I lived on Oahu and we took summer breaks in Waikiki Ilikai when family came into town. We also saw retirees at a winter rental we had from Nov to Feb for 800 a month (97) a small studio with a balcony/kitchen overlooking the pacific. I prefer the ilikai. Geez I forget the name of hotel it was on Seaview avenue. Will do a check and get you a name. This place had a large pool, hot tub and sauna. Back a few blocks from beach. Will list later. Never saw price increases unless it was over Christmas holiday. When you live in Hawaii it seems that every season is high season or that is what all the place renting tell you so no never mind to Iam. We also did interisland hops in January and Feb each year and were never ever in crowds at that time. Always found last minute budget accomodation. Restaurants and activities were kind of sparse with people. Another option is going to Honolulu Star Bulletin classifieds.

Retiree call the ilikai before the weekend. Talk to you later with more ideas

Remember to get the number for the condo desk on the second floor from the hotels main reception and call them. Room prices through the hotel will be significantly higher.

I'm with iam - no way, no how you can get a (nice) apt. anywhere in Hawaii in winter for $1000 bucks. And I challenge anyone to find one! specially with a pool and kitchen? Yeah right.

Retiree,
Check rentals directly by owners
www.vrbo.com
I did not check other islands but in Kauai there were a few in $1000-1200 per month range.
Good luck.

You know retire the more I think of the more I think I would feel pretty stranded on any island without a car and I don't drive. Oahu is your best bet but I have waited for that bus and it makes many local stops. The best food stores are outside waikiki. Outer Islands you must have a car

Anyway my computer at home is kind of slow this is all I found so far at 1400 and I am a bit tired. Island Colony on Seaside Avenue is the condo I stayed at Nov-Feb 97 at 800. I suggest you call realitors also on Oahu and ask if they have any deals if someone is renting for 2 consecutive months. Any luck with Ilikai? Check out that Star bulletin classified

http://www.goin2travel.com./h108.htm $1325 studio with kitchen in Diamond head.

Island Colony. This place is 1400. http://www.goin2travel.com/a458.htm
Our unit was through a private owner.