I am planning our first visit to Hawaii for DH & I in mid-late November in the most affordable manner. We plan to spend the first week on the Big Island and the following week on Kauai. We'd like to book our accoms thru vrbo, our first time going this route.

I noticed airfare is significantly less expensive on weekdays and am wondering if vrbo's are generally only rented out Sun to Saturday? If so, then I would need to book the more expensive flights; I plan on booking the flights very soon.

On BI, we plan to go to the Volcanoes Natl Park, Hilo, Akaka Falls, Hapuna Beach, Mauna Kea, and snorkelling somewhere. I've mapped it out and it seems these are all over the island. I've read the west side of the island is more dry so I'd prefer to stay on that side. However, would that make sense given the things we'd like to do? Any ideas on which region to rent from: Kona, Kohala, or Hamakua Coasts, or Hilo, Puna, or Ka'u Districts?

Any suggestions for Kauai - West, North, East or South? We plan to check out the Napali Coast, Waimea Canyon Drive, Hanalei Bay, Hwy 560, and kayaking on the Wailua and/or Hanalei Rivers.

Any Fodorites have specific units/owners they've rented from on BI or Kauai that they'd like to share?

All recs much appreciated!

Enjoy-la!

"I noticed airfare is significantly less expensive on weekdays and am wondering if vrbo's are generally only rented out Sun to Saturday? If so, then I would need to book the more expensive flights; I plan on booking the flights very soon."

Most time shares are generally rented out with a certain day check in & check out.

Most private units on VRBO don't have a certain day check in & out.

For Big Island you could get a unit for a week on Kona side. You could get a hotel room for one night in Hilo. It means double booking for a day, but no big deal.

On Kauai we've always stayed on the East/Coconut Coast. A bit more convenient to all points on the island and near some good and inexpensive restaurants.

I haven't actually gone yet, but in doing my research for Hawaii, it seemed that most rentals which did not have 7 day minimums were flexible on turnover day. For the Big Island, I got a condo for 6 nights on the Kona side, and a house (through VRBO) for 4 nights on the Hilo side. there was a lot of flexibility with both.

With Kaui I got a 1 week rental from owner (but not VRBO), and the owner didn't care which day, I picked Monday. I investigated 1 or 2 other rental houses and found the same.

So the answer is, I think it varies. I would decide on your itinerary and rentals first, and then book your flights.

Hotels are discounting so much these days, they are more 'affordable' than most things you will find on VRBO. If you havent booked air, buy a package and the lodging cost really drops.

Thx a mint all for your very helpful replies and info - much appreciated!

FrankS, wow, I would have never considered that since I usually book everything separately. I'll check out that option that wasn't even on my radar!

china_cat, have a fab trip!

Enjoy-la!

We have stayed about three times at Sea Village, on the Big Island, just a couple of miles south of Kona. It's a great location. Very nice little condo complex. The units are individually owned. Google it and you will find some. Oceanfront views from the units are amazing.

Got a great deal for my recent trip to Kauai at the Hilton just north of Lihue. Nice place, good food, great pool. The place was half empty.

Even though hotels may be giving great deals it can be very nice to have your own little house to stay in Hawaii. We always use VRBO when we go as we like to have more space than just a hotel room, a place to cook our own meals when we want to and also having laundry is a big plus. I have some places I like on both those islands and will send them later as they are on my other computer.

Forgot to mention benefits of Sea Village: washer/dryer in unit, beach paraphenalia usually in unit, cute little swimming pool above rocky beach, free tennis courts, easy and free parking, more homey than a hotel, full kitchen, lanai looking directly over the water (if you choose your rental unit correctly), nicely landscaped with center quadrangle with free barbecues.

We always got a 2 bdrm/ 2 bath condo there (on the top floor of the building furthest north up the rocky coastline). Amazing to stand there, nearly right over the water. Crazy surfers sometimes there, trying to avoid the rocks. Lots of dolphins/porpoises (not sure which) going by.

Really pleasant for a calmer get-away place.

Short drive south to a couple of snorkeling spots popular with locals. Longer drive to Hapuna and Mauna Kea (sp?), but we did it several times over the stays.

Highly recommend Sea Village. I sent my sister and her family there last year, and they loved it. Three people, they got a one bedroom/ one bath, which worked because of the pull-out sofa in the living room.

Agree 100% on a rental with full kitchen, washer/dryer, etc. being better than a hotel. The best experience we've had was when we stayed in a beautiful house in Hanalei. Had a house in Haena back in 2006 and it was nice but the beach was rocky and windy. Was just saying that the hotels are really affordable right now.

PeaceOut - thx a mint for the extra details. I'm checking out the Sea Village!

RJ100 and joeyi - I appreciate your viewpoints on this. Lots to consider. I usually research/plan trips much farther in advance but this is a substitute one for a trip to Borneo that fell thru.

Enjoy-la!

We've stayed on the Kona side and the Hilo side of the Big Island and have found a really special spot on the Hilo side called Kapoho. It's more of a get away from the crowds kind of place and the houses have their own geo thermal warm ponds. We have rented this place
http://www.apoparadise.com/lagoon2.html
and you can also see what else he has listed on his site. It is also listed on vrbo
http://www.vrbo.com/72094
you are also only 30 minutes to volcano national park from this location and I'm not sure where the current lava flow was but last year it was about 20 minutes from this location.

For Kauai we like the north shore, but it is also the wetter side of the island so you can get alot of rain. Last time i found this place
http://www.poi.net/~kevdev/
and we were very happy with it. It was very clean and had everything we needed. it's not right on the beach, but a half block away. 2 blocks into hanalei and it was such a nice location as we did not have to drive all over we could walk to a lot of places. The owner lives upstairs and is very accommodating to anything you might need.

joeyi, thx a mint for sharing your finds, and posting extra info on them (=

Enjoy-la!

Hey klam - love the name, btw. Going to Kauai in Aug. Rented a "condo" at Islander on the Beach thru VRBO. Granted it's really a privately-owned hotel room, but it's got a private lanai & is OCEANFRONT. $99 per night! (I'm on a very tight budget.) It has an efficiency kitchen (aka mini fridge; no stove), but affordable. Rented from Wed to Wed no problem. My second choice was Sealodge in Princeville. Rooms look beautiful, but my hubby wanted to be right on the beach for his morning constitutionals.

Have a great trip. Look forward to "hearing" about it.

99/nt Islander is a good deal. Islander on the beach with a car $850/wk(taxes and fees incl) thru Orbitz mid November. If that $99/nt comes with the usual 100 cleaning fee, you get the car for $57(not bad if you need a car). Better yet, thru Orbitz if you dont like the first unit they show you, you can get another. Since they are half full, its the way to go...IMO

My point is a package is the way to go, unless you want to hunt for the VRBO guy that will match the ubiquitos discounts now offered

btw: If you do find the VRBO guy that has come down in price, you have to deal with the possibility he is one of the many rental condos in foreclosure these days

Thx a mint HawaiiVirgin (lol!) and FrankS for the specific references. I was wondering what type of sites for a pkg and checked kayak so it's good to see it was sites like that to which you were referring FrankS. I've got me some research to do!

Enjoy-la!