Anyone have any ideas on how to do Hawaii on a strict budget?

[iwannbindisnee]

We'll be there w/ 2 teen girls & they want to go horseback riding on the beach & I think one of the water tours around the island would be great (hopefully see whales, seals, etc) Any recommendations? Anything else that's a "must see"? Thanks! Deb

 

[twinkles]

I highly recommend Kauai. We were there 2 years ago and heading back this July for 9 days. When we went two years ago we got an amazing deal thru an agent we found in one of the Ultimate guide books. The total was for four adults including; car rental, airfare from r/t Philadelphia to Kauai, 2 bedroom, 2 bath at the Kauai Coast Resort Beachboy (oceanfront), and some other perks, for $5,100. I booked several months in advance, and continued to try to beat my t/a price, but just could not do it.

My girlfriend and her husband used them also for their honeymoon. They did Maui and Kauai for 14 days...price was Amazing!

I love Kauai and cannot wait to return to Paradise!

 

[missymagic]

I am not sure if you are still interested in places to stay in Hawaii but my cousin and her husband have a working Kona coffee, macadamia nut and tropical fruit farm. They have an apartment they rent and a main house. They are 15 miles south of sunny Kailua-Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii. Check out their website.

http://www.killino.com/

 

[icekdz]

We just returned from Kauai last night (just dh and I)! We went to Maui and Oahu last year. I think Kauai with kids would be great. In fact, we plan to take our four children next year. We loved Kauai so much. Kid friendly beaches we saw included Poipu, Lydgate State Park, Queens Pond at Polihale, and Ke'e Beach. Definitely get the book by Doughty and Friedman. Worth every penny. We carried it everywhere and had an adventure from the begining of each day to the end. Some of the things we did kids could not do (hikes, climbs etc) but some of it they could. Use the Ultimate Kauai Guidebook to help you plan the things you can do with your child (Children)! We stayed at the Sheraton and our rate included a rental car and breakfast. Great deal. We can't wait to go back.

 

[momsgoofy]

I am not sure if you are still interested in places to stay in Hawaii but my cousin and her husband have a working Kona coffee, macadamia nut and tropical fruit farm. They have an apartment they rent and a main house. They are 15 miles south of sunny Kailua-Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii. Check out their website.

http://www.killino.com/

Cool!!! Thanks for the info! I think I actually got a link to their site while I was looking thru one of the other sites I've been checking...gohawaii.com or hawaii.com...or one of the B&B sites....not sure...but when I clicked the link you gave it sure looked familiar. Hey, do ya think we could get a DIS rate? (Just teasing...the rates look pretty good already)

 

[vhoffman]

Try this website www.mauiembassy.com. Click on "specials". They're currently offering a great deal--$749 (includes tax!) for five nights, one bedroom senic view condo, compact rental car, daily breakfast buffet, and some other perks. You have to attend a timeshare presentation, but I understand its low-pressure. These units go for $300-$400+ per night. A great bargain. Plus it has a great pool and is right on the beach (we're going through a similar deal this June, for 6 nights).

 

[vhoffman]

Another "tip" I heard on a talk show--try booking airfares (not just Hawaii, but anywhere), right after midnight on Monday (Ok, Tuesday morning). Many fares drop considerably for a brief time during that time, then go back up again.

 

[Skatermom23]

Try this website www.mauiembassy.com. Click on "specials". They're currently offering a great deal--$749 (includes tax!) for five nights, one bedroom senic view condo, compact rental car, daily breakfast buffet, and some other perks. You have to attend a timeshare presentation, but I understand its low-pressure. These units go for $300-$400+ per night. A great bargain. Plus it has a great pool and is right on the beach (we're going through a similar deal this June, for 6 nights).

I've been there!!! This was a perfect place to stay! We stayed back when we were still considered "locals" and got a great rate. My kids were 7 & 9 at the time and just loved the pool. The rooms were awesome....can't say enough good things about this place.

 

[blueroses]

Does anyone have an idea to the easiest way to get around? My BF and I are flying into HNL to stay at the u. of hawaii moana campus with friends for a week. we're not sure if we're leaving the island yet. BF is 21, so we could rent a car with additional fees - is this worth it, or is public transportation pretty good? our friends hitchhike a lot, but i'm not really comfortable doing that lol.

I was in Honolulu over winter break and found The Bus to be very adequate for getting around. You can check out routes at www.thebus.org.

 

[vhoffman]

SkaterMom23,

Glad to hear you liked the Embassy Suites. This summer will be our second trip to Hawaii. Lat trip we stayed at the Maui Marriott, however, its all timeshares now. We really loved the Marriott. Glad to hear the Embassy is a great place, too!

 

[Skatermom23]

SkaterMom23,

Glad to hear you liked the Embassy Suites. This summer will be our second trip to Hawaii. Lat trip we stayed at the Maui Marriott, however, its all timeshares now. We really loved the Marriott. Glad to hear the Embassy is a great place, too!

In general, I love to stay at any Embassy Suites because it gives the kids the living room and DH and I get some privacy with the bedroom! I remembering loving this particular one because the bathroom was HUGE! It had a huge garden tub, a seperate shower stall, two sinks on opposite sides of the room and this huge closet with a sliding mirror door...just great to check out how you look in that bathing suit! Plus their breakfast was great. We would eat that and then not eat until dinner. I don't know how anyone could not love this place...

 

[Ragnrok23]

Haven't had time to read all replies, but wanted to suscribe to the thread- I am looking to take my honeymoon there June'07

Also a friend of mine gave me this website which seems to have good deals

http://royalhawaii.com/

 

[missymagic]

momsgoofy,

If you are interested in getting a price from them email her and tell her her cousin Missy referred you and see what kind of quotes she gives you. I can't guarantee anything but she will know I am passing the word & it will make great publicity for her. They are fun people mid thirties like myself.

My daughter had to do a flat-stanley and she decided to send it to Hawaii. My cousin took him on the coolest tour and sent us pictures and a letter for her classroom. Let me know what happens.

 

[d4est]

What's a flat-stanley?

 

[muntzfab4]

Thanks to the OP for starting this thread. We are planning a trip to Hawaii in summer of 2007 . DH said if I agreed to WDW this spring we would go to Hawaii for my 50th Birthday. Not a bad deal! Thanks for all the info. and will keep reading!

 

[disneyleslie]

watch northwest closely as I just saw 334 from CVG-HNL and ATL-HNL so if you could get a cheap flight to that dest. you could get a cheap fare. I've seen that a couple of times now as I also saw that happen in Oct.

We are going in April with our 3 kids and are thinking of the Westin Maui or Hyatt Maui due to the pools and proximity to Whaler's village -anyone have any insights????

 

[d4est]

Just googled...now I know all about flat stanley!

 

[momsgoofy]

momsgoofy,

If you are interested in getting a price from them email her and tell her her cousin Missy referred you and see what kind of quotes she gives you. I can't guarantee anything but she will know I am passing the word & it will make great publicity for her. They are fun people mid thirties like myself.

My daughter had to do a flat-stanley and she decided to send it to Hawaii. My cousin took him on the coolest tour and sent us pictures and a letter for her classroom. Let me know what happens.

Thanks, Missy! I will do so...I'm just starting to look and determine if this trip is even possible. We want to go so badly, but have such restricted times for travel...pretty much over the Christmas break is the only time we can be sure of a full week at any one time thanks to DH's teaching schedule and DS's school schedule...he moves to HS next year so we have some new factors to add in then...semester/final exams, any penalties he might incur if he misses marching band...we'll have to see. I know that if we go we will spend some time on the big island...I've got an email-pal who lives there and we'd like to meet...just have to see.

Thanks again though...I really appreciate the help...when I read the posts in this thread I think we just might pull it off...it looks like the airfare is what might kill it...I'm searching all the time now...didn't realize the Southwest actually flies to Honolulu...so may be the Ding powers that be will show up...

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

So excited--we are at 10 months and counting to our trip. WAHOO!!

Interested more about the food packing. On another thread it was advised to not waste my time, but I think it is perfect.

So what did you do--have a souvenir suitcase that served as food transport for on the way over??

We are staying in a hotel first and then the condo so I can't pack the cold foods though that greatly interests me as well.

Please share!!!

 

[iwannbindisnee]

Momsgoofy--Just wanted you to know that I too have been looking for airfare to HNL cheaply since Sept (we go in April) Unfortunately, SW does not offer the DING prices to HNL or Maui. If you have DING & open it & look at all the options of places to go on the DING website-it doesn't list either location, only on the SW main website. Keep watching NWA-they are having those fare sales from certain places in the US to HNL. Then hopefully you can get a cheap flight on SW or AIrtran or FlyTed or other cheaper airlines from your home city to the fare sale city. Also,make sure you sign up for travel alerts on travelocity.com--you can put in the airport you want to fly out of (up to 2 other options) & into & it will alert you when sales come up-the onl drawback is you cannot put your dates your aflying, so you get alerted to fligths that are leaving say in the next month or so--your time may be too far away, but at least you'll be set up! Good luck w/ the planning-I think airfare may be the biggest chunk for you. Debbie