DH just told me he wants to go to Hawaii!

[TLHB70]

OK.........my husband and I have some free airline miles to use before they expire. I wanted to go to Niagra Falls. Since we are in NC, my DH wants to take a farther trip and get the most from the miles. He decided he wants to go to Hawaii.
I am scared to death to fly that far, but I suppose Hawaii may be worth it. However, I told him that I have heard Hawaii is ultra expensive! We don't know anything about it......just that it is beautiful and far away. I knew that I could come here and get some info. So, do any of you have tips for travel to Hawaii???? When is the best time to go? Where should we stay? Any money saving tips? Really, we know nothing!

 

[Microcell]

I know nothing about Hawaii, but bumping! have fun!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

We've been discussing this on the budget board. Apparently a bunch of us are headed to Hawaii. Locals have been chiming in on the thread as well. Some are traveling with families--but the info should benefit you anyway.


http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=992120

 

[AC7179]

if it's just you too, bid for a 4 star or resort Priceline hotel. you could get that for the low 100s.

 

[DawnCt1]

The nicer the destination, the less opulent of a hotel you need. There are some very affordable hotels through out Hawaii on all of the islands. Get some guide books and start reading! Check out www.fodors.com. Search Hawaii. Good ideas and good advice there.

 

[Dan Murphy]

One of the best vacations we ever had, so very pretty. Enjoy.

 

[J.Cooper]

You must do Hawaii. Can't compare to Niagra Falls. I've been fortunate enough to go 3 times. Maui is my favorite island. What we do is stay in one the hotel/condos. We cook breakfast in the mornings. Saves money. Last time we were there our resort even had barbecue grills. So a few days we barbecued for dinner in the evening. The grills get taken pretty fast too. Hawaii is our favorite vacation! Trust me, it's worth the long flight.

 

[FreshTressa]

We did everything through priceline, and it wasn't that bad.

The groceries and gas were expensive, but not THAT bad.

 

[LoveWDW]

I reserved packages through AAA both times we went. Have a wondeful time! It is so beautiful there and the music and the food and the dancing and the flowers!

 

[Robindianne]

We moved to the mainland from Hawaii awhile back. "Things" are more expensive because everything is shipped in. Heavy things are way more spendy than on the mainland. If you eat at little (but tasty and healthy) hole in the wall type places it's much cheaper. If you rent a condo you can cook and that's cheaper. Gas is way more expensive. Tours and luaus cost of course. If you like to spend time on beaches or (on the Big Island) seeing the volcano or black sand beaches, etc, that's all free. Wait, there's a national park entrance fee at HI Volcanoes if you park there but anyway, mostly it's the touristy things that cost. Blue Hawaii helicopter was about 500 / person when I went (gift from a visiting sib - I didn't pay that!) FYI, if you book a really really cheap hotel, make sure you check it out online of via a TA who knows it. Trust me

Have fun! Say hi to the fishes for me. PS, if you bring your own snorkel gear, you can do that from shore for free! Like swimming in an aquarium depending on where you go in.

You asked when to go. It totally depends on what you want to do. Seas can get really rough in winter. Still warm so people feel safe like in a bath tub be not safe except in really bay like area. Whales come in winter though. We woke up to them all night long from about late Nov to Feb ish on the dry side of the Big Island. Very cool! Temps are nearly the same year round. There is a greater temp difference from day to night than from winter to summer. Water is warmest in late fall but weather is hottest in late summer early fall. Poinsettias are blooming all over in fall. Plumerias (the types that aren't yearround) bloom in spring, smelling really good.

MMM that makes me want to go back. If you get a gecko on your wall, it's good luck (and they are just cute anyway).

 

[FreshTressa]

Hi neighbor!

 

[Robindianne]

Howdy! Wasn't it nice out this afternoon! Real sunshine in Seattle (after the morning hail and wind!

Hi neighbor!

 

[FreshTressa]

(Hijacking thread)

I was stuck in the hail at the zoo! Now I'm sick, lol.

And they say getting chilled won't make you sick.

 

[TLHB70]

Thanks for all of the help and encouragement. It looks like I need to tell DH I am up for it.
Thanks for the thread link, Lisa loves Pooh.

How is summer for a trip, Robindianne? I see that the waters will be warm. How is the crowd? DH even mentioned going in June. Is it possible to get a hotel and plan a vacation there in that short of a time?

 

[Robindianne]

Summer is very good. There will be more tourists but not like at WDW. Also, more kids on the beaches depending on the school schedule of where you go. BTW Oahu flights are usually cheaper if that matters (becw most isle flights have to go through HNL and hop another flight. Hmmmmmm. Can I hitch in your suitcase if I be your tour guide? LOL.

Have a magnificent time.

 

[ducklite]

I don't mean to rain on your parade, but it can be almost impossible to use FF miles to book seats to HI. I'd make sure you've got tickets before you go booking anything else.

Anne

 

[TLHB70]

I don't mean to rain on your parade, but it can be almost impossible to use FF miles to book seats to HI. I'd make sure you've got tickets before you go booking anything else.

Anne

Thank you. Yes, the flight will be the first thing to work on. Personally, that is what I would think, too. This trip is all DH's thinking/planning. It sounds too good to me because I would think that if that were the case, everyone would do it. He looked at it briefly, and so far he didn't see anything banning Hawaii.................or not allowing it, I should say. He didn't dig into it, though, to get details. He travels very frequently with work and these miles are through the airline itself, not a credit card. I don't know if that matters or not. We will be checking into it more within the next few days. I wanted to know more about it, though.

 

[ducklite]

Seats to HI are highly capacity controlled, usually only two per flight, some flight shave none. Everyone wants to use the miles to go there, that's why it can be next to impossible. Sometimes for double the miles you can get a seat whether there are FF seats available or not. That might be one idea, one free ticket and one that you pay cash for...

BTW--not sure which carrier you are looking at, but out of curiosity I took a look at US AIrways flights to Jamaica, and there were lots of FF seats open, even in first class. If you end up not being able to swing HI, maybe a Caribbean paradise would be another choice? You can get great deals on resorts there as well.

Anne

 

[DVC Sadie]

Thanks for all of the help and encouragement. It looks like I need to tell DH I am up for it.
Thanks for the thread link, Lisa loves Pooh.

How is summer for a trip, Robindianne? I see that the waters will be warm. How is the crowd? DH even mentioned going in June. Is it possible to get a hotel and plan a vacation there in that short of a time?

We went to Hawaii last June for 2 weeks and I must say the weather was fantastic. it did not rain once during the whole time we was there. The water is warm and great for all kinds of activities. We swam in waterfalls, snorkeled off of boats, went on picnics daily and just had a great time.

 

[Caradana]

Smart husband!!!