flying from Boston to Hawii

[Deesknee]

I am just playing with the idea of a trip to the new dvc in Hawaii in a couple of years. Could someone give me some info on the flight. Things like how long is it, how many stop overs & where, the best airlines to use for the smoothest transfers, the cost of flying. ( I would have a 9 year old & a wheelchair passenger, with 4 other adults).

Also any info on cost of food, how long of a stay in a must. DH & I are now considering this trip for our 30th wedding instead of a vow renewal in WDW.

 

[uva185]

Well considering your planning a trip a few years out it's not really possible to accurately predict the cost of airfare. As of now you can reasonably expect to pay about $500 per ticket from the east coast with advance planning. There are sometimes sales in the $300-$400 range but you cannot count on them.

You can fly from BOS to Hololulu with just 1 connection. If you prefer longer flights you could fly BOS-ORD-HNL on United or BOS-ATL-HNL on Delta. If you like shorter flights you can connect on the west coast (LAX, SFO, and PHX) which are all accessible nonstop from BOS.

Personally I would fly United via Chicago. I would also avoid flying US Airways from PHX. I like US Airways but the planes they use on the Hawaii flights are old crappy 757s that have had some problems and need updating on the interior. Then again, in a few years this information will be outdated...

 

[happymommy]

Hi! We own at the Marriott's Ko Olina (nextdoor) and live in the DC/Baltimore area. We go every other year (and also used to live on Oahu for 3 years).

I started taking my kids back when they were 4 and 6, and have been several times now. I've gotten really good at pooling and hoarding our frequent flyer miles, so we've always gotten free tickets (yes, always!). The key with that is to start looking 330 days out and wait until a good redemption is available, and it's harder to get 4 tickets at a time. Realistically, it's probably closer to $800 or more for a coach ticket from the East Coast, but it depends on the time of travel. The $300 to $400 ones are usually from the West Coast.

We always go with one stop, either Atlanta, Chicago, DFW. If you're looking for first class (we went last time and will again this year) Delta (via Atlanta) and American (via Chicago or DFW) have the almost lie flat seats. I got Delta in 2009 and again for this year - and it's so nice to lie back and sleep. Cost this time was 85,000 miles per person.

I definitely recommend looking into only one plane change - it's a long enough trip as it stands!

I'd go for at least 10 days. We have previously gone for 11 each time, but this year we're going for two solid weeks. It's nice to get settled into the condo and relax...

Right near Ko Olina is a brand new Super Target, a wonderful Costco, as well as Safeway, so within a 10 minute drive you can really stock up on great meal ideas. We get fresh fish, sashimi, fruits, salads, and wines at Costco, and fill in at Super Target and Safeway. We end up cooking probably 2 meals a day in our condo - they have gas grills at the Marriott, and they're always so busy every night! It's a fun way to meet other guests, and an easy way to make a great dinner (we usually do fish but sometimes other things like burgers).

Our day is usually a morning snorkel, then rest during the noontime and have lunch, then back out to the pool, then grill dinner. I usually spend a lot on groceries, but we eat so well and spend less on restaurants.

You will definitely need rental cars.

 

[keishashadow]

we're considering a trip combining layover thru SNA/LAX & doing a 2 or 3 nights @ DL pre Hawaii stay

 

[Deesknee]

Thanks for the info everyone!

I know it's bit away to pin down any costs. I was just wondering. If you had all told me it was $2000. per person each way. I would have put the breaks on and began planning a different trip. But, it being in teh $600-$800. range I may consider it as an option. That's all. Just need to gather some ideas to present to the hubbie.

I'm sure I'll be on these boards with lots of questions ver the next couple of years. We travel to few places. Niagra Falls, Cape Cod, New Hampshire, and of course....Disney World. Most we drive to, so we are very ignorant to airline prices. So, again...thanks.
Dee

 

[pumpkinboy]

We're looking at DVC Aulani in a couple of years too. I was pricing them on kayak.com, looking at various permutation of flights for February vacation (so under 2 months out). I am coming up with 800 to 1500 per person, tho I suspect you can do better buying earlier.

My ideal flights from BOS-HNL would include overnight stays on the West Coast and avoid red-eye flights (so nothing overnight). So perhaps we'd overnight and spend a morning in Seattle (and meet a friend for lunch) on the way out, then on the way back, spending some time in Southern California, perhaps Disneyland; close in my ideal trip is pricing out at about 1200 each. Since we have a DS who uses a wheelchair, we would try to do non-stops to the West Coast, and then to and from HNL.

I imagine DVC Aulani will be difficult to get for Febraury vacation at 7 months in 2012, since it'll be the first full year in operation, so maybe we'll try 2013. We will need to do it sooner since DS is already 13 and will be increasingly harder to transport in future years as he gets bigger and his daddy (me) gets older.

Good info on the nearby stores. The Costco and the Super-Target will do nicely I'd think, tho perhaps visiting local shops might be interesting.

 

[seashoreCM]

Nitpicking. I would rather not connect in Chicago or Denver during the winter.

 

[happymommy]

Very good point about winter! My husband got stuck in Denver for a night once due to weather on a business trip! I'd hate to have something snag an anticipated vacation to sunny Hawaii with snow or ice.

Even though we got a half inch of snow in Baltimore, we just spent an extra 3 nights in Orlando this December! We did make the best of it, and got a really nice hotel at the airport, and did make it back to the theme parks for a whole day, but still it wasn't planned! And had we had travel insurance, at least part of our hotel and some meals would have been reimbursed (from now on buying insurance!!). So travel during the winter can pose a risk, and I do see that point.

I had a friend who went to Oahu and did the layover in San Francisco on her way back. They took about 2 or 3 days I think, which can help with jet lag (we never have issues going over, but it takes me 2 weeks to recover coming home, so we always go over the summer when the kids are out of school).

Pumpkinboy, I do hope you can take your son there. I have a sister in a wheelchair, and she's older and can't travel well anymore, but a lady who lived in her old group home came with 2 helpers (she didn't have family anymore) and visited Oahu while I was living there. She enjoyed it so much, and I was glad that they could bring her there. If there is any way you can rack up any frequent flyer miles to upgrade to first class, it would be more comfortable for your son. Otherwise, I would definitely break up the trip. It's too long on an airplane!!! Even if one of you could ride first with him, it would be ideal to be in the (almost) lie flat seats through Atlanta on Delta, so he could stretch out his legs. Good luck!!!