Have you gone to Hawaii?

[Lou Rindner]

I am planning on taking the wife and two boys to Hawaii. The boys will be 13 and 8 when we go. I see there are many place in Hawaii to go. Has anyone use the points to go to Hawaii? Was it difficult to find time in the summer? Is there a particular resort youi recommend for the kids which is a concern. Thanks

Lou

 

[Dean]

That's a big topic and depends in part on whether it's next summer or after, how long you will stay and if you've ever been before. Also where you live (how far the trip is) may affect the situations as well. If you search on my name and Hawaii, you will find a lot of info I'm sure.

If you've never been, I'd say do Oahu and Maui. Oahu can be for less than a week. If you've been before, I'd do Maui and either the Big Island or Kauai. Unless you're from the west coast or a gateway city like Denver, I would NOT go for less than 10-14 days. If you're looking at next summer, you are already behind for an exchange so you should put in your request quickly. Still, getting the good stuff for ANY summer is a low chance at best. Look at private direct exchanges as your best bet.

 

[rocketriter]

Oahu offers a nice combination of urban and rural Hawaii. Honolulu is a big, modern metropolis with a long and glitzy hotel strip along Waikiki. The beach itself is pretty, but narrow and crowded in many places; on the other hand it's great for swimming, not bad for amateur surfing, and offers silly-but-fun outrigger canoe rides. This is the commercial side of the Hawaii experience. Around the back of the island, things are more suburban and occasionally rural. There is lots of sightseeing and history to enjoy.

Maui is something of a hip Bali-Hai. The tropical experience is more intense there and the beaches are often excellent. At the same time there are areas with great restaurants and night clubs. Because the island doesn't house the state capital, there is less historical sightseeing, but the landmarks are beautiful.

Which island is better? The one you can get reservations on! They both provide wonderful vacation experiences and if you can stay two weeks, you can do a bit of island hopping as well.

 

[CarolynFH]

Be sure to allow some time to visit Volcanoes Park on the Big Island. Depending on your desires, there may or may not be a lot more to do there -- the beaches aren't very good, although there is some good snorkeling as well as the best deep-sea fishing in Hawaii, and there's also horseback riding and boating down the mountain via a real log flume system-- but as long as the eruption continues you may get to see actual flowing lava. On our first trip our kids were only 6 and 10. They don't remember much else, but they do remember walking on hot lava! You can stay on the Big Island for a few days in Kona or the Kohala Coast, or catch a flight from Maui or Oahu for a day trip.

 

[manning]

Go see the Polynesian Cultural Center on Oahu. Here is there web site http://www.polynesia.com/

Stay for the evening show!!!!

First time to Hawaii we went for two weeks and did three islands......not enough time.

Second time for one week and two islands.....not enough time.

Third time will be for minimum of four weeks (retired now)......and may not be enough time.

Hey Dean what is your favorite timeshare there and which one would buy into.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by manning
Go see the Polynesian Cultural Center on Oahu. Here is there web site http://www.polynesia.com/

Stay for the evening show!!!!

First time to Hawaii we went for two weeks and did three islands......not enough time.

Second time for one week and two islands.....not enough time.

Third time will be for minimum of four weeks (retired now)......and may not be enough time.

Hey Dean what is your favorite timeshare there and which one would buy into.

Favorite is hard. I would guess the Marriott Maui Ocean Club though to be honest, as a resort itself, it is far down my list compared to Marriott resorts elsewhere. Which one I'd buy, likely none. I would only buy there if I planned to use it most years and I don't. The fees are too high and the costs too much. As for recommendations for something to buy, depends on the situation. Marriott resale might work for many. For a larger unit and/or EOY, One Napili Way is a good start. Fees lower than most and you can buy EOY for only half the yearly price and maybe buy two units so you could stay back to back. You can pick up some good deals for many resorts, especially those on Kauai if you want to use part of the time and trade part of the time. There are MANY choices and what's right for one is not for another.

Agree with the PCC, one of the main reason's I said Oahu a must for first trips. I would do it instead of a formal Luau, personally.

 

[Minnie*Mouse]

My brother got married this weekend and we gave them a week at The Sands of Kahana Vacation Club in Maui. They LOVE it! We spoke to them today and they said the hotel is huge and very, very nice. The staff are exceptionally friendly! They can't believe how big it is!

They are very happy!

 

[manning]

We stayed at The Sands of Kahana in 1989. Is that little restaurant still there next to the pool? We stayed in a unit right next to it (3rd floor). It was April and the whaled where late leaving. We sat in our room watching them.

I swear the unit was at least 2000 sq ft.

 

[TnRobin]

We did a week at the Hilton Hawaiian Village this summer in a 2BR unit. It is on Oahu on Waikiki Beach. It is not a Disney trade. We traded directly with the owner. It was wonderful. A perfect location.

I was worried that we would not have enough to do on Oahu for a week. Wrong. We have ressies on the Big Island - Hawaii next December. I plan to stop over in Honolulu for a night or two to pick up few things we missed.

My son - age 9 - really loved both the resort and Oahu. There is a water park about 20 miles west of Waikiki. That was on Matt's must do list for next time. Thought you may want to look into it for your boys too.

 

[OKWKirt]

Myself, DW, DD (19), and DS (16) spent one week in March at the Maui Schooner, two bedroom, and loved it and Maui. Definitely not long enough. We used another timeshare to trade in and not DVC. I was happy going knowing it was on the DVC list. I would highly recommend Maui but want to see the other islands. We bought another timeshare while there so we will be going back.

 

[DisnutDave]

DH and I spent 5 nights at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in April. We stayed at the hotel using cash. We were in the Rainbow Tower and had a terrific view of Diamond Head and the ocean. We LOVED it. By the time our AAA discount kicked in and April was still considered off season we paid about $200 a night. Oahu was fun, there is alot to do and see. We would go back in a heartbeat. From Oahu we went to Maui and stayed 4 night at Kapalua Bay (part of the conceierge collection) using points. Alot of people will tell you thats not the best use of your points but it made sense for us. We had enough milage to fly free to Hawaii so we didn't want to risk waiting for an exchange. That being said we so loved Maui and the Kapalua Bay Hotel that we would use our points like that again. We are planning a return trip in 2006. You can't go wrong with either of these islands, it just depends on your preference. You may want to pick up up a copy of Hawaii for Dummies. This travelguide does a very good job in describing the various islands and assists you in determining which is best for you and your family. Have a good time deciding!

 

[melanieewr]

On Oahu there is the Marriott Ko'Olina Beach Club which is an almost new and absolutely beautiful beachfront resort. You can look at the area by going to koolina.com and there is a link to the Marriott. I assume it is a DVC trade. We own a condo at Kai Lani which is in the Ko'Olina resort and have traded for points with another DVC member. I wonder if anyone has been able to do a private trade to the Marriott Ko'Olina...it really is a gorgeous resort and it is very close to a new and thriving part of Oahu...Kapolei.

 

[robinb]

Originally posted by Dean
Agree with the PCC, one of the main reason's I said Oahu a must for first trips. I would do it instead of a formal Luau, personally.

The only problems are: no mai-tais and no coffee! The PCC is Morman. Other than that, I really enjoyed the show at the PPC and I wish I ponied up the extra $$ for a better seat. Next time. But ... I won't miss a traditional luau, complete with mai-tais!

BTW, I'm trying to plan our next Hawaiian vacation and the airline mile gods are not with me .

BTW, we stayed at the Moana Surfrider (a Sheraton) and it was charming with a great location.

 

[Andrea T]

We spent 2 weeks in Hawaii this past June, with our 11 year old son. We did a direct trade with owner for the Westin Villas on Maui. My son loved the sunrise tour ar Haleakala (sp), the Maui Ocean Center,and the Road to Hana (hiking to the waterfalls for a dip). We then went to the Big Island using points at Mauna Lani Bay. His favorite activities were the hike to the lava flow at Volcano National Park and the helicopter tour. We all thought it was a wonderful trip. I wrote a trip report if you want to search for it. Have fun planning!

 

[TnRobin]

On Oahu there is the Marriott Ko'Olina Beach Club which is an almost new and absolutely beautiful beachfront resort. You can look at the area by going to koolina.com and there is a link to the Marriott. I assume it is a DVC trade. We own a condo at Kai Lani which is in the Ko'Olina resort and have traded for points with another DVC member. I wonder if anyone has been able to do a private trade to the Marriott Ko'Olina...it really is a gorgeous resort and it is very close to a new and thriving part of Oahu...Kapolei.

We did the Paradise Cove Luau which is across the street from this resort. It looked beautiful from the outside. It is on the westside of Oahu, away from the hustle and bustle of Waikiki. It would be a quieter alternative on Oahu. I do think it is one of the exchanges on II.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Our favs are the Big Island and Kauai, but with kids, I think Maui and Oahu would be great.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) We go to Hawaii every-other-year, alternating with London.
2) We now rotate among the islands.
3) For a first visit with teens, I recommend Maui.
4) As for islands comments . . .
. . . Maui - party island, with the widest diversity of activities.
. . . Oahu - like Miami Beach, and very commercialized
. . . Kauai - veg-out island with lush scenery ("garden island")
. . . Molokai - quite primitive
. . . Lanai - only two resorts and somewhat barren
. . . Hawaii ("Big Island) - sightseeing, but is spread-out
5) Activities . . .
. . . Maui - party town (Lahaina), good beaches, golf, winery,
. . . Oahu - "ok" beaches, Pearl Harbor, winery, golf
. . . Kauai - GREAT beaches, golf, Grand Canyon, lush vegetation
. . . Molokai - little to do but relax
. . . Lanai - little to do but relax, golf, scuba/snorkel
. . . Hawaii - cattle ranch, nice long drives, volcano

 

[phyllisnnj]

Here's a link to the flyertalk board which has some very helpful info for planning a trip to Hawaii.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=330696

 

[manning]

Here are some sights that will keep you busy.




http://www.gohawaii.com/
http://www.mauimapp.com/
http://www.mauihi.com/
http://www.visit-oahu.com/
http://www.cityspin.com/maui/index.htm

 

[mommytomy3]

I have seen a few mentions of doing direct private exchanges. What exactly is this and how do you go about doing it???