Hawaii Budget Advice

[maggiew]

We are looking at doing a trip to Hawaii in June 2012. I've been doing some research and thought we would like to do Kauai. It will be me, DH, and 2 teen girls. We would like to snorkel, zip-line, hula lessons, surf lessons, luau, hike, see waterfalls and beach. So it seems like Kauai is a good fit?

But then I have been watching airfare for a few months and it seems like the flights to Honolulu are the cheapest flights. So I started to look at Oahu. I had kind of half-convinced myself that Oahu would be fine too. We could still beach, snorkel, hike. There are a couple water falls too. Plus the turtles, Pearl Harbor, Dole Plantation, Polynesian cultural center. However, I just read a thread that said something like, "Whatever you do, don't make your once in a lifetime Hawaii trip be on Oahu." So now I am really confused.

I have enough Marriott points to stay about 10 days in Hawaii. Maybe a couple more if we can earn some bonus certificates between now and June.

So should we do 10 nights on Kauai or maybe split it up 5 on Kauai and 5 on Oahu? We tend to like to stay put once we are on vacation - no split stays at Disney for us! But maybe 5 days at each island wouldn't be bad.

Advice?

Thanks,
Maggie

 

[Priorityonecb]

We live on Oahu for 5 years, we love it there! You can totally get a true Hawaiian vacation there!

We loved the Polynesian Cultural Center, Waimeai Falls, The Dole Plantation, Sea Life Park, the Blow Hole, hiking, the zoo, the beaches! You wouldn't be dissapointed.

If you wanted a lay on the beach and not move vacation, Kauai would be a good choice. But, it sounds like you are looking for more action packed and for that your best bet would be Oahu.

 

[blessedby3]

We live on Oahu for 5 years, we love it there! You can totally get a true Hawaiian vacation there!

We loved the Polynesian Cultural Center, Waimeai Falls, The Dole Plantation, Sea Life Park, the Blow Hole, hiking, the zoo, the beaches! You wouldn't be dissapointed.

If you wanted a lay on the beach and not move vacation, Kauai would be a good choice. But, it sounds like you are looking for more action packed and for that your best bet would be Oahu.

Just wanted to say Im envious of you! To live in Hawaii I visited back in 1984 with my mom and dad. I would love to be able to go back, but with a family of 6 it doesnt seem like we would ever be able to afford it.

 

[Priorityonecb]

Thanks Blessedby3! Dh was in the military at the time, so it was a 5 year all expense paid vacation for me! I just read your trip report, Family Of The Day!! How fun!! We were the Epcot's family of the day once, our family still talks about that wonderfully special day all the time!! Great family memories are the best!

 

[soccerchick]

I would suggest reading Kauai Rvealed and Oahu Revealed by Wizard Publications (they have a website too). See which one draws you more.

If this is a once in a lifetime trip and you will never get back to Hawaii, split the stay. I think Pearl Harbor is amazing and worth a visit; it is powerful and emotional. But, I also love history and this was important to me. I hate Honolulu. To me, it was a big busy crowded city at the beach. If you do Oahu, I'd stay clear of it.

I love Kauai. It has tons of hiking, great snorkeling and beautiful beaches. It is known as the Garden Island and it is much quieter and laid back. There is LITTLE nightlife. If you like a party kind of vacation, this is not it. If you like to hike, snorkel and go to the beach, it is amazing. The only hike you'll have a crowd with is the Kalalau Trail (Na Pali Coast). Amazing snorkeling at Ke'e Beach. You can zip line and do irrigation ditch tunnel tubing. In June you can stay on any part of the island and not worry too much about rain. We have stayed at the Marriot in Lihue, which is a nice location for all activities on the southern and eastern part of the island. The beach there is pretty good, but you will want to venture to see other beaches as well. The drive to the north (Princeville, Hanalei, Tunnel Beach, Ke'e Beach, Kalalau Trail) will be 45 - an hour.

 

[maggiew]

I would have enough Marriott points to do 5 nights at the Waikiki Marriott and 5 nights at the Kauai Marriott. Both in regular rooms.

Or I could do 5 nights at the Kauai Waiohai Beach Club (2 bedroom villa) and potentially 5 nights at the Courtyard Coconut Beach Kauai (regular room).

Maggie

 

[Coll0610]

We went to Honolulu and Kauai a few years (business trip for DH). Kauai was beautiful. We did some hiking and relaxing on the beach and also drove alot. We loved it. A lot of the roads go down to one lane at bridges. There were very few stoplights and almost no traffic.

Honolulu, on the other hand, was a big city that happens to be in Hawaii. Lots of people, tons of traffic - just completely different from Kauai. We've always said if we go back, we'd do Honolulu first and then go to Kauai. Honolulu was just too big a shock after Kauai. In Honolulu, we didn't have a car and didn't need one. The city bus system works well, and we also took one bus trip that left from our hotel. We had fun both places, but really preferred Kauai.

 

[blessedby3]

Thanks Blessedby3! Dh was in the military at the time, so it was a 5 year all expense paid vacation for me! I just read your trip report, Family Of The Day!! How fun!! We were the Epcot's family of the day once, our family still talks about that wonderfully special day all the time!! Great family memories are the best!

Thanks...we had an awsome trip that year! Great memories

 

[soccerchick]

I would have enough Marriott points to do 5 nights at the Waikiki Marriott and 5 nights at the Kauai Marriott. Both in regular rooms.

Or I could do 5 nights at the Kauai Waiohai Beach Club (2 bedroom villa) and potentially 5 nights at the Courtyard Coconut Beach Kauai (regular room).

Maggie

Waikiki would be the deal-breaker for me. Reminded me of South Beach. Very crowded, very city.

For the Kauai choices, I'd pick the Lihue or Poipu locations over Kapaa.

 

[bearzabout]

It should be cheaper to fly to Oahu, but in my opinion, 10 days there is too much. I would do both - 1 week on Kauai and a few days on Waikiki on Oahu.

Sign up for Travelocity or some other website that will email you when airfares to both islands go down. I noticed that airfare can move in one direction or the other by 100% from day to day.

Interisland airfare is expensive and may be cost prohibitive for you. There are likely no direct flights to Kauai so airfare to that island will probably include a connection in Honolulu. You will have to compare prices to see which is a better deal.

Are you a member of Costco? We get great rental car rates through Alamo using their website. Our Maui cars were around $30/week plus taxes (taxes were $65).

We prefer the smaller islands to Oahu, but there are some things there you can't see anywhere else. A few days there is enough.

 

[Fyrefly]

We did Maui, Hawaii, and Oahu when we did it.

Hated Oahu. Honolulu is busy overcommercialized beach city, and Waikiki is crap. They put an ocean barrier up so it's just a big warm saltwater swimming pool with about 8 million people.

If you want to see Pearl Harbor, then do that, otherwise I wouldn't waste your time. What you may want to look into doing is getting your major flight into and out of Oahu, then taking a little plane somewhere else - that's what we did.

 

[jstbcuz]

We've been to Hawaii twice....the first time for our honeymoon back in 94. Stayed the whole time on the Island. It was ok, and I agree there are things that I think are very worthwhile doing there...........Pearl Harbor, a drive around the Island to see the turtles, Dole Plantation, Punchbowl, etc......I too felt it was way too over commercialized.

If we ever go again, I will skip Oahu UNLESS there are people that havent been to Pearl Harbor...........that was worth the stop itself

THe second time we went, we flew into Oahu, spent one day driving around the island on a tour, and the next day we went to PH, and PUnchbowl and caught a flight to Maui in the afternoon/evening. That was the BEST VACATION!!

I cant speak about Kauai, but Maui was wonderful and I dont regret leaving Oahu at all. It was so much more relaxing and laid back on the other islands.

 

[TEK224]

I guess I'll be in the minority here. I liked Oahu and staying in Waikiki. I liked the fact that I could be on the beach in the morning and then walk around the city later in the day. Yes, it can be crowded. But I like the big city atmosphere (Like walking around NYC, too). I've driven to the North Shore, done the hike up Diamond Head, visited the Dole Planatation and Sea Life Park. If you stay in Waikiki, visit Leonards Bakery for some awesome Malasadas (cream filled Portuguese donuts)

With that said, I like the calmer aspects of the other islands also. I haven't been to Kauai, but I like Maui and Hawaii also. Maui gives me the hustle & bustle feel a little in that I can relax on the beach and then go Front Street for the restaurants, shopping and nightlife.

I'm going in Feb. and will stay 5 nights Maui and 5 nights on Oahu at Aulani. This will be my first visit to Oahu where I haven't stayed in Waikiki, so I'm curious to see how I like it.

Terri

 

[maggiew]

Thanks for all of the advice so far. If we stayed on Oahu, it would be before Kauai and mainly to see the sites. Not to hang out at the beach. We would see Pearl Harbor memorial, Dole plantation, North Shore, diamond Head. Then move on to Kauai. But do you think that is necessary? Or would we be happy with spending the whole time on Kauai? Is 10 days on Kauai too much?

In addition, we live in Chicago. So we don't mind the busy city life.

I don't think the flights from Chicago to Kauai are that much more expensive (than Chicago to Oahu) to compensate for the additional flight from Oahu to Kauai if we decided to stay in Oahu for a few days. I have to research how much the short interisland flight would be.

Maggie

 

[soccerchick]

It should be cheaper to fly to Oahu, but in my opinion, 10 days there is too much. I would do both - 1 week on Kauai and a few days on Waikiki on Oahu.

Sign up for Travelocity or some other website that will email you when airfares to both islands go down. I noticed that airfare can move in one direction or the other by 100% from day to day.

Interisland airfare is expensive and may be cost prohibitive for you. There are likely no direct flights to Kauai so airfare to that island will probably include a connection in Honolulu. You will have to compare prices to see which is a better deal.

Are you a member of Costco? We get great rental car rates through Alamo using their website. Our Maui cars were around $30/week plus taxes (taxes were $65).

We prefer the smaller islands to Oahu, but there are some things there you can't see anywhere else. A few days there is enough.

This is incorrect. There are direct flights to Kauai. Price flights from Chicago to Honolulu to Lihue to Chicaho and then check the Chicago to Lihue to Honolulu to Chicago.
Inter-island flights have very gotten expensive.

 

[crisi]

You could split the difference and try Maui. Direct flight to Maui are a little more reasonable. And I think most of what you want to do is available on Maui.

If you are trying to go on a "budget" trip - don't Island hop. That will add almost $1000 to the trip in a blink.

 

[jstbcuz]

I think it is very much worth it just to see the Pearl Harbor and the sights since you havent been there before. If you think this might be the only trip you ever take there, I would stop. That way there is no "I wish" in the end.

Pearl Harbor is one of the most moving places I have ever been to. Be sure to get there early so you can get in line tho. THe line gets long very quickly.

 

[maggiew]

Will this be our only trip to Hawaii? Probably not. Dh and I like to travel so we will probably get back there one day. But we have one kid in college and one heading there soon. So I see our days of family vacations numbered ... It may be the only time we get to Hawaii as a family.

Maggie

 

[prncess674]

Hated Oahu. Honolulu is busy overcommercialized beach city, and Waikiki is crap.

Thanks for all of the advice so far. If we stayed on Oahu, it would be before Kauai and mainly to see the sites. Not to hang out at the beach. We would see Pearl Harbor memorial, Dole plantation, North Shore, diamond Head. Then move on to Kauai. But do you think that is necessary? Or would we be happy with spending the whole time on Kauai? Is 10 days on Kauai too much?

In addition, we live in Chicago. So we don't mind the busy city life.

Agree that Waikiki is overcommercialized. I too am a city girl and still hated Waikiki. If you go to a Oahu remember that it is not for the beach! We stayed at the Moana Surfrider which is a beautiful resort inside, but it had a dinky pool and a very narrow crowded beach.

I think you can see the big sites in 3 days and then move on to another island. Waikiki is also overrunning with Japanese tourists. They come to Hawaii to take advantage of the good exchange rate to buy luxury goods.

 

[C-CMom]

My vote is for the split - if I were doing the planning, I might do 4 d Oahu, 6 d Kauai. Yes, Honolulu is busy, but there is still quite a lot of Oahu that is really neat to see! Waikiki Beach itself is OK, but not awesome, but there are some beaches outside of Honolulu that are fabulous!

Though it has been a few years, we have stayed at Kauai Waiohai Beach Club (2 bedroom villa) and absolutely LOVED it.

Do you have any airline points? Maybe things have changed since we did this, but we got our interisland flights on "miles" for a reasonable rate. Those seats seemed a bit easier to get than many flights. We used "partner" airline Hawaiian with Delta - but I am not sure this can still be done. May be worth checking out...

Good luck!