Hawaii for honeymoon???

[babiebelle]

My fiance and I are trying to figure out where to go for our honeymoon. We're getting married in Disney Dec. 14th. We want to stay in Disney for a few days after the wedding, but we'd also like to go somewhere else (b/c as much as we'll love being in Disney with our entire family, we do want some alone time). I've always dreamt of going to Hawaii for my honeymoon, but everyone says it's ridiculous (since we'll be in Florida). I was just wondering if anyone else did this, or if there was another location that people tend to frequent. We've been researching all of the Carribean islands as well as cruises, but nothing seems to compete with Hawaii. Am I crazy??

 

[DisBride2007]

Hi!

We really, really, really wanted to go to Hawaii for our honeymoon too. We didn't end up going because of a sickness in the family, but if that hadn't happened, we totally would have gone!

It really depends what your timeframe is. If you're going to go to Hawaii, you really need to be there for at least a week, otherwise it's simply not worth the travel time. Plan on at least 12 hours of traveling to and from (depending on where you're from - if it's the West Coast, it obviously wouldn't be as bad). If you can't take that much time off from work or school, it would be difficult. Another issue is the cost. Depending on what activities you do and where you stay, it is very expensive to go to Hawaii. One other thing I would tell you to consider is your "extra" baggage i.e. your dress, any presents that people might give you, extra shoes or a tux for your DH - you're not going to want to carry all that stuff around on your honeymoon. Could a family member take it home for you while you jet off to Hawaii?

All those things considered, don't listen to what other people tell you. If Hawaii is your dream, and the money and time aren't a problem, I say go for it!

 

[Holly81]

Well, we stayed in WDW for our honeymoon, but I sure don't think you're crazy for wanting to go to Hawaii! I would love to go there someday. We actually considered having a destination wedding in Maui, but ultimately chose Disney because it was easier/cheaper for our families. Really, you should do what makes you and your fiance happy. During the wedding and honeymoon planning process people will constantly tell you that things you want to do are silly/crazy/unnecessary and you really can't listen to them. I know in certain situations I allowed people's opinions to influence my decisions and I wish I wouldn't have. If Hawaii is your dream honeymoon, then definitely go with that. I am sure you will have an amazing time!

 

[M&M126]

I think Hawaii would be amazing. If we had the money, we would definitely be going there! It looks amazing plus DF lived there for a little while and is eager to go back. If you can make it work, I think you should go there!!

 

[Sleeping_Princess]

You should totally go for Hawaii..

That was our top choice, but after checking prices and considering that I teach High School and can't get more then a week off -- so we scratched it and are going to California instead!!!

One day I will get to Hawaii -- if you end up going you have to come back with lots of pictures to show off!

 

[PrincessBride07]

First off, I don't think you are crazy at all. If you can swing it, go for it.

I am backwards at everything, so naturally I went to Hawaii 1 month before my wedding.

Pros: Hello it is Hawaii.
Cons: It is expensive. It does take a lot of travel time. Also takes time to research things, when you will be busy planning a wedding.

I would take a little time to research everything you want to do along with flights and hotels. Figure out if you A.) have the money to do all the stuff and B.) have enough time to do it in. If neither of these are real issues, then GO FOR IT!!!!!!! If you have to sacrifice things (island hopping, scuba diving, etc...), then I would suggest going on a second honeymoon at some point (maybe your first anniversary). Personally, I wouldn't do a rush trip there missing things I want to do just to say I went on my honeymoon. Hawaii will be romantic whenever you go.

 

[mom2aredhead]

I went to Hawaii for my honeymoon (I was lurking on these boards because I may do a VR next year) - granted it was 9 years ago (sometimes it feels like 99) but I'll tell you this - if you don't go for your honeymoon, you'll probably never go...so GO!

Hawaii was gorgeous, so unbelievable, you can't even describe it.
We spent 4 nights on Oahu at the Hyatt in Waikiki beach and did all the tourist-y stuff - climbed Diamond Head, went to the north shore, (and tried to surf - it was hilarious) Pearl Harbor/Arizona Memorial. Then we hopped a plane and went to Maui for 7 nights at stayed at the Hyatt in Ka'anapali Beach. Both hotels were beautiful, right on the beach and had fabulous restaurants. In Maui, a lot of the other hotels were walking distance down a little path on the beach and the town of Lahaina was a short drive.

I actually just priced a trip for my parents - all of us kids may get together and send them for their 40th anniversary this November. It was through Pleasant Holidays, which was the easiest to price on line because it will let you include the extra island and inter-island flights. I priced the Hyatt hotels that I stayed in - the package was r/t airfare from Newark non-stop to Oahu both ways, 3 nights oceanview room at the Hyatt in Waikiki, airport transfers, inter-island flight, 6 nights in Maui (mountainview room) mid-size rental car in Maui all taxes, and trip insurance (Mom has breast cancer, so we'd get the insurance if planning this far out since we don't know how she'll be feeling at that point.) Granted this doesn't include any meals, but the total was about $5400 for everything listed above. Considering these were non-stop flights from the East Coast and 9 nights total in ocean front hotels, I didn't think that was too bad.

For me, coming from the NY metro area, I didn't think that the food etc. was soooo expensive in Hawaii - I guess it's all what you're used to.

If you can somehow budget it, do it. It will be so much harder to get there down the road when you have kids and all the extra expenses that come with them.

 

[myprincessgirlisa]

GO FOR IT!!!!!!!!

why not!!!!Its your dream!!!

if your worried about cost...just research other places..you never know...thats the fun of traveling...exploring new places!!!

 

[Maddiesmum03]

go for it! we are being totally greedy too, but it's once in a lifetime isn't it?
we are bringing family over for our wedding in May, first at the boardwalk then onto vero beach before flying back to the UK. THEN in August, we are doing Hawaii (and vegas on the way back) just us two plus our 4 year old. It's something we have wanted to do for a while, and can only really justify the expense because we can call it a "honeymoon" !!!!

 

[wendy46001]

we tried to go to Hawaii for our honeymoon, booked a cruise around the islands....the night of our rehearsal dinner they called and told us the boat had been put into dry dock...No Hawaii for us (its ok we ended up in the Mediterranean)

So we booked the same cruise for our 1year anniversary...we had a wonderful time

If you can swing it go for it...

 

[babiebelle]

Thank you so much for all of your wonderful responses!! It's so nice to have all of this justification on having the most inconvenient honeymoon ever!!
I'm a teacher as well, but fortunately, we get 2 weeks off this year for Christmas break (I'm sorry... "winter break"). My fiance and I are getting married the 14th of Dec. and taking that week off... which gives us almost 3 weeks total. I figured we might be able to swing Hawaii for 10 days, then ease my way back into reality. I seriously appreciate all of the encouragement and advice. I'll definitely need to start doing more research though. My fiance is really wanting to go to the Big Island... but I'd definitely want to hit up one other island as well. Any suggestions??

 

[mom2aredhead]

I'll definitely need to start doing more research though. My fiance is really wanting to go to the Big Island... but I'd definitely want to hit up one other island as well. Any suggestions??

Yes - Maui or Kuaui

 

[JaxTeach]

Oooo you're getting married on our 1 year anniversary! 12/14 is a great wedding date!

If you want to go to Hawaii, DO IT!! We aren't beachy folks, so we chose Paris. We had the best time I can imagine. We were married at WDW, spent a few days at WDW and then headed to MCO for a week in Paris. We promised each other (and I know some will disagree with this -- I had to steal some of those from Caryn, Kristen, Carrie and Wendy!) that we were not going to hold back. We did what we wanted and will be paying for it for a year probably, but the memories we have of the most perfect honeymoon imaginable (to us) was definitely worth it.

To justify our financially irresponsible behavior, I will say that we already own our home and have no desire for children any time soon.

 

[babiebelle]

Oooo you're getting married on our 1 year anniversary! 12/14 is a great wedding date!

If you want to go to Hawaii, DO IT!! We aren't beachy folks, so we chose Paris. We had the best time I can imagine. We were married at WDW, spent a few days at WDW and then headed to MCO for a week in Paris. We promised each other (and I know some will disagree with this -- I had to steal some of those from Caryn, Kristen, Carrie and Wendy!) that we were not going to hold back. We did what we wanted and will be paying for it for a year probably, but the memories we have of the most perfect honeymoon imaginable (to us) was definitely worth it.

To justify our financially irresponsible behavior, I will say that we already own our home and have no desire for children any time soon.

Oh my gosh! That's so awesome! I knew that Dec. 14th was a special day!! And I've always wanted to go to Paris. My entire bedroom is done in Paris stuff, but my fiance and I think that we want our honeymoon to be more relaxing. We think the first time we go to Europe, we'll probably barely sleep at all.

Yes - Maui or Kuaui

Thanks so much for all of the advice. I was thinking Maui would be great, but I don't know too much about Kuaui. Isn't that the secluded one?

 

[BaBeeCee14]

Hawaii is gorgeous! Especially Maui! You would love it there - I say go for it!

Dec. 14th is my bday too! I was thinking about getting married on that day, but then decided to get married in October instead. Glad to hear someone else will be getting married that day!

 

[JonetteA]

We thought about Hawaii as well. Honestly, after the long days leading up to the wedding, etc. I just could not face that long of a flight for the amount of days we would be there before we would have to return to Texas. We opted for the 7 day Disney cruise instead and that was FABULOUS!!!

 

[mom2aredhead]

Thanks so much for all of the advice. I was thinking Maui would be great, but I don't know too much about Kuaui. Isn't that the secluded one?

Kuaui is known as the "garden island" - it also has beautiful resorts and very lush tropical landscape. However...it is lush and tropical because of the amount of rain they get. We did not go there, not because of rain, just because we knew we wanted to go to Oahu and Maui and felt it would be too much running around (and would break our budget) to add another island. My brother spent time there on his honeymoon and raved about how gorgeous it was. (Maybe do a little research to find out of there is a rainy season there?)

I can tell you from experience that Maui is fabulous...we spent lots of time on the beach, went to 2 luau's and other great restaurants, shopped in Lahaina, went snorkeling in Molokini (a dormant volcano), climbed (ok, drove) to the top of Mt. Haleakala to watch the sunrise...we loved it.
Oahu, honestly, was good for the few days we were there, but Waikiki reminded me of Miami (but in Japan) - lots of high rise hotels and condos and traffic. Don't get me wrong - I'm glad we went there, if for no reason other than to visit Pearl Harbor and the Arizona memorial. But I was wowed by Maui.