Hawaii or Atlantis?

[TaraPA]

$10K won't get you far if you want Grand Wailea on Maui. Our room was $850 a night, and airfare from the East Coast was brutal. It was very expensive to eat & drink there too. We did walk over to the little mall area to eat at Tommy Bahama & Ruth Chris' for less. Awesome spa but again $$$. While Grand Wailea was luxurious & beautiful, it was all way too big for me. I like smaller, more intimate resorts. There were also a lot of familes with small children there, if you're going kid-free (we were) that may be a concern. Also the beach wasn't anything great, so maybe someone on here can suggest something lavish but smaller, with a nicer beach, and not as $$????

 

[Crystal824]

Hawaii is amazing. I have also been to Atlantis. It is nice as well. We went to Maui and Oahu last year on our honeymoon and it is expensive. We probably spent $6,000 on one's week hotel, food, sourveniors, and admission to stuff. Luckily, we had our other week's hotel and air fare paid for as a wedding gift. We stayed at a timeshare in Maui called Kahana Falls and the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Oahu. The Hilton was beautiful but large and sort of loud at times. Maui was our favorite.

If you do Maui, I would get Maui Revealed, it is a guidebook that is easy to read and very helpful. I've heard locals don't like it because it provides very detailed information regarding things on private property and tells you it is ok to access them, which it does. We tended to stay off private property but still enjoyed the book. Yes, Places like the Grand Wailea are very expensive. I believe many of the hotels in Wailea are expensive.
We stayed on the other side of the island and went for a day trip over to that side. We ate dinner at the Grand Wailea and went back to the other side. It really isn't that far.

Hawaii is wonderful. For me, it is probably even above Disney, which I love dearly. Unfortunately, we can't afford to go to Hawaii every year. Enjoy your trip.

 

[kel3420]

Sorry, I am going to be the naysayer on this one, lol.

I would pick Atlantis over Hawaii. We went to Atlantis approx 9 years ago, and just were in Hawaii over Thanksgiving. I would LOVE to go back to Atlantis, without kids this time. I doubt I would go back to Hawaii. It is a "been there done that" kind of thing. Yes, I loved it, but we rarely go to the same place twice. But I loved loved loved Atlantis. If you are prepared for the expense of everything, you will have a great time. If their prices shock you, then go somewhere else. But if you think you will never get to go to either place again, and it is a once in a lifetime trip, then of course Hawaii, just to experience it, and say you have been there. We were on Kauai and while it was nice, it was too laid back for me. I probably would feel different about Hawaii if I had gone to another island, Maui for example and then be suggesting Hawaii over Atlantis anyday. But really, I loved Atlantis, and can't wait to go back. All the islands in Hawaii have totally different feels, so it is all about what you want, laid back, touristy, etc, beaches, volcanos, etc. Have fun choosing, not too many people can.

 

[HeatherC]

I would definitely pick Hawaii over the Bahamas. No comparison.

If you want to stay in a resort setting, but save money, consider one of the Marriott Resorts. They are timeshare resorts, put you can rent out a week and pay extra for housekeeping for less than you would pay if you booked it direct with the hotel. Sheraton and Hyatt may have the same thing.

Here are some places to check out:

www.vacationtimesharerentals.com
www.redweek.com
www.tug2.net - classifieds section, click on Hawaii

Not sure what islands you are considering...all gorgeous...but wanted to let you know that Kauai is known as the "wettest place on earth". There will be a sign there saying that. The clouds get trapped between the mountains and it rains every day. But...if you stay on the south shore..near Poipu Beach, the weather is much nicer.

Also....check out the Entertainment Book for hotels. When we went on our honeymoon, I used it and stayed at the Renaissance Wailea for like $100 a night. Worth checking into at least.

Happy planning!!!

 

[mom2aredhead]

WOW! Thanks for the responses! So.....Hawaii it is! Anywho, what can I do for around $10,000? We normally spend around $6,000 for about 10 days at Disney staying at the Polynesian, and dining wherever. Is $10,000 reasonable for a week? I do not want a condo. I don't want to sound like a snob, but my husband works a LOT, and when we go on vacation, we do what we want, when we want, and I won't be cooking or making up beds. Can I plan it on my own? I plan our disney trips, and have always gotten Cinderella's, etc with no problems....can I do it?? Can you name specific hotels, islands, etc? TIA!

I think a good place to start would be the Pleasant Holidays website. They are one of the few companies that you can book more than one island and the inter-island flights online. If nothing else, you can do some research into the hotels and prices there.
I went for my honeymoon in 2000. We stayed 4 nights in Oahu, then another 7 or 8 in Maui. We stayed at the Hyatt resorts on both islands, booked mostly because they had promotions where stay x nights and get 1 or 2 free. They were both fabulous and I would recommend them, but of course that was almost 8 years ago. Our trip was incredible and I'm hoping to go back for our 10 year anniversary in 2010.
I started pricing a trip for my parents 40th anniversary (which they said no to because the flights were too long ) and from the east coast, direct flights both ways, booking the Hyatt on both islands and the interisland flights i think it was about $6K for some random dates in November.

I've never stayed at the Atlantis, but we stayed in Nassau and day-tripped over there. It is a beautiful resort, but I would hands down no question go back to Hawaii for a special anniversary trup.