Hawaii

[abamick]

Has anyone used DVC points to stay in Hawaii? How were the accomodations? Would you stay on the island of Hawaii? Or Maui?

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[Dean]

Has anyone used DVC points to stay in Hawaii? How were the accomodations? Would you stay on the island of Hawaii? Or Maui?

Thanks in advance for any help!

Are you looking II or CC? If you search for the words Hawaii and/or Marriott and my name, you will find a fair amount of info. It depends on whether you've been before, how long you're staying, what unit type you need and how far out you're looking.

 

[rocketriter]

Hawaii and Maui are somewhat different. Maui is very green, tropical, laid back with a great restaurant and night club scene. Hawaii is rocky, volcanic, desert-dry in some places, with more of a ranch atmosphere. You might want to start by reading up on both (they're both large enough that my descriptions are the barest generalities) and choosing between them before you focus on resorts.

 

[kruegeme]

My DW and I stayed at Kapalua Bay on Maui using DVC. We had a great stay and were treated very well. Their concierge did an awesome job with all our requests even getting us a front row table for the luau. From what I've read, Kapalua Bay is being torn down so that one is out now. I believe the Ritz at Kapalua Bay is still on the list. Maui was beautiful, very laid back.

We visited Honolulu on that same trip. Spent 12 hours there, will never do that again. The only highlight was visiting Pearl Harbor.

We considered doing this trip again this year to celebrate our 10th anniversary but the WDW is calling.

Might suggest watching the Travel Channels Girl meets Hawaii. Samatha Brown does a great job showing you around....

http://travel.discovery.com/fansites/samanthabrown/hawaii/hawaii.html

If you decide to go to Maui, and unless you enjoy passing other cars on a one lane roads with sheer drop offs , find a tour that will drive you down the 'Road to Hana'.

Good luck or should I say, Aloha!

 

[abamick]

Thanks for all of the insight. I knew you guys wouldn't let me down. If anyone else out there has used DVC points to stay in Hawaii, I would love hearing from you! Where did you stay? Did you enjoy it?

 

[rocketriter]

It's relatively easy to trade into the Kona Coast II on the Big Island. We got a week in a 1-bedroom during spring break for 144 points. The resort is quite nice with something of a condo feel to it. It's about a block's walk across a golf course to the beach. Of course, many people don't go to the Big Island for the beaches; there are a few that are excellent, but much of the coast is rocky. Our family prefers the Big Island because it has a more adventurous character. But if you want a tropical beach paradise, go to Maui.

 

[TnRobin]

As for which Island, we bought the book "Hawaii for Dummies" In it you will find a quiz. It asks you to rank things from 1 to 5 on how important they are to you. It was really helpful. My family is the "go do something" type. I like the greenery for a short time but want to be doing stuff most of the time. My score tied between Oahu and Hawaii.

We did Oahu last year through a private trade at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki. We loved it. It has been my best non-Disney vacation ever.

Next year we have obtained a trade at the Kona Coast II through DVC/II. Can't wait to see the the volcano national park.

 

[pixiedust23]

We've been to Hawaii about 5 times, never through DVC. However Maui is our favorite island. I like relaxation and cute little beach towns with shops. Thats what you find here. The island of Hawaii has the national volcano park. Oahu is the extreme tourist spot. It is also the urban mecca. So it all depends on what youre looking for as to what island to go to. However if youre going to fly all that way why not stay on a few different islands, thats what we always did.

 

[debbie in Seattle]

Good luck! I called last week for 11/2006 or 1/2007 (that's a very low season there after the holidays) and there was nothing in Maui.

 

[skibum]

Check out the books "Big Island Revealed" and "Maui Revealed". They are written by locals and are invaluable in planning your trip (sightseeing info, lodging options, restaurants, and lots of good pictures, too).

By the way, Maui is my choice, although you won't be disappointed in the Big Island.

 

[abamick]

Bummer, Debbie. We haven't decided for sure when we want to go. I was thinking in the summer of '06. I have a son that plays H.S. baseball and here in TN, we have a two week "dead period" the end of June and beginning of July. All of the high school sports take off...no games or practices. So really, other than Thanksgiving and Christmas, that is the only time we can go. Hmmm......

 

[dianeschlicht]

We traded into the Kona Coast resort on Hawaii. A 1 bedroom with two baths was 160 points for the week. We love the Big Island anyway, so we knew the location was right, and the resort was very nice, but it is not a beach resort if that is what you like. We usually spend our time on Hawaii traveling all over the island, and Kona is central enough for all of that. It is our favorite island because of the diversity and it is more traditional old Hawaiian. We like the sights etc on Maui, but it has gotten a bit commercial for us lately. We also like Kauai for the more laid back feel. Oahu is a must at least once, but now we usually just spend a few days there at the begining or end of our trip.

 

[deerh]

By:abamick-Bummer, Debbie. We haven't decided for sure when we want to go. I was thinking in the summer of '06. I have a son that plays H.S. baseball and here in TN, we have a two week "dead period" the end of June and beginning of July. All of the high school sports take off...no games or practices. So really, other than Thanksgiving and Christmas, that is the only time we can go. Hmmm......

Not to change the subject, but where in Tenn are you from? I was born and raised in Bristol,Tn! I now live in Atlanta surburbs.

DeerH

 

[joepoe]

We visited Honolulu on that same trip. Spent 12 hours there, will never do that again. The only highlight was visiting Pearl Harbor.

!

Methinks you are giving a very uninformed assessment of O'ahu based upon a 12 hour trip. The Ewa side of O'ahu has some beautiful properties. The north shore is a surfing mecca. It's not all about Waikiki which is a big city beach. Even in Honolulu you can shop at the Aloha Tower marketplace, and walk to the downtown sights from there including the Ihilani Palace. Don't forget to stop at Dog Chapman's bail bonds joint on Queen Emma Street.

 

[Dean]

For a first time visitor, I feel Oahu is a must. After that, it's reasonable to skip it.

 

[abamick]

We are in the Memphis area. Way other side of the state. The eastern part of the state is MUCH more scenic!

 

[dianeschlicht]

For a first time visitor, I feel Oahu is a must. After that, it's reasonable to skip it.

I agree with Dean. Pearl Harbor, the Palace, the state house, Bishop Museum, the Polynesian Cultural Center, and the north shore are all musts sees, and there are plenty of other things on Oahu like hiking Diamond Head, the aquarium etc, but it all becomes quite familiar after a trip or two. We kind of use Oahu to get us acclimated to the time change both ways, and usually give ourselves 2 days there before coming home. If I were to rank how we feel about the islands, I would rank them Hawaii, Kauai, Maui, Oahu. We have never been on the smaller islands.

 

[RLevy29]

We have been to Hawaii, Maui, Molokai, and Kauai. Maui is still our favorite island. We just stayed at the Sands of Kahana using points and had a great time. We feel that it was a good use of our points.

 

[TnRobin]

I don't know about skipping Oahu. I need one more trip there to get the rest of the stuff we missed the first time. So we are "supplementing" our trip to the Big Island with 4 or 5 days on Oahu. I gotta go back to the Aloha Swap Meet at least one more time.

Deerh - I grew up in Knoxville, but spent plenty of time in the Tri-Cities. My aunt and uncle lived in Kingsport and my cousins in Johnson City. They just recently moved to Mountain City. My DH and I moved to the Nashville suburbs about 13 years ago.

 

[minniesfriend]

My in-laws are Marriott Vacation Clubbers and they just returned from Maui. They said the Marriott Maui Ocean Club (which is on our list) where they stayed is very nice. Marriott's website has some great pics of this resort. Marriott bought this resort and is working on renovations, converting the rooms from hotel to suite type accomodations. They booked thru II and were very pleased. My brother stayed at the Embassy Suites that is also on our list and liked it.