OT - Hawaii

[At World's End]

Before we had kids, my DH and I decided to take a trip over Christmas. We lived in CA and wanted to go to Hawaii. Airfare alone was $850. I started playing around on expedia and trying to find fabulous places we could fly for less than $850. We ended up going to Italy for 10 days instead. Christmas in Venice was spectacular!

If you are still going to take the trip, just start playing with destinations. We went to Paris from LAX for a week for $800 each for air, hotel and transfers. That would be a fabulous alternative to Hawaii!

I've never been to the Caribbean, but my sister goes to Roatan every year and LOVES it.

 

[Green Tea]

Wow, I didn't think there was that much to do there. lol

We did Volcano National park, saw the lava flow into the ocean at night. Drove around the entire island (best climate changes EVER), went to the black sand beach, went to the southernmost point in the US and watched the Manta Rays from our hotel.

Next trip we are going Ohau again, Maui and Kauai.

We're spending some time in the rainforest, volcano area, beaches, geothermal pools at Kapoho. I can't wait!

 

[swilshire]

DH and I are thinking of taking a 5 day 4 night trip to Hawaii next year, but Im blown away by the price of the airline tickets...

You don't EVEN want to go to Hawaii for four nights. You won't be over jet lag by the time you're flying back. I refuse to go that far for anything less than three weeks. Airfare is such a big part of your cost to Hawaii.

When we went a few years ago, it took us half the first week to feel normal in that time zone.

Sheila

 

[wvjules]

We're spending some time in the rainforest, volcano area, beaches, geothermal pools at Kapoho. I can't wait!

Are you going to go to Mauna Kea Summit? That sounds so cool to me. Unfortunately we had a Mustang convertable and the rental company wouldn't let us take it up there but I would have loved to do it.

 

[Mersmom98]

I did Hawaii once for a long weekend...Thursday - Monday and I survived. Would I have liked to have gone for longer? Sure, but that was my only option so I took it! I flew from Houston/LA/Oahu and then a nonstop back to Houston. I flew Continental and I think my airfare was $500-$600...Take a look at what a previous poster said about flying to LA and then hopping on Alaskan Airlines. That sounds like a great idea!

 

[daleswife]

I did Hawaii once for a long weekend...Thursday - Monday and I survived. Would I have liked to have gone for longer? Sure, but that was my only option so I took it! I flew from Houston/LA/Oahu and then a nonstop back to Houston. I flew Continental and I think my airfare was $500-$600...Take a look at what a previous poster said about flying to LA and then hopping on Alaskan Airlines. That sounds like a great idea!

This would prolly be my only chance to go and thursday to monday was exactly what I wanted to do. I found a price of around $1500 for the flight and hotel on one of the travel sites. I didnt think it was that bad, but really expensive.

If I could talk DH into it, Id absolutely go to disney for that same weekend, because we could get free dining and stay at pop for about that much and that includes travel expenses down and back!!! But he wont go without the kids.

 

[cutiesugarbaby]

I think 4 days is enough. I live in Oahu by the way... Once you get to Hawaii, it only takes a half hour - 45 mins to neighbor islands, so you can do a day trip. Hawaii is pretty small place, if you stay on Oahu, you leave early and drive up to North Shore for an hour and snorkel for 3- 4 hours and come back to Waikiki by 3 pm.
I don't know how much the airfare costs from West Virginia, but I remember my boss who is from West Virginia said airfare is pricy. Do you know anybody from Hawaii? There is Kamaaina discount which is Hawaii resident discount. A cheap hotel would be around 60 bucks a night and for good hotels (like condos) cost maybe around less than $150+.

 

[rparmfamily]

The flights to the other island may only be 30-45 mins, but don't forget getting to the airport, checking in, security, renting a car,etc on the other side. But the flights are super quick, and I love getting my little cup of POG on the flights LOL.

If you make a list of exactly what you want to do, then figure in traffic (if on O'ahu) or drive time on the other islands (Big Island is big LOL) you could see a lot in 4 days. But that's not exactly fun IMHO, and the flight is killer from the east coast. BTDT...few times in the last few years. And when family comes out to see me here, they always need a day or so to adjust to the time difference.

 

[robinb]

Ok, ya'll just talked me right out of hawaii this time around...LOL.....I get what ya'll are saying though. I though airfare round trip was a bit much. maybe when my kids are older me and hubby can go there.

You can also just bring the kids with you. My DD has been going to Hawaii since she was 4-years old and we had a blast each and every time. It really is a family destination, IMO.

That being said, I stayed at Clearwater Beach in FL last month for 4 days and it was BEAUTIFUL. The sand was soft and the waves were gentle. It was a great place to just hang out at the beach and enjoy the sun and surf. We stayed at the Hyatt and I can't say enough good things about it .