Your recommendation for a Hawaii Vacation

[soccerchick]

We just returned from a three week trip to Hawaii this past Saturday. I have to agree with the PP who said you will be missing so much with a hotel and pool only trip. We love to beach hop and explore. There is so much culture and history. I don't know where you are traveling from to get to Hawaii, but unless you are west coast, it is a long trip. It is basically 10 hours of flying time plus checkin and layovers from the east coast. Five days is far too short of a trip. The only good thing about such as short trip is that you'll get over the west to east jetlag faster.

I LOVE Kauai. We've been there 4 times. We did a quick getaway from the house/kids and stayed at the Marriott in Lihue on Kalapaki (sp?) Beach. It was beautiful with recently redone rooms. There is a pool grill, a poolside restaurants, Duke's (two restaurants in that one, really) and an Italian restaurant. There are also some restaurants just a few yards away off property. I hope to get on Tripadvisor and post some pics and my review this week. We've stayed previously at the Sheraton in Poipu which was also very nice. The Westin/St.Regis on the north shore is luxury, but it carries a luxury price.

We did our first trip to Oahu this time. I couldn't stand the crowds and the traffic; it was worse than DC area traffic we deal with at home. Parts were posh and parts were very dirty. Honolulu and Waikiki are urban. We weren't prepared for when a homeless man got in my 10 yo dd's face. Three resorts were highly recommended - two on the west side of the island that I'll have to look up and the other was Turtle Bay. Since we were sightseeing and not resorting, we stayed in a hotel a block off Waikiki since most of what we wanted to do was in and around Honolulu.

Maui would probably be my choice for a romantic getaway. I'm no help with hotels here as we stayed in a condo.

I will recommend a book series that you can probably check out from the library; there is also a website for the books. Oahu Revealed, Kauai Revealed and Maui Revealed (three separate books). Not sure if there is one for the Big Island or not. They are by Andrew Doughty and published by Wizard Publications. They will give you a great picture of each island and may help you chose. You can also buy them used on half.com for almost nothing.

Whatever you decide to do, have a fun celebration!

 

[DawnCt1]

We just returned from a three week trip to Hawaii this past Saturday. I have to agree with the PP who said you will be missing so much with a hotel and pool only trip. We love to beach hop and explore. There is so much culture and history. I don't know where you are traveling from to get to Hawaii, but unless you are west coast, it is a long trip. It is basically 10 hours of flying time plus checkin and layovers from the east coast. Five days is far too short of a trip. The only good thing about such as short trip is that you'll get over the west to east jetlag faster.

I LOVE Kauai. We've been there 4 times. We did a quick getaway from the house/kids and stayed at the Marriott in Lihue on Kalapaki (sp?) Beach. It was beautiful with recently redone rooms. There is a pool grill, a poolside restaurants, Duke's (two restaurants in that one, really) and an Italian restaurant. There are also some restaurants just a few yards away off property. I hope to get on Tripadvisor and post some pics and my review this week. We've stayed previously at the Sheraton in Poipu which was also very nice. The Westin/St.Regis on the north shore is luxury, but it carries a luxury price.

We did our first trip to Oahu this time. I couldn't stand the crowds and the traffic; it was worse than DC area traffic we deal with at home. Parts were posh and parts were very dirty. Honolulu and Waikiki are urban. We weren't prepared for when a homeless man got in my 10 yo dd's face. Three resorts were highly recommended - two on the west side of the island that I'll have to look up and the other was Turtle Bay. Since we were sightseeing and not resorting, we stayed in a hotel a block off Waikiki since most of what we wanted to do was in and around Honolulu.

Maui would probably be my choice for a romantic getaway. I'm no help with hotels here as we stayed in a condo.

I will recommend a book series that you can probably check out from the library; there is also a website for the books. Oahu Revealed, Kauai Revealed and Maui Revealed (three separate books). Not sure if there is one for the Big Island or not. They are by Andrew Doughty and published by Wizard Publications. They will give you a great picture of each island and may help you chose. You can also buy them used on half.com for almost nothing.

Whatever you decide to do, have a fun celebration!

Definately agree about these books. The web site is now for free and you can see the resorts from the links. www.wizard.com

 

[thumper*]

OMG you guys gave me some awesome locations, we'll be hard pressed to make a decision. Dawnct thanks for all of your insight I greatly appreciate it(feel free to keep it coming).

I guess our length of stay will depend on how much more $ I can get saved up.....hehe that isn't happening until after our Sept WDW vacation.

You know how you have something set in your mind and that is all you really want......well I have always dreamed of a tropical vacation w/ an ocean frontroom with a lanai and that doesn't come cheap. Most likely we will have to do a split stay to be able to afford this trip.

Thanks everybody for your suggestions I have checked out the site for each resort listed and love the majority of them.

At the risk of making our decision even harder does anyone else have some suggestions

 

[Jeafl]

Have you considered staying at a more affordable place and being able to stay longer? The Grand Wailea and the Four Seasons are spectacular, but they are easily twice as much money as other places.

We always stay at a condo in Maui now. It is oceanfront, beautiful and very, very affordable. We pay about 1/3 of what it costs to book through the resort because we book straight from the owner at vrbo.com. It is definitely worth checking out.

Also, I agree with Dawn. There is SO much more to Hawaii than beaches and nice hotels. On our last trip we saw a green sand, a red sand and a black sand beach, as well as a rainforest, and an active volcano. Definitely stuff you don't normally get to see!

 

[DawnCt1]

OMG you guys gave me some awesome locations, we'll be hard pressed to make a decision. Dawnct thanks for all of your insight I greatly appreciate it(feel free to keep it coming).

I guess our length of stay will depend on how much more $ I can get saved up.....hehe that isn't happening until after our Sept WDW vacation.

You know how you have something set in your mind and that is all you really want......well I have always dreamed of a tropical vacation w/ an ocean frontroom with a lanai and that doesn't come cheap. Most likely we will have to do a split stay to be able to afford this trip.

Thanks everybody for your suggestions I have checked out the site for each resort listed and love the majority of them.

At the risk of making our decision even harder does anyone else have some suggestions

My personal philosophy? The more spectacular the destination, the less I feel the need for an opulent resort. Hawaii is spectacular in every way and I could be very happy in something far less opulent than the Grand Wailea or the Four Seasons. Our first family trip to Hawaii included three islands. We stayed at a very basic cottage at the Kilauea Military Camp on the Hilo side of the Big Island. We LOVED it. We had a fire in the fireplace, drove the Chain of Craters Road after dark, hiked to the hot lava, saw a moonbow, hiked the trails the next day, ate in the cafeteria and cooked out. Three days later we headed for the Hilton Waikaloa Village with its monorail, meandering pool, art walk, dolphins and green sea turtles. It was incredible. It was so incredible that I had trouble blasting the family out of there to go see the sights that really brought us to Hawaii in the first place. I would rather have a lesser resort and more days, enjoy local food, and see what "free". Its all worth it.

 

[DawnCt1]

Have you considered staying at a more affordable place and being able to stay longer? The Grand Wailea and the Four Seasons are spectacular, but they are easily twice as much money as other places.

We always stay at a condo in Maui now. It is oceanfront, beautiful and very, very affordable. We pay about 1/3 of what it costs to book through the resort because we book straight from the owner at vrbo.com. It is definitely worth checking out.

Also, I agree with Dawn. There is SO much more to Hawaii than beaches and nice hotels. On our last trip we saw a green sand, a red sand and a black sand beach, as well as a rainforest, and an active volcano. Definitely stuff you don't normally get to see!

We have gotten spectacular deals through vrbo. My favorite condo is the Ka'anapali Alii. You can't beat it!

 

[kathymc]

. Must be ocean front and peaceful (no Honalulu). Would love a resort not just a hotel. We would like several restaurants and a spa. Lush and tropical and private would be appreciated as well. We will spend most of the time pool/beach side. So any suggestions?

If you've got the cash - 4 Seasons on the big island - absolutely incredible.
On Maui the 4 Seasons is also quite nice but wasnt that lush and tropical. The most gorgeous of all (and my favorite island and resort as well) is the Hyatt in Kauai.

 

[Green Tea]

Kauai: Don't bother. They hate tourists so why waste your money there? Really.

Kauai is stunning. So beautiful, and so many different things to experience. We did 2 weeks there in 2 different areas and it was as though we visited different islands. I NEVER got an unfriendly vibe from the residents. It is a wonderful place and one I would absolutely recommend for a romantic trip. It is lovely.

 

[Green Tea]

FWIW, my husband had the same thought as an earlier comment....that it would be similar to the Caribbean with a lot more travel time involved. He booked the trip because he knew I had always wanted to go. He rarely admits when he is wrong but this time he did. He said there is truly nothing like Hawaii. We have travelled in the Caribbean a lot, but Hawaii remains "the place." If you only have a few days though.....it is a massively long flight from the east coast. I wouldn't do it for a week, and absolutely not for a few days.

 

[soccerchick]

If you've got the cash - 4 Seasons on the big island - absolutely incredible.
On Maui the 4 Seasons is also quite nice but wasnt that lush and tropical. The most gorgeous of all (and my favorite island and resort as well) is the Hyatt in Kauai.

It isn't called the Grand Hyatt for nothing. Costs almost a grand (and depending on the room, more) a night to stay there! Amazing lava rock pool.

 

[beachbunny]

I agree that Kauai has some of the nicest beaches. But there is a reason why Kauai is the poorest island and suffers the most unemployment (excepting of course, the money from the mainland that has been invested in condos and expensive homes). Of all the islands, Kauai has a real love/hate relationship with tourism. They want to keep you all out because they have their paradise and don't want to share it and don't want you to dirty up their pristine island, but at the same time, they need your money because there really is no other industry on Kauai. The "locals" (and I use that term loosely because not many of them have lived there for more than a few years) who you dealt with are in the tourist industry. They are paid to be nice to you and I'm sure you were treated well. But I know their manao. They have no aloha for you.

 

[Iott Family]

Send us your credit card...and my wife and I will go research Hawaii for you...

It will be a real sacrifice on our part...but it's something we'd do for a fellow DIS'er...

 

[thumper*]

Have you considered staying at a more affordable place and being able to stay longer? The Grand Wailea and the Four Seasons are spectacular, but they are easily twice as much money as other places.

We always stay at a condo in Maui now. It is oceanfront, beautiful and very, very affordable. We pay about 1/3 of what it costs to book through the resort because we book straight from the owner at vrbo.com. It is definitely worth checking out.

Also, I agree with Dawn. There is SO much more to Hawaii than beaches and nice hotels. On our last trip we saw a green sand, a red sand and a black sand beach, as well as a rainforest, and an active volcano. Definitely stuff you don't normally get to see!

So this condo is directly on the beach? Do you have any pics you want to post of the place and view?

 

[thumper*]

If you've got the cash - 4 Seasons on the big island - absolutely incredible.
On Maui the 4 Seasons is also quite nice but wasnt that lush and tropical. The most gorgeous of all (and my favorite island and resort as well) is the Hyatt in Kauai.

Prior to to starting this thread Hyatt in Kauai, and Turtle Bay were the main places I was considering. Now I have so many but Marriot Maui is sticking out as well as a condo at Ka'anapali Alii that DawnCT recommended. This one in peticular http://www.vrbo.com/253927

Thanks I am really getting a lot out of everyones suggestions and am seriously considering a longer visit to HI.

 

[rparmfamily]

We just came back from our first trip to Hawaii (did Oahu and Big Island - 14 days) and I will agree with you.

On the other hand I liked Waikiki too and people seem to disparage it a lot. To each her own, I guess.

I live in Honolulu and think Waikiki is fabulous. I think it's clean. Lots to do, and so nice to walk the sidewalk that runs along the ocean (in front of the hotels.) It is busy and bustling but it's a resort/city build ON the ocean.

 

[rparmfamily]

I agree that Kauai has some of the nicest beaches. But there is a reason why Kauai is the poorest island and suffers the most unemployment (excepting of course, the money from the mainland that has been invested in condos and expensive homes). Of all the islands, Kauai has a real love/hate relationship with tourism. They want to keep you all out because they have their paradise and don't want to share it and don't want you to dirty up their pristine island, but at the same time, they need your money because there really is no other industry on Kauai. The "locals" (and I use that term loosely because not many of them have lived there for more than a few years) who you dealt with are in the tourist industry. They are paid to be nice to you and I'm sure you were treated well. But I know their manao. They have no aloha for you.

LOL always reminds me of them protesting the Superferry, sitting out in the ocean on their surfboards and canoes,etc...and hardly any of them are actually FROM Kauai. I haven't been to Kauai but I've heard nothing but good things. Most of my friends say it's their favorite island.

Anyway, Big Island is my favorite. I love Hilo, we always stay at KMC (military only) but Volcanoes National Park is a must see!

The "Revealed" books are awesome!

 

[Big_Disney_Fan]

Check out the hotels north of Lahaina. The town (Lahaina) is my favorite, and there are a lot of great hotels to pick from. Kahnapali Shores is where we stayed last year, and we had the best time.

Take a look at Lahaina Divers, for a snorkel trip, SCUBA, or whale watching (seasonal).