Help please on planning a trip to Hawaii & Western USA

[Sydney Contributor - Bronze Find all posts View Profile Close Sydney]

OK, I know I said Western USA but we're more looking at SoCal for Disney, then I thought well, while we're there, we may as well see if there's anything else to do on the Western side.

If we go, we are hoping to spend a week or two in Hawaii. One will definitely be at Lawaii Beach from 3rd to 10th July 2009. Then the three following weeks somewhere on the mainland if we can't get another week on Hawaii.

We have Worldmark South Pacific credits but since we can only book at Dolphin's cove 11mths out, there's pretty much zilch chance of us getting a week there for July. I had read previously that Worldmark was building another timeshare there. Will it be finished by then and do you think that means it'll be easier to get a unit near Disney for us with our SP credits?

If we can get a week at Disney then I thought Legoland would be cool for the boys. So I was thinking of maybe trying to get a week at Pacific Palisades.

Then possibly another week for a big TS4Ms get-together.

These are just my initial thoughts.

Tell me if I'm nuts expecting to get July accommodation. The alternative is to go in Dec09/Jan10 as our kids will get 2 months holidays then but a friend has booked the Lawai resort on the off-chance that we can make it.

We have 3 boys and 2 girls who are good travellers and pretty easy to please, so spending family time together as a family exploring is pretty much enough. I even thought of maybe making it to Sedona, heard it's so beautiful there, but wonder whether it's feasible to drive to it from SoCal as we don't want to fly once we get to the mainland of the USA.

We were in the US in 2005 and went to Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, New Orleans and Orlando. So, we don't want to visit those places again except maybe Las Vegas if the TS4MS get-together ends up being there.

Besides the SP Worldmark credits we also own 2 Aussie timeshares we can use to trade with RCI and II and 2 SA weeks. We can also use the independents. My RCI account expires in Dec this year and we do not plan to renew unless we need to for this trip. Hopefully not.

Any suggestions and thoughts would be very much appreciated, and where to go, how to get there and experiences with which exchange companies to use for which weeks would be great.

Thanks!

[Sydney Contributor - Bronze Find all posts View Profile Close Sydney]

or Europe

Just wanted to add that if we end up putting off a trip until Dec09/Jan10, then we'd also look at Europe in the equation as we'll have more time off and DH gets long service leave again.

[SherryS Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close SherryS]

I suggest using Trading Places Maui for an additional week in Hawaii (Maui). We are at Maui Hill right now using a week we traded with them. We were able to get connicting weeks to combine with a HTSE trade into Lawai Beach. These smaller exchange companies give great customer service, and you are able to request/deposit 2 years in advance!

[Sydney Contributor - Bronze Find all posts View Profile Close Sydney]

Thanks Sherry, I'll check them out. We'll be going in July though so our chances are a lot slimmer than yours.

[terrazoon Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close terrazoon]

I don't know anyone who likes Legoland. Unless your kids are really small there won't be anything for them to do there and even if they are the lines are long and the rides are short. I went once and you couldn't pay me to go back.

Seaworld is a far superior experience (unless you are sick of Seaworld from visiting it in Orlando). We go there every year. Get there at 8 am, park does not fill up until 11 am. Hit the ride Atlantis several times during that interval before the lines form.

San Diego Wild Animal Park is also nice.

Sedona is pretty and you can drive there from California but it is a long, long drive. Something like 8 hours. There's also not a lot to do after you've done the pink jeep tour.

Re: Hawaii, if you head to the big island (wasn't clear if you'd be island hopping), horseback riding at Dahana Ranch is a must. Also, snorkelling at Turtle Beach (Kahalu'u I think is the Hawaiian name). Also, Kilauea. Also, Hapuna beach (20-30 minute drive north of Kona). Stay in Kona or Waikoloa. The big island is great!

[3kids4me Super Moderator and Super Mom Find all posts View Profile Close 3kids4me]

I agree on the Lego Land thing. My older kids were bored when we went four or so years ago...my oldest was 12 then.

However, that's not to say that you can't stay at GPP anyway. You can always give Lego Land a try since it's right across the street, and then drive up to Disneyland which is about an hour (may even be less) so not that far. There's also Universal Studios, which would be fun and is a bit closer. The Animal Park is excellent.

Sharon

[Sydney Contributor - Bronze Find all posts View Profile Close Sydney]

We actually didn't go to Seaworld in Orlando so Seaworld would be great. I'll put it on the list.

I'm looking at Island hopping if necessary. I guess it's a bit of a waste to go all the way to Hawaii and just stay on one island. So I think Lawaii os on Kauai, right. Should we try for the big island or try for Maui? I think we can do snorkelling at Lawai Beach.

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

We actually didn't go to Seaworld in Orlando so Seaworld would be great. I'll put it on the list.

I'm looking at Island hopping if necessary. I guess it's a bit of a waste to go all the way to Hawaii and just stay on one island. So I think Lawaii os on Kauai, right. Should we try for the big island or try for Maui? I think we can do snorkelling at Lawai Beach.

Syd, if you haven't been to Hawaii before I'd just put requests in on both of the islands and take what comes up. You really can't go wrong.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

We actually didn't go to Seaworld in Orlando so Seaworld would be great. I'll put it on the list.

I'm looking at Island hopping if necessary. I guess it's a bit of a waste to go all the way to Hawaii and just stay on one island. So I think Lawaii os on Kauai, right. Should we try for the big island or try for Maui? I think we can do snorkelling at Lawai Beach.

There are more 2 bedrooms available on the Big Island than on Maui, just a general observation. There is plenty to do on each, we prefer BI since it is less commercialized. Maui has more easily accessible beaches than Big Island, but if you'll be on Kauai for a week you will have a chance to beach it there (resorts on BI are not on the beach, BI is more lava coastline, but has some great beaches to drive/hike to). Since Kauai is my personal favorite, I would end there, and try to do another island first... but I am sure there will be plenty whose preferences differ...

[philsfan Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close philsfan]

HTSE gets Sedona and SoCal inventory too.

[terrazoon Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close terrazoon]

Maui is more developed. It has better luaus and more beaches. Smaller island, so less driving. Highlights in no particular order are:

1. Big Beach
2. Haleakala (drive to top, hike around ... it's cold up there!)
3. Ka'anapali Beach
4. Old Lahaina Luau (traditional and artsy, not cheesy -- depends what you want but the best I've been to--sit up front on the mats, not farther back on the chairs)
5. Free shows at Lahaina Cannery Mall that are 100% amateur and yet pretty entertaining.


Big Island is bigger and much less developed. A lot more nature and a lot more 'local color' in my opinion. Highlights in no particular order.

1. Horseback riding at Dahana Ranch. This is not one horse after another nose to tail. These are trained rodeo horses and you're riding the range.
2. Snorkelling at Kahalu'u .... it is like snorkelling inside a giant aquarium. Go early, it gets crowded in the afternoon.
3. Kilauea. You can hike down into the crater. You can also drive down (20 miles or so) past a zillion craters down to the Hoiei (?) Sea Arch. It is awesome down there. You are standing on 120 foot high sheer sea cliffs and the waves are coming in and smacking the sides of them 50-60 feet up. Don't get too close to the edge! You can also walk to where a recent lava flow wiped out the highway.
4. Hapuna Beach. Just a beautiful beach that is not too crowded.
5. There's a black sand beach on the drive south from Kona to Kilauea. Stop and look for sea turtles!

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

Well, my favorite is the Big Island, but I'm certainly not going to try to influence you.

[Sydney Contributor - Bronze Find all posts View Profile Close Sydney]

Is the Big Island the one with the live volcano? So far big Island sounds great. We have lots of beaches in Australia so can do without more beaches.

Thanks for all the replies.
OK we may have to rethink Legoland then.

[Pstreet1 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pstreet1]

California is a destination in and of itself. What you do depends on whether you are looking for nature stuff or civilization stuff--or a nice mix. If you are looking for nature, there is nothing like Yosemite and seeing Giant Sequoias. For civilization, San Diego can easily keep you busy a week: Wild Animal Park, World Famous Zoo, Sea World, The Aircraft Carrier Midway, Old Town, beaches...and the list goes on. Going up the California coast, there's San Simeon (check the web for details), which is unlike anything else you're going to run into. The Monterey Aquarium is world class with lots of hands on exhibits. If you continue on up the coast, San Francisco is a fun city: Alcatraz, cable cars, Exploratium, China Town, the Golden Gate Bridge, a day trip to Napa Valley, a day trip to Muir Woods.........the list just goes on and on. It all depends on what you and your family would most enjoy: Lake Tahoe, surely one of the most beautiful lakes in the world, Mono Lake (weird, other worldly), hiking in the Sierras, sand dunes that look like Lawrence of Arabia could have been filmed there............

Should you decide to venture into Arizona, I could start a list for there also. You need to make some basic decisions about how you would most like to spend your time. Do some reading on Reviews of vacations, hotels, resorts, vacation and travel packages - TripAdvisor for tons of ideas.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Is the Biog Island the one with the live volcano? So far big Island wounds great. We have lots of beaches in Australia so can do without more beaches.

Yes, the live Volcano is on the Big Island. It is several hours away from the Kona area where most timeshares are. Most people spend an overnight near the volcano to make it an easier trip, and there is a great stop at Akaka Falls on your way to/from (we did it on the way back). And your right about wounds, you have to be careful snorkeling around all the lava

We also did a fantastic night snorkel with the Manta Rays there...