Extra Day - Big Island or Maui?

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

We have never been to Hawaii before and will be taking out firsttrip in 2011. We have one week boooked on the Big Island and one week booked on Maui. The way it has worked out we will have one day between checking out of the resort on Big Island and checking into the resort on Maui, and will need to stay in a hotel. From those of yoy that have ben there, should we look at staying the extra day on the Big Island or on Maui?

Looking at hotels, Maui seems a bit more limited for a single night stay. At this moment all I have found that does not want multiple night stays is the Best Western in Lahaina. I haven't looked much at Big Island for accommodation for one night. Suggestions would be appreciated. We will be flying between the islands from Kona to Kahului.

Thanks.

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

What I'd suggest, but it would involve a lot of driving, would be to spend the extra night on the Big Island in Volcano. You could start out early in the morning, spend the entire day at Volcano National Park, spend the night at a B&B in Volcano, then catch your flight to Maui the next day. If there is any way to change your flight to Maui from Kona to Hilo, all the better.

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

We don't have the flight booked from Big Island to Maui, so all things are possible.

I'll look at the volcano option. Thanks.

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

My personal recommendation for a B&B in Volcano is the Kilauea Lodge. We've stayed there each time we've gone to the Big Island. Even if you don't stay there, try to have dinner there (reservations required). One of the best restaurants on the island.

Kilauea Lodge

[garyd210 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close garyd210]

Road to Hana?

If I was on Maui for an extra day, Hana might be a terrific place to go for a night as the road might be a bit much for doing in just one day. The drive to Volcano is something that can easily be done during your week stay on the BI. Just an idea. Gary

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

If I was on Maui for an extra day, Hana might be a terrific place to go for a night as the road might be a bit much for doing in just one day. The drive to Volcano is something that can easily be done during your week stay on the BI. Just an idea. Gary

The drive from Kona to Volcano Park is about 2 to 3 hours (one way), depending on where you start and how fast you want to drive. If you plan to go there and back in one day, you won't have much time to spend in the park. We did that drive in one day the first time we visited the Big Island. Every time since then we've spent at least one night in Volcano. So yes, the drive could be done, but easily, not so sure. You can also easily drive to Hana (and back) during your stay on Maui. We've done that at well.

[falmouth3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close falmouth3]

Or you could stay in Hilo for a night. That side of the island is gorgeous.

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

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I looked at one night locations on Maui and found they are hard to come by. Most places have a two or three night minimum.

So i will take the suggestions and fly from Hilo to Maui and stay either in Hilo or Volcanoe for the one night. It looks as if it is not too difficult to get from Volcanoe to Hilo airport.

Now, back to the guide books to figure what we will do over the two weeks.

Cheers.

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

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I looked at one night locations on Maui and found they are hard to come by. Most places have a two or three night minimum.

So i will take the suggestions and fly from Hilo to Maui and stay either in Hilo or Volcanoe for the one night. It looks as if it is not too difficult to get from Volcanoe to Hilo airport.

Now, back to the guide books to figure what we will do over the two weeks.

Cheers.

Good choice.

It's not hard to get from Volcano to Hilo. And the Hilo airport is small and easy to get in and out of as well. Also, I assume you're renting a car, you can pick it up in Kona and drop it off in Hilo.

On the guide books, if you haven't already bought "Big Island Revealed" (and I think there is also a Maui version) I suggest you do. That series is recommended probably the most by folks who have visited the islands.

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

I am beating a dead horse....but I also recommend staying in Volcano and flying your intra-island flight out of Kona. The only other place I would recommend spending a night would be a B&B in Hana. We did the drive out there....spent the night in a B&B there (Hana, being a rainforest, is a whole different world than the rest of Maui at night) and then drove back the next day. It is tough to drive there and back in the same day.

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

I am beating a dead horse....but I also recommend staying in Volcano and flying your intra-island flight out of Kona. The only other place I would recommend spending a night would be a B&B in Hana. We did the drive out there....spent the night in a B&B there (Hana, being a rainforest, is a whole different world than the rest of Maui at night) and then drove back the next day. It is tough to drive there and back in the same day.

Thanks for the advice. We are looking at the flights between Big Island and Maui. The cost and thetime of day they leave will bethe determining factor in which we choose.

We had looked into overnighting in Hana, but almost every B&B or hotel in Hana had a minimum stay. The only place we could find for a single night was in Lahaina, which would not work for going to Hana.

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

I am beating a dead horse....but I also recommend staying in Volcano and flying your intra-island flight out of Kona. The only other place I would recommend spending a night would be a B&B in Hana. We did the drive out there....spent the night in a B&B there (Hana, being a rainforest, is a whole different world than the rest of Maui at night) and then drove back the next day. It is tough to drive there and back in the same day.

Especially if the volcano is still active. We stayed at the Kilauea Lodge too as it was highly recommended by Luanne and it was wonderful but you have to make reservations well in advance. The restaurant was excellent at that time. We like the Volcano House in the Park but I don't believe that it is still open. There is a little B&B place in Hilo that we liked very much too but it is further away from the park.

There are a few very nice drives that you can take around Hilo too within a day. One is to the Akaka Falls and the other trip I would have to look up again as I forgot the name but you will see it mentioned in the "Big Island Revealed". We much prefer this side of the island as there is so much to see. We took another road once that was very interesting but isolated with some interesting trees and lava flows. It should be in the same guide too.

Maybe Steve (T. R. Oglodyte) can help you out as I have seen his pictures from these trees that he must have taken from the same road we took too.

[RESORT2ME Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RESORT2ME]

We have never been to Hawaii before and will be taking out firsttrip in 2011. We have one week boooked on the Big Island and one week booked on Maui. The way it has worked out we will have one day between checking out of the resort on Big Island and checking into the resort on Maui, and will need to stay in a hotel....

It may help to know the resort names.

Also, sometimes an extra night can be obtained from the resort where you have a week already reserved.

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

Thanks for the advice. We are looking at the flights between Big Island and Maui. The cost and thetime of day they leave will bethe determining factor in which we choose.

We had looked into overnighting in Hana, but almost every B&B or hotel in Hana had a minimum stay. The only place we could find for a single night was in Lahaina, which would not work for going to Hana.

Try this place in Hana, they will allow 1 night stays in non-oceanfront units. We stayed a few years ago and found it to be very authentic, a little rustic, but clean and comfortable. Or stay 2 nights in an OF unit, and leave your t/s empty one night:

Oceanfront Hana condos at Hana Kai Maui Resort

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

Weird-I posted a really long reply earlier today and it's not showing....

In a nutshell, I agreed with the overnight in Volcano Village. I just returned from the BI yesterday and did this very same thing. More time to take the fabulous side trips and seek out the really cool little eateries along the way.

This side of the island is gorgeous.

Fly back from Hilo.