Help. First trip to Hawaii.

[talkamotta Member Find all posts View Profile Close talkamotta]

Im going to Hawaii in October. Staying at the SOK and then to the Big Island and staying at Mauna Loa by the Sea. I bought the SOK last year and this year I bought Pahio Ka Eo Kai (wow these names are hard to deal with) wanted to get up close and familiar with Hawaii. Ive never been to Hawaii before. The person I bought the SOK from gave me last year's week and I banked it with SFX and got the Big Hawaii trade for it this year. It was a cheap trade because it was free but I went from a 2 bedroom to a one bedroom. I was afraid I wouldnt get anything for that specific week.

Im getting a little uneasy. Since I have never seen any of those resorts first hand, I have been looking at reviews all over the place (including TUG). If it was just me and my boyfriend we would be fine. Beach, beer, good food and sunsets, thats all we need. But we are taking my boyfriend's parents with us. They have been so good to me (and very generous) that I want everything to be perfect. The condos are my treat and the rest will be kind of split up. Are the 1 bedroom Mauna Loa big enough for 4 adults and are both the SOK and Mauna Loa nice places. If you could only go to 2 places on each island what would you do?

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

Im going to Hawaii in October. Staying at the SOK and then to the Big Island and staying at Mauna Loa by the Sea. I bought the SOK last year and this year I bought Pahio Ka Eo Kai (wow these names are hard to deal with) wanted to get up close and familiar with Hawaii. Ive never been to Hawaii before. The person I bought the SOK from gave me last year's week and I banked it with SFX and got the Big Hawaii trade for it this year. It was a cheap trade because it was free but I went from a 2 bedroom to a one bedroom. I was afraid I wouldnt get anything for that specific week.

Im getting a little uneasy. Since I have never seen any of those resorts first hand, I have been looking at reviews all over the place (including TUG). If it was just me and my boyfriend we would be fine. Beach, beer, good food and sunsets, thats all we need. But we are taking my boyfriend's parents with us. They have been so good to me (and very generous) that I want everything to be perfect. The condos are my treat and the rest will be kind of split up. Are the 1 bedroom Mauna Loa big enough for 4 adults and are both the SOK and Mauna Loa nice places. If you could only go to 2 places on each island what would you do?

We once owned a one bedroom Mauna Loa Village by the Sea which is now part of Fairfield. There are two identical resorts but the other one is owned by Shell.

The one bedroom at the Mauna Loa Village is very spacious but most of them have only one bathroom. Some of them have a bathroom and a half. You may want to request that with an extra couple. There was a sofa in the middle of the living room that made into a bed.

The second time, when we had the extra bathroom it was more comfortable with our guests but one time, we upgraded to a two bedroom unit and that made it so much more comfortable for everyone. That's another option you have. The two bedroom condos at the Mauna Loa are very spacious.

You will like the area as it is very lush and you can walk down to a little harbor and take a boat from there. I have never been to the other resorts so don't know.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

I was at the Pahio and the Mauna Loa by the Sea when it was new. It is a very nice resort with many small pools atround. for the bad points that I recall. Bring bug spray as there are pleanty there. Also you have to park your car in a lot but the resort has golf carts that they will drive you around in. I have a review on www.Igougo.com for both these resorts. I will try to find them and edit the link here.


Edited to add that I went to Shell Vacations Club @ HOLUA RESORT AT MAUNA LOA Village, Not Mauna Loa Village by the sea. Wrong resort sorry. You can still find my review my member id on Igougo is big_frank

[talkamotta Member Find all posts View Profile Close talkamotta]

How do I go about asking for an upgrade. I exchanged it with SFX and I am a platinum member. Or would I call the resort. Of course I would rather have a 2 bedroom but a one bedroom with 2 baths would be ok. I also have another resort Longboat Bay Club that I short noticed deposited with SFX, maybe I can get another 1 bedroom. These people are so important to me that I would use the other exchange but I would rather not if I dont have to.
Thanks for any suggestions.

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

How do I go about asking for an upgrade. I exchanged it with SFX and I am a platinum member. Or would I call the resort. Of course I would rather have a 2 bedroom but a one bedroom with 2 baths would be ok. I also have another resort Longboat Bay Club that I short noticed deposited with SFX, maybe I can get another 1 bedroom. These people are so important to me that I would use the other exchange but I would rather not if I dont have to.
Thanks for any suggestions.

If you are a platinum member, I would start with SFX to see if they have a two bedroom available, even if at another resort. Even if it's at a different resort, you'll just lose your exchange fee, SFX doesn't penalize your trading power for cancellations.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

If I was going with my boyfriend's parents, I would want a 2-bedroom unit.

Of course, if I had a boyfriend, there would probably be more important considerations that how I vacationed with his parents.

[Faust Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Faust]

THINGS TO SEE AND DO
http://www.alternative-hawaii.com/ttsad.htm

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

THINGS TO SEE AND DO
http://www.alternative-hawaii.com/ttsad.htm

Ken,

Great site! Anything in particular you would recommend?

Avery

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

...If you could only go to 2 places on each island what would you do?

Only 2? Difficult choice, but on Maui, I would drive the road to Hana (using Maui Revealed to determine where to stop) and go to big beach (Makena?).
On the big island I would explore the volcano and snorkel at Kahaluu beach park.

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

I have been thinking about spending one night in Hana since we may be doing some power hang gliding there (don't tell my boys it's a surprise) that would require us being there at a decent hour (and we aren't early risers). Does anyone have any suggestions for a cottage/b &b/etc... there will be four of us...

edited to add: sorry Talkamotta, I didn't mean to hijack your thread, maybe your in-laws would like power hang gliding?

[Faust Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Faust]

Ken,

Great site! Anything in particular you would recommend?

Avery

Avery

We will be on Maui for the first time in September for one week then one week on Kauai, Witch we go every year. We will be staying at the embassies. So I am sorry I can not help with Maui, I have never been there.

Though if anyone needs help with Kauai I will be glad to help

I am looking forward to doing a lot of scuba diving on both islands and the road to Hona.
To balance it out, I am going to go with the flow and do the rest of what Josie wants to do.

It is her vacation to.

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

Ken, don't forget the top of the Haleakala crater too. It's so beautiful and with so much color if you hit the right time of the day. You can take a short or very long hike in the crater but take lots of water and shade with you. More information is given here for long and short hikes but it is not the official National Parks Service web site for Haleakala.

We only went once at sunrise because it is so very cold and windy in April when we normally go. You don't see it often as spectacularly as they show you on a postcard. The road to Hana is an experience but you need lots of time and even more so if you want to get off the beaten path.

Do you have "Maui Revealed"? You can buy it in Hawaii. We also have "Snorkel Maui and Lanai'i", Guide to the Underwater World of Hawai'i by Judy and Mel Malinowski, but it's not for diving. My DH's favorite diving store is http://mauidreamsdiveco.com/. I believe that daventrina use this shop too and they like them too. They seem to dive a lot.

Here are a few of the pictures of the Haleakala crater and how colorful it is. It is nothing like the barren lava fields on the Island of Hawaii which is still very fresh. You can monitor the lava flow here. This is for talkamotta.

Avery, your trip is getting close and I hope your kids will enjoy it too and certainly the power hang gliding there.

[talkamotta Member Find all posts View Profile Close talkamotta]

Im enjoying this thread. Im so excited, its hard to wait till October but its summer and I have to enjoy each day of our warm weather.

No you arent hijacking my thread. The parents are 70, so no hang glidding for them or for me either. They are very active people. Keep up the replies, Im learning alot. I do have the book Maui revealed.

[Faust Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Faust]

Do you have "Maui Revealed"? You can buy it in Hawaii. We also have "Snorkel Maui and Lanai'i", Guide to the Underwater World of Hawai'i by Judy and Mel Malinowski, but it's not for diving. My DH's favorite diving store is http://mauidreamsdiveco.com/. I believe that daventrina use this shop too and they like them too. They seem to dive a lot.

Here are a few of the pictures of the Haleakala crater and how colorful it is. It is nothing like the barren lava fields on the Island of Hawaii which is still very fresh. You can monitor the lava flow here. This is for talkamotta.

Emmy
I went to the library today and pick up (Frommer’s- Maui 2005) and (Hidden - Maui, Molokai& Lanai 2006) travel books. When I go back to the library I will see if they have (Maui Revealed 2006) travel books.

Thanks for the heads up on Maui Dreams Dive Co. I was just starting to think about what dive Co would be the best to use.

Cool pictures of Haleakala Crater, we will have to go there and check it out. Thanks for sharing them.