My Dream Trip - where should I stay?

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

30th wedding anniversary

Kauai -Princeville the Garden Island

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

Pat,

My wife is from Hawaii, so I spent a lot of time on the 4 main islands of Hawaii. Each island has it's own character and depending on what you like most is where you should stay the longest. Me, I love them all, but Maui is my favorite by far.

If I were going to do 3 weeks in Hawaii, I would do 3-days in Oahu, 4-days on the Big Island, 7-nights in Kauai and 7-nights in Maui.

I'd try to get a split week at Hilton Hawaiian Village in Oahu and the Bay Club on the Big Island. I'd stay at either the Marriott Waiohai or Hanalei Bay Resort in Kauai. Heck, I'd stay split weeks at each each. And, I finish up either at the Maui Marriott or the Westin Ka'anapali.

If you can stay longer, I'd extend the Big Island trip to a full week as well. And, if you can do a full 4-weeks, I'd add day trips to Molokai and Lanai.

Now that would be a great Dream Vacation.

My dream is to do what I'll call the Boca Triathlon. The first leg is flying an ultralight hang glider from Oahu to Lanai. The second leg is a 2 tank dive at the Cathedrals in Lanai. The third leg is 18-holes of golf in Ka'anapali.

Dinner at Chez Paul.

[Pat H Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pat H]

I've been to Kauai and the Big Island. Stayed at the older Marriott in Lihue and Mauna Loa in Kona. We had a great time but I'm in no hurry to go back. I'd rather go to Aruba. If I did go back it would be to visit Maui and Molokai.

However if you do go to Kauai, be sure and take a helicopter tour and drive up to Wailea Canyon.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

I've been to Kauai and the Big Island. Stayed at the older Marriott in Lihue and Mauna Loa in Kona. We had a great time but I'm in no hurry to go back. I'd rather go to Aruba. If I did go back it would be to visit Maui and Molokai.

However if you do go to Kauai, be sure and take a helicopter tour and drive up to Wailea Canyon.

PatH I'm with you! It's a long long flight and requires at least 2 full weeks for Hawaii. My very limited exposure I don't have much input to this thread. Kauai was stunning and we all preferred the northshore. The water is almost too cool for my liking even in July.

I'd like to stay in that Hyatt in Poipu for a couple of nights someday.

We are planning to go back to experience the Big Island and Maui but so far I would rather revisit some caribbean favorites and get back out to SCal, especially considering airfare from NY.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

Thank you for all your input, I am copying it all to a word file!

Since this could be our ONLY trip to Hawaii, I wanted to get a feel of it all - impossible I know - but at least a taste

We live on the east coast so of course it is easier for us to go to the Caribbean but I really want to go once.

Now, what time of year is best to go - everyone talks about the whale watching so we wouldn't want to miss that.

How is the April/May timeframe or October/November?

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

Thank you for all your input, I am copying it all to a word file!

Since this could be our ONLY trip to Hawaii, I wanted to get a feel of it all - impossible I know - but at least a taste

We live on the east coast so of course it is easier for us to go to the Caribbean but I really want to go once.

Now, what time of year is best to go - everyone talks about the whale watching so we wouldn't want to miss that.

How is the April/May timeframe or October/November?

Maybe you can combine it with an all island cruise?
Katiemack should be back any moment from her's. So we will get some feedback on how that was.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

Maybe you can combine it with an all island cruise?
Katiemack should be back any moment from her's. So we will get some feedback on how that was.

I actually thought of that, too - if we do a full 3 weeks....decisions, decisions!

[m61376 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close m61376]

I probably am in the minority here, but a week on Oahu is not too long. There are really beautiful parts of the island; it is not just Waikiki beach. Marriott's Ko'Olina is beautiful.

If I was going for 2 weeks I'd probably do Oahu and Maui.

The cruise is a great way to see a lot in a week and without the hassle of packing/unpacking. NCL America is the only one that does just an inter-island cruise. If you can get a good price on it it is a very convenient way to get around. The price for the cruise has come way down since its first summer; there is a reson for that. Let's just say we had a wonderful time despite the cruise. From talking to others many of the same issues exist. It is unfortunate, but to do just the Hawaiin Islands, it must be a flagged American vessel, which means an American crew. Americans, as a whole, do not want to work as hard and they have a constant staffing problem. Young crew members constantly get drunk in port and are getting fired. We have been on many cruises and have never encountered the problems we had on the NCL Hawaiin cruise- 2 hour waits for dinner, dirty sheets on arrival (they didn't change the sheets the entire week and that wasn't a biggie to me- but I wanted clean sheets to start out with!), etc. On the plus side we made a lot of stops and there was a lot of time to see each island and I wasn't plane hopping and hotel jumping. Would I go on it again- NO; would I recommend it to someone else?- for a good price, there are advantages to the cruise.

Several other cruise lines do the Hawaiin Islands, but they tack on a few days at sea to Vancouver, Fiji Islands, or Mexico.

You have lots of time to look forward to a wonderful celebration! Congrats! Ours was last year

[I-DE-HO Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close I-DE-HO]

BI & Kauai or Maui

If you want a slower pace spend one week on Kauai & one on the Big Island. In addition, if possible, I'd spend 2 or 3 nights near Honolulu to see all the nearby sites. TPI has a lot of BI inventory (after you are within 12 months) but almost none on Kauai. I'd use RCI for Kauai. On Oahu just rent (B&B or hotel/condo).

If you want a faster pace substitute Maui for Kauai.

The biggest plus in using RCI for exchanges is they have a lot more inventory than anyone else-especially if you like to plan 2 yrs. out like I do. TPI & HTSE have good inventory 'under' 12 months.

We can talk resorts when you get to the 2 yr. point (2008).

Phil

[pcgirl54 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pcgirl54]

I have considered a cruise also but how much time does one really get to spend on the islands?

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

I actually thought of that, too - if we do a full 3 weeks....decisions, decisions!

You can easily do three weeks on the islands and still wish you could stay longer. It's so far for you and every time you go to another island your day is lost.

Pat, we prefer the Wailea area in Maui but there are no timeshares. Can't you use some MRPs and stay at the hotel over there? The views are spectacular from the Marriott and there is a nice sandy beach practically next door. The Ka-anapali area is so busy and traffic is congested but the beach is nice.

In Kauai we prefer the Princeville area but we loved staying at the Waiohai at Poipu. Since you are a beach person, I am not so sure if Hawaii would be your first choice but for sight seeing I find it a very interesting island with the volcano and rain forest too and the northern part of the island that reminds us of England and snow on the mountain. A great spot for star gazing too.

Each island is so different but they are all beautiful. Maui and Oahu (Waikiki Beach) have the most action going on and a wide variety of restaurants and shops. We love Molokai but it is not a tourist area so very few restaurants, etc.

In Kauai is a beautiful boat ride along the Napili coast that wasn't mentioned here. It is absolutely spectacular.

[Carol C Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Carol C]

I've been to Hawaii 4 times, to 4 islands. My fave will always be Kauai, so for a romantic special anniversary you can't go wrong at the Hanalei Bay Resort. Your Foxrun should get you there easily. Your Marriott preference will get you into the Marriott on Maui, and if you go off season you can throw an AC at the plan and get the Marriott on Oahu for a few days and throw the rest of the week away.

You might also want to consider spending a few nights in the SF Bay Area on the way back to make the return back East easier. Aloha flies to/from Oakland, I believe.