Can anyone help us with Hawaii??

DH and I are looking to go to Hawaii this summer (either July or August).

Keep in mind that we're currently living in San Diego.

I found flights through Expedia...

Airfare for 2 people, roundtrip, nonstop
July = $720
August = $650

We definitely want to go to Maui and Kauai after reading everyone's posts on here about Hawaii, and DH would also like to go to Kona.

We'd like to be as budget-conscious as possible... (but still want to sleep somewhere decent and clean!)

Now, a few questions.

1) The airfare prices are good right?
2) What are our options and the pricing for interisland travel?
3) How many nights would you spend in each place?
4) On which islands do you recommend renting a car?
5) How much should we budget for daily expenses? (Food, excursions, etc.)
6) What are our best options/your recommendations for hotels? How are the B&Bs?

I REALLY appreciate anyone who takes the time to read this whole thing and respond!

THANKS

Re: Can anyone help us with Hawaii??

hi! we were looking into going the same time- july...
i found a lot of help on tripadvisor.com. there are actually message boards about hawaii, and people who live there post on them and reading those was sooo helpful! you can really get a good idea about each island and what there is to do on each one.
you can also get ideas for hotels, and can go on there and read reviews of the hotel you want to stay at.

Re: Can anyone help us with Hawaii??

i went to hawaii last may my plane ticket roundtrip from ny was 650 with nwa airlines i stayed with a friend in wakiki beach so i dont know about hotels but my suggestions are....

oahu-must go to turtle beach, cockaroach cove, and Hanauma bay

maui-road to hana buy the book or cd so you can find all the good hidden places make sure to stop at the black sand beach and go to the halekala national park the crater is gorgeous!! that is where my avatar pic is taken

Re: Can anyone help us with Hawaii??

Posted by hayleyandsteve

DH and I are looking to go to Hawaii this summer (either July or August).

Keep in mind that we're currently living in San Diego.

I found flights through Expedia...

Airfare for 2 people, roundtrip, nonstop
July = $720
August = $650

We definitely want to go to Maui and Kauai after reading everyone's posts on here about Hawaii, and DH would also like to go to Kona.

We'd like to be as budget-conscious as possible... (but still want to sleep somewhere decent and clean!)

Now, a few questions.

1) The airfare prices are good right?
2) What are our options and the pricing for interisland travel?
3) How many nights would you spend in each place?
4) On which islands do you recommend renting a car?
5) How much should we budget for daily expenses? (Food, excursions, etc.)
6) What are our best options/your recommendations for hotels? How are the B&Bs?

I REALLY appreciate anyone who takes the time to read this whole thing and respond!

THANKS

Message edited 2/27/2008 8:41:57 AM.

Re: Can anyone help us with Hawaii??

1. Airfare is good. Out of curiosity, which airline are you taking? I was searching for flights to HI out of SD recently, and didn't find great prices.

2. When we were there, we took a quick interisland flight on Hawaiian airlines. I believe there's a ferry between two of the islands somewhere... but we didn't take it, so I don't know the details.

3. We spent 4 nights in Maui, and that was nice. Haven't been to Kauai or Kona yet.

4. Rent a car on Maui. Again, haven't been to the other 2 islands, so I don't know.

5. I would budget roughly $200 a day for expenses. Sometimes you'll spend less, sometimes more.

6. Hotels I can't help much with - we stayed in Lahaina on Maui in a motel that was just ok. I don't remember the name. It wasn't a chain. But it was within walking distance to the beach and "downtown" area, so that was nice.

Re: Can anyone help us with Hawaii??

Re: Can anyone help us with Hawaii??

Posted by hayleyandsteve

DH and I are looking to go to Hawaii this summer (either July or August).

Keep in mind that we're currently living in San Diego.

I found flights through Expedia...

Airfare for 2 people, roundtrip, nonstop
July = $720
August = $650

We definitely want to go to Maui and Kauai after reading everyone's posts on here about Hawaii, and DH would also like to go to Kona.

We'd like to be as budget-conscious as possible... (but still want to sleep somewhere decent and clean!)

Now, a few questions.

1) The airfare prices are good right?
2) What are our options and the pricing for interisland travel?
3) How many nights would you spend in each place?
4) On which islands do you recommend renting a car?
5) How much should we budget for daily expenses? (Food, excursions, etc.)
6) What are our best options/your recommendations for hotels? How are the B&Bs?

I REALLY appreciate anyone who takes the time to read this whole thing and respond!

THANKS

Re: Can anyone help us with Hawaii??

Thanks so much everyone!

Re: Can anyone help us with Hawaii??

first of all, you are going to love hawaii

lets see here...

1) The airfare prices are good right? To me, those airfare prices seem very good... especially for non-stop flights. also, according to our TA flights out of san diego to hawaii (esp NS) are hard to come by! so that sounds good to me. i would go in august personally - the closer you get to september the smaller, according to the staff people we spoke with when we were there, the crowds are - as people start to prep for back to school. plus, the air is a lil cheaper so that's nice.

2) What are our options and the pricing for interisland travel? your best bet for interisland is flying - the flights are dirt cheap and they are competitive with each other (the two main airlines that fly there which is aloha air and hawaiian airlines) - for us it was like 42 dollars round trip per person! to the point where the guide told us that people will take a flight to another island to SHOP for the day - that is how cheap they can get sometimes! they were advertising this super ferry when we were there but they were constantly being delayed or canceled due to protests b/c enviornmentalists were saying it is very bad for the environment - it runs about the same price as a flight so i wouldn't take the chance with that - def fly!

3) How many nights would you spend in each place? for us - we could not get enough of kauai - that is the one thing i regretted a little - we should have spent more time there. i could have even done without seeing oahu at all although i am happy i did - i just LOVED kauai and DH had an amazing time too -- i would stay there five nights if you can -- four at the minimum. as for maui - great island!! we stayed in wailea which was a little less hustle and bustle compared to kaanapali - it was just gorgeous - we were there seven days - you could get away with five but i wouldn't go less than that. ideal: five days in maui, five in kauai and 2 on kona if your hubby wants to do that - there isn't a whole lot to do there aside from some snorkeling and such according to our TA so i would say you could get away with two nights and be satisfied.

4) On which islands do you recommend renting a car? the *ONLY* island you won't need a rental car on is oahu and since you are not planning on going there you are going to need to rent a car, IMO, on each island you visit - absolutely needed in kauai and maui.

5) How much should we budget for daily expenses? (Food, excursions, etc.) it wasn't as bad as we thought it was going to be - we avoided the high priced buffets as much as possible and tried to shoot for "cold buffets" which was as much toast and cereal as we could eat - we would stuff our faces for as cheap as can be and then have a small snack for lunch and have a NICE meal for dinner - anywhere from, on average, $60 up to about $80-$100 per dinner - at average places - so, for a 12 day trip I would budget around $1,500 total for FOOD. the excursions can get pricey but they are the best things to do!!!!! i would AVOID the ATV tour on maui - can't speak for other islands but inexperienced tour guides and you take your life in your hands in maui -- but DEFINITELY do the horseback riding on either maui or kauai--- kauai is on the beach and out of this WORLD (check out my LIW album for HM pics from that) -- also, the ZIP LINE tour!!!! It was AWESOME in maui and i have heard just as great in kauai - that is a MUST!!!! snorkeling and reef fishing is fun -- on a catamaran or a sail boat out of kauai -- then, on maui, we did a waterfall hiking tour that took our breath away - it is AMAZING. so check that out - it was anywhere from $100 per person up to $200 per person depending on what you do but WORTH it!!!!

6) What are our best options/your recommendations for hotels? How are the B&Bs? there is not a whole lot on kauai in terms of hotels - that's one of the biggest things i loved about kauai - it is very undeveloped - we stayed at the grand hyatt in poipu and there is also the sheraton in princeville -- i cannot rave enough about the grand hyatt in poipu - WOW - they have this HUGE salt water lagoon and all of these pools - it will take your breath away -- the property itself is like an old mansion - not a high-rise place - VERY relaxing - we could have stayed there the WHOLE trip. they have great restaurants there too -- dondero's (an italian place) was FANTASTIC -- definitely eat there even if you don't stay there AND DEFINITELY eat at the poipu beach broiler on poipu road!!! it was so good and a great value too! we had some of our best meals on kauai at dondero's and the broiler! as for maui - you'll have more options with your hotel choices - there is a lot more on maui - we stayed at the grand wailea which is up there in price so you might not want to go there - infact, wailea in general is pretty pricey - it is a small strip of three 5-star hotels (our place, the fairmont kea lani which is to die for!! just beautiful and the four seasons hotel) --- so, check out kaanapli - you should be able to get a nice hotel - but take a ride to wailea if you can -- wailea beach was voted number one in the world a few years back and it is stunning --- don't feel weird about going on the beach b/c in hawaii beaches are all public property so even if it is in front of a hotel they cannot tell you that you can't be there - all beaches are public in hawaii - a guide told us that which was great! if you can - while in wailea - eat at longhi's for breakfast or lunch (GREAT!!!) and eat - for sure - at nick's at the fairmont OR bistro molokini at the grand wailea - that was great and the prices were good too!

ok - hope that helps!! FM me if you need anything else!!

HAVE FUN!!!!!!

Re: Can anyone help us with Hawaii??

Didn't want to quote... but THANK YOU SO MUCH DANI!

Re: Can anyone help us with Hawaii??

Posted by hayleyandsteve

Didn't want to quote... but THANK YOU SO MUCH DANI!