Hawaii help please! (posted on BHB also)

Okay, time to ask the experts - i think FH and i are in need of some serious help. The wedding is fast approaching and we are still totally confused about our honeymoon. We were set on Bora Bora/Moorea for the longest time until money became an issue. Now we have 'decided' on Hawaii but still want that Bora Bora type feel (quaint, tropical, relaxing, polynesian, cozy - not big city built up, would love a bungalow). As long as we can get this on one of the islands we will be happy.

Our travel agent is offering the Sheratons on both Maui and Kauai (5 days each). I saw the brochures and feel in LOVE with the Four Seasons on the Big Island. I know I can get my bungalow there! But it sounds really expensive. I know a few of the girls here mentioned they have been there and that I would love it - can anyone tell me what the room/bungalow rate is there? We would be going to this island solely to stay at this resort (there is nothing on that island that we really want to see) - is that stupid? Can we do 2 days there or is it just too much to travel all the way over there from Kauai?

Also, to make the trip more affordable, anyone have any recommendations for lower grade hotels (on Kauai or Maui) that might meet the description mentioned above? We don't need all the ritz, glam, and luxury of the big hotels.

Thanks so much everyone. We can use all the help we can get!

for the atmosphere you described, you may want to consider Costa Rica or Belize. Your money may go farther too. (we were in Costa Rica for 2 weeks for ~$5K).

On Hawaii, I think Kauai's northshore has the most tropical feel. The trip from Kauai to the Big Island isn't long at all. Folks often do it as a day trip, so it certainly woun't be too far to go for 2 days.

edited to add: we stayed in a condo in Princeville (Kauai) that was fabulous. It had an amazing ocean view and fantastic sunsets. You could walk down to a private beach, and it was quite reasonable. Here's the website: Ikena Kai

We also stayed at the Hyatt - amazing but pricey.

Some pics of our last hawaii trip.

Lisa - thanks so much for the input. Your pics are gorgeous! I have so many questions? Firstly, Costa Rica - WOW! Great deal. Do you have pics from that trip too? I would love to see them! While in Hawaii, did you like your condo stay better than a hotel stay? Did you have to venture far for food or activities? The prices on that website look pretty reasonable. This is going to sound ridiculous but we are avoiding the Princeville area b/c I have a condition where I am always cold (I am wearing a thin shirt, two sweaters and a scarf as I write this) and our travel said it can get kinda windy up in that area on the cliff. My loss i am sure but what can you do...
So, I was wondering what other condos you had looked into on Kauai? Did you look into any on Maui also?

I just went to Hawaii for my honeymoon. We did 1nt in Oahu, 6nts in Maui (at the Hyatt and then to the Kea Lani), 2 nts on the Big Island of Hawaii and 3nts on Kauai. In my opinion it is not silly just to go to an island for a hotel. There are things to do on the big island of Hawaii like Volcano National Park. If you don't go and stay on Hawaii only and you decide to split your time 3 islands in 10 days might be a bit much. It is not hard to fly island to island but it can take up a few hours in a day. Maybe you could do 3 nts at the Four Seasons and the rest on Maui or Kauai. I don't know of any hotels on either Maui or Kauai that would have the accomodations you are looking for. Another hotel to look into is the Kona Village on the Big Island of Hawaii. That has the bungalows you were talking about. If you have any qustions, FM me.

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Posted by LauraPete

Lisa - thanks so much for the input. Your pics are gorgeous! I have so many questions? Firstly, Costa Rica - WOW! Great deal. Do you have pics from that trip too? I would love to see them! While in Hawaii, did you like your condo stay better than a hotel stay? Did you have to venture far for food or activities? The prices on that website look pretty reasonable. This is going to sound ridiculous but we are avoiding the Princeville area b/c I have a condition where I am always cold (I am wearing a thin shirt, two sweaters and a scarf as I write this) and our travel said it can get kinda windy up in that area on the cliff. My loss i am sure but what can you do...
So, I was wondering what other condos you had looked into on Kauai? Did you look into any on Maui also?

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We weren't cold at all in Princeville - it was HOT. But I guess it may depend on when you go (we were there in Oct).
We did not have to venture far for food or activities. The cave, hiking & beach pictures are mainly from the north shore. Hanalei Bay was only 10 minutes away and had plenty of restaurants. We also cooked in the condo one night. I didn't look at any other condos other than the ones in Princeville, since I knew we'd be at the Hyatt in the South. I can't say I liked the condo stay vs. the hotel stay better or worse - they were VERY different. The hotel was great for the pools (the Hyatt has amazing pools) but I did like having our own space in the condo, and being able to mix up some drinks in the blender and enjoy the suset on our lanai. It seemed a lot more 'free'. Downside is, you don't have someone cleaning your room each day. But I absolutely LOVED it and didn't want to leave.

I didn't look into condos on Maui. We stayed in a hotel there. It was a timeshare thing - don't recall the name. Maui's great, but it didn't capture my like Kauai did. Its also been about 3-4 years since we were there.

I did have some Costa Rica pictures online, lemme see if there's still around...brb

here's the Costa Rica Honeymoon thread with pictures from a few of us.

am470 - excellent question. I have searched for that answer and found a pretty solid NO for the most part. There are a few places with bungalows or 'bungalow-style' rooms but none that are over the water like in Tahiti Please let me know if you have better luck in this area.

I just was quoted $9000 for two weeks in Bora Bora (with Amex Business Platinum). This is for an overwater bungalow (with a free upgrade to an end of the pontoon overwater bungalow if available). It also includes free daily breakfast, and champagne and fruit basket upon arrival. It is for Bora Bora Lagoon Resort.

I am pricing Hawaii as we speak with Amex.

Ok... Here is the info I got for Hawaii.

Again, this is from AMEX platinum business card which gets you some extras (i.e., free upgrade, daily breakfast, etc.).

7 nights in Maui with the club level and ocean view at the Four Seasons. The club level gives you private access to non-stop h'ordeavers (sp?), drinks, desserts all day. 6 nights at the Mauna Lani Resort with a ocean front room (will be upgraded to a deluxe ocean front room). This also includes daily breakfast and one lunch for two. For a grand total of $10,079.

I can't believe Hawaii was more than Bora Bora!

am470 - I've stayed at the Mauna Lani. It's a nice hotel!

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Posted by am470

Ok... Here is the info I got for Hawaii.

Again, this is from AMEX platinum business card which gets you some extras (i.e., free upgrade, daily breakfast, etc.).

7 nights in Maui with the club level and ocean view at the Four Seasons. The club level gives you private access to non-stop h'ordeavers (sp?), drinks, desserts all day. 6 nights at the Mauna Lani Resort with a ocean front room (will be upgraded to a deluxe ocean front room). This also includes daily breakfast and one lunch for two. For a grand total of $10,079.

I can't believe Hawaii was more than Bora Bora!

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Wow! That's a high quote! We booked our HM to Hawaii in 1/02 and went that October. We used FF miles for the round trip AA airfare, but went through Liberty Travel for our hotels: 2 nights San Fran, 4 nights Hyatt Kauai (garden room) 6 nights Hyatt Maui (partial ocean view), which included jeep rentals, breakfast everyday, inter island flights, etc, and our entire cost was about $5K or so.

Not sure about those hotels but were were thrilled with Hyatt Kauai - absolutely gorgeous, and wonderful service. Maui's Hyatt was very nice, but anyone going from Kauai to Maui is a bit spoiled I think! It's more of a high rise hotel, but still great.

Those two hotels are really pricey! So that is why my quote is probably higher than yours was. For example, the 4 seasons club level is $750 a night. Hope that explains it for you. Also my quote is for an extra night.


IF I understand correctly, your quote doesn't include airfare, right?

Our deal was a package through Liberty so I have no idea what the typical going rate was for either hotel.

That quote does not include airfare - we used FF miles, so that obviously drove down the cost!

You might want to price the same deal with Liberty Travel, or another agency to see if you get the same figures....just a thought.