Flight and itinerary dilemma

I was so excited to finally book my hawaiin honeymoon but when I recieved my contract I saw that my flight from NY leaves at noon not arriving in Kaui till 8 at night..... meaning I miss a whole day.

My travel agent said there are no earlier flights even if I change the departing airport but if I change the itinerary to Honolulu or Maui first that I could get there 1 or 2 in the afternoon.


THing is you are jet lagge and probably wont do much anyway so at least i wouldnt feel guilty and I really wanted to start in Kaui to relax but I feel like I am paying all this money I want to get the most from it,

What should I do??
Please help.

Re: Flight and itinerary dilemma

I would definately change the itnerary to get there earlier. You are paying alot of money and if you get there at 8pm, by he time you get your baggage & get to the hotel, its time for bed, meanwhile, if you get there at 1 or 2 pm, you could always take a short nap & by the time you get up & showered you could at least have dinner in Hawaii!
Or you may not even be tired at 1 or 2 pm you may be so excited & so anxious to see Hawaii that you may not be able to sleep jet lag or not!

I say change it

Re: Flight and itinerary dilemma

Hey Tara - since Hawaii is so far away, you're going to end up wasting 1 day each way on travel anyway. We stopped off in CA for 2 days, but were were still exhausted.

We were so excited to have finally arrived, but we didnt' do much our first day. It might even be better to go to sleep soon after you get there, so you can adjust to the local time. That's the best way to fight jet lag.

Re: Flight and itinerary dilemma

I say switch it...when you get there put on your bathing suites and take a nap, on the beach!

Re: Flight and itinerary dilemma

I flew into Maui and we arrived at about 3pm - Hawaii time (we were suppose to get in a little earlier). By the time we got our luggage, got the car, got to the hotel, checked in, etc. it was pretty late. We were also so tired because it takes a day or so for your body to adjust to the time difference. Also to get to Hawaii at that time you leave NY really early (we had to be at the airport by 5ish am).

All we wound up doing was walking around the hotel to check it out and having dinner and going to bed. We like you wanted to get there early to make the most out of it and we were just too exhausted. You don't realize how much the time difference and jet lag does affect you. It did allow us to get an early start the next morning.

If you really want to start at Kauai (personally - I saved it for last and think that was the best thing I did), I don't think the late flight is too bad.

Re: Flight and itinerary dilemma

We also left for Hawaii around noon and were exhausted when we arrived. We basically went straight to sleep. With the time difference, unless you are a night owl, you won't have much energy even if you left earlier. I was grateful to be there and to wake up the next morning well rested to begin our vacation. I woke up just before sunrise the first 3 days -- the time difference is brutal. The main thing you need to do is stop thinking about how much you are spending, and to just decide what sounds most pleasant to you.

Re: Flight and itinerary dilemma

I would try to change it.
NOT becuse you will have the energy to do that much that day anyways but 8pm means by the time you actually check into your room.. it's to late to do ANYTHING.
At least if you got to your room by like 3ish, as tired as you are, you would probably have a swim and have some dinner and then you can BE in bed by the time your original flight was comming in.

Re: Flight and itinerary dilemma

I would say change it - only because I don't like being in new, strange places in the dark (it's the business traveler in me). If you land at 8ish, you probably won't be at the hotel until 10ish or so. Either way you probably won't have the energy to do much, I'm just skittish about being someplace new that late. JMO!!!

Re: Flight and itinerary dilemma

Tara I would say change it. You are spending a lot of money to get there in the evening and waste an entire day. We will be taking the earliest flight out of LGA or JFK to get to Honolulu around 2/3 pm. Perfect time to check in, rest up and go out for dinner.

Re: Flight and itinerary dilemma

Anyone know how much the interisland flight would be?

Maybe I could fly into honolulu and just take the flight so I can still start in Kaui just not direct flight into it.

I know i will be tired but i work night shifts and alot and do pretty well, and it isnt as excitig as being in hawaii LOL

Maybe I will have the energy to do something but if not i could always take a nap, at least I will have the option.

I like the fact of arriving to the sun shining on the beach, darkness does sound a little scary you are right.

Just have to see how much more this will cost hmmmm

Re: Flight and itinerary dilemma

Our first stop was Oahu. I think we got there around 3. No matter what you are not going to do much on the first day, but the more time you have there the better. If it is possible, I would try to change it. Good luck!!! What hotels did you decide on? I havent checked the other posts.

Re: Flight and itinerary dilemma

I am gonna call the TA tommorrow we decided on the Princeville in Kaui, Hyatt in Maui and Outrigger Waikiki beach in Oahu.

Re: Flight and itinerary dilemma

Last question I promise...

If I were to fly into honulu I would get there around 3pm but the interisland flights dont leave from that airport I would have to cab it about 10 minutes to the other airport and wait till around 5pm to catch a flight to Kaui meaning I would get there after 6pm which doenst make much of a difference plus all the extra traveling and 75$ more pp so I dont think that would make sense.

Only other option is to fly directly to Maui first getting me in about 2or 3 in the afternoon and just saving kaui for last

I think this is probably better I mean I gain 5 hours in hawaii,

What do you guys think?

Re: Flight and itinerary dilemma

When I want to Hawaii we arrived at 4PM but we were so exhausted we need to 'nap' and ended up screwing up our schedules anyway.

Just leave it as it is.

Re: Flight and itinerary dilemma

we got to honolulu at around 6pm...we unpacked and went out to dinner....i remember being very sleepy, but in a relaxed way....i don't think it's worth it to switch everything aournd for the couple of extra hours...leave it the way it is....but i do agree with niecey that you should consider kauai last...it is the most relaxing place and i thought it was the ideal way to end all the wedding craziness...

Re: Flight and itinerary dilemma

Well to do Kaui last this switch would be good, I am so confused