Monday, December 12, 2011

4 nights in Oahu?---question about hotel planning

Hi,





We will be staying 4 nights in Oahu (early nov) and was thinking 2 nights at Turtle Bay Resort and 2 Day at Halekulani. How does that sound?





Do you think it would be wiser to do 1 night at Turtle and the rest at Halekulani? Can we do the North Shore area in a day and a half? Halekulani has some packages that seem inticing but they require a 3 night stay. But we were sure how rushed we would be just doing one night and then packing up to leave again from Turtle.....



4 nights in Oahu?---question about hotel planning


With only 4 nights I would pick one or the other for the full stay as there is enough in either area to stay busy. The other part is they are over an hour apart so there is checkout of one drive to the other checkin not including packing and unpacking say 4 hours shot. You can always take one day and drive to the other locale to scope it out.



4 nights in Oahu?---question about hotel planning


If you found a good package you should just stay at Halekulani for the duration, it is a beautiful resort. The drive to the North Shore always seems quick and it is easy to drive up there even for only a half day. Its too much hassle to change hotels in the middle of your stay and drag all your luggage around.




Although I didn%26#39;t stay at either, I visited them both..actually had the world%26#39;s best mai tai at the %26#39;house without a key%26#39;-an absolute must. I would probably just stick with the Halekulani.





The North Shore is lovely, but we did it in a day....rode up, looked around, got a burger (i forget where, but it is famous, crowded and good...) and a shave ice at matsamoto%26#39;s grocery store....then we drove back to Waikiki. (We were at the Sheraton for a convention)





Have a great trip

Waipio Valley

Thanks to all of you who have been helpful in planning our trip to the Big Island. We leave tomorrow! I am wondering about Waipio Valley. Is it worth it to drive the spur road to get there and enjoy the view from the rim and then turn around and drive back to the main road. If to really appreciate this wondrous place, do we need to go down in? We will not do a tour as we doing the Gardens that morning and don%26#39;t want to be rushed to get there and we won%26#39;t walk or drive ourselves. Thanks for any input. I will be sure to write a trip report when we get back?

Marlene

Waipio Valley

Marelnesusan,

I would vote yes, it is worth it, but that is just me. I love the overlook. Gorgeous, esp. on a nice sunny day!

Also, stop at Tex%26#39;s Drive in and grab a malasadas where you get back on the highway. Not to be missed!

Hope you have a great trip!

Good luck and happy travels!

Waipio Valley

Definately a beautiful view if you have the time to spare, but I still dont think it does the valley justice. It is much better to hike down or take one of the tour shuttles to see the falls, beach, and river. Either way if you only have time to drive to the rim, it is worth it. Its not that far from Highway 19 (a little over 9 miles) so you are not commiting yourself to a two-hour affair.

  • prove residency
  • Need help first time to BI

    We will be on the BI for 3 nights and thought about renting a house. Can anyone recommend the best place to rent a house? We were looking at the Volcano area since we will visit the VNP but we also want to explore the rest of the island.- so we are open to staying elsewhere. First time to the BI so any advice with lodging or activities would be helpful.



    Need help first time to BI


    Aloha and welcome





    In Kona most houses have a week minimum, some might do 5 nights in low season.



    Good news at Volcano Village they will rent houses for 3 nights! So if getting a house is important I would stay there.



    I have used VRBO for rentals of houses and have had excellent luck.



    %26#39;Be advised that you should as questions when renting a house like



    *Do you have a person nearby to take care of anything that brakes and may I have that number?



    *Do you have references?



    *Do you take Credit cards or Paypal?



    Have a great trip!



    Need help first time to BI


    You kind of need to think about the big island as being split down the middle. You have the Hilo/volcano side. Lots to do but no beaches really.





    The Kona side is where the beaches and water activities are. Much drier and not alot of green. But some of the best beaches in Hawaii. Snorkeling is magnificent along the Kona coast.





    Most people stay a couple nights on the Hilo side and then spend the rest on the Kona side. It%26#39;s really too far to drive back and forth more than one day. When we%26#39;ve gone we stay on the Kona side and take a day trip to the volcano. Not alot of time and that%26#39;s why most people will spend a couple nights at the volcano.




    Newtraveler2007,





    The Big Island is much too large to do in three days. With such a short amount of time, I would pick a section of the island and stay put. Driving from one side to the other and back is a full day trip and will take around 6 or 7 hours driving time. It is possible but not recommended. Consider what you want to do and see and plan accordingly. For example, if in your three days the Volcano is your primary goal, get on their website and check it out to see if you believe there will be two days worth of exploring etc to do be done in that area. If the answer is yes, get a house in Volcano. If no, and the beaches or snorkeling is your main goal, consider renting a condo in Kona to be closer to your desired activities.



    Go to the library and get a book on Hawaii, preferably one specifically for the Big Island and not the “revealed” book. Research and see where you might want to see and visit.



    Then look at a map of the island and mark what you want to see. The highest concentration of marks is likely the area you would like to stay in, or near.





    Good luck and happy travels!


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  • hawaii resort? first time!

    My husand and I are thinking about planning a trip to Hawaii- flying into Honolulu in July. Looking at some hotels and website it seems like there are a lot of hotel in a city setting. Any ideas of more resort like hotels? Came across Mariott Ko Olina......any ideas for day trips? Should we rent a car?



    Thanks!



    hawaii resort? first time!


    On Oahu Ko Olina and Turtle Bay are really the only ones that would quailify as resorts although Kahala Hotel is away from Waikiki and yes you would want a car at either of the two.



    hawaii resort? first time!


    Why not head for one of the neighbor islands? Maui has several nice resorts and is nowhere near the city setting that you find in Honolulu.




    If you are staying on Oahu, then unfortunately your ';resort'; options are limited since the majority of hotels are congregated in the Waikiki area of Honolulu. Some of the hotels in Waikiki have more of a resort ';feel'; like Hilton Hawaiian Village etc., but are still in the city. Everyone has mentioned the major resorts, and PZP had a good point that if you are looking for more of a resort feel you may consider one of the other islands where the resorts are a little more inexpensive.

    taxi cost

    How much from airport to Hilton Haw. Village? Or does the H.H. V offer a free shuttle?



    taxi cost


    Pull up ...charleystaxi.com....



    I%26#39;m almost certain that HHV doesn%26#39;t offer a free shuttle as it is too far, about 10 miles.



    taxi cost


    Yeah just to confirm HHV doesnt have an airport shuttle, but the company that Sheila recommended is definately one of the best options at $12 per person. Also i%26#39;m pretty sure they still have a kiosk at the airport where you can actually check in and get your room keys whiloe you wait for your luggage.




    Just got home on June 2nd and used Charley%26#39;s taxi to airport. Cost about $30. When we arrived we used Lima Tours which cost about $10 each but stopped for several other parties on the shuttle.

    Massage school in West Maui

    Anyone know of a massage school in west maui? I have seen several in east but none in the west.





    Mike



    Massage school in West Maui


    I%26#39;am sorry but I don%26#39;t have any idea. I%26#39;am bumping you up so that maybe someone that does can answer you. Good luck.



    Massage school in West Maui


    I%26#39;m pretty sure you%26#39;re out of luck!



    Only one%26#39;s on the island I%26#39;m aware of are in: Kihei, Makawao and Kahului...



    If you%26#39;re looking for an inexpensive massage, try craigslist hawaii, under services.




    Where is the one in Kihei?




    Maui Academy of the Healing Arts - 1847 S. Kihei Rd., Suite #103 808-879-4266 or Toll Free 1-888-874-4266




    I saw a place a few doors down from CJs Deli that offered massages for about half the price of the resort spas....




    Has anyone been to Maui Academy of the Healing Arts? Do you know their rate?




    azroadrunner, do you remember the name of the place or the price for an hour?




    Couldn%26#39;t tell you any of the rates, but the place next to CJ%26#39;s is called Spa Rejuva located at the Fairway Shops in Kaanapali.

    Outrigger Waikiki Beach or Sheraton Waikiki

    Tough time deciding between these two hotels for an October visit. Cost is virtually the same.

    Is there construction still at the Sheraton? Is it bothersome?

    Which is better as far as:

    Pool area and ability to get chairs

    Beach area

    Room quietness and bed

    Hotel activities

    Overall atmosphere

    Looking for opinions one way or the other. Thanks....

    Outrigger Waikiki Beach or Sheraton Waikiki

    We have stayed at the Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach several times, most receontly April %26#39;06. We felt it offers good value for a beachfront property with fairly fresh (not worn out) rooms. The ocean view rooms did give a good vantage on the beach scene.

    Downside: noise comes thru the doors so if people are noisy in the halls you ehar it, elevators are incerdibly slow, ground level area is chaotic--the reception is up the escalator and it gets better once you are there.

    It is on the best part of the beach. We did not use the pool, so can%26#39;t speak to that. We also do not use beach chairs, so can%26#39;t speak to that (we prefer to lie on towels on the sand). They hava a catamaran that leaves 3 times a week for snorkeling; other sailing and sunset cruise operators leave from nearby on the beach. I believe there is an activity desk (did not use). Overall atmosphere is not deluxe, elegant, or luxury but it IS friendly, clean, cheerful, well priced for the location. We definitely would stay there again.

    Outrigger Waikiki Beach or Sheraton Waikiki

    Both are comparable, a lot of people prefer Outrigger more. Construction is going on at the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center which is directly in front of the Sheraton, and right next to the Outrigger, so both will be in close proximity. I would advise to go with Outrigger, but you won%26#39;t be disappointed either way. Stick with the best value if they are significantly different.


    we just got back from Oahu and stayed at the Sheraton Waikik in an oceanfront room. Although the view was breathtaking, the room was very small.... almost claustrophobic..and the bathroom setup was weird...it had a pocket door, and then 2 upper half doors with a mirror on them, that opened into the room..?? I guess you could sit on the loo and enjoy the view at the same time...

    We only paid half price for the room but still felt it was way too much $$$ for the teeny room..the elevators were real quick though...


    We have stayed at Outrigger Waikiki twice (Aug. of both 2004 and 2005) and really love it there. It has a fantastic location on Waikiki, and the 2 restaurants (Duke%26#39;s and Hula Grill) are both fantastic.

    This summer we are going to Maui and BI, but next time we go to Waikiki, we will be staying at the Outrigger again!

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