Hawaii honeymoons

Eliz77

For those who have traveled to Hawaii on a budget...which island would you suggest to get the most for your buck? I really want low-key, not a big nightlife, gotta be entertained type of vacation. We want to sight see and do ocean type things, but not be in crowded areas. I've gotten suggestions from friends who know us, but wanted to see what people on here have done.

meganb1977

We went to Oahu and stayed right on Waikiki for a vacation.  If doing a Hawaiian honeymoon I would definitely go to a less congested part of Hawaii, although I think Oahu does have some quieter areas i.e. on the North side of the island.  It's like going from the city into the country.  We want to go back to Hawaii to one of the other islands but decided against it for our honeymoon because it was such a long flight.

Eliz77

What is considered the less congested part of Hawaii?

meganb1977

In addition to the North side of Oahu, I think some of the other islands like the Big Island, Maui or Kauai are also less congested.  And you will get more for your money if you find somewhere off the beaten path away from the major "tourist traps."

As far as sticking to a budget, it really helped us that we had a mini fridge in our room so we kept some cold drinks and lunch meat and didn't have to eat out all the time.

Eliz77

OK, great thanks for the advice! I was thinking Big Isand and Maui just based on what I have heard, so maybe we're on the right track. 

Summer2011Bride

For saving money, I'd check places like vrbo.com to rent a condo where you have a kitchen and can cook your own meals. You will save a LOT on food costs, ,which are high in Hawaii. A PP mentioned Oahu--we visited the North Shore too and there were a lot of beachfront condos up there. THey might have been expensive, I have no idea, but you could check into them.

I have heard good things about Kauai if you are looking for something quiet, laid-back, and beachy without the nightlife or shopping of a place like Waikiki. However I have only personally been to Oahu (we loved it but were looking for a mix of relaxation and activities).

Check out the Official Hawaii Tourism website. They give you an in-depth look at the six major islands with possible itineraries, as well as info on hotels, activities, restaurants, etc.

jemmini6

We've been to Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island so far (going to Kauai on Saturday) and we felt we got the biggest bang for our buck on the BI.  We stayed in a condo that had a kitchen, so we cooked a few days and that helped save a lot of money (we liked that so much that that's what we are doing for Kauai too). 

It's also just more laid back and not as touristy, so you feel more included rather than like an obvious tourist.  It's been our favorite island so far and there's so much to do, even for free. 

Which ever island you decide, I highly recommend buying the Revealed book, they have one for each island that gives a lot of information about things to do, etc.  We've used one for each place we've been to and it's always been really helpful.

StephBeanWed61502

We just booked our HM on the Big Island, and I definitely think that (other than the Waikiki area) you get the most bang for your buck there.  It also seems like there's a lot to do if we want to, but not so much going on that we're going to feel pressured to run around like crazy if we don't want to, KWIM?

Also, as far as budget goes, we saved almost a thousand dollars booking through CostcoTravel, so I'd highly recommend looking into the packages there if you're interested in staying in a resort.

katbeth

Did any of you go on a helicopter tour while in Hawaii?  We'll looking into one on the Big Island, but they're quite pricey....and a little scary!

lopezeli

I did my undergrad in Hawaii, so I was on Oahu for 4 years. I went to Maui, Kauai, and BI while I was there. If you're going for something low key, I'd go to Kauai. It was sooo quiet and there's plenty of outdoor things to do. If you do go there, you MUST take the boat tour up the Na Pali coast...it was one of the most memorable days I had when I was out there. The BI was also nice...one of my roommates was from there, so we got to see a lot of the hidden spots that only locals know about, but a lot of the beaches there are so amazing! Enjoy Hawaii! PS--you have to have fresh pineapple out there...it's the best ever!