usvi-on-line
Hawaii ?
Hawaii ?
I was wondering if anyone knew of a place to start looking (like a website they would recommend) or if they knew of a reasonable rental in "Hawaii".
I am not familiar with the islands...have only been to Maui. Loved it and would definitely go back to Maui, but would consider other islands also.
We basically don't want a real commercial experience. This might be the only time we take our kids there. We will be up for hiking, snorkeling type stuff.
Dont have an overwhelming need to see live volcano.
Any recommendations about favorite islands or knowledge of villas or condos would be greatly appreciated! I am thinking our price range would be $1500-$2500 a week but I have no clue what is realistic. We might pay more if needed. It would be spring break time-we would be there for 7-10 days.
Thanks in advance!
I am not familiar with the islands...have only been to Maui. Loved it and would definitely go back to Maui, but would consider other islands also.
We basically don't want a real commercial experience. This might be the only time we take our kids there. We will be up for hiking, snorkeling type stuff.
Dont have an overwhelming need to see live volcano.
Any recommendations about favorite islands or knowledge of villas or condos would be greatly appreciated! I am thinking our price range would be $1500-$2500 a week but I have no clue what is realistic. We might pay more if needed. It would be spring break time-we would be there for 7-10 days.
Thanks in advance!
"Sponges grow in the ocean...I wonder how much deeper it would be if that didn't happen."
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chicagoans
- Posts: 1586
- Joined: Thu Jan 18, 2007 2:51 pm
- Location: IL
We went to Kauai this past Dec/Jan and absolutely loved it. Great hiking! If I could go back in the summer and stay on the north shore I would do so in a heartbeat. (OK I'd go back any time of year!) We went to Maui a few years ago and loved it too, especially Hana, but if I could pick one island to go back to in Hawaii, it would be Kauai. (If you are looking for nightlife, it's not the island for you.)
I would also love to stay at the Kona Village on the Big Island (www.konavillage.com/) in one of those old style Polynesian huts on the beach.
I used the TA Kauai forum and got some good information. Like our forum here, there are folks who live on island who post and I found their information very helpful, so you can ask about specific rentals. I rented direct through an owner at Kiahuna Plantation (loved it); I have seen recommendations for Parrish (www.parrishkauai.com) but haven't used them myself.
I did a trip report with pictures on this board if you're interested. http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... ight=kauai
A site I like alot is www.wizardpub.com. I like that it shows aerial views of resorts, so that you know your proximity to the beach. (Navigate to the island you're interested in, then aerial views, click on resort name on map.) I used their companion book Ultimate Kauai Guide for information about hikes etc. The book was great but fyi many who live on island don't like it because it mentions some hikes that cross private land or hikes that some people have been hurt on.
The season you go will determine to a certain extent where you want to stay if you go to Kauai, because the surf can potentially be too high for safe swimming depending on the season. (Summer, stay on North Shore; Winter, stay on South Shore.) So I checked this site:
Seasonal surf trends:
http://www.kauaiexplorer.com/guides/bea ... trends.php
I also used that site for info about...
Hiking: http://www.kauaiexplorer.com/hiking_kauai/
Beaches: http://www.kauaiexplorer.com/kauai_beaches/ etc...
I would also love to stay at the Kona Village on the Big Island (www.konavillage.com/) in one of those old style Polynesian huts on the beach.
I used the TA Kauai forum and got some good information. Like our forum here, there are folks who live on island who post and I found their information very helpful, so you can ask about specific rentals. I rented direct through an owner at Kiahuna Plantation (loved it); I have seen recommendations for Parrish (www.parrishkauai.com) but haven't used them myself.
I did a trip report with pictures on this board if you're interested. http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... ight=kauai
A site I like alot is www.wizardpub.com. I like that it shows aerial views of resorts, so that you know your proximity to the beach. (Navigate to the island you're interested in, then aerial views, click on resort name on map.) I used their companion book Ultimate Kauai Guide for information about hikes etc. The book was great but fyi many who live on island don't like it because it mentions some hikes that cross private land or hikes that some people have been hurt on.
The season you go will determine to a certain extent where you want to stay if you go to Kauai, because the surf can potentially be too high for safe swimming depending on the season. (Summer, stay on North Shore; Winter, stay on South Shore.) So I checked this site:
Seasonal surf trends:
http://www.kauaiexplorer.com/guides/bea ... trends.php
I also used that site for info about...
Hiking: http://www.kauaiexplorer.com/hiking_kauai/
Beaches: http://www.kauaiexplorer.com/kauai_beaches/ etc...
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chicagoans
- Posts: 1586
- Joined: Thu Jan 18, 2007 2:51 pm
- Location: IL
PS - I came across these in my notes; I have never seen any of them but these were some recommendations from the TA Kauai forum:
Low cost condos w/full kitchen in North...Plantations, Cliffs, Emmalani Ct, Sealodge, Hanalei Bay Resort (kitchenette), and quite a few more...
Hanalei Bay Villas, near the princeville hotel, across the road from the path leading to Hideaways Beach. and a few steps away from the nice path, for access down to the beach at the princeville. don't get them confused with the Hanalei Bay Resort.
Low cost condos w/full kitchen in North...Plantations, Cliffs, Emmalani Ct, Sealodge, Hanalei Bay Resort (kitchenette), and quite a few more...
Hanalei Bay Villas, near the princeville hotel, across the road from the path leading to Hideaways Beach. and a few steps away from the nice path, for access down to the beach at the princeville. don't get them confused with the Hanalei Bay Resort.
http://www.kauaivacationrentals.com/
we used this outfit MANY years ago--cannot vouch for them now, but the fact that they are still in business says something.
we used this outfit MANY years ago--cannot vouch for them now, but the fact that they are still in business says something.
< leaving on the 22nd of march...but too lame to figure out the ticker thing again!>
Been to Oahu once and Kauai once and enjoyed both. Really liked the north shore of Oahu and loved Kauai (but was staying with friends so that could have increased my perception 
)
Read this online today:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31776541/ns/travel-news/
sounds like there's some good bargains out there; I would assume what applies to hotels would apply to rental markets-try to do some bargaining.
Good luck!
)Read this online today:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31776541/ns/travel-news/
sounds like there's some good bargains out there; I would assume what applies to hotels would apply to rental markets-try to do some bargaining.
Good luck!
We've been to Hawaii a couple of times. First trip we went to Maui and Kauai. Second trip was to the Big Island and Kauai. Next trip will probably be just Kauai. We're deeply in love with the north shore of
Kauai. We'd like to get there more often, but we're east coasters and the trip is pretty grueling.
As mentioned, the TA Kauai forum is active and very helpful. Quite a few residents participate and we've gotten great info and suggestions.
We split our time on Kauai, first staying on the north shore just outside Hanalei, then stayed at a B&B on the south shore. We wanted to minimize driving. Did all of our north shore activities from the Hanalei base, then got to the south and west from the southern B&B. We'll probably do it that way again on our next trip.
Kauai. We'd like to get there more often, but we're east coasters and the trip is pretty grueling.
As mentioned, the TA Kauai forum is active and very helpful. Quite a few residents participate and we've gotten great info and suggestions.
We split our time on Kauai, first staying on the north shore just outside Hanalei, then stayed at a B&B on the south shore. We wanted to minimize driving. Did all of our north shore activities from the Hanalei base, then got to the south and west from the southern B&B. We'll probably do it that way again on our next trip.
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chicagoans
- Posts: 1586
- Joined: Thu Jan 18, 2007 2:51 pm
- Location: IL
djmom: I forgot to mention that Kauai has passed some legislation regarding which areas are zoned for rental properties, Visitor Destination Areas or VDAs. When renting direct through an owner, be sure to ask them if it's a legal rental property.
There are also sites where you can look up which properties have applied for permits:
http://www.kauaigovonline.org/COKForms/tvr_log.aspx
Those not on the list and not in a designated VDA may still be legal but I'm not clear on this. Here's a TA thread about it:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g2 ... awaii.html
There are also sites where you can look up which properties have applied for permits:
http://www.kauaigovonline.org/COKForms/tvr_log.aspx
Those not on the list and not in a designated VDA may still be legal but I'm not clear on this. Here's a TA thread about it:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g2 ... awaii.html