Tell me 'bout Hawaii

[monkeylizard]

To find good travel deals, sign up for email notices from Sherman's Travel, TravelZoo, Budget Travel.

For Hawaii specific, I saw pretty good hotel deals by getting the e-mail specials from Outrigger Hotels. Like I said, we used condos, but the hotel deals from Outrigger were pretty good, relatively speaking.

 

 

Spiffy, you forgot Rosanne Barr.....  :)

[Jonnin]

My mom loves the place and keeps going back.  But its expensive to get there, and once you get there, its expensive to do everything.   If you have the money to burn, a good time can be had for sure.  She's done all kinds of stuff, parasailing, whale watching, traditional luau feast thingy,  pearl, and more.   There are probably cheap things to do as well -- research ahead on that.

 

Personally, it would be right on up there for places I won't be going.  Not only is that kind of sun nearly fatal for me (I burn in TN within 10 min, I doubt I could walk past a window there)  but its a gun-unfriendly place that does not need my money.   Someone had to say it :P .  To me it would be like going to some sort of combination of NY or CA + death valley.

Edited May 14, 2014 by Jonnin

[monkeylizard]

I burn quick too. Sun was an issue for sure. I managed with a combination of rash guards and good sunscreen. The All-Terrain Aqua Sport stuff worked really well and has a good rating from EWG for low risks from the chemicals in it. I went through about 3 tubes in 2 weeks. I found it in several stores in Hawaii including Target and the ubiquitous ABC Stores.

[bersaguy]

Saw it for 3 days while waiting for our ride to get ready to ship out to Yankee Station in Philippines. made sure when we left there I didn't leave anything behind that would make me want to go back. Did go see the Arizona Memorial cause I knew I would never be coming back again. have to date made good on my promise and have never been back. Just make sure if you do decide to book a vacation trip to there check Obama's travel plans first so you don't book same time he will be there...........jmho

[Guest kingarmory]

Went there for a week years ago.  Everything was twice as expensive as it was stateside and the tourists were swarming like flies.  I tried to spend as much time diving/snorkeling as possible, was the only reason to be there

[McGarrett]

I may have to change my TGO identity/ photo after reading some of these posts about Hawaii. Just kidding.

 

Always wanted to go but have not made it out there yet. I would like to see Pearl Harbor.

[monkeylizard]

Don't listen to them. Haters gonna hate.

 

Hawaii is great. Just get out of Honolulu.

[Sam1]

If you really want to go out to a tropical place visit the Philippines (no worries almost everyone speaks english there), plane costs are about the same as Hawaii, costs once you get there are about 10-15% of what Hawaii costs.

 

last time we were there, he had a two story penthouse on a white sand beach, free food, 2 free massages in the room for $80/day.  other time we went, we were in a suite with about a 50 foot long glass wall overlooking the ocean, jacuzzi in the middle of the room, step out the door onto the roof and you were just a few feet away from the pool... for $50/night

 

Scuba trips, $80/person gear included.  personal driver with a car $35-$40/day  dinner at 4-5 star restaurants about $20/person 

 

Have no clue why anyone still visits that state as much as everything costs..No way anyone could tell this place from the "mystical" Hawaii... except our bank accounts

 

 

here's how clear the water is in some of the places, that's about 30-40 feet down and you could see the fish swimming near the bottom:

 

 

 

[Erik88]

If you really want to go out to a tropical place visit the Philippines (no worries almost everyone speaks english there), plane costs are about the same as Hawaii, costs once you get there are about 10-15% of what Hawaii costs.

 

last time we were there, he had a two story penthouse on a white sand beach, free food, 2 free massages in the room for $80/day.  other time we went, we were in a suite with about a 50 foot long glass wall overlooking the ocean, jacuzzi in the middle of the room, step out the door onto the roof and you were just a few feet away from the pool... for $50/night

 

Scuba trips, $80/person gear included.  personal driver with a car $35-$40/day  dinner at 4-5 star restaurants about $20/person 

 

Have no clue why anyone still visits that state as much as everything costs..No way anyone could tell this place from the "mystical" Hawaii... except our bank accounts

 

 

here's how clear the water is in some of the places, that's about 30-40 feet down and you could see the fish swimming near the bottom:

 

 

 

While that is certainly beautiful Greg may want to check before booking a trip there. A good portion of the Phillipines was destroyed by by that typhoon a few months back. I'm not sure how much has been rebuilt. 

[frankmako]

go to flordia you will have more fun

 

plus one.  been to hawaii twice on the job and all i can say is you get a better deal in the florida keys.  

[Sam1]

While that is certainly beautiful Greg may want to check before booking a trip there. A good portion of the Phillipines was destroyed by by that typhoon a few months back. I'm not sure how much has been rebuilt.

Very isolated area was affected, my wife is Filipina and most of her family still lives there. Not even 1% of the islands got hit.

[gregintenn]

If you really want to go out to a tropical place visit the Philippines (no worries almost everyone speaks english there), plane costs are about the same as Hawaii, costs once you get there are about 10-15% of what Hawaii costs.

 

last time we were there, he had a two story penthouse on a white sand beach, free food, 2 free massages in the room for $80/day.  other time we went, we were in a suite with about a 50 foot long glass wall overlooking the ocean, jacuzzi in the middle of the room, step out the door onto the roof and you were just a few feet away from the pool... for $50/night

 

Scuba trips, $80/person gear included.  personal driver with a car $35-$40/day  dinner at 4-5 star restaurants about $20/person 

 

Have no clue why anyone still visits that state as much as everything costs..No way anyone could tell this place from the "mystical" Hawaii... except our bank accounts

 

 

here's how clear the water is in some of the places, that's about 30-40 feet down and you could see the fish swimming near the bottom:

 

I would love to go there. The Filipino people I've met have been great people.

[runco]

Wife and I have been to Hawaii 2x now in the past 12 years.  Once on our honeymoon and again on our 10th anniversary.  Simply loved it!  On our first trip, we spent 3 days on Oahu, Pearl Harbor and Waikiki Beach.  We then spent the next 4 days on Maui, Kaanapali area.  Both were just breath taking!  We did try the road to Hanna, but failed due to car sickness!   On our 2nd trip to Hawaii, we took the 3 kids with us!  We spent 5 days on Maui, and 2 days on Oahu.  If it was not for the kids, we would have avoided Oahu, but it would be a shame and injustice to visit Hawaii for the 1st time and not visit Pearl Harbor.  We did make the trip to Hanna this time!  Very pretty, but Hanna itself wasn't that great, but the scenery going and beyond Hanna was outstanding!  Our flights were not really that long, we drove to Atlanta vs. flying from knoxville, I saved about $300 per person, and there were 5 of us!  Our flight from Atlanta to Los Angeles was about 4 hours, we had a 1 one hour lay over, and our flight from L.A. to Kahului was about 5 hours.  You must go to a Luau.  The food and atmosphere is outstanding!  If you are penny pincher, then I don't recommend going to Hawaii.  Milk is $8-$10 gallon, gas was $5 gallon, and everything was just high.  We really liked Hawaii and I did consider a "what if" I could find a job, knowing cost of living there is extremely high, but after I read about the gun laws, there is no way!