Hawaii Questions

[Spooner]

Planning a Hawaii honeymoon for 3/25-4/6 while trying to use points. We've decided that we're going to split up Oahu and Maui and are presented with the following hotel options:

Oahu:
- JW Marriott
OR
- Marriott @ Waikiki

Maui:
- Ritz Carlton
OR
- Marriott @ Wailea

*****while in Maui, we were thinking about making the Road to Hana excursion into a two day and wanted suggestions on hotels in that area for a 1 night stay.

Any thoughts/suggestions on which hotel on each island? Everything on TripAdvisor is getting good reviews, which is making it harder to decided where to stay........

thanks !

 

[corwin]

Road to Hana is incredible, never saw any hotels along the route though so no clue where you would stay, just take it slow, some of those curves are scary...any of the hotels you have listed are nice so you really can't go wrong

 

[BoomerD]

There are nice hotels once you get to Hana, but not much in between Hana and Kahalui.

IMO, for your first visit, stay on one island. You lose almost a full day between checking out of one hotel, going to the airport, flying, getting out of the other airport, getting to and checking into the next hotel.
Better to use that day to lay on the beach, drinking rum drinks.
I prefer Maui to O'ahu. Honolulu is like a tropical San Francisco...bad traffic, lots of crime, big city bulidings, Asians on every corner...

 

[bigrash]

I stayed at the Ritz Carlton in Maui for my honeymoon earlier this year and loved it. Beautiful hotel and I definitely recommend it.

For Oahu, it depends if you like noise, tourists, and shopping. If you do, then the hotel in Waikiki Beach is perfect.

 

[bigrash]

IMO, for your first visit, stay on one island. You lose almost a full day between checking out of one hotel, going to the airport, flying, getting out of the other airport, getting to and checking into the next hotel.

I disagree with that. I went to Hawaii for 10 days earlier this year and split time between 3 islands (Oahu, Maui and Kawaii). Yes, I hated the whole airport/hotel checking in and out, but in the end we got to see the beauty of each island.

I had spoken to a few different travel agents and they had recommended that if you stay 7 days, then split between 2 island, and if you stay 10 days you can do 3 islands.

 

[mizzou]

As of recent, only been to Kawaii. Was there for 7 days, did some amazing hikes.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

last trip spent time on oahu (waikiki) and maui (west end, near ritz). IMO, maui >>>>>>> oahu. i did enjoy pearl harbor, but waikiki was definitely not my scene. maui is much more natural/scenic.

if maui, definitely do hana (consider staying a night there so you have a full day to explore) and haleakala

 

[dr150]

For Waikiki, if you can afford it, then it's a no-brainer: the storied Westin Moana Surfrider is on the sand and in a fantastic location (closer to shops, restaurants, etc).

The Marriott Waikiki has nice rooms, but away from the sand and at the end of the beach, close to the zoo. Boring. The small pool is lame. Definitely not for a honeymoon....more for a place to go with kids.

Hawaii is about memories and your honeymoon should be at the Surfrider. There's a reason why the Surfrider is the #1 choice for weddings by well-to-do Japanese couples. Several brides running around every single day. Fwiw, lots of freebies given to hotel guests.

To take some of the pain out of this stay, get a Starwood AMEX with 30k points (find offer on Flyertalk.com). It'll pay for 2-3 nights depending on your spending (points have no blackout dates). And you have enough time from now until March to accomplish this.

This November, we stayed at the Surfrider with points and my wife totally adored the place over the Marriott where we stayed the last time with her relatives. She insists we stay there again next time.

As for Maui, definitely go to the Ritz-Carlton.

This is your honeymoon. Once in a lifetime, dude. Build on those irreplaceable memories. Stay away from the Marriott hotels until you have kids.

Plan for 4-5 days of quality time on each island (minus the travel days). If you're going to do this, do it right....with enough time and quality hotels.

 

[bigrash]

For Waikiki, if you can afford it, then it's a no-brainer: the storied Westin Moana Surfrider is on the sand and in a fantastic location (closer to shops, restaurants, etc).

The Marriott Waikiki has nice rooms, but away from the sand and at the end of the beach, close to the zoo. Boring. The small pool is lame. Definitely not for a honeymoon....more for a place to go with kids.

Hawaii is about memories and your honeymoon should be at the Surfrider. There's a reason why the Surfrider is the #1 choice for weddings by well-to-do Japanese couples. Several brides running around every single day. Fwiw, lots of freebies given to hotel guests.

To take some of the pain out of this stay, get a Starwood AMEX with 30k points (find offer on Flyertalk.com). It'll pay for 2-3 nights depending on your spending (points have no blackout dates). And you have enough time from now until March to accomplish this.

This November, we stayed at the Surfrider with points and my wife totally adored the place over the Marriott where we stayed the last time with her relatives. She insists we stay there again next time.

As for Maui, definitely go to the Ritz-Carlton.

This is your honeymoon. Once in a lifetime, dude. Build on those irreplaceable memories. Stay away from the Marriott hotels until you have kids.

Plan for 4-5 days of quality time on each island (minus the travel days). If you're going to do this, do it right....with enough time and quality hotels.

I was going to recommend the Moana Surfrider, since that's where I stayed for my honeymoon also. But I know the op has Marriott points so I didn't mention it.

 

[dr150]

I was going to recommend the Moana Surfrider, since that's where I stayed for my honeymoon also. But I know the op has Marriott points so I didn't mention it.

Good choice on the Surfrider.

If he has Marriott points, he should use them for other occasions, such as when he visits with kids, not honeymoon.

BTW, OP...if you get the Starwood AMEX, you'll get Gold status with the AMEX (or you call Starwood Customer Service to ask for it). With Gold, you can ask for a free upgraded room. My room was upgraded to a surreally awesome Beach View for free just b/c of Gold.

 

[Wheezer]

We stayed at the Aston circle. Not the most luxurious hotel, a bit pricy for what you get, but the view on the 13th floor beach side was amazing and that alone made the room worth it. There is a small restaurant that specializes in breakfast food and every morning they had a line. The food was fantastic. There is a bus stop just around the corner and lots of nice restaurants close by and an ABC store just a few yards from the Hotel entrance. Tiki's Bar and Grill is not far and they have some killer Mai Tai's.

If you have a chance, I highly suggest that you rent a car and check out Haleiwa on the North Shore of Oahu. Very laid back and great atmosphere and excellent food. You will not forget the drive.