[2011] It's not Hawaii!

[mlpmd56]

Hello Tuggers,
Husband and I are in Palm Springs for a week. Complicated story, won a week from Trading Places, decided we wanted to drive somewhere to save money, and ended up at the Shadow Ridge Marriott on a Getaway from II. I couldn't redeem our "free" week for anything rated better than 6 and I just won't go there. Anyway, we both decided we need Hawaii! Nothing compares to the ocean......and even when I have been on the ocean in Mexico it is not the same. AND, when I go to Hawaii, I have to see the ocean from my lanai. None of this Island View nonsense. I know Denise has talked about this in the past. To each his own, but I have to have HAWAII, and it has to be at least OCEAN VIEW. I prefer OCEAN FRONT. Ok, so I am an island snob I suppose. I can't help it. Figured I might get some sympathy on this forum! Ha! Can't wait to go to Maui in January......still trying to get a cheaper ticket....but I am going to book next month at the latest, as I am getting nervous! I need my Hawaii fix! Marcy

 

[DeniseM]

Right on, Sista!

 

[Kauai Kid]

You and me both. Trying for three trips to Hawaii this year

I'd like to see some School of Medicine do a series of tests on people right as they get off the plane, then a day or two later, a week later, and then just as they are ready to go back home.

I bet there is a significant drop in stress hormones, blood pressure, eye twitches, and psychological problems.

Pretty sure Hawaiians live longer than anyone else in the Continental US.

Trying to become one myself. Kauai would be my Island.


Aloha

Kelina

Point at Poi ah poo 9-21 December

 

[Bee]

Sterling,

I have these same types of thoughts. I can't describe it. It's a feeling I have only in Hawaii. I think I smile the whole time I'm there!

Bee

 

[slip]

We just got back, so your post is really timely for us. My wife is the same way.
She always says "none of that Garden view crap".:hysterical: I prefer and
oceanfront too but when I'm in Hawaii, I'm a happy camper. We really had a
hard time coming home this time. We're already planning so we can spend more
time there when we retire. Original plan was 4 to 6 weeks. That just bumped up
to 3 months.

 

[KevJan]

Just sent you a PM.

 

[mlpmd56]

Actually, since this is a "public" forum, I edited my first post. What we REALLY say around our house is, "None of that Island View s**t." I am sure you can figure that out.
Denise & Sterling, you are the greatest!
Knew I could depend on my Hawaii peeps.
Probably would have moved to Hawaii by now if it wasn't for the dog problem with quarrantine.....although I understand it is much shorter than it used to be.
Just nothing like Hawaii.
Since I am leaving from PHX, I am not getting the cheapest flights.....thanks for the tip though, K.
This will actually be our first stay at Westin Kaanapali as we own every other year and went to Harborside two years ago.....a great trade from what I understand.
Can't wait!!!!!
Marcy

 

[scrapngen]

Was there on a trade in August. Despite that being fairly recent, can't wait for our usual almost 3 weeks over the holidays!! And we have a week scheduled for Spring Break.

Hawaii gets into your blood! Both of our next trips are back to our favorite island, Kauai. Maui was interesting, and I'm sure we could find more to do there, but Kauai is Kauai

 

[presley]

I agree. There is something about Hawaii that just makes me feel better in general. If I could afford the flights, I'd go there every year.

I still remember my first visit, we were eating at Ken's in Hilo on the BI. A psychologist who eats there daily told my husband, "If you can't chill out in Hawaii, you can't chill out anywhere." I haven't been everywhere, but I feel so relaxed and the weight of the world disappear as soon as I see the green peaks out the window of the airplane when I am flying in.

 

[MOXJO7282]

We also have that truly special feeling about Maui. Hilton Head Island comes in a close second but nothing compares to Maui for us.

 

[GregT]

All,

I feel the same way -- we have our annual family trip to Maui Ocean Club in June, and I try to take my lovely wife on a Fall trip somewhere too, which is why we bought Hilton.

This month, I've received two Worldmark confirmations into good Caribbean spots in October 2012 (Frenchman's Cove, Aruba Surf Club) and I rejected both because I really want to go back to HHV.

(Truth be told, if we weren't already going to Aruba in Feb 2012, we'd have kept that Surf Club October 2012 1BR trade.......it was an OV too......that was a good trade!)

So please count us as Hawaii lovers, there is truly something special and therapeutic about Hawaii.

Best,

Greg

 

[rickandcindy23]

Twice a year for us from now on. We love Kauai and Maui and want to spend two weeks per year on each island. Rick is onboard with it, which is astounding. We love Kauai best, but Maui is a close second.

Maui timeshares are so blessed expensive for fees. In order to afford the Maui weeks we own, I have to take exchanges through RCI to get Shearwater. So the Kauai trip is much less expensive.

 

[presley]

Twice a year for us from now on.

Do you have a secret to getting good air fares?

 

[rickandcindy23]

Do you have a secret to getting good air fares?

Alaska Airlines has the $99 companion fare, so we can fly less that way, but it's still expensive from Denver. We spend the night in Seattle sometimes both coming and going.

Would love to find a hotel with a great rate in Seattle that will give us a king bed. Rick and I couldn't sleep last time on the trip back. We stayed at the Renton Larkspur Landing. Bummer of a place.

 

[slip]

We can't do 2 trips a year but in 2013 we may be able to start going for
3 weeks at a time instead of 2. May have to start looking for another week.

Maui is the only island we haven't been to yet. That may be 2013. Right now
when I think of Hawaii, I think of Kauai.

 

[mjm1]

We feel the same way. We owned on Kauai for years, but usually traded it because of travel costs and having two kids. Now we are empty nesters. We went to Kauai last fall and are scheduled to go to Maui and Oahu next April. We have never been on the islands for two weeks, so we are really looking forward to that. We stayed just one extra night on our last trip and it seemed to make a big difference. April can't get here fast enough.

 

[artringwald]

I think it's interesting on the flights to Hawaii how everyone is in such a good mood, talking, sharing vacation tips, and enjoying themselves. On the flights back home, nobody wants to talk and everyone is crabby, including me. No matter how long we stay, it's never long enough.

 

[psuwalt]

Me Too!

In September, 2010, we made our first trip to Hawaii. Our first week was with our daughter and son-in-law in their II exchage (Kuaii-Westin). My second week was with my own II exchane (Maui-Westin). Well, I wasn't in Kuaii more than 48 hours and I was on ebay and purchased my second Starwood TS just so I could go to Hawaii for 2 weeks every-other year.

As it turns out, in September, 2012, I'll be retiring and I already have 2 weeks reserved in TS units, 1 week in a VRBO condo and 4 nights in Honolulu via Starwood points.

We love Hawaii.

 

[cgeidl]

Two trips ayear is better than one.

We go for three or four weeks from Jan to April,then again on a freeSpaceAvailable military flight.This year it was for ten days and we got a last minute timeshare using an extra week certificate for$179 for the week. Next year we go in March/April for three weeks.Our favorite Island isOahu as there is the most to do.Second is Hawaii as there is the most to see.Third is Kauai as it just seems like the realHawaii and yes we also really like Maui.
We have been to many islands of the world but love Hawaii by far the best.

 

[mlpmd56]

Spent the afternoon at the pool here in Palm Springs. Beautiful warm sunny weather......but not Hawaii..... Just a quick aside, I think I am the youngest one here (I'll be 55 next month). So I guess for the next 10 years, if I want to feel young (or thin---that's a whole other topic!) I can come to Palm Springs.
I understand the thinking about buying a timeshare you can drive to, especially since I am currently frantically trying to find a cheap flight to Hawaii for our January trip. And I got tons of rest and sun here this week in California, but nothing compares to Hawaii!
Also, this is something about which my husband and I disagree: I am perfectly happy to return to the Maui Schooner every year and snorkel with the turtles at Makena Landing, eat at my favorite same restaurants, etc. I would gladly go every other year to WKORV and Marriot Kauai resort as well. The husband likes to try new spots. Do other couples have this same issue?
I am not sure what the "Spirit of Aloha" is, but I know I love it and crave it EVERY YEAR!
I appreciate all your replies!
79 days until we go to Maui......not that I'm counting or anything!
Marcy

 

[slip]

We were that way until we started to go to Hawaii. Now we go to Hawaii
every year. We make it different every few years by going to different islands.
Still haven't been to Maui yet. Maybe 2013?

I don't know if I'm the youngest one here but I know your not, I'm 48, wife
is 52.

 

[Liz Wolf-Spada]

Marcy, Hawaiian air sent me an email about a sale from the west coast. $275 rt. I think purchase ASAP & travel J to M. I would live there too, but it's so far from friends & family.
Liz

 

[MichaelColey]

We're counting down the days to our 3 week 2011 Hawaii trip, and we already have 3 weeks booked for 2012. I guess it's time to start putting in ongoing searches for 2013 now.

I would love ocean view or ocean front, but just BEING in Hawaii is good enough for me. I'm excited about the six resorts we have booked for our next two Hawaii trips:

• The Point at Poipu
• Paniolo Greens
• Wyndham Kona Hawaiian Resort
• Maui Lea at Maui Hill
• Kings' Land by Hilton Grand Vacations Club
• HGVC at Hilton Hawaiian Village, The Lagoon Tower

FYI, I have the Sightings forum to thank for most of these!

 

[Kauai Kid]

Marcy: Your post is very dangerous and needs a black box warning. It cost me almost $2400

Thanks a lot!!!!!!!

I called Grand Pacific Resorts yesterday and paid them to rebook me into our Alii Kai Units for two weeks in June at $169/wk.

Today's task is to book flights on American $2100. Trying different connections on American this time. Austin-LAX-LIH and return. Previously have gone Austin DFW-LIH and that DFW-LIH flight is a long long long time to sit in the fetal position. ha

My neighbors have new cars every 3-4 years and have never been to Hawaii.

We have old cars and get to Hawaii almost every year at least once.

Thanks again.

Mahalo nui loa,

Sterling ,

Hello Tuggers,
Husband and I are in Palm Springs for a week. Complicated story, won a week from Trading Places, decided we wanted to drive somewhere to save money, and ended up at the Shadow Ridge Marriott on a Getaway from II. I couldn't redeem our "free" week for anything rated better than 6 and I just won't go there. Anyway, we both decided we need Hawaii! Nothing compares to the ocean......and even when I have been on the ocean in Mexico it is not the same. AND, when I go to Hawaii, I have to see the ocean from my lanai. None of this Island View nonsense. I know Denise has talked about this in the past. To each his own, but I have to have HAWAII, and it has to be at least OCEAN VIEW. I prefer OCEAN FRONT. Ok, so I am an island snob I suppose. I can't help it. Figured I might get some sympathy on this forum! Ha! Can't wait to go to Maui in January......still trying to get a cheaper ticket....but I am going to book next month at the latest, as I am getting nervous! I need my Hawaii fix! Marcy

 

[Deb from NC]

Yep, this thread has me looking on line for flights to Hawaii! Dangerous for my checking account balance!!!