First trip - which island?

[Jim Bryan]

Po`ipu on Kaua`i would be excellent. A great place to learn to surf; there are several surfing instruction operations that are located in the Po`ipu area. My son took lessons from Marge Oberg.

I think you should strongly consider the Marriott Waiholi.

I have heard many good things about Marge Oberg!

 

[Jim Bryan]

Our first Island (actually mine----My Wife lived on Oahu as a child) was Kauai. Couldn't have been more perfect. We have been back a couple of times. Have spent a short time on Mauai, plan to go back. Been to Oahu several times. The Big Island has been our most frequent destination. We have found more to do and see there. Many people just see the Lava and think that's all there is. A big mistake. Next trip back will probably be Kauai. It's been calling for awhile. We absolutely love Hanalei!

 

[bobk]

Zak,
On Kauai there is a B&B called Kakalina's that was on the Travel channel. Samantha Brown stayed there. It is very nice (we stayed there twice). It's in Kapa'a. THough there are no acticvities there; but we were always out seeing the sites so that did,t matter to us. On Kauai if you go to the Waimea Canyon (which is a must see) take the kids to JO-JO's Clubhouse for Shave Ice (we think it's the best on the Island). Make sure you ask for the Macadamian (spelling is not my forte) Nut Ice Cream on the bottom. Jo'Jo's is right on the main drag in Waimea; there is usually a line forming outside. The place is an old shack but well worth the stop.

 

[Steamboat Bill]

There are no bad choices in Hawaii....but Maui would be on the top of my list.

 

[Miss Marty]

Hawaii Travel Tips Website: www. travelsmarthawaii .com

Inter-Island Flights from Honolulu

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View their routes and schedules:

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[Henry M.]

This year I exchanged my Westin Maui timeshare with someone who owns at the Marriott Waiohai. I found her through the exchange board here on TUG. I wrote to several people I found there that owned at the Waiohai, until I found someone interested in what I had. It worked out well. Surely there has to be someone interested in Aruba there.

You could also try to exchange with someone that owns Starwood, if they can arrange for an exchange into Princeville. I've already got plans for next year so I can't help with that, but under other circumstances I'd be willing to see if I could exchange Maui for Kauai and then exchange that with you for Aruba. There are several people on the Starwood board that were very disappointed to find out the Starwood Aruba property is on hold.

I have some friends that own at Princeville that are not active traders, but have previously offered me to use the unit for the maintenance fees (about $2100 at Princeville). You could rent out your unit and try to find a deal like that too. It doesn't have to be a direct exchange through Marriott.

 

[Zac495]

This year I exchanged my Westin Maui timeshare with someone who owns at the Marriott Waiohai. I found her through the exchange board here on TUG. I wrote to several people I found there that owned at the Waiohai, until I found someone interested in what I had. It worked out well. Surely there has to be someone interested in Aruba there.

You could also try to exchange with someone that owns Starwood, if they can arrange for an exchange into Princeville. I've already got plans for next year so I can't help with that, but under other circumstances I'd be willing to see if I could exchange Maui for Kauai and then exchange that with you for Aruba. There are several people on the Starwood board that were very disappointed to find out the Starwood Aruba property is on hold.

I have some friends that own at Princeville that are not active traders, but have previously offered me to use the unit for the maintenance fees (about $2100 at Princeville). You could rent out your unit and try to find a deal like that too. It doesn't have to be a direct exchange through Marriott.

Now why didn't I think of that?? I've done it before... Too late - it's deposited.

 

[alanraycole]

My two cents...

Kauai is by far the best for outdoor enthusiasts. It has the best hiking. No other island comes close... Kauai is beyond a hiker's wildest dream. Kauai offers the most beautiful beaches as opposed to the most active where Oahu excels or the most expansive where, perhaps, Maui excels. A traveler couldn't possibly fit all of Kauai's paid adventure activities, where it reigns supreme, into one week, and would find it challenging to fit them all into a two or even a three week vacation. Kauai excels in such things as four wheeling, zip lining, air tours, boat tours, water skiing on the river, tubing down old irrigation canals, kayaking, dreamy jungle pools for swimming, horseback riding, etc., etc., etc. Although Kauai offers good fishing and snorkeling, Maui offers the best of both. Unless one is a professional-grade surfer, Kauai features great surfing. Kauai offers all that the average and certainly all that the beginning surfer can handle. For golfers, Kauai offers several acclaimed courses.

Moreover, Kauai has more natural beauty than all the other islands combined... for those who may disagree that Kauai's beauty is that much greater than the beauty of the other islands, I'll admit that I may have slightly exaggerated.

I am always baffled when people say that there are more things to do on Maui and Oahu. I can only imagine they are limiting their ideas to shopping, fine dining, night life, and, perhaps, small scale theme park type amusements. I don't go to Hawaii for any of that. There are places that offer those types of activities in far better quality than Hawaii. If you want the best shopping, consider New York City. If you want the best night life, consider Vegas or Miami. If you want the best amusements, consider Orlando. If you want the best fine dining, consider Paris, New York, Vegas, or San Francisco.

Vegas has world class restaurants, night life, shopping, and amusements. That is probably why Vegas is the number one destination for Hawaiian residents. When they want that stuff, they leave paradise and go somewhere else. Hawaii is ideally for nature lovers which is most concentrated on Kauai where the best in nature and natural adventure excursions are offered in overwhelming abundance.

Yes, I know, some people (perhaps, most people) want a dash of all the above. That's why Maui is so popular and that is why Oahu undid itself trying to accommodate that taste. Perhaps, I should stop glorying in Kauai's superior beauty and adventure as my contribution to its preservation.