Hawaii alternatives

[Chrispee]

I’m curious if there are others who face the same struggle to travel to Hawai’i alternatives since timeshareing? Since I’m a trader, it costs me the same for accommodations whether I go to Kauai, Palm Springs, Aruba, or Cabo. On the few occasions I’ve gone to a different sun destination I’ve enjoyed myself, but usually have it in the back of my head that I could have spent the time in Hawai’i for almost the same cost.

Of course non-timeshare stays in other places (Europe, South America etc) are a whole different thing, so I’m mainly talking about relaxing sun destinations.

Anybody else constantly going back to Hawai’i because of this? I’ve got Cabo booked for next year to give it a try but it feels a bit forced.

 

[DeniseM]

You can have your cake and eat it too: just take more vacations!

 

[geist1223]

We alternate. One Winter 3 to 4 weeks in Hawaii. The next Winter 3 to 4 weeks in San Jose del Cabo. Then about every 4 years we switch it up and spend 3 to 4 weeks in Australia.

 

[easyrider]

I’m curious if there are others who face the same struggle to travel to Hawai’i alternatives since timeshareing? Since I’m a trader, it costs me the same for accommodations whether I go to Kauai, Palm Springs, Aruba, or Cabo. On the few occasions I’ve gone to a different sun destination I’ve enjoyed myself, but usually have it in the back of my head that I could have spent the time in Hawai’i for almost the same cost.

Of course non-timeshare stays in other places (Europe, South America etc) are a whole different thing, so I’m mainly talking about relaxing sun destinations.

Anybody else constantly going back to Hawai’i because of this? I’ve got Cabo booked for next year to give it a try but it feels a bit forced.

We like the warmer weather when it's winter here in Washington State. For us, the nights are too cool in Palm Springs during winter time. Some times the days are cold too. One trip to Palm Springs was so cold we left. This was a January trip. I'm sure there are January's that are nice. The area is interesting.

We like Hawaii but hate the flights. The weather is pretty nice. Most of the Islands can have traffic problems at times. Especially Kauia and Maui. We kind of like Waikiki these days.

We do like Cabo but it isn't as warm in January in Cabo as Hawaii, Puerto Vallarta or the Yucatan. Cabo isn't cold in January. It's about mid 70's and sunny during the day. The fight is very easy. Depending on where you stay, transportation is easy enough without a car is what I think. We always rent a car in Cabo and driving is pretty easy.

Puerto Vallarta has very nice weather in January. The flight is easy. Transportation if you don't have a car is easy. Our last trip was a timeshare so close to the Malecon we didn't rent a car.

The Yucatan is a long flight. It is the warmest winter destination in Mexico that seems safe to me. The ocean water is warm. We always rent a car.

Anywhere Florida is also a long flight for us. We like Florida.

Bill

 

[ScoopKona]

Anybody else constantly going back to Hawai’i because of this?

I moved here. Now I look forward to Norcal wine country in the winter, trips to Iceland, ramen in Fukuoka, Christmas markets in Germany, etc.

 

[letsgobobby]

nothing beats aloha spirit

 

[Luanne]

We will continue to go to Hawaii (Maui specifically) until we are no longer physically able. No desire to go to Mexico, do NOT like Florida and have spent more time in that state that I care to.

 

[iftravel]

Never bored of Hawaii. I hope there is an "airshare" I can buy, a fixed 2-week roundtrip tickets every year. lol.

 

[Luanne]

Never bored of Hawaii. I hope there is an "airshare" I can buy, a fixed 2-week roundtrip tickets every year. lol.

We just try to make sure we have enough miles to use for our round trip tickets.

 

[artringwald]

We have been to Hawaii 20 years in a row because we haven't found any place we like better. The flights are long, but from MN, just about all the places are a long flight. We always stay in Poipu, but often go to another island because we like them all. Next year, we'll go to Waikiki first and then Poipu.

 

[Luanne]

I have been going to Hawaii since 1968 (not every year). We bought our timeshare in 1986 and have gone pretty much every year since then. We have visited, and stayed on, all of the islands except Lanai (and I did go to Lanai on a Trilogy snorkel trip).

It was easier when we lived in California, but now we break the trip up with a couple of night in San Francisco both going and coming home.

 

[b2bailey]

I'm a faithful fan of Hawaii. Can't even count the visits over the past 25 years.
Cabo comes in second, for me.
We lived briefly on East Coast and it was then I discovered the Caribbean.
Loved Grand Cayman -- the side with 7 mile Beach -- but timeshare accommodations are not plentiful like they are in Hawaii and Cabo.
The flights from CA make it less desirable now.

I am trying St. Thomas for the second time, at the end of this month -- at Frenchman's Cove.

 

[marmite]

Well, I definitely keep coming back here again and again (I write this from Westin Nanea) and always have a great time. I've been hesitant to branch out into other sun destinations because they haven't measured up yet. As I fly from the same airport as you, I find the destinations in Florida and the Caribbean particularly take extra effort and $ to get to. As an example, I was really keen on staying at Marriott's Crystal Shores, and finally made it there last year, but ended up underwhelmed. I could see why people would like it (and my husband and I had a good enough time) but it still didn't compare to the feel of being in Hawaii. We don't go to Mexico (long-story), though I know there are many great TS resorts there that would measure up to my standards. I look forward to your Cabo report!

We used to do a lot of timesharing in Palm Desert, and still usually make it there once a year, but do feel it is not a good value in comparison to exchanging into Hawaii. I've started looking at Palm Desert as a place to grab a Getaways week on Interval and save my Marriott/Vistana weeks for Hawaii exchanges exclusively. I feel like I'm 'wasting a week' unless it is some place spectacular.

 

[travelhacker]

I went to college in Hawaii and love it there. Over the last few years we've spent 10 weeks at various timeshares. We absolutely love it.

However, with 5 of us, airfare really gets to us and we've found these options to be a lot of fun (not really a replacement for Hawaii, but good for a changeup):

Marriott Crystal Shores - We have young kids and we love the resort there. We had a harder time finding activities that suited us than some other areas we've gone to, but we plan on going back this year since we enjoyed it so much.

Westin Kierland - We really liked this resort. I have family nearby and my parents insist on our family staying with them to maximize time with their grandkids otherwise we'd stay here more often. There's a lot to do in the surrounding area and some great day trips (Sedona, Grand Canyon)

Hyatt Pinon Pointe - It's beautiful in Sedona. I'm not saying it's a replacement for Hawaii, but there are quite a few hikes in the area.

Colorado Mountains (Hyatts) - We love winters here for skiing, but if you don't ski we love summers as well.

Hyatt Wild Oak Ranch - We liked this place far more than we ever thought we would. There's plenty to do in San Antonio...I wouldn't want to stay here in the summer because of the heat / humidity, but we went over spring break and loved it. Over the fall would probably be a nice time as well.

Marriott Newport Coast Villas - There's a lot to do in SoCal and SoCal may have my favorite climate.

 

[tango]

One of my wife's favorite places is Captiva Island. It was destroyed in Hurricane Ian 2 years ago, so we haven't been back, but the rebuilding probably has come along quite a bit by now. We like that place just as much as HI.

 

[easyrider]

I feel like I'm 'wasting a week' unless it is some place spectacular.

Us too. Flying to a beach resort to be a block away from the beach drives me nuts. I want to see the ocean from my room's deck. The WM in Kihei is one of the places I like but because it's across the street from the beach most rooms aren't ocean view.

Bill

 

[Luanne]

Us too. Flying to a beach resort to be a block away from the beach drives me nuts. I want to see the ocean from my room's deck. The WM in Kihei is one of the places I like but because it's across the street from the beach most rooms aren't ocean view.

Bill

We rented a great unit in Kihei on our last trip (to match up with our one week at Maui Hill). It was at Maui Kamaole (right next door to Maui Hill). We could sit on our lanai and see the ocean. We were able to see whale action out there most days. Maui Hill units also have the potential of great ocean views, but not all units have them, and by doing a trade we're never sure what unit we will get until a week before we arrive, and sometimes not even until the day of check in.

 

[easyrider]

We rented a great unit in Kihei on our last trip (to match up with our one week at Maui Hill). It was at Maui Kamaole (right next door to Maui Hill). We could sit on our lanai and see the ocean. We were able to see whale action out there most days. Maui Hill units also have the potential of great ocean views, but not all units have them, and by doing a trade we're never sure what unit we will get until a week before we arrive, and sometimes not even until the day of check in.

The ocean view is always a plus in my book especially as my wife and I age. Our best view in Kihei was the Schooner Landing and Sugar Beach VRBO for a couple of nights.

Bill

 

[Luanne]

The ocean view is always a plus in my book especially as my wife and I age. Our best view in Kihei was the Schooner Landing and Sugar Beach VRBO for a couple of nights.

Bill

I know there are condos on the beach in Kihei, but I don't care for their locations. We've had some great views at Maui Hill. One year we were lucky enough to trade into Unit 2, which is closest to the road and we were treated to whale shows every morning we were there.

 

[easyrider]

I know there are condos on the beach in Kihei, but I don't care for their locations. We've had some great views at Maui Hill. One year we were lucky enough to trade into Unit 2, which is closest to the road and we were treated to whale shows every morning we were there.

We like Kihei but really not as much as most places in Hawaii. We really liked West Maui's Valley Isle Resort because it is all ocean view and on the beach but then one year the beach disappeared and we decided that we like our beach resorts to have a beach.

We haven't stayed on the hill overlooking the beach. I bet you do get some nice views up there. My pet peve on views are utility wires and for us this is a deal breaker for sunsets. I don't want to watch sunset with a power line between us and the sun.

Bill

 

[Jwerking]

Interesting discussion that is currently right up my alley! Since retirement 12 years ago, we have been going to Hawaii for the months of Jan-Feb almost every year, with the only exceptions being one January in Cabo, one January in Vero Beach, FL, and one Jan/Feb in southern CA and Sedona (3wks). We have gone to HI so often in recent years - that we just sort of chill out at the timeshare unit about 50% of the time. We have seen all the local sights and beaches many times over. So feel that it is a waste of $$ especially since the rental car rates have skyrocketed since Covid. Our car rental rates for the upcoming Jan/Feb 2025 visit are about $100 per day and that is booked 12 months in advance - with frequent checking for better rates. Honestly, $100 per day when there are quite a few days that we don't even move the car. I typically use miles for the flights, but will cancel the award seats free of charge now if the paid airfares drop about a month or two prior to departure. Have found airfares in the low $300s one way in recent years - so why use miles esp with the dynamic pricing model these days.

So thinking about going to Cabo and maybe Puerto Vallarta for something different in 2026. Last time, the Cabo weather in Jan was plenty warm but the beaches were not the greatest as I recalled, but we enjoyed the local Mexican food in town that was walkable from our resort. Also, we did not rent a car - which I don't want to particularly do in MX anyway. Big drawback is no great snorkeling in Cabo, which we do LOVE in HI.

Caribbean islands may be desirable but getting RCI trades for 2 months would be a challenge and drive me crazy.

Hmm, maybe a thought to go to NZ or OZ - but the flight over there for us East Coasters is a killer and hate hate driving on the left hand side of the road! Plus, NZ has been one of the most expensive countries to visit (restaurant prices) along with Iceland and Switzerland.

How about European Islands - none are warm in winter- correct?

 

[ScoopKona]

How about European Islands - none are warm in winter- correct?

Mallorca is "mid-50s." Same with Mykonos. So, no, not particularly warm. That doesn't stop the Germans, though. (Or the Russians, last time I was there. But I doubt there's much Russian tourism to Greece and Spain these days.)

If the wind is right, I can throw a paper airplane from my lanai and hit a timeshare resort that has a decent market, a Long's Drugs, a beach, a movie theater and a pub all within easy walking distance. Why bother with a car at all?

Honestly, $100 per day when there are quite a few days that we don't even move the car.

 

[artringwald]

Our car rental rates for the upcoming Jan/Feb 2025 visit are about $100 per day and that is booked 12 months in advance - with frequent checking for better rates.

Thanks for reminding me to book our car for Jan/Feb 2025. For those that work or retired from a big corporation, see if there's a discount available for personal use rentals. I just used my retiree rate to book a mid-size with National for 3 weeks in Kauai. Rate was $30/night. Taxes and fees raised that to $47/night.

 

[Luanne]

Thanks for reminding me to book our car for Jan/Feb 2025. For those that work or retired from a big corporation, see if there's a discount available for personal use rentals. I just used my retiree rate to book a mid-size with National for 3 weeks in Kauai. Rate was $30/night. Taxes and fees raised that to $47/night.

I've already reserved for Maui in February/March 2025. I expect rates to drop before then. I booked using Costco.

 

[slip]

Thanks for reminding me to book our car for Jan/Feb 2025. For those that work or retired from a big corporation, see if there's a discount available for personal use rentals. I just used my retiree rate to book a mid-size with National for 3 weeks in Kauai. Rate was $30/night. Taxes and fees raised that to $47/night.

I have a corporate discount through my old job after I retired also. Over the last couple years, it has always been the best rate. Mine is through Hertz.