Hawaii versus the Caribbean

[Savant]

We like both.

Both the Hawaiian Islands and the Caribbean Islands are excellent holidays.

Both the Hawaiian Islands and the Caribbean Islands provide natural beauty.

Both the Hawaiian Islands and the Caribbean Islands provide diversity.

Given our Global Entry status, Miami is not a hassle; nor is TSA.

We feel limited in personal auto transportation in some Caribbean visits.

We always avoid the Southern California freeway experience of Oahu.

We greatly enjoy Kaua'i and the Big Island.

Hawaii is the U.S.
Native Hawaiian = 6.6% of the population.
Whites = 24.3% of the population
Asians = 41.6% of the population

We find that we require air conditioning in both Hawaii and the Caribbean.

As Ohio Buckeyes, we can travel to the Caribbean is much less time that to Hawaii.

Bottom Line: We own a timeshare in the Florida Keys.

 

[MickyTT]

We have been to Hawaii multiple times and in 14we went to the Big Island for a week during Whale season and now the Big island is our favorite. second place is Kauaii. We have been to Maui the most often and concluded it is getting too crowded. Weare trying Marriott Frenchman's cove in the USVI IN FEB 15. I was hoping for less travel time and lower cost from east coast. We've been to St. Martin twice and won't be back. I'd be will to try elsewhere. We really like Bermuda but that's not inexpensive either.

 

[daventrina]

Given our Global Entry status, Miami is not a hassle; nor is TSA.

We' say that TSA is he same hassle no matter where you go ...
That said ... We still think they seem nicer in Hawaii...

 

[polkarandy]

Hawaii Vs. Caribbean

We've been to both...just once each and want to go back to both. For those who say the people in the Caribbean aren't as nice...go to Aruba, the people were wonderful. Having said that, we really enjoyed our time in Kauai and on Oahu (it was 10 years ago, already!) Being from the Midwest, we liked the less than 4 hours flight time from Minneapolis to Aruba (air time)vs. the 8 or more it took us to get to Hawaii.

 

[BocaBoy]

We've been to both...just once each and want to go back to both. For those who say the people in the Caribbean aren't as nice...go to Aruba, the people were wonderful. Having said that, we really enjoyed our time in Kauai and on Oahu (it was 10 years ago, already!) Being from the Midwest, we liked the less than 4 hours flight time from Minneapolis to Aruba (air time)vs. the 8 or more it took us to get to Hawaii.

In what world were you flying? It is almost 7 hours of air time to Aruba from Minneapolis. The MSP/Miami leg is almost 4 hours and the Miami/Aruba leg is about 3 hours.

 

[Luanne]

In what world were you flying? It is almost 7 hours of air time to Aruba from Minneapolis. The MSP/Miami leg is almost 4 hours and the Miami/Aruba leg is about 3 hours.

Private jet maybe?

 

[BocaBoy]

Private jet maybe?

Supersonic private jet maybe.

 

[LisaRex]

I've been to Maui (4x), Big Island, Lanai and Oahu. I've also been to St. John (2x) and St. Maarten.

Honestly, if you're into snorkeling, I think that the Caribbean holds an edge because it's so much easier to enter the water because the shelf drops off so gradually. Hawaii is much less forgiving because the shelf drops off significantly, creating tremendous waves. And lava rocks are everywhere, making it very tricky to navigate without getting banged up.

At Trunk Bay (on STJ), for instance, I can get into the ocean, sit down and leisurely put on my fins, then my mask, then I can adjust my mask, walk a few more feet until I get to chest level, then begin my snorkeling adventure.

On Hawaii, I can enter the water, look down to put on my mask, and then be inhaling water while doing a backward somersault because a wave came in and knocked me over. I've actually been literally 5 yards from shore on Maui, and thought I'd drown because I couldn't make it up the steep shelf before a wave would come and pull me back in.

In Hawaii, I have a persistent uneasy feeling about the ocean, a feeling I don't have in the Caribbean. And, of course, no worries about sharks in the Caribbean.

So, yes, for snorkeling or diving I'd give an edge to the Caribbean. For ease of travel from the Midwest, I'd give a huge edge to the Caribbean. Not only can I get there by 2pm, but it's only an hour difference from EST, so no jet lag or having to take a redeye.

In terms of just about everything else, Hawaii wins. The people are friendlier, the weather is nearly perfect, car rentals are cheaper, cell phone coverage is better, and there are tons of activities to keep a family busy for months on end.

If it were closer, I'd go to Hawaii more often. As it is, we choose the Caribbean more times than not because we like to escape the winter and traveling is so much easier (and cheaper). And my husband loves fishing and snorkeling more than anything in the world.

 

[LisaH]

Very balanced review, and funny at times. It gives me quite a few chuckles.
We love both and go to Hawaii at least once a year, and try to be in Caribbean once a year as well...

I've been to Maui (4x), Big Island, Lanai and Oahu. I've also been to St. John (2x) and St. Maarten.

Honestly, if you're into snorkeling, I think that the Caribbean holds an edge because it's so much easier to enter the water because the shelf drops off so gradually. Hawaii is much less forgiving because the shelf drops off significantly, creating tremendous waves. And lava rocks are everywhere, making it very tricky to navigate without getting banged up.

At Trunk Bay (on STJ), for instance, I can get into the ocean, sit down and leisurely put on my fins, then my mask, then I can adjust my mask, walk a few more feet until I get to chest level, then begin my snorkeling adventure.

On Hawaii, I can enter the water, look down to put on my mask, and then be inhaling water while doing a backward somersault because a wave came in and knocked me over. I've actually been literally 5 yards from shore on Maui, and thought I'd drown because I couldn't make it up the steep shelf before a wave would come and pull me back in.

In Hawaii, I have a persistent uneasy feeling about the ocean, a feeling I don't have in the Caribbean. And, of course, no worries about sharks in the Caribbean.

So, yes, for snorkeling or diving I'd give an edge to the Caribbean. For ease of travel from the Midwest, I'd give a huge edge to the Caribbean. Not only can I get there by 2pm, but it's only an hour difference from EST, so no jet lag or having to take a redeye.

In terms of just about everything else, Hawaii wins. The people are friendlier, the weather is nearly perfect, car rentals are cheaper, cell phone coverage is better, and there are tons of activities to keep a family busy for months on end.

If it were closer, I'd go to Hawaii more often. As it is, we choose the Caribbean more times than not because we like to escape the winter and traveling is so much easier (and cheaper). And my husband loves fishing and snorkeling more than anything in the world.

 

[Picker57]

Great review - thanks. We LOVE Hawaii but our experiences trying to snorkel have been similarly frustrating.

Your reference to Maui caught my eye. Is there a thread on the site discussing Maui timeshares and availability? Thanks for any observations you can pass along.

------Zach

I've been to Maui (4x), Big Island, Lanai and Oahu. I've also been to St. John (2x) and St. Maarten.

Honestly, if you're into snorkeling, I think that the Caribbean holds an edge because it's so much easier to enter the water because the shelf drops off so gradually. Hawaii is much less forgiving because the shelf drops off significantly, creating tremendous waves. And lava rocks are everywhere, making it very tricky to navigate without getting banged up.

At Trunk Bay (on STJ), for instance, I can get into the ocean, sit down and leisurely put on my fins, then my mask, then I can adjust my mask, walk a few more feet until I get to chest level, then begin my snorkeling adventure.

On Hawaii, I can enter the water, look down to put on my mask, and then be inhaling water while doing a backward somersault because a wave came in and knocked me over. I've actually been literally 5 yards from shore on Maui, and thought I'd drown because I couldn't make it up the steep shelf before a wave would come and pull me back in.

In Hawaii, I have a persistent uneasy feeling about the ocean, a feeling I don't have in the Caribbean. And, of course, no worries about sharks in the Caribbean.

So, yes, for snorkeling or diving I'd give an edge to the Caribbean. For ease of travel from the Midwest, I'd give a huge edge to the Caribbean. Not only can I get there by 2pm, but it's only an hour difference from EST, so no jet lag or having to take a redeye.

In terms of just about everything else, Hawaii wins. The people are friendlier, the weather is nearly perfect, car rentals are cheaper, cell phone coverage is better, and there are tons of activities to keep a family busy for months on end.

If it were closer, I'd go to Hawaii more often. As it is, we choose the Caribbean more times than not because we like to escape the winter and traveling is so much easier (and cheaper). And my husband loves fishing and snorkeling more than anything in the world.

 

[LisaRex]

Zach, many timeshare owners on Tug own in Maui. If you have specific questions, just open up a thread and ask away.

If you join Tug, there are many reviews for timeshares. The two highest rates timeshares on Maui are Marriott Maui Ocean towers and Westin Ka'anapali. But there are others that are highly regarded and not as expensive as well.

 

[pacman]

My turn to chime in on this one.

Living on the west coast, Hawaii is a much easier flight (direct and shorter), so that is important. The flights are also cheaper to Hawaii vs. Caribbean.
I have to agree with many others that we really got turned off when in many areas of the Caribbean with the unfriendly attitude towards tourists. We have never had that feeling in Hawaii (the opposite in fact).
We also like the diversity of the areas on the different islands of Hawaii.
The weather is almost always perfect in Hawaii.

I do have to admit I am biased, as we have been to Hawaii, probably 40 times and only to the Caribbean about 4 times, so I guess that about says it all.

pacman

 

[Picker57]

Thanks Lisa - will follow up. We're starting to plan a 50th anniversary family get-together for Christmas '15 or summer '16, and seeing if there's a way to 'do Maui' on a 'Big Island budget'. But we do love Big Island; either way, there's no loser.
Mahalo,
------ Zach

Zach, many timeshare owners on Tug own in Maui. If you have specific questions, just open up a thread and ask away.

If you join Tug, there are many reviews for timeshares. The two highest rates timeshares on Maui are Marriott Maui Ocean towers and Westin Ka'anapali. But there are others that are highly regarded and not as expensive as well.

 

[LisaRex]

Thanks Lisa - will follow up. We're starting to plan a 50th anniversary family get-together for Christmas '15 or summer '16, and seeing if there's a way to 'do Maui' on a 'Big Island budget'.

Well, when I see the word "budget," my first bit of advice is to forget Christmas. It'd be a minor miracle getting into Maui on an exchange over the holidays, and lodging and car rental rates are jacked up considerably.

Here are just two examples of rental rates on VRBO for Kaanapali Shores (a medium tier resort, IMO, and perfect for a family reunion).

One bedroom:
Nightly Rates
Jun 24 - Dec 18, 2014
4 night min stay $135

Winter Holiday
Dec 19 - Jan 4, 2015
5 night min stay $225

High Season (winter)
Jan 5 - Apr 30, 2015
5 night min stay $175

May 1 - Dec 19, 2015
4 night min stay $145

A sample 2 bdrm:

Low Season: April 1 - June 10 and August 18 - December 19. $329/night.
High Season: January 4 - March 31 and June 11 - August 17. $385/night.
Peak Holiday Season: Dec 20 - Jan 3. $500/night.

See what I mean? As you can see, rates are also higher in the summer, but not as high as the holidays. If you are able to go in early June, you might get lucky and get an exchange. Otherwise, it's very difficult to get an exchange to the top tier resorts in the summer.

Generally speaking, the best time to travel to Hawaii on a budget is to travel during shoulder season -- April/May or November/December. Lodging is cheaper, airlines run great sales, and car rentals are lower. It's all about supply and demand.

If the kids are young enough to allow them to miss school for a week, then that's what I'd do.

 

[Picker57]

Thanks Lisa - confirms what I already knew - Maui is just plain expensive. But I'd forgotten about the car rental rates also being higher over the peak season. They're high anyway: We're headed back to Big Island next Jan. 21st, and the rate so far is way higher than it was this past January. Fingers crossed on that. And I doubt that exchanging would work when we're looking for 5 weeks. Thanks again.

-------------------Zach

 

[daventrina]

I'd forgotten about the car rental rates also being higher over the peak season. They're high anyway:
-------------------Zach

It isn't so much that the car rates are high ....
but the fees and charges and taxes
For ~$300 rental ... the fees and such are ~$200 :annoyed:

 

[moonlightgraham]

Here's One For Hawaii

As an east coaster the Caribbean has always been easier to get to but as to which we prefer it's hands down Hawaii. The Aloha Spirit, the beauty, the history, it's all so appealing to us. That being said, when we had children the yearly trips to Hawaii stopped and it's now been nine years since our last visit.

After hearing a co-worker's tales from a recent trip to Kauai, I succumbed and booked flights for next April. It was like an sober alcoholic falling off the wagon. I have since been consumed with exploring our options as to where to stay, what to show the little ones, etc.. And now there is You Tube to wet the appetite as well. The passion was long suppressed but it's out in the open yet again!

As DVC'ers we'll no doubt spend the first several days at Aulani and then venture to either Kauai, or the Big Island (both my personal favorites, I can't pick one over the other).

While we have enjoyed the Caribbean and Mexico (Riviera Maya) over the past decade, after booking this return trip it's obvious which location still holds a special place in my heart and soul.

 

[Henry M.]

I own timeshares on Maui and on St. John. I like visiting both places. Traveling takes about as long for me to either destination, but I find Hawaii less stressful since I don't have to change planes as much, and I don't have to deal with immigration. The airports in Hawaii are also not as crowded as STT.

When I go to St. John, I am ready to go back home after a week or 10 days. I've felt the same at most Caribbean destinations, whether the Bahamas, Belize, Mexico, or other islands. Great places to visit, great places to return to every so often.

When I have to leave Hawaii after three weeks of being there, I feel like I'm having to leave my home. I could live there indefinitely. I agree that some Caribbean beaches are more beautiful and the water is warmer, but I feel Hawaii offers just the right mix of civilization and tropical paradise. Hey, there's a Costco in all the islands!

Health care was mentioned earlier. On my very first trip to Hawaii, 15 years ago, my son got appendicitis. He ended up in the operating room at Maui Memorial. I felt much better there than if this had happened in St. John. Hawaiians say that you fly, or you die, meaning you really should go to the mainland for anything major. However, that applies much more at many Caribbean locations (though perhaps not all).

 

[lprstn]

I enjoy both for different reasons. Why pick?

However, with Hawaii being in the US, not having very many pushy merchants, it's a less stressful trip for me.

 

[suzannesimon]

I just returned home from Hawaii a couple weeks ago. I was born there and my son and his family live there. It is lovely and if I were on the west coast, it would be my preference. The islands are just magnificent. However, the cost and length of time to get there from the east coast makes the Caribbean my preferred vacation spot.

I have snorkeled both places and I think the Caribbean is far superior to Hawaii in that one regard, especially on the reef off Belize and Honduras (not islands, I understand that). That was my first snorkeling experience in 2002 and every snorkeling experience has paled in comparison since then.

I think it is great that the west side of the country has Hawaii and we east coasters have the Caribbean. We are very lucky compared to the Europeans who have to travel their distance to get to the Caribbean on vacations.

 

[Tamaradarann]

What is easier to reserve?

For us it comes down to what is easier to reserve in the timeshare world. While we love Hawaii, there are other reasons that it is THE place for us to go to in the winter. If I was paying with cash I think that either would be very nice place to be in the winter when it is freezing in most of the US. However, for us it comes down to the fact that we own in the Hilton system. Although we don't own any Hawaiian property we have been able to use all of our points in Hawaii to stay for many weeks in a row in the winter. We could never do that in the Caribbean. Since Hilton has no timeshare presence there we would have to trade with RCI to get a week. That would incur a reservation fee of over $200/week. Getting a second reservation that coincides with the first would be a good challenge. If you could make that match, it would incur another $200+/week reservation fee. Therefore, in the timeshare world it is not always what do you like better, it is what can you get for what you own and for what cost.

 

[suzannesimon]

Understood. I've given up trading for renting, however. I get better unit placement and a fairer return on my "investment" that way. I also don't have to wait around for my exchange wondering if it is going to work.

 

[SMHarman]

I think it is great that the west side of the country has Hawaii and we east coasters have the Caribbean. We are very lucky compared to the Europeans who have to travel their distance to get to the Caribbean on vacations.

But those unlucky Europeans get the Greek islands and the Balearics and at about 5 hrs flying you get Egypt and red sea diving.
West coast to the islands say 8 hrs. You are heading from Europe mainland to the Maldives.
East Coast to HI. Now that is mainland to Bali or phuket.
Those Europeans don't have it so bad.

 

[suzannesimon]

So true. I'm going to the Greek Islands for the first time in Sept - about the same time as Hawaii. I'll let you know how it compares or have you been there? Can you compare it for me?

 

[SMHarman]

Many (20+) years ago I went in a couple of cheap package vacations to Skiathos and Skopolos through Athens. Loved the islands and the hydrofoil ferry boats.
Have fun. Greece is going through interesting times right now due to the tie to the Euro and the German economy.