Request - Hawaii vacation package

I am plannin for my first Hawaii trip with wife and a kid in the month of April/May and I have been researching on a vacation package since it seems cheaper.
I am finding on Orbitz a vacation package in the range of $800+ in turtle bay resort, Honolulu through $1000 per person (in Westin, hilton etc) including air and hotel for 5 nights.

Is this a good deal or can I find better deals for better packages such as including rental car in a decent hotel? I am willing to travel from any location within the US.

Link : http://www.orbitz.com/App/PerformMDLPDealsContent?deal_id=HI&cnt...

Try Priceline. When I was looking to book airfare to Kona, they were offering really good deals on hotel and car rentals.

Another option is Pleasant Holidays. I've seen good airfare/hotel deals from them.

That seems ridiculously high. You need to do more researching (and I'm not sure how flying out of ANYWHERE in the US will help save on costs). Generally kids stay free at a lot of hotels so there's no way it should cost you $4k for 5 nights for the 4 of you. I spent a couple hours a few days ago looking for flights/hotel from LAX to Honolulu from April 22 to April 26 and I was finding flight and hotel packages starting at $461 per person for 2 adults.

These guys ran an ad last night on the SuperBowl telecast.

HomeAway.com

Weren't you paying attention to the great ads?

Turtle Bay is awesome. Stayed there a few years ago. It is on the North Shore and not that close to anything. Ko alin is very nice as well.

changkoh said: germanpope said: if you are eligible --- check this out --- http://www.marriott-vacations.com/vacation/resorts/marriott-ko-olina-beach-club/book-a-vacation.html

I checked them out but according to Travelocity, there are construction cranes next to that location since they are building a disney resort.

I too am in the same boat. We want to leave Feb 28 to mar 5th but we haven't booked anything yet in hawaii but we are seeing between 800 to 1200 per person including flight. we really want a no hassle vacation package since it seems like you can get a better deal that way.

jjct1 said: Turtle Bay is awesome. Stayed there a few years ago. It is on the North Shore and not that close to anything. Ko alin is very nice as well.

That turtle bay resort looks nice

tripadvisor blurbs don't always get it right

don't worry about the construction cranes if you are staying at the Ko Olina timeshare property, it is two lagoons and about a half mile from the Disney property (use google earth), the cranes are next to the main Marriott Ihilani hotel --- I wouldn't worry about them even at the hotel as they would have no impact on your vacation

the question is more about what you are looking for in a vacation

I can help you with the pros and cons of Turtle Bay or Ko Olina --- but you need to give me more detail about how you plan to spend your days

i63Aps said: Thank you all for the responses. I will start looking in renting a condo using VRBO
and use ko olina beach club as a second option.

the VRBO
option is a definite YMMV --- look out for added cleaning fees and having to deal with a landlord

personally when I am on vacation, I would rather not have to deal with renting from an individual as that is too hit or miss for me

edit to add: fyi another option is last minute timeshare rental --- htse.net often has these listed (note: this will not be ko olina or turtle bay)

srod said: I booked a one week vacation to Honolulu, including air, hotel and tranfer to/from the airport thru Travelocity for 2. Total price was $1,380. Staying at the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani (mixed reviews). Flying out of Portland.

you are in the ball park

I don't know your dates, but Hawaiian has been discounting it's Portland flight, so I'll put an average fair value at $350 --- so with $700 for your flight component --- that puts your Hotel at about $100 per night --- that is about right in this market

you are away from the beach in an aging property --- compare it to a DC-10 --- but you across from the Sheraton Moana (the nice hotel) and the beach

take andvantage of the brunch at the Moana Surfrider if you are into brunches (make a reservation)

make sure you get away from Waikiki --- and don't judge all of Hawaii by the concrete jungle you are staying in

changkoh said: germanpope said:
the question is more about what you are looking for in a vacation

I can help you with the pros and cons of Turtle Bay or Ko Olina --- but you need to give me more detail about how you plan to spend your days

First off, thanks for all the advice on Hawaii

We are looking for somewhere close to the beach, (duh.), massage / spa package of some sort, sightseeing, mountaineous views, maybe a short hike, waterfalls are a plus. no golf or sports really in general needed. snorkeling would be awesome. Anything touristy like a luau would be great. Not really interested in tours

villa or cottage or a large hotel room is what we're looking for. We don't really need a kitchen because I hear groceries are expensive anyways and I don't mind paying for restaurants so decent restaurants are a plus. The group I would be going with love buffets as well

both the Koolina and Turtle Bay properties are on the beach, but they are on very different parts of Oahu

if you are talking Turtle Bay --- that will be North Shore
if you are talking Ko'olina --- that will be west oahu

I am not an expert at the upscale spa/massage thing --- but I am sure each have their offerings

snorkeling is available nearby both locations

there are luau shows at Ko Olina (paradise cove) and Fia Fia one night a week at the timeshare
Turtle Bay has the Polynesian Cultural center not too far away

there is a waterfall in Waimea Valley/North Shore (ie Turtle Bay)(check on the status; I don't know who runs it now) --- Sacred Falls on the north shore was closed

Kauai is best for waterfalls

sightseeing will be best done by car outside of rush hour --- North Shore has its own traffic problems relating to tourists --- if you are going from Ko Olina to town or Waikiki --- you will have normal rush hour on the freeway --- there is a 3 person HOV lane town bound

sightseeing --- Pearl Harbor --- you should go to Waikiki one time even if not staying there --- Haunama Bay --- Pali lookout --- Yokohamas (watch you car) --- the list go on

dining can be found at Turtle Bay (or nearby Haleiwa) --- likewise Ko'olina (or growing Kapolei a few minutes drive away (Costco is over there)

most important thing is to come and relax and spend money (be smart but don't be too cheap//vacations are one of the reasons you save money)

aloha