My girlfriend and I are coming back to Hawaii for the third time and it will be our first time to the big island. We have book our hotel at Royal Kona Resort but we are in urge for help on the suggestion. During our last trip to Maui we rent our own car and basically travel by ourselves. I%26#39;ve notice that Big Island is really big and was considering whether I should rent the car or join the local tours? It will be a short trip for us due to our limited time off from work. We will be arriving on 10/6 afternoon and depart on 10/9 late evening. Below are our concerns:
1. Should we rent a car or join local tours
2. what is a must see that we can%26#39;t miss?
3. Which Luau is to die for? Is the Luau inside Royal Kona Resort is good? What other choices or famous ones?
4. Any recommanded resturant or local%26#39;s favorite? Can be fancy or affortable. Not interesting in Resturant Chain from the States.
First time to Big Island
1. You really need a car here since there is no public transportation. Just the cabride from and to the airport will cost you more than to rent a car for three days. I believe you would be better off with taking trips on your own and not being tied to the schedule of tour bouses.
2. It%26#39;s hard to answer your question without knowing what you like to do and what your interests are.
3. The luau at the Kona Village Resort is clearly the best (and the most expensive) and I think the one at the Royal Kona Resort is very touristy.
4. Check out konaforum.com for local restaurant reviews.
First time to Big Island
Thanks for your reply. For question 1, we like to drive around and check out water falls, per haps dipping into some of them. then of course the volcano and probably snorkeling by our own.
2. Any other Luau? We plan to attend more than one during our stay. Thanks.
Remember Hawaii is one of the states. Be careful to not say back in the states when there, back on mainland works fine.
With basically two full days I would not take tour. They are in control of your time. with car you are.
Consider one day north of Kona, Hapuna Beach and others in area, Maybe to Hawi and east to check view of Pololu beginning of more lush coast of BI, but you can spend most of day on the several beaches too and never get that far. we have spent two half days at Hapuna on different trips. gretaa beach
Volcano and all day trip, worth it to me, but depends on your interest. Long day if your interest in volcanoes is low.
Some nice beaches right in Kona including my wife%26#39;s favorite snorkel beach Kahalu%26#39;u. She is no expert, but many fish to see and not real crowded, maybe for first or last day.
If I had only 2 full days and minimal interest in volcanoes I would just visit west coast from Kona. coas
No comment on best luau, but not sure would be priority for me with short time.
agreeing with TT and phirl%26#39;s advice.
I would never do more than one Luau in 3 days! But they are as typically tropical says ... if you want great authentic luau take his advice. No others have that great reputation.
Sorry to say that waterfall dipping won%26#39;t be possible as the good waterfalls you can see from behind a fence only or from a distance in Waipio Valley. Water not safe to swim in anyway.
If you like tours and scenery you might enjoy a tour down into Waipio valley. Snorkel at Kahalu%26#39;u like phirl said. Skip the Volcano unless you%26#39;re really interested because your trip is so short. Do rent a car.
For your most relaxing trip, don%26#39;t try to drive around the island. It will just be a whole lot of driving and take a whole day. We have a lot of traffic here now. I don%26#39;t see how people enjoy the tour buses on our winding roads. They would make me carsick. Mentioning that in case either of you gets motion sickness.
Roads on the West side from Kona north are straight and easy to drive, numerous nice beaches and places to go. You can easily spend your whole time seeing different things without even leaving Kona.
You should definitely rent a car. With the kind of time u have, u should definitely stick to one side of the island. On the Kona side, one place u can visit is the Place of Refuge. U can see those Hawaiian TIki Gods. U can visit the Polulu valley.
http://www.hawaii-forest.com/. One of their waterfall hikes is on private property u can%26#39;t get to otherwise. Can%26#39; remember which one.
There is no other must do in the Kona side except the beaches and watersports. That reminds snorkeling in Kahaluu Beach Park
is easy and fun though can be crowded.
Hilo side has lots of waterfalls, caves, volcano, lava tubes but its rainy, not sunny and doesn%26#39;t have excellent beaches.
Well with just 3 days........ the first thing I would do is take a circle island air tour to see what strikes you then do this right after landing on Kona..... take a map and mark where it is that you like. Rent a car Go to a luau on the 6, Friday there will be 4 including Royal Kona $65@ which will be easiest also Kona Village a 16 mile drive each way which is the best for $95 @
Then the next on 7th drive to the Volcano via the Northern route and home by the southern route
Sunday go to anothe place that struck you from the air tour.(8th
monday, the 9th same as Sunday
No comments:
Post a Comment