PLEASE HELP - Ist timer from Australia!

My partner and I are travelling to hawaii for approx 10 nights in late november.

We want to do 5 nights at waikiki and five nights at another island.

2 questions:

1. Which are the best hotels to stay at in waikiki? was looking at the outrigger waikiki on the beach and the hilton hawaiian village beach resort and spa. Are these good? any better?

2. should we stay in honolulu or should we go to another island like the big island or maui? and if so which one?

Oh who would have thought booking a holiday would be so stressful!

PLEASE HELP - Ist timer from Australia!

1.) Those are two of the best hotels in Waikiki. If you stay at either one, you should be just fine.

2.) Definitely visit the Big Island! You%26#39;ll have to rent a car, but you will enjoy driving around as there is much to see.

Stay in a hotel on the Kona side, not hilo. Check out the Hilton Waikoloa.

Visit Volcano National Park, $10 buys one week admission.

You MUST drive up to the Visitor%26#39;s Center at the summit of Mauna Kea, 9300 ft. elevation. You%26#39;ll be blown away to see the point where all vegetation just stops growing.

It takes about 1 %26amp; 1/2 hours to get there out of Kona. Try to arrange your departure so you will arrive just before sunset. After sunset, you can catch the stargazing show. Bring warm clothes because it gets cold up there, and pack a few sandwiches and drinks.

PLEASE HELP - Ist timer from Australia!

Either of the hotels you mentioned in Waikiki would be a good choice - the main difference being the location. The Outrigger is right in the heart of Waikiki and all the action - it is the home the the famous ';Duke%26#39;s'; Restaurant. The HHV is nice also, but way at the end of Waikiki. My personal choice would be the Outrigger simply because of its location.

YOu cannot see what big island/maui have to offer in 5 days if u r the kind of person who likes to hike, boogie board and drive to all the sights. Something u shud know before u decide.

10 days is never enough (LOL) !!! We have been back 3 times to see more.....however 10 days you could visit 2 islands quite easily

We have not stayed at either Outrigger or HHV, however the Outrigger Waikiki always gets good reviews on this forum. It is right in the heart of Waikiki, on the beach and opposite the International Market Place. It has Dukes Canoe Club among other restaurants %26amp; shops in the lobby. The HHV is further out of Waikiki at the end of the strip so you would have a small walk into Waikiki. There is so much to see on Oahu so 5 days will be crammed in, but it is worth it to get the most of your trip. Pearl Harbour, USS Missouri, Diamond Head hike, North Shore, Circle Island trip, Polynesian Cultural Centre, Aloha Stadium Swap Meet and more.........If you are unable to hire a car on Oahu, the public transport system is really good here and you can get around no probs.

Each Island is beautiful and different, so keep that in mind. Our 2 favourites other than Oahu are Big Island and Maui as well.

Yes, stay in Kona on Big Island. It is the old ';Byron Bay'; town with lots of nice little shops and restaurants.

The Hilton Waikoloa is on the Kohala Coast of Big Island not in Kona itself. It is beautiful with lush gardens and like a big resort. We also like the Sheraton Keauhou or even the Outrigger is not too bad (if a bit more budget minded). Big Island has lots to see, so yes rent a car. Take a full day up to the Volcano National Park as there is lots to see up there %26amp; take your time. Near Kona is the Place of Refuge which is nice and there are lots of watefalls %26amp; beaches to see on Big Island.

Maui, the Kaanapali Coast is nice to stay at. Our fave here is the Sheraton Maui, we just found it was spread out over more acres and you did not feel like other hotels were crammed on top of you.

On Maui, again lots to see so hire a car. Take a drive to the top of Haleakala 10,023 feet above sea level. The views are amazing if not spectacular and you are above the clouds !! Taking this trip very early in the morning to see the sunrise is gorgeous with lots of orange/red/blue colours becoming visible through the dark night sky....definately worth the trip. Also on Maui, Lahaina town with lots of shops %26amp; restaurants. The IAO Needle %26amp; Park is nice, very lush %26amp; green with waterfalls etc. The road to Hana is beautiful scenery, but lots of bends (about 600) so not for the motion sick people !!

Hope this helps %26amp; have a great trip :-)

Both of those hotels are excellent. I would also consider the Halekualni Hotel. It鈥檚 often considered the highest rated hotel in Waikiki. The Sheraton and Hyatt also have outstanding hotels in Waikiki.

I have just replied to another post and I will say the same thing. I have visited Oahu and the outer islands four times now and each and everytime I have enjoyed my trip, all for different reasons.

In the past I have always stayed at the Sheraton Waikiki in Honolulu, but as I was on a budget this time, I chose to stay at the Park Shore Waikiki and to put my money towards shopping and sight seeing and not into accommodation. You can also read my recent review on the hotel - ';Great Location, Great Price';, which I hope will help.

My favourite outer island is Maui, but they are all great. It really depends on what you are wanting to get out of the island.

Good luck and enjoy your trip.

I%26#39;ve stayed in Waikiki 11 times now in the past 20 years and have stayed various hotels and condos. This last vist a few weeks ago we stayed at Ohana West for my third time. It is a nice hotel with a great pool. It is directly across the street from the Market Place and only a block or so from the beach. The Pacific Monarch is another I would definately stay in again. Aloha

Like the previous posts have stated - the outrigger is right in the heart of waikiki - right where all the action is! Both hotels are nice, the Hilton Hawaiian village is a little away from waikiki beach. But it is a beautiful resort. It has a nice beach, nice pool and lots of animals - penguines, fish, turtles and some pretty impressive birds!

If I was going to pick between the hilton and the outrigger - I%26#39;d choose the outrigger - purely because I like to be where all the action is, people watching, Waikiki at night and I loved Duke%26#39;s! I am going back in a few months, and I will be staying at the Sheraton Moana, which looks beautiful! I can%26#39;t wait!!!

I%26#39;d definitely pick the Big Island to visit in addition to Oahu. You really shouldn%26#39;t miss spending at least a day at the Volcano---it%26#39;s spectacular, even if you don%26#39;t get to see live lava.

When we go we usually stay at the Outrigger at Keauhou, a bit south of Kona town. We like it because of the great kama%26#39;aina benefits (sorry but only available to Hawaii residents) but it%26#39;s a good value for anyone, I think.

Not luxurious but nice. Less expensive than the Sheraton right down the road. Casual, relaxing, with friendly staff. They have their own restaurants and a snack bar down by the beach and there are quite a few dining alternatives and a shopping area across the road.

The Outrigger at Keauhou is right next to one of the best snorkeling beaches on the Big Island, Kahaluu Beach Park. You can stroll down to it from the hotel.

They have a WONDERFUL bar/lounge that overlooks the water. You can watch the turtles swimming right below. Get there at sunset---really nice. Live entertainment, too.

Here%26#39;s a website:

outrigger.com/hotels_detail.aspx?hotel=93