The FS Lanai is my favorite hotel on all of the Hawaiian islands. Our stay there was magical. It is elegant and serene with just the right amount of forced relaxation. There are still things to do if you feel you must keep busy, but I liked that the island doesn't have a thousand shops and a million activities. The island is so quiet that it almost makes you stop to smell each and every flower. You can't help, but to see the beauty of Hulopoe Beach with acres of palms that line the fringes. My jaw just dropped when I saw it for the first time.

When you stop to talk to the elderly locals in Lanai City you can tell that they haven't lived in concrete jungles. They ask you to sit and talk story with them. We did this one Sunday morning while we ate warm pastry from the only place open that early. Most of the little shops don't even open on Sunday. We didn't know this when we boarded the shuttle to go up there, but when we left Lanai City later that morning it became one of our fondest memories.

We went horseback riding and had the most amazing ride. I couldn't walk for two days after, but i'll never forget the memory of sitting atop a bluff and looking way down at the ocean or riding through Ironwood trails. There was nothing to hurry about and it felt wonderful. I never wanted to leave that island. Being on Lanai made me realize all over again what life is supposed to be like.

I don't know if you can really save much money at FS Manele. We had one hefty bill when we checked out and didn't even care because our six days on that island did more for us than any of our many trips to the islands. I felt new and renewed again. If you choose to stay there and have to fret about expenditures,(we have been there, done that and it's not fun) you may not enjoy what you should be enjoying. We will be going back again in 2010 and I am counting the days. It truly is worth every very expensive dollar you will spend.