Looking for advice: Kauai vs. Maui
Jul 4, 2011, 9:50 pm
#16
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Not really. There are cacti within a mile of Poipu Beach (Kauai). I don't quite understand why that is - I'm guessing the soil in that particular spot is very sandy.
Jul 8, 2011, 10:17 am
#17
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Puka Dog and Bubba Burgers are a huge plus for Kauai! ^ I find the shave ice is better on Kauai!
I was in Maui in '10, Kona in '11 and heading to Kauai in '12. I have been to all of them before. Oahu is my least favorite followed by Kona. Kauai and Maui are my go-to islands. Kauai is low key, kick back and relax.. Maui you can relax but there is more going on and more traffic. You can't go wrong with either.
I was in Maui in '10, Kona in '11 and heading to Kauai in '12. I have been to all of them before. Oahu is my least favorite followed by Kona. Kauai and Maui are my go-to islands. Kauai is low key, kick back and relax.. Maui you can relax but there is more going on and more traffic. You can't go wrong with either.
Jul 9, 2011, 1:16 am
#19
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Puka Dog and Bubba Burgers are a huge plus for Kauai! ^ I find the shave ice is better on Kauai!
I was in Maui in '10, Kona in '11 and heading to Kauai in '12. I have been to all of them before. Oahu is my least favorite followed by Kona. Kauai and Maui are my go-to islands. Kauai is low key, kick back and relax.. Maui you can relax but there is more going on and more traffic. You can't go wrong with either.
I was in Maui in '10, Kona in '11 and heading to Kauai in '12. I have been to all of them before. Oahu is my least favorite followed by Kona. Kauai and Maui are my go-to islands. Kauai is low key, kick back and relax.. Maui you can relax but there is more going on and more traffic. You can't go wrong with either.
I like KOA.. Kohala Coast as there's only 8 inches of rain per year.. so desert like conditions.. so that means guaranteed sunny weather for at least part of your trip.. and most likely destination out of all the islands to get some sun..
Jul 9, 2011, 6:01 pm
#20
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OP
You mentioned using SPG points for your stay in Kauai.... I see they have 3 proprety and the Sheraton kauai seems to be cheapest ..It needs at least 12000 points for one free night. How much are you redeeming for free nights at the St Regis Princeville ?
You mentioned using SPG points for your stay in Kauai.... I see they have 3 proprety and the Sheraton kauai seems to be cheapest ..It needs at least 12000 points for one free night. How much are you redeeming for free nights at the St Regis Princeville ?
Jul 13, 2011, 8:01 am
#21
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I'm actually not using SPG points, per se, but rather free resort nights as part of the Q2 promo. For every 3 stays SPG grants 1 free resort night. So traveling weekly on business staying at a different hotel each night, I amassed these free nights quickly (in addition to normal points). I should add that they expire before Christmas, which is why we're going in November.
Jul 13, 2011, 4:03 pm
#22
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Jul 25, 2011, 10:25 am
#23
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When I go to the islands with the whole family, my first choice is Maui. When I go for alone time with Mrs. tigre, our top choice is Kauai. I personally would choose to spend the bulk of your time at Princeville. The Sheraton Maui is a very nice hotel, but it doesn't compare to the St. Regis.
+1
For one day of golf and spa, the St. Regis is the clear choice for that day. Both have good pools and beach. I'd prefer lounging at the St. Regis pool. While snorkeling is fine there too, the snorkeling at the Sheraton's Black Rock wins. The North Shore of Kauai has the best hiking, including the mother of all Hawaiian hikes in the Kalalau Trail (at least do the 4 mile trek to the inland waterfall - to go further than the beach, you'd need a permit).
+1
For one day of golf and spa, the St. Regis is the clear choice for that day. Both have good pools and beach. I'd prefer lounging at the St. Regis pool. While snorkeling is fine there too, the snorkeling at the Sheraton's Black Rock wins. The North Shore of Kauai has the best hiking, including the mother of all Hawaiian hikes in the Kalalau Trail (at least do the 4 mile trek to the inland waterfall - to go further than the beach, you'd need a permit).
If you are pool people you might be better off at the Westin Maui, the Sheraton has a better beach but the pool is nothing special. However IMO the rooms are much nicer at the Sheraton - you can check the master threads for more opinions. The Westin is often packed with children.
Finally if you want nightlife go to Maui, Kauai is pretty dead. But there will also be fewer children running around the pool at Princeville, the families tend to stay at the SVO timeshares up the road.
We're going to use our free resort nights at Princeville, it's a much better value as it normally requires 2x SPG points v. the Maui properties. And you can often find an SVO "preview" deals that offers a cheap rate for the latter.
Jul 25, 2011, 12:37 pm
#24
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There is only one good shave ice place on Kauai unfortunately, and it is not convenient. Jo-Jo's clubhouse in Waimea is great, but it's a drive. The rest of the places are, in fact, sno-cones.
We spend a month every summer there, and now we stay in Poipu every year for the weather, and drive to Hanalei to see our friends up there.
I pretty much have the Hyatt cc just to earn points for the Grand Hyatt Kauai...
We spend a month every summer there, and now we stay in Poipu every year for the weather, and drive to Hanalei to see our friends up there.
I pretty much have the Hyatt cc just to earn points for the Grand Hyatt Kauai...
Jul 25, 2011, 1:00 pm
#25
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There is only one good shave ice place on Kauai unfortunately, and it is not convenient. Jo-Jo's clubhouse in Waimea is great, but it's a drive. The rest of the places are, in fact, sno-cones.
We spend a month every summer there, and now we stay in Poipu every year for the weather, and drive to Hanalei to see our friends up there.
I pretty much have the Hyatt cc just to earn points for the Grand Hyatt Kauai...
We spend a month every summer there, and now we stay in Poipu every year for the weather, and drive to Hanalei to see our friends up there.
I pretty much have the Hyatt cc just to earn points for the Grand Hyatt Kauai...
Jul 25, 2011, 1:21 pm
#27
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[QUOTE=saacman5033;16794536]
What makes shave ice good? I mean it really is a snow cone.
BTW, I've had the concoction with shave ice, root beer syrup, vanilla ice cream and sweetened condensed milk from the Shave Ice place next to Bubba's in Hanalei. That was pretty amazing.
BTW, I've had the concoction with shave ice, root beer syrup, vanilla ice cream and sweetened condensed milk from the Shave Ice place next to Bubba's in Hanalei. That was pretty amazing.
Jul 25, 2011, 2:49 pm
#28
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[QUOTE=ILuvParis;16794676]
Sure, shave ice is a glorified snow cone and is incredibly simple but I have a major soft spot for a good shave ice.
For a shave ice to be good it should be very fine and powdery and the syrups should be excellent (and ideally homemade). Those are the keys, and as simple as it sounds, not many places do it right. Some of the best on Oahu are:
Matsumoto's (Haleiwa); Island Snow (Kailua); Kokonuts (Hawaii Kai): All have great syrups and very good consistency. Waiola's (Honolulu) is a favorite for some but I don't care for their syrups.
My personal favorite:
Tat's (Kailua/Kaneohe): Great syrups and the ice is one of if not the most finely shaved. These guys get around as they are in a truck so to find them you need to be on their email list: [email protected]
Back to the original topic, I would prefer to spend more time on Kauai as I love the beaches and hikes there as well as the potential for solitude although I don't think you can go wrong with Maui either. Enjoy the trip.
For a shave ice to be good it should be very fine and powdery and the syrups should be excellent (and ideally homemade). Those are the keys, and as simple as it sounds, not many places do it right. Some of the best on Oahu are:
Matsumoto's (Haleiwa); Island Snow (Kailua); Kokonuts (Hawaii Kai): All have great syrups and very good consistency. Waiola's (Honolulu) is a favorite for some but I don't care for their syrups.
My personal favorite:
Tat's (Kailua/Kaneohe): Great syrups and the ice is one of if not the most finely shaved. These guys get around as they are in a truck so to find them you need to be on their email list: [email protected]
Back to the original topic, I would prefer to spend more time on Kauai as I love the beaches and hikes there as well as the potential for solitude although I don't think you can go wrong with Maui either. Enjoy the trip.