Hello Hawaii forum gurus

I have read many great threads here and I thank you all, esp SLIPPAHS.

Objective - To burn FF miles for all air, London to Hawaii and return 4 x tickets. (accomplished) To burn HH or *Wood points for accommodations. (unaccomplished)
Don't want HHV or HWV.

Q 1
We arrive in HNL at 7.30pm, too late to get a flight to Kauai, any Hotel recs for overnight?

Q 2.
11 nights Kauai - No Hilton redemption opps, and I don't have enough *Wood points for my needs. Need 2 Hotel rooms or a 2 bedroom condo I was thinking the Poipu Beach area, but am totally open to suggestions if anyone has any recommendations for rentals?

I proposed an ALON trade for *Wood nights on Coupon Connection but no takers. My goal is to use points only on this trip if I can, anyone have any ideas I may have missed?

TAI for any pointers...

rdy

What are you looking for in a place to stay in Poipu ?

Luxury Hotel - stay at the Hyatt
Top of the line condo - stay at Whaler's cove
Condo on the beach - stay at Poipu Sands
Low rates - stay at Prince Kuhio or Kuhio Shores

If you could give me more details about what you want I could make better suggestions.

Alan

Thanks Alan. I checked out your suggestions. Whalers Cove looks ideal, but outside our budget. I found a couple of owner rented condos's that looked good.
Is 11 days too long to stay on Kauai? I am now thinking maybe splitting the time interisland.

See if you can PL a hotel first for a very good rate. Use the infamous BFT or BB websites to see previous prices. I don't think spending HH points for the HHV for a less than 12 hour stay (assuming you leave at 7:30 a.m. for Lihue the next morning) is worth it. Plus, after rereading your post, I see you don't want to burn at the HHV. Sorry.

Why not try the Doubletree Alana Hotel (if you still want to burn HH points)? I have heard some good things about it and it's located relatively close to the HHV. However, staying in Waikiki means you'd either have to take a shuttle/taxi or rent a car, which might add more of a burden, both financially and emotionally, to your short layover. Of course, in the "Connecting in Hawai'i" thread, there's the Shower Tree option as well, which might be the most economical choice for a short stay on O'ahu (given its proximity to the airport and low rates). Any way you could get into HNL earlier or take a direct to LIH? That would be your best choice.

Alan does list some excellent suggestions, but further information is probably needed to narrow down your choices. Good luck on the HH -> SPG trade on the CC -- if I had enough *points, I'd trade you, but I've just started converting my stays from HH->SPG. It's a shame that HH also lacks a property on Kauai. IIRC, there was also an earlier post re: this question, which listed some excellent suggestions.

Edited to add: 11 days might be a bit long to stay on Kauai, although you can still make it an enjoyable vacation. However, IMHO an equal split of 5 days on Kauai and 5 on O'ahu would give you adequete time to explore both islands.

aloha

Thanks for the reply - The Doubletree is a good idea....although an airport location would be better. I will investigate the Shower Tree, I don't know what that is....We are on NW/Delta award seats into hnl, so no choices of times I'm afraid. Also I think only United flies direct to LIH?
Funnily enough, there is an Embassy Suites in Poipu....I called HHonors and they don't participate in HH...it seems they are Hilton branded in name only.

We did Big Island and Oahu before, (my wife is from Wahiawa) but Maui is a possibility.
Great info, thanks.

I believe that American also flies directly into LIH. I do know that UA flies direct from LAX, SFO & DEN. Too bad they don't from ORD!

I didn't realize that there was an Embassy Suites in Poipu! We had asked if Hilton had anything last fall when we were at HHV and they said no properties on Kauai.

RE *wood points, did you look at the Sheraton Poipu? It seems like most people only look at the Princeville (JMO based on posts in the spg forum). I've stayed there twice and enjoyed it, although not as much as the Marriott Lihue. Not quite as flexible as if you have a condo, but it's a thought...

Yes AA flies into LIH, but I used NW FF for award seats. I think I was very lucky to get 4 award seats on Delta from pdx - hnl via lax !
The ES in Poipu does not afford HH redemption opps. Some good reviews on Epinions...
Poipu Sheraton was my first choice actually....I need 90k for 2 rooms even with 5th night free promo...so I'm 50% short at this time.
That just leaves the Condo option which means out of pocket rather than points...I can use the *Wood points in London at Christmas I guess...
Keep any more ideas coming, and thanks a lot ^

rdy

Slippahs - I looked at the Shower Tree - Funky ! Maybe I'd better go to the Best Western

The Embassy Suites in Poipu is a primarily timeshare property which might explain why they don't take points.

Whaler's Cove is way expensive but does have a great reputaion. Another luxury condo is Honu Kai but it only has 4 units so you might feel a bit isolated. I think it is also pretty expensive. Personally i like Poipu Sands since it is on the beach, has a great pool and has an open grassy area so you don't feel like you are in a project.

I would have no trouble filling 11 days on Kauai, but I guess it depends on what you like to do. I love being on the beach and since there are many great ones on Kauai I keep busy by going beach hopping. There are also lots of hiking, helicoptor rides, and boat trips. However if you are a go-go person on vacation you might get bored - Kauai is a small place.

Alan