Book Separately or together???
May 30, 2007 | 12:40 pm
#16
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: PHX and LIH
Programs: AA: 2 MM, HA, VS
Posts: 92,089
Just a little background knowlege.........I am not paying for 7 people to go. Im paying for me and hubby. The rest are paying for theirselves. We are going for mom and dads 40th, my 15th........etc.
Hubby and I went to Oahu for our honeymoon. If it were solely me, I would skip Oahu, but others want to go to see USS Arizona and my grandmothers brother is on the wall at the Punchbowl Cemetary. He was lost at sea during the war. So they really want to go there.
My mom and dad do smoke so I realize that will complicate finding somewhere to stay.
Thanks for all your help so far. I appreciate it all, and Im getting very excited about it. Just wish it was sooner.
Hubby and I went to Oahu for our honeymoon. If it were solely me, I would skip Oahu, but others want to go to see USS Arizona and my grandmothers brother is on the wall at the Punchbowl Cemetary. He was lost at sea during the war. So they really want to go there.
My mom and dad do smoke so I realize that will complicate finding somewhere to stay.
Thanks for all your help so far. I appreciate it all, and Im getting very excited about it. Just wish it was sooner.
If it's not too nerve wracking for you with so many of you planning to go, I would recommend waiting until about July of '08 to book for October. It will be much less expensive for you. Vacation packages are great for high season, but if you plan so far ahead for October of next year, you're going to pay far more than you need to - particularly for airfare. However, if you need to plan early for peace of mind, listen to the locals above. As I always say, just know they don't call it Paradise for nothin'!
May 30, 2007 | 1:34 pm
#17
Join Date: May 2005
Location: BOS
Programs: UA
Posts: 1,771
If you're already somewhat familiar with O'ahu, then do some scouting on Maui. It can really lessen the stress levels if someone in the party is vaguely familiar with the area.Go with a rental mini van. It's much nicer than having two cars; you'll be able to converse with everyone during drives. Unless folks are planning different levels of activity, in which case two cars might not be a bad idea...and then you all have even more to chat about at breakfast the next day.
One other thing to consider...if you eat like da kine locals, be prepared for huge portions. My sister and I had mentioned that to a friend of ours, but she was amazed at how much food one actually got in a plate lunch. Which, of course, we had to follow up with a dessert in the form of shave ice the size of both of our heads.
Mmm...now I think I'm going to walk over to Rainbow Drive-In and get a slush float.
May 30, 2007 | 1:52 pm
#18
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: PHX and LIH
Programs: AA: 2 MM, HA, VS
Posts: 92,089
That would be my vote, too If you're already somewhat familiar with O'ahu, then do some scouting on Maui. It can really lessen the stress levels if someone in the party is vaguely familiar with the area.
Go with a rental mini van. It's much nicer than having two cars; you'll be able to converse with everyone during drives. Unless folks are planning different levels of activity, in which case two cars might not be a bad idea...and then you all have even more to chat about at breakfast the next day.
One other thing to consider...if you eat like da kine locals, be prepared for huge portions. My sister and I had mentioned that to a friend of ours, but she was amazed at how much food one actually got in a plate lunch. Which, of course, we had to follow up with a dessert in the form of shave ice the size of both of our heads.
Mmm...now I think I'm going to walk over to Rainbow Drive-In and get a slush float.
If you're already somewhat familiar with O'ahu, then do some scouting on Maui. It can really lessen the stress levels if someone in the party is vaguely familiar with the area.Go with a rental mini van. It's much nicer than having two cars; you'll be able to converse with everyone during drives. Unless folks are planning different levels of activity, in which case two cars might not be a bad idea...and then you all have even more to chat about at breakfast the next day.
One other thing to consider...if you eat like da kine locals, be prepared for huge portions. My sister and I had mentioned that to a friend of ours, but she was amazed at how much food one actually got in a plate lunch. Which, of course, we had to follow up with a dessert in the form of shave ice the size of both of our heads.
Mmm...now I think I'm going to walk over to Rainbow Drive-In and get a slush float.
)
Jun 2, 2007 | 2:09 pm
#19
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Denver
Programs: UA Platinum
Posts: 884
My advice would be to do as others have suggested and go to one of the vacation websites and price a sample itinerary for this October. I would then figure a slight increase in price for October 2008 and use that as a base price to compare a seperate booking. Then later on this year and into next year, I would check individual airlines and hotels for fares and room rates.
Sometimes some really good bargins pop up wrt airfare and hotel rates at the strangest times - especially hotels that might package a car and meals (breakfast usually) with the room rate. I have booked both ways over the years, but the last couple of trips have actually worked out cheaper to buy air and hotel seperately. You just never know. Come late this fall, I would start checking various hotel and airline websites often to see if anything especially good stands out, but hotels will not list most rates for 2008 until very late this year.
Sometimes some really good bargins pop up wrt airfare and hotel rates at the strangest times - especially hotels that might package a car and meals (breakfast usually) with the room rate. I have booked both ways over the years, but the last couple of trips have actually worked out cheaper to buy air and hotel seperately. You just never know. Come late this fall, I would start checking various hotel and airline websites often to see if anything especially good stands out, but hotels will not list most rates for 2008 until very late this year.