Ok.........we are planning on going in 10/08. I know this is supposed to be the cheaper time to go. What I would like to know is how do you all do it? Do you buy everything seperately or do you go thru Pleasant Holidays or some other travel agency. I am on a very tight budget and need to know how to plan. I have looked at both ways, but not sure what to consider a good deal for that time of year.

We will be flying from MCI (Kansas City) if that makes a difference. ANy help is appreciated.

You should definitely wait to book things... till perhaps Spring or early Summer of 2008.

Airline/Hotels/Car Rental Agencies/and Travel Agencies def. know to price higher for those who are early planners. Granted, you get the availability locked in, but from a price standpoint, it doesn't make much sense to me.

PS: Welcome to Flyertalk! Ask away on your questions.

Agree completely with slippahs.

I would also start looking at the package sites -- unitedvacations.com expedia traveolocity -- and checking their package prices so you begin to get some idea of prices and trend.

I have had very good luck with unitedvacations.com 3-4 months out. Often the same flights that United itself wants double for, plus a wide range of accomodation selections.

Ah yes, those travel vacations website can be a big money saver. In fact, NW recently had a $300 off $999 package and higher promotional code, which would come in handy for a trip to Hawaii.

Im just looking around right now. Obviously I am not able to book since it is more than a year away.

There will be 7 of us going and I want to get the best deal obviously. Just didnt know if I should buy seperately or do the pkg deal. Like I said, I have looked at pkgs, but not sure what a good deal $$$ wise is. So if you could shoot me a good price for that time of year, atleast I will have something to compare it too.

Thanks! I only wish it were sooner.

A $$$ figure is difficult because we don't know how long you're planning on staying and which island you'll be visiting. But, if you were to book everything seperately, I'd factor airfare at $450-700, depending on loads (per person). Hotel room at $200-400/night per room. And, the car rental would be variable.

Sorry I forgot some important details. I believe we will be staying for a week. Probably on 2 islands ........Oahu and Maui in Oct.

So Oahu hotels on the lower end of the $200 spectrum (little lower if you want to stay off beach) and Maui on the higher end.

One week for two islands may be pushing it. There are several threads that discuss this. Try doing a search for "which island" or "itinerary."

Can't speak to Maui, but I think you can get an off beach decent room for $150-175.

If you have a rental car in Honolulu, don't forget to factor the $25-30/day cost to park it.

Absolutely agree.

I would agree if you want/need to buy in advance.

Each year it seems that all the airlines run sales for flights in late September and October. But those usually aren't announced until August, so that may be way too risky for your planes. I've seen some round-trips from those sales as low as $350 from/to the midwest.

The current bargains on Maui for visitors are owner-rented condos in Kihei that rent for $100 a night for 1 bdrm units. Click here for the VRBO Kihei page: http://www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals...uth-maui/kihei

I am taking a group of 7 in 3 weeks. I was fortunate enough to get reward tickets on Delta for all 7 of us. We will be renting a mini van, so as not to have 2 cars, (which I got through PriceLine for about $200 a week cheaper than the best deal I could find online) I have 2 or 3 BR condos rented for a week on Kauai and the Big Island. I have had good success with VRBO for condos in the past and going that way again.
If you are on a budget, that is WAY cheaper than 2 hotel rooms, by less than half. For only a week, I would second the recommendation staying on one island, you will spend a lot of time in transit, checking out, checking in, renting cars etc, you loose almost a full day. Also if you fly into and out of one island, you will save the cost of the interisland flights, which can really add up for 7 people unless you get in on the specials I got during the recent price way.
Cindi

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.

Another factor to consider is that I find eating out to be more expensive in Hawaii than at home (often twice as much for comparable quality). If you have a hotel room, you may be eating 3 meals a day in restaurants, which gets both pricey and old pretty quick. Another good reason, IMHO, for renting condos instead of hotels. We will usually eat breakfast in the condo, take sandwiches and sodas for lunch, and eat dinner out.

While I completely agree with that, it is very, very possible to eat in Hawai`i for comparable to mainland prices.

You will not be eating in any "tourist" places, though.

Of course, the more isolated your hotel is (e.g., Kohala Coast resorts on the Big Island) the more likely it is that you'll not want the hassle of dealing with the rental car, driving somewhere for 30 minutes, etc. Or if you are in Waikiki, you may not want the hassle of trying to park at another Waikiki or downtown restaurant.

Otoh, if you are in someplace like Hilo, you can easily eat for nearly mainland prices in restaurants if you "go local."

Aloha ahiahi: I have moved what were the previous two posts -- concerning specific Hilo restaurant recommendations -- to this new thread: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=284201

cblaisd
Co-Moderator
Hawai`i forum