Hawaii Advice
 

My apologies, but Search is down and I need feedback quickly (yes, I'll try Google in the meantime)

It looks like I need to figure out how to split up a 7 night Hawaii stay between Waikoloa on the Big Island and any of the 3 properties on Oahu - JW, Renaissance Ilikai Waikiki, and the Waikiki Beach Marriott. The Ren and Waikiki can be had for the standard award, the JW only has $30/1-cert per night upgrades.

From what I can find, after we hit the Volcano park on the Big Island, there's not a lot more, so a 2 night stay is probably enough there.

I know I want to stay at the JW, as it's the cream of the crop, but do I spend all 5 days there (I know it's out of the way and we want to get to some of the sights), or do I spend 2(3) at JW and 3(2) at one of the others? If so, which one?

There will be 2 adults, a 6-yr old and an 18-month toddler, so moving won't be that easy.

Rental car may also be a factor - 2-3 days at the JW without a car to relax/swim/snorkle, then move downtown and get a car to see the sights, maybe?

I'm already doing 5 days on Maui and the logistics are already hard enough so don't introduce Kauai into the mix again ;) (hint - don't bother ever trying to get a *A award to Hawaii)

Any thought, experiences, recommendations?

Just returned earlier this week from a stay at the JW Marriott Ihilani and I think the other two locations will really pale in comparison (especially the Renaissance; I don't have first hand knowledge about the Waikiki Beach Marriott).

There is a lot to do at the JW to keep your family occupied and if you are going to rent a car you can certainly cover Waikiki that way (though traffic back to Ko Olina can be awful).

Additionally, you are close in proximity to Pearl Harbor. From there, we shot up to the Dole Plantation and then hit a few North Shore Beaches....absolutely loved Turtle Cove in Haleiwa....swimming with giant green sea turtles was fantastic!

As a parent of 3 older kids who just did a 2 island hop, I would strongly dissuade you from packing up a baby and a 6 year old for a third time. And I wouldn't say that a 3rd day on the Big Island is a bad idea :)

PS-Since Search is down, a word of advice.....careful on the upgrades. When I reserved what I *thought* was going to be ocean FRONT, it was 3 certs per night. It has now increased to 4 certs per night. AND the room I was given was on the side facing the industrial area and was certainly NOT fronting the ocean, though I did have ocean view.

Front Desk manager agreed and was very generous in compensating us.....but the room view was just not what I had envisioned. Nonetheless, a wonderful hotel and a fantastic stay..... you will love it.

I would not suggest the Ilikai-especially with children-it is worn out,no beach and pools are extremely basic.Staff was not helpful in dealing with room problems.

I would disagree that 2 nights on the big island is long enough. They don't call it the big island for nothing! :) It has some of the best beaches in the world and lots of other things to see besides the volcano.

Bruce

Yet more proof of the value of FT.

Four nights at the JW and three on the Big Island were booked tonight (I did poke around traveladvisor.com too).

Many thanks for your help.

We just got back last week from Oahu and the Big Island. We did 6 at Waikoloa (Hilton) and 3 nights at the Ko'Olina Beach Club. This was my second trip to the Big Island and even 6 nights wasn't enough. We really enjoyed the Marriott Ko'Olina Beach Club for the first three nights on Oahu. We walked up to the JW for breakfast one morning. You're going to love the lagoons (all 4 of them) at the JW. Walk down to the Ko'Olina and take the timeshare tour for 90 minutes and pick up 15,000 MR points. It's very low pressure.

Have you thought about trying to get a 1 or 2 bedroom villa at the Ko'Olina instead of the JW? It would give you a lot more privacy than a standard room at the JW given that your kids are going along.