Honeymoon help

We are getting married August 19 and are considering honeymooning in Hawaii for about a week (we wish we had more time, but unfortunately, we don%26#39;t :(. We really know very little about the islands of Hawaii and we%26#39;re in a bit of a crunch for time, so we really could use some advice! As for our interests, we really enjoy the outdoors - nature, wildlife... We enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, snorkeling, fishing... We aren%26#39;t really interested in shopping, nightlife, crowds... We would prefer a small, rustic cozy %26amp; comfy bungalow to a large, luxurious resort. We would love to find lodging on a psuedo secluded beach. We would not be opposed to yummy, local food :)

While we don%26#39;t want to move to a new lodging spot every night, we are open to staying a few days on a couple different islands.

Any suggestions on islands we should investigate and any accommodations you think we might enjoy that won%26#39;t break the bank?

Many thanks!

Sarah %26amp; Jamie

Honeymoon help

Hey -- first I would say, being a fellow east-coaster (but very homesick for Hawaii) that I might try the Caribbean for my honeymoon if I just had a week. However ... if you really want to do Hawaii, it is a great place. Seems like Kauai or the Big Island would be right up your alley. Both are less city and more outdoors.

I would do only one island, as you%26#39;ll take up a good bit of time flying from NC anyway, and having to add another ';move'; in there will just mean more time in airports, rental car lines, etc. :-(

You can find great cottages in both places ... I found a Web site that I know nothing about ... kauaivacationresorts.com ... but it has some interesting places. Also try vrbo.com.

Look on these forums for more info on both islands -- congrats on your upcoming wedding!

Honeymoon help

Thanks for the suggestions. From what little we%26#39;ve read, Kauai is the one we were strongly considering.

Initially, w did consider the Caribbean just because it%26#39;s relatively close and easy to get to, but several friends and family were considered we would get bored on one island for a week. I know I wouldn%26#39;t get bored, but I do think Jamie might get a little restless... Plus, there%26#39;s the threat of hurricanes that has us a bit restless (I think he and I have been in three in the past 10 years and would prefer not to be in one during our honeymoon!

I was looking on vrbo (we use it when we vacation at the beach here) and there seemed to be several different locations within Kauai and I wasn%26#39;t sure which part of the island we should consider - do you know what the differences are or is there a section we should focus on? I really need to buy a book or something, but there just don%26#39;t seem to be enough hours in the day with all the wedding mumbo jumbo there is to do :)

Kauai is definitely the island you are looking for. I would pick up the book Kauai Revealed.

The south side, Poipu is the sunny side of the island. The north side, Princeville is rainier and more lush.

You can stay on one side and visit the other easily. I can%26#39;t help with condo rentals. You may want to post asking about condos on Fodors.com also.

I%26#39;d suggest Big Island for a first-time visitor. You have four distinct climates to explore. There are not a lot of beaches, because this is the newest island to arise from the sea and its lava is still very evident (moonscape in some places).

You will fly in to either Kona or Hilo.

Kona is a resorty/tacky town on the dry side. Hilo is an old Hollywood Western movie stage set on the wet side. Waimea is Little Switzerland/Ranch Upcountry. There may still be snow on Mauna Kea even in August; that%26#39;s, the extinct volcano. And of course, where else that you travel will you see a LIVE volcano?

There are nice condos south of Kona at Keahou. We%26#39;ve stayed at Keahou Surf %26amp; Racquet Club -- oceanfront, beside a blowhole and a golf course. We also stayed at the Waikoloa and at condos in that area (north of Kona). You should at least visit the Waikoloa hotel to ride its monorail and canal boats over the large property. They have a swim-with-the-dolphins program that you enter by lottery.

My DH and I used to travel to the Virgin Islands and take Caribbean cruises...until we started going to Hawaii. Now we own a condo on Maui and go there every February. I never saw an island as nice as *any* Hawaiian island. And, it%26#39;s a State!

Kauai,take the helicopter ride through the crater,Look at Poipu Bay condos,we stayed there,loved it!Get the KAUAI REVEALED book,have fun!

Sarah,

I don%26#39;t think you (or Jamie) would get bored with Kauai. I am pretty likely to get bored in certain places, but Hawaii is definitely not one of them. I%26#39;ve lived on the Big Island and am not bored with it ... and spent significant time on other islands and still have a list of things to do.

If you like the outdoors, you%26#39;ll have a great time and you%26#39;ll definitely find something different to do every day. I spent a day kayaking the wailua river and hiking up from there to a waterfall -- that was awesome. Waimea Canyon is a drive, but it%26#39;s amazing -- not at all what you think Hawaii would be. Take a boat out around the Napali coast. There are some tubing and zipline tours that I%26#39;ve never done but that look like fun. And when you%26#39;re tired from all of that, check out the beaches -- they%26#39;re awesome for just being lazy on. Then there%26#39;s the movie tour -- on my list of things to do -- okay, so very cheesy -- you see where Gilligan%26#39;s Island, South Pacific, Blue Hawaii, Fantasy Island, etc were filmed.

Poipu is the sunny side. Hanalei is one of my favorite towns -- up north but more of a local but funky feel -- and even though it%26#39;s the ';rainy side,'; it%26#39;s not rainy all the time. (Well, not usually, unless you end up with crazy weather patterns like they%26#39;ve had recently.)

Here is another vote for Kauai for your honeymoon, as it sounds exactly like what you are looking for - here is their official island website - they%26#39;ll send you a free brochure, but just checking out the website will give you a good idea of the island: www.kauaidiscovery.com. Since you are honeymooning during the summer, I would stay on the North shore. The water is perfect then for snorkeling/swimming and it%26#39;s just gorgeous. I would specifically stay in the Hanalei/Haena area, as that would fit your description of secluded and many types of accomodations for all budgets -some as cheap as $50 per night or thousands. Here are a few websites for accommodations: www.kauaivacationresorts.com/north

www.kauai-vacation-rentals.org

www.aakauairentals.com

www.balihai.com/vacationrentals

www.diversvacationrentals.com

vrbo.com also has a bunch, as that was already mentioned for you.

There is much to see and do, or nothing - you can choose to be as active as you want in the most amazing scenery. The Kauai forum is also very helpful and the Ultimate Kauai Revealed is incredibly detailed - even if you don%26#39;t have time to read it until your flight over to Kauai. Make sure you go to Smith%26#39;s Luau. Best wishes to you both! :)