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Kauai and Oahu HoneymoonsFind other tips & info in Articles and Information
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| Many couples dream of going to Hawaii for their honeymoon. It is a place of unspoiled splendor and beauty. I have had the good fortune of traveling to Hawaii several times and want to share with you my experiences. I have stayed on the Hawaiian islands of Kauai and Oahu.
KAUAI: Poipu & the North Shore My first trip to Hawaii was to Kauai, referred to as the Garden Isle. On the south, sunny side of Kauai you’ll find Poipu. This area is a favorite for sunbathers and snorklers. You can catch a great sunset in Poipu. There are many hotels, condos, and bed & breakfasts located there. On the other side of Kauai is its lush North Shore. Beyond a doubt this is one of the most beautiful places in the world. The area abounds with lush vegetation, verdant valleys, soaring mountains, and of course, the beautiful ocean. I sat on the beach mesmerized by the beauty of Bali Hi. It is known to rain a lot in the North Shore, but my experience did not bear that out. On my first and second trip I experienced sunny days. On the third trip I experienced only some cloudy days and rain — not so much that it ruined the trip. But be forewarned that it is more likely to rain in the North Shore of Kauai than in the southern portion of the island. There is one main road on the island of Kauai and I don’t recommend traveling back and forth between the southern and northern sides of the island. It takes about 1 1/2 hours to drive between Poipu and the North Shore. Kauai Marriott Resort & Beach Club On my first trip to Kauai I split my time between the south and North Shore. I stayed at the luxurious Kauai Marriott Resort and Beach Club (www.marriott.com/lihhi) in Lihue about 15 minutes east of Poipu near the south shore. Arriving in the early evening, bleary eyed from the long airplane ride, I was captivated by the entrance to the hotel. Tiki torches line the meandering driveway and lush vegetation surrounds you. As you enter the hotel you go down an escalator to the lobby. As you descend the escalator you are greeted by a gorgeous courtyard complete with Koi pond and a huge open air lobby. A soft breeze accompanies you. Water Recreation As you travel through the Kauai Marriott Resort you come to the water recreation area. This Marriott boasts one of the largest swimming pools in the islands — and I mean it is huge. It is a round pool with hot tubs and fountains. The pool faces the ocean. The hotel is a u-shape surrounding the pool. Next to the Kauai Marriott’s pool is the main dining area. Like many restaurants in Hawaii, it is open air. Travel just a few steps and you are standing on the beautiful crescent shaped Kalapaki Bay. The water in the bay is calm and perfect for swimming, although it is not a snorkeling destination. Small waves crash upon the beach. Palm trees surround you. A word about the ocean water in Hawaii — it is cold! I was a little surprised on my first trip to discover the Pacific didn’t have the same warmth as Caribbean waters. Don’t let that deter you. On a hot day the cool water feels great. Accommodations The rooms at the Kauai Marriott Resort are comfy and decorated nicely. All the rooms are air conditioned. If you are considering staying at a bed & breakfast or condo, note that most of them do not have air conditioning. If you or your spouse tends to get warm, you may want to keep that in mind. Hawaii is not hot like Texas. For example, the average high temperature for Dallas in June is 92 degrees and the average high temperature for Lihue in June is 83 degrees. There is usually a breeze in Kauai but it can get a bit warm. The Princeville Resort After my time in the south side of Kauai, I ventured up to Princeville on the North Shore. The North Shore is my favorite place in Hawaii. As I got closer to the North Shore the panorama changed. It is much more thinly populated, greener and more tropical feeling. Nothing short of dramatic describes the lobby of the Princeville Resort (www.princevillehotelhawaii.com/). A valet takes your car and handles the check-in for you. The oversized Princeville Resort lobby has an enormous window overlooking romantic Hanalei Bay. It is an incredible view. The hotel is deluxe and expensive, but is located on one of the most beautiful spots on earth. Swim and Sun The Princeville Resort includes a negative edge pool which looks out over Hanalei Bay. Three hot tubs are near the pool. The beach area is small and a disappointment to some but the view, in my opinion, more than makes up for it. Hanalei Bay is generally calm and there are reefs right off the beach where you can snorkel or scuba dive. There are a couple of small hidden beaches right near the hotel that are fun to visit. Ask the Princeville Resort concierge for directions. Golf Kauai offers a real treat for golfers. Enjoy a 45 hole golf course at the Princeville Resort. It was rated the number one golf course in Hawaii by Golf Digest Magazine. Hike There are many hiking trails in Kauai and one of the most beautiful is the Kalalau Trail that starts at the end of the road in Haena State Park at the northwest tip of the island. The trail is 11 miles long and can be quite challenging. If you want to hike the whole trail and camp along the way you must get a permit from the State Park. They only give out a handful of permits at any given time so plan ahead if you want to hike the trail. Most people opt for going 2 miles in and then doing a u-turn back to the start of the trail. You do not need a permit to hike the 2 miles. Much of the Kalalau trail follows along the coastline and offers a breathtaking view of the Pacific Ocean. Waves crash along the shore far below you. At the end of the 2 miles you end up at a small beautiful bay. The water in this bay is majestic but too rough for swimming. Boat & Kayak If you are not the hiking type, take a Captain Zodiac (http://captainzodiac.com/) boat tour or kayaking trip of the Napali coast. The beauty of the coast is worth a trip. Fly No trip to Kauai is complete without a helicopter tour of the island. You’ll see many areas inaccessible by car or foot. In fact much of the island can only be seen by air. You will enjoy spectacular waterfalls, Waimea Canyon (called the Grand Canyon of the Pacific), valleys, mountains, rain forests, secluded beaches, and the Napali coast. You’ll fly over the Mount Waialeale Crater with the wettest spot on earth. This mountain boasts some of the most incredible waterfalls on Kauai. Other Kauai Resorts - Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas - North Shore (www.specialoffers.starwoodhotels.com/Westin_Princeville/) - Hanalei Colony Resort - North Shore (www.hcr.com) - Sheraton Kauai Resort - Poipu (www.sheraton-kauai.com) - Gloria’s Spouting Horn Bed and Breakfast - Poipu (www.gloriasbedandbreakfast.com) Kauai Attractions and Highlights - Fern Grotto - Kauai Museum (www.kauaimuseum.org/) - Kilauea Lighthouse - Spouting Horn - Waimea Canyon Plan Ahead The Princeville Resort is set to start renovations on the hotel in August 2008. The resort will be closed from September 19, 2008 to April 19, 2009. When it reopens it will be re-branded St. Regis Princeville. Call 808-826-2478 for more information. OAHU: Honolulu & Waikiki Famous Honolulu and Waikiki are located on the island of Oahu. Driving from Honolulu International Airport to your hotel is like driving in any major city. Eighty percent of Hawaii’s population is located on Oahu so there is tremendous congestion on the major highways. While in Oahu, I stayed on the western side of the island and on the North Shore. JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa The JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa (www.Ihilani.com) is a deluxe resort on the western side of Oahu and is situated on 640 acres. It includes 4 picture perfect man-made lagoons with swaying palm trees. The hotel overlooks one of the lagoons on one side and the open ocean on the other side. Rooms are spacious and comfortable with large balconies. Considering the size of the resort the main pool is rather small, at least compared to the enormous pool at the Kauai Marriott Resort. However, the Marriott Ihilani Resort’s lagoon is very calm and perfect for swimming and sunbathing. Golf or Spa There is an 18 hole golf course on the Marriott Ihilani Resort’s property. If you like to golf but your partner doesn’t, the resort also has a state-of-the art spa facility. Its services include personal fitness training, full and half day spa programs, massage therapies, face and skin care, water therapies, hydro massage for men, nail care and more. Turtle Bay Resort Driving northward from busy Honolulu to the North Shore of Oahu is like entering another world. The landscape becomes lush and ocean waves crash against the beaches. The view reminds me of the island of Kauai, but not quite as lush. Turtle Bay Resort(www.turtlebayresort.com) is located on a peninsula jutting out into the ocean on the North Shore. The rooms at Turtle Bay are nice and spacious, and all of them face the ocean. Turtle Bay Resort Cottages My jaw fell open as I entered one of the Turtle Bay Resort Cottages. Standing in the doorway, looking through the large sliding glass doorways, I was mesmerized by the gorgeous beach only 25 yards from the cottage. I could hear the sounds of waves gently lapping up on the beach. The cottages are deluxe and decorated handsomely. The rooms are bi-level with warm hardwood floors. There is a large sitting area. A wet bar is located in the King cottages. Spacious light-filled marbled bathrooms with large soaking tub and separate shower await you. The cottages are expensive but if you are planning on splurging on your honeymoon I can hardly think of a better place. The best rates that I have found for the cottages are from Pleasant Holidays through AAA (www.AAA.com). The nightly rates are a little over $500 per night and some of the packages offer a free night. A travel agent may be able to get good rates for you, too. I do not recommend booking from Turtle Bay’s website because the cottage rates are significantly higher. When booking a cottage I recommend asking for one close to the water as some cottages are set back from the beach. As an aside, I recommend AAA as a dependable travel resource. They have the best car rental rates that I have found and because of their size they are able to negotiate terrific hotel rates. You can search for car rentals and hotels on their site and book right on their website. Recreation Turtle Bay has two swimming pools. One is a shallow, heated, tropical-style pool with slide and the other is a non heated (cold!) pool that has a deep end. There are two hot tubs. The Turtle Bay Resort has almost 5 miles of beachfront. They have a bounty of activities including miles of oceanfront and seaside trails, horseback riding, tennis, surfing, spa, and a 36 hole golf course. The North Shore of Oahu is famous for its surfing in the winter time. When you see huge, dramatic surfing waves on TV, the scene was probably filmed on the North Shore of Oahu. In the winter waves up to 30 feet break offshore. Waikiki A word about Waikiki in Oahu — the area is “touristy.” There are a string of beautiful hotels along the Waikiki corridor. If you are looking for a bustling, busy, high-energy honeymoon this may be the place for you. In Waikiki you’ll find lots of shopping, active nightlife, and busy beaches. If you prefer a more laid back honeymoon I would not recommend Waikiki. Another Oahu Resort - Halekulani Hotel (www.halekulani.com/) It is spread over 5 acres of beachfront in Waikiki. This is a lush and luxurious hotel, very beautiful and the staff is accommodating. Oahu Attractions & Highlights - Bishop Museum (www.bishopmuseum.org) - Diamond Head - Dole Plantation (www.dole-plantation.com) - North Shore surfing competitions - USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor (www.nps.gov/usar) - Waikiki Aquarium (www.waquarium.org/) Jameson’s by the Sea Restaurant One of my favorite restaurants on the North Shore of Oahu is Jameson’s by the Sea (www.jamesonshawaii.com/jamesonshaleiwa.htm). It is located in the nearby town of Haleiwa about 25 minutes from the Turtle Bay resort. Jameson’s offers sashimi, fresh island fish, steak, lobster tail, and a vegetable platter. The restaurant overlooks the ocean and is perfect for a sunset dinner. When making a reservation request patio seating. SHARE THE LOVE As a final note, wherever you stay in Hawaii, be sure to tell the hotel that you are honeymooners. Everyone loves honeymooners and they may offer you special perks during your stay or incentives to come back – such as a discount stay on your one-year anniversary. GO HAWAII For more information about what to do and see, visit Hawaii’s Official Tourism Site (www.gohawaii.com). If you want to get married on Hawaii go to the Hawaii State Department of Health website (www.hawaii.gov/health/vital-records/vital-records/marriage/index.html) for marriage license information. I hope this helps your decision making process. Congratulations and Aloha! Rachel Sommer |
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Comments:
By: Katrina
AWESOME!