3/26 I've never been to Hawaii before, but I just booked a flight to
Kauai for me and my gf (who has been to Oahu). I'd like some
travel advice. Which side of the island to stay on, what not to
miss, etc.
\_ There's not a huge amount of choice as to "where to stay",
it's a small island. Shell out the $$$$ for a helicopter
ride over the island. Drive as far around the island as
you can, too. I wasn't able to do much hiking 'cause of
my girlfriend at the time, but I wish I had. You prob.
don't need more than 3 days on a single island: consider
a flight to The Big Island, which has awesome volcanos if
you are there for more than 3 days. Inter-island flights
run between $100 to $150. For stuff more specific than
that, just look in guidebooks.
\_ Hawaiian tourist helicopters crash and burn at an alarming
rate. The pilots tend to be yahoos. My friends took a
flight for their first anniversary. The pilot crashed it,
and everyone died except my friend, who stayed alive in
the wreckage with her dead husband until rescuers arrived.
Being pinned under the wreckage is what was keeping her
alive, as it turns out. When the moved stuff, she died.
Helicopters are statistically the most unsafe way to fly
with an engine. That doesn't stop me from heli-skiing,
but in that activity the chopper is just a ski lift. The
pilots don't fly you around to thrill you with the ride
like those hawaiian tourist rides.
\_ Man, I'm sorry to hear about your friend and her
husband.
\_ Actually, there's a massive amount of choice in where to
stay. Megaresorts, small cottages, condos, private houses,
budget motels, and so on. Then there's the question of which
side of the island to stay on. If you are up in Hanalei then
it's a long (2-3 hour) drive to Waimea. So I'm looking for
someone who has been who can tell me if I should split the
distance between the two or if more activities are
concentrated in one area, etc.
\_ Resorts vs. not would be up to you if you want those hotel
amenities or not, I think. I think you can find better
locations with private rentals. I'd get something on the
waterfront though. Being up in a tall tower sucks, to me,
regardless of the view.
\_ There are no towers on Kauai.
\_ A helicopter is good, but a light plane is better. They can
cover more distance, which means getting into more isolated
areas, and it's more comfortable to boot. Costs should be about
the same for a given flight time, although you can probably get
longer flights in a plane than a helicopter.
\_ I am debating this. The plane is cheaper, but it cannot
hover or get as close to the ground. Helicopters have had
some bad crashes lately. I was first leaning to a plane,
but now a helicopter (for the reasons above). I have no
idea which is better w/o trying both. Have you been on both
for a tour like this?
\_ Take surfing/snorkling/scuba lessons.
\_ Wear sunscreen, especially the first day.
\_ A very good advice
\_ On a serious note - stay in Koloa (south side of the island) where
it is less rainy than the Princeville (north of the island) and
Lihue (east side of the island). My wife and I married in the Koloa
area - PLENTY of cheap but good condo (for $120/nite or less), and a
lot quieter. Don't expect Kauai to have much of a nightlife like
Maui (Lahaina) or Oahu (Waikiki), it is a family island (and the
locals would like to keep it that way). Stay, enjoy the sceneries
and behave! Check out NaPali coast (either via helicopter if you're
brave, from a bumpy boat ride or by hiking - it's 2 day worth of
hiking). Check out Duane's Ono Char-burger place, an island
institution. Go get the "Blue Book" on Kauai, we swear by it
everytime we go. |
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