Excited post!

Wow that is so exciting!!!!!

we can only have 10 days after the wedding but i think that will be ok, hoping to go back to Los Angeles and Las Vegas, but Hawaii is looking good too, tough choice!

yay exciting stuff ?

Hawaii sounds lovely! I fancy that! Any idea if it's a good idea to go there in september? x

That is really exciting what time of year is your wedding? Do you want more beach time or would you like an activity type honeymoon?

My wedding is in september. I really need someone to sell me a destination so i can convince my OH thats it's the best place ever! x

I don't normally post on Wp being an old married but I LOVE Hawaii and September is a great time to go (any time of year is great to go really as weather is pretty consistent).

With 2 weeks I would probably try and spend time on a couple of the Hawaiian Islands as they are all quite different, but all lovely. Or perhaps a bit of time on West Coast USA (California/Las vegas?) and then Hawaii. I would do the busier part of the holiday first (West Coast or Oahu) and then the more relaxing last.

Maui- more expensive and more 'upscale' than other Islands. Sunny beaches, some great restaurants, a volcano in the middle. West Maui is slightly busier, South Maui more upscale, east maui remote and quiet. Great Island for snorkeling.

Oahu- The Honolulu area of Oahu is very busy, loads of shops and many many high rise hotels along the beach in Waikiki. Very bustling and metropolitan. Not a relaxing destination but good for a contrast to the rest of Hawaii. Oahu North shore is fantastic for surfing, much more relaxed with a 'hippy' vibe. Nice 'Turtle Bay' resort is here. Lots to explore like Pearl Harbour and more museums etc on this Island.

Kauai- Known as the garden isle- the north shore can be quite rainy but as a result is very beautiful and 'tropical'. The south shore is sunnier. Lots of movies filmed here and you can tour the different set locations. Also fantastic for helicopter tours. A quiet Island with no "big" resort area.

Big Island- I know least about this Island as haven't been myself. Friends who have been love it though. It has an active volcano and is not your typical image of Hawaii because of the volcanic landscape. Lots of black sand beaches. As the name would suggest this is also the biggest Island.

There are also a couple of smaller Islands.

http://www.gohawaii.com/

http://www.gohawaii.com/about_hawaii/learn/choose_an_island

PS Sorry for the essay. I do not work in tourism, although I may sound like it. I just love Hawaii

Thank you so much! I think you're the person that has really sold it to me! Hope you don't mind me saving your post for future references! x

May I throw Kenya into the ring??

We stayed at PInewood Village in 2006 - and adored it. https://www.pinewood-village.com/index.htm

Its a small, exclusive little place with only a handful of villas. You have the option of having your own chef to come in and cook your dinner for you every night, which we did and it was just fabulous. Its not at all pretentious but has a real air of intimacy and non-commercialisation about it. The staff are fab. Its right on the beach but unless you are really hardcore you'd not 'sunbathe' out there but its great for a stroll /paddle. Its a totally open beach - no shade and the sea can be quite rough. But Pinewood has a fabby swimming pool which we had to ourselves most of the time as most folk are out on trips and safari. Beautiful gardens, lots of monkeys around which are highly entertaining ... just a really nice chill out kinda place.

It has a swim up bar which is great, and the lunches are good too. The rooms are really nice - basic but well done and using all local materials - there is a real story about how Pinewood came into being - it really was built from nothing by locals - there is nothing 'chain hotel' about this place at all. This was my review on trip advisor ...

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g1183084-d501239-r4454469-Pinewood_Beach_Resort_And_Spa-Galu_Beach_Coast_Province.html

We also did a night at Nvodo Treehouse which was just amazing... out in the bush, totally isolated. A totally awesome experience. https://www.africanmeccasafaris.com/travel-guide/kenya/accommodation

We also did a 2 day safari to Tsavo - which included a night stop over here https://www.sarovahotels.com/saltlick/index.php and this was fabulous experience.

We also did a trip to this place http://www.paradiselostkenya.com/ - it was a day trip and then a meal (which is where Mr SP finally properly proposed to me after 8 yrs of engagement!) and this was well worth doing ... just for the food alone!

And this was in two weeks and we didn't feel we'd over done it at all!

I've heaps of piccies if you want to see any!

Mrs SP x

No I don't mind you saving my post at all, and here's a couple of photos from my latest trip to Maui to help tempt you some more!

Beach where we stayed.

View from our balcony

Another beach!

The tripadvisor forums are also quite good for asking questions and finding info http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g28932-i36-Hawaii.html

HTH Beth

PS My sister has been to Kenya and loved that too...

Ooooh you lucky thing.....looks and sounds lovely, a hol in a lifetime x