please - need help with my hawaiian honeymoon!

We went to Oahu for the last 4 days days of our honeymoon this time last year. We had started off in New York and San Fran. It was a bit built up, but was lovely. We stayed in the Sheraton Princess Kailani Hotel and it was plush! Lovely views from our room. We saw the other islands when we did a helicoptor trip. There are some fantastic restuarants too-if you do go, you must eat at Roys (fantastic seafood)and there is a revolving restaurant called Top of Waikiki which was also fab.

HTH

We went to san fran and then Hawaii - we stayed in Oahu at the Outrigger Waikiki on the beach - excellent location straight on the beach. I agree it is built up and if what you want is paradise I dont think Oahu is for you. Waikiki beach is lovely but definately cant be described as quiet. We knew all this and chose it because we wanted things to do - we would have been bored with just hotel and beach. We were told by someone in waikiki that some of the other islands are a step back and dont even have a McDonalds, lol (Not that we visited McDonalds in Waikiki either). But I haven't been to any of the others so cant comment.

We had a fab time - definately agree with reccomendation for resturant 'top of Waikiki'. Vegas is fab too - try and stay somewhere central on the strip - if you do a tour package a lot of circus circus as a hotel - I personally didn't think this was a nice hotel (didn't stay just visited) and its at the end of the strip.

Hope you find somewhere you are happy with.

For our honeymoon we did Miami/The Keys, then Oahu, Big Island then New York. Hawaii was without question the best places we went to. I absolutley loved it and I hope we get to go back one day.

Oahu is the most built up but don't let this put you off. We were just a few mins walk from Waikki Beach but actually only went there one late afternoon evening. We hired a car and spent our four days driving round the island. There is so much beautiful scenery and you will want to stop off every 20 mins or so to look at the next gorgeos secluded beach you have come across. Pearl Harbour is in Oahu which was interesting. Hamanu Bay (sp) is a lovely place to spend a few hours on the beach snorkelling, Diamond Head Crater for a walk/hike to the top of the Crater for great views of Wakikki, gorgeous walks up to waterfalls, sunset cruises on boats. I'm sure you will love Oahu, it doesn't have to be all commerical/touristy. I found it stunning, I loved the contrast from beautiful beaches to 10 mins later lush rainforest amazing.

Big Island is (as the name suggests!) much bigger so there's more driving. We went up to the live volcano and saw the lava flowing into the sea. We got to the look out point (this changes depending on the flow) just before dusk and its amzing to watch the lava glow brighter as the sun sets. Gorgeous waterfalls too.

I don't have any pic on line but if you want to email me on ****@***********.**.** I'd be happy to show you some piccies.

I want to go back!! lol

We stayed in the Hilton Hawaiian Hotel in Oahu. It was a beautiful hotel, and although Oahu is kind of built up it had an awful lot for us to do which was important for us.

Thanks for all your advice as you know its so important and i want first hand advice! We are thinking of stopping at the Kahala Hotel and Resort in Waikiki which is about 10 mins away from cente - if anyone has stopped here please get in touch as i would love to hear from you!! ******************@*****.**.**

Hi

A brief description- oahu is more build up and has highest number of tourists/ resort areas but still lovely. Big Island has black sand beaches, volcanoes and probably doesn't look as typically 'tropical' in the sense you would imagine from Hawaii. Kauai is called the garden isle and has wetter weather than the other islands but as a result is very tropical with plants and green scenery. Maui is similar to Oahu but less built up and touristy but also more expensive. Anyone I've known who has been has loved the island they went to for one reason or other so don't think you can really go wrong!

Look at this website http://www.wizardpub.com/main/home.html - the resort reviews are very helpful. And when you decide which island to go to I would recommend purchasing the book too http://www.amazon.co.uk/Oahu-Revealed-Ultimate-Honolulu-Waikiki/dp/097172797X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1226824093&sr=8-2

I'm going to Maui soon and can't wait! x

As others have put, Oahu, is quite commercialised, and is one of the more popular islands, there is also history and culture in Oahu. The beaches are great for surfing, boogie boarding, snorkeling and fishing ect.

Maui is the second largest island, and is quite popular with the family market. Big Island is the largest of the islands, and probably the least commercialised, though do not let this put you off either...... There is a live volcano, great beaches, and again lots of water sports available. They Hyatt and the Fairmont are both excellent hotels.

Kauai is quite unspoiled and very green, and is great particularly if you are quite active, and enjoying hiking and biking ect - not sure this is what you want to do on your honeymoon though!!!

You could also consider, doing a twin centre option if you cant decide which island, and spend a few days in each.

Others have mentioned lots of different options of going to Hawaii and another destination on route or on the say back. Let me know if you need more info.

Alison x