Is Hawaii "worth it" from the east coast?

[Anonymous]

East Coast resident here who spends 5 weeks a year a year in Hawaii. Hawaii is great, it may not be for everyone. Hawaii is made up of 4 major islands, they are all different in their own right. As PPs have said, it's all about what you are looking for in a vacation. Yes, the flights are long, but doable. You will most likely have to change planes, unless you are going from IAD to HNL, which they cut back on the frequency of that flight. I have gone so many different routes to get there, my child has grown up going there too. It's our family favorite.

[Anonymous]

If the weather is good, nothing beats Hawaii. It's so much better than the Caribbean. Every time I fly there I think why the heck am I going so far? And then I arrive and remember why. That said, there are times when there are heavy winds and rain for days and the of course you regret going so far and paying so much. But when it's nice, it's amazing.

[Anonymous]

I think it's worth it to go with teens.

I went pre-kids and loved Hawaii, but now we have a toddler and a kindergartener. The time, cost and hassle just is not worth it to me right now. I'd love to go back as a family when they are older.

For the PP who asked about safe places in the Caribbean, we like Aruba and Grand Cayman.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:East Coast resident here who spends 5 weeks a year a year in Hawaii. Hawaii is great, it may not be for everyone. Hawaii is made up of 4 major islands, they are all different in their own right. As PPs have said, it's all about what you are looking for in a vacation. Yes, the flights are long, but doable. You will most likely have to change planes, unless you are going from IAD to HNL, which they cut back on the frequency of that flight. I have gone so many different routes to get there, my child has grown up going there too. It's our family favorite.

IAD to HNL - is that United? What was/is the frequency?

[Anonymous]

I've been twice and feel no need to ever go again. I wouldn't even have gone for the second time except that a family member really wanted to go. I find it to be overly crowded, touristy, overpriced, bad traffic and the flight is ungodly long. Not worth it in my opinion.

I love the Caribbean and Costa Rica much more.

[Anonymous]

Only been once to Maui (pre-kids) and it was amazing. I'll wait till my kids are 12-14 before we go back, I think at the time the long flight will be worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:East Coast resident here who spends 5 weeks a year a year in Hawaii. Hawaii is great, it may not be for everyone. Hawaii is made up of 4 major islands, they are all different in their own right. As PPs have said, it's all about what you are looking for in a vacation. Yes, the flights are long, but doable. You will most likely have to change planes, unless you are going from IAD to HNL, which they cut back on the frequency of that flight. I have gone so many different routes to get there, my child has grown up going there too. It's our family favorite.

IAD to HNL - is that United? What was/is the frequency?

It looks like they run nonstop every Saturday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it's worth it to go with teens.

I went pre-kids and loved Hawaii, but now we have a toddler and a kindergartener. The time, cost and hassle just is not worth it to me right now. I'd love to go back as a family when they are older.

For the PP who asked about safe places in the Caribbean, we like Aruba and Grand Cayman.

I went to Hawaii a few times back when I lived in California. Now live in DC and DH really wanted to go but I made him wait until our kids were in middle school. I was not going to do that long plane ride with young kids. It was a fun trip but not itching to do it again. I guess part of it is that, as a former Californian, Hawaii doesn't feel that much different to me than going to Florida or the Caribbean as a trip but it a lot longer/more expensive to get there.

[Anonymous]

So much driving to do things on most of the islands, and the traffic is BAD. Also, those of you talking about poverty in the Caribbean...there is PLENTY of poverty and crime in Hawaii.

The only island I would maybe consider visiting again would be Kauai.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let me ask this question. Is there any part of the Caribbean where you don't constantly feel like you're about to be robbed or raped? I have sailed around the BVI, been to Bahamas and Jamaica. Super super sketchy once you are but two feet outside your resort. Even at the resorts I always feel my stuff is at risk. Hawaii is not like this in most parts

You felt that way sailing around the BVI? That is a little nuts, imo. Maybe you just aren’t cut out for int’l travel?

Aruba, Grand Cayman, Grenadines, Barbados, Martinique, Curacao all felt safe (or certainly not “super sketchy”), not to mention US islands like PR, Vieques, St John.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let me ask this question. Is there any part of the Caribbean where you don't constantly feel like you're about to be robbed or raped? I have sailed around the BVI, been to Bahamas and Jamaica. Super super sketchy once you are but two feet outside your resort. Even at the resorts I always feel my stuff is at risk. Hawaii is not like this in most parts

You felt that way sailing around the BVI? That is a little nuts, imo. Maybe you just aren’t cut out for int’l travel?

Aruba, Grand Cayman, Grenadines, Barbados, Martinique, Curacao all felt safe (or certainly not “super sketchy”), not to mention US islands like PR, Vieques, St John.

And forgot St Barth’s where I felt like the poor one

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let me ask this question. Is there any part of the Caribbean where you don't constantly feel like you're about to be robbed or raped? I have sailed around the BVI, been to Bahamas and Jamaica. Super super sketchy once you are but two feet outside your resort. Even at the resorts I always feel my stuff is at risk. Hawaii is not like this in most parts

You felt that way sailing around the BVI? That is a little nuts, imo. Maybe you just aren’t cut out for int’l travel?

Aruba, Grand Cayman, Grenadines, Barbados, Martinique, Curacao all felt safe (or certainly not “super sketchy”), not to mention US islands like PR, Vieques, St John.

And forgot St Barth’s where I felt like the poor one

Bahamas Out islands are safe. You could also just cruise to safely visit the islands you’re interested in visiting.

Side note but in many large cities in Europe, your risk of getting robbed is pretty high. And I personally have felt at greater risk of being robbed and raped (and SHOT) in the US (including DC!) than I ever have in any of the many beautiful Caribbean islands I’ve visited. Those misfortunes don’t typically happen to tourists (happens but is very rare).

[Anonymous]

This is such a subjective question, as you can see by the responses. DH and I went last year, no kids. It was nice and everything but we were totally on the same page that we would never do it again unless we were going to do adventurous things. IMO it is definitely not worth it over the Caribbean for a lazy beach vacation.

[Anonymous]

Yes but I always do a stopover on the West coast to break up the trip. I have been three times, twice with kids and I would go again.

[Anonymous]

We like to fly to LAX, stay the night, then fly to Hawaii. The flights aren't as long and the night in CA gets us a jump start on timezones. We are also usually able to use miles to get to LAX, making the trip much more affordable.