Hawaii or Greece?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seems like one person here is ratcheting up the hate on Hawaii for no reason, while everyone else is giving a balanced view of both. OP, take that FWIW.

I don't see much if any hate for "Hawaii." I do see some dislike and criticism of Oahu. I don't think that's surprising at all to anyone who's been to multiple islands, and other similar destinations.

[Anonymous]

If you just want beaches, I would suggest somewhere in the Caribbean instead of Hawaii. I have been to Hawaii 5 or 6 times. Sure, it's great but the flights are so long for kids. Several Caribbean Islands are gorgeous + you can get there much faster.

You wrote you haven't been to Greece. I would pick that over Hawaii. Which do your kids prefer?

Oaha, BTW, is about as crowded as Manhattan now...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you just want beaches, I would suggest somewhere in the Caribbean instead of Hawaii. I have been to Hawaii 5 or 6 times. Sure, it's great but the flights are so long for kids. Several Caribbean Islands are gorgeous + you can get there much faster.

You wrote you haven't been to Greece. I would pick that over Hawaii. Which do your kids prefer?

Oaha, BTW, is about as crowded as Manhattan now...

Manhattan has a population density 43x higher than Oahu.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you just want beaches, I would suggest somewhere in the Caribbean instead of Hawaii. I have been to Hawaii 5 or 6 times. Sure, it's great but the flights are so long for kids. Several Caribbean Islands are gorgeous + you can get there much faster.

You wrote you haven't been to Greece. I would pick that over Hawaii. Which do your kids prefer?

Oaha, BTW, is about as crowded as Manhattan now...

Manhattan has a population density 43x higher than Oahu.

Oahu is an entire island; Honolulu and specifically the Waikiki beach area may be (relatively) dense, but not so the rest of the island.

[Anonymous]

Manhattan is still about two or three times more dense than Waikiki.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:With kids, Hawaii. There is so much more things to do besides great beaches.

Lots of cool stops, sites and places to see. Great resorts with huge pools and kids clubs. So easy to get around the island with rental car. If you have 2 weeks, you can do 2 islands and both very different.

There's lots to do in Greece that isn't beaches too. We spent a week in Greece and never went to the beach once.

+1 I don't understand how DCUM is going to Greece and not finding the same "lots to do besides beaches" experience.

I’m the PP. Sure there are things to do in Greece but it just doesn’t compare to the variety and interests of Hawaii when you are talking about kids.

Well sure, if your kids are stupid I guess.

PP guess your mother did not teach you manners.

Nope high performing kid who is well traveled since we prioritize it.

During elementary years, his absolute favorite was Hawaii and Australia because there was so much to do at that age.

Not the PP who talked about kids being stupid, but my elementary schooler loved Greece and hates beaches. Kids are different, and it would have been helpful for OP to mention what her kids have liked in other travels.

OP said her kids are young elementary so prob 5-7 years old. They are not going to appreciate the things that makes Greece good besides the beaches. Hawaii is geared for more activities at that age. Plus staying at a fantastic all inclusive with kids club of which there are many great ones in Hawaii, not so in Greece, will give OP and spouse some of their own down time and do some non kids stuff.

You obviously have never stayed at a high-end all-inclusive resort in Greece. Of course they have kids clubs.

I can't imagine going all the way to Greece and staying in a resort, though. Way too much to see.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:With kids, Hawaii. There is so much more things to do besides great beaches.

Lots of cool stops, sites and places to see. Great resorts with huge pools and kids clubs. So easy to get around the island with rental car. If you have 2 weeks, you can do 2 islands and both very different.

There's lots to do in Greece that isn't beaches too. We spent a week in Greece and never went to the beach once.

+1 I don't understand how DCUM is going to Greece and not finding the same "lots to do besides beaches" experience.

I’m the PP. Sure there are things to do in Greece but it just doesn’t compare to the variety and interests of Hawaii when you are talking about kids.

Well sure, if your kids are stupid I guess.

PP guess your mother did not teach you manners.

Nope high performing kid who is well traveled since we prioritize it.

During elementary years, his absolute favorite was Hawaii and Australia because there was so much to do at that age.

Not the PP who talked about kids being stupid, but my elementary schooler loved Greece and hates beaches. Kids are different, and it would have been helpful for OP to mention what her kids have liked in other travels.

OP said her kids are young elementary so prob 5-7 years old. They are not going to appreciate the things that makes Greece good besides the beaches. Hawaii is geared for more activities at that age. Plus staying at a fantastic all inclusive with kids club of which there are many great ones in Hawaii, not so in Greece, will give OP and spouse some of their own down time and do some non kids stuff.

You obviously have never stayed at a high-end all-inclusive resort in Greece. Of course they have kids clubs.

I can't imagine going all the way to Greece and staying in a resort, though. Way too much to see.

Greece isn't that far, relatively short flight, and actually isn't any further than Hawaii.

[Anonymous]

What do Greek resorts have that can't be replicated at a resort in the Caribbean?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do Greek resorts have that can't be replicated at a resort in the Caribbean?

Hotter locals.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Which would you choose?

With two young elementary age kids.

Husband and I went to Maui about 10 years or so ago. If Hawaii, we’d probably pick Oahu this time.

Never been to Greece but have always wanted to go

Kids are good travelers - have been to Portugal and Italy. They liked both but really enjoyed Italy (food was a big hit with them)

Hawaii seems more “kid-focused” but the logistics of getting there seem harder than going to Greece.

Is this from the DC area? With Greece you need to work in ferry time for most islands and they are notoriously unreliable. Can you explain why the logistics seem more difficult for Hawaii?

Not OP but Crete is an easy air trip and Hydra an easy, frequent ferry ride (and the Peloponnese is an easy drive). I wouldn’t say notoriously unreliable ferries are an inevitable problem in planning a trip to Greece.

PP here and yes I was thinking of Crete but people are very hot and cold on Crete. Some love it, some hate it, and usually when people ask about Greece they are thinking Cyclades.

Kids absolutely loved Crete. It definitely isn't that platonic idea of Greece but it was such a wonderful place. We stayed at the Marriott Domes of Elounda which was extremely kid friendly and went into A good Nikolos. Would have loved to explore more with more time.

Athens is definitely a must for a few days and the flight is super quick.

It's the most kid friendly place I've been. Kids were even prioritized for entrance at the Acropolis Museum.

[Anonymous]

They are totally different trip types. Many years ago we did spring break in Italy with our kids (ages 7, 9, 12) instead of the Caribbean and they didn’t want to go to Italy. After visiting Rome, Florence and Venice they begged to do it again the next year so we went to Paris and London. The Acropolis on its own will blow them away.

[Anonymous]

I may have missed this, but what time of year? My ES-age kids loved Greece and want to go back. We were there in October though. My older DC (who was 9 at the time) was way more into the history/mythology bit, but younger DC liked other aspects- the food, the cats, the beaches. After Athens we drove down to the Peloponnese and would typically do some sightseeing in the morning and hit up a beach in the afternoon. It was just so easy and family friendly.

[Anonymous]

Neither. Go to Cancun.

[Anonymous]

Greece 100%. Also way way cheaper.

[Anonymous]

Is not Greece timezone wise easier as well? I hate flying west.