Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Eh - I didn’t love it. Especially given the distance. The hikes were nice but it wasn’t that special to me. Maybe it had been built up too much? I was just underwhelmed by it and overwhelmed by the tourism.

If you go again, you should get out of the main touristy areas.

Oh we did and they are everywhere. There are portions that are truly lovely but between the tourists, the traffic and frankly the lack of land mammals, it just wasn’t my thing. Oh and the freaking chickens everywhere. IMO there are some truly lovely things about it but it’s a mess overall and for me just not worth the trip. For a few more hours of travel I’d rather go to Australia or New Zealand.

Where did you go? If you do ever go back there are less touristy areas if you don’t like built-up areas or lots of tourists.

Aruba felt very safe.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Eh - I didn’t love it. Especially given the distance. The hikes were nice but it wasn’t that special to me. Maybe it had been built up too much? I was just underwhelmed by it and overwhelmed by the tourism.

If you go again, you should get out of the main touristy areas.

Oh we did and they are everywhere. There are portions that are truly lovely but between the tourists, the traffic and frankly the lack of land mammals, it just wasn’t my thing. Oh and the freaking chickens everywhere. IMO there are some truly lovely things about it but it’s a mess overall and for me just not worth the trip. For a few more hours of travel I’d rather go to Australia or New Zealand.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Try St. John first. Much shorter flight and similar activities to be had.

OP here, I've considered St. John many times but they don't seem to have much in the way of hotels? Lodging always confuses me.

DP. We stayed in a VRBO there and loved it. I only went with my husband - I would like to return with my kids. I personally would not stay in a hotel there - the house rentals seem better now that Caneel Bay is not open.

Has the island recovered since the big hurricane?

Hoping Caneel Bay returns. Such a beautiful place.

I hadn’t been there before the hurricane but we thought it was great in summer 2021

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not worth it with little kids. Ask me how I know.

Won’t go back until our youngest is at least 8 years old.

My nine year old has already gone twice. Worth it for us!

We went with our 4 year old and a year later he still says it’s his favorite. We did big island and did hiking and beaches. If your into the outdoors then it’s worth it but not just for the beach

Oh that’s great that your 4 year old loved it! I am one of those people that think Hawaii is just better than Caribbean so am waiting for a good age to go.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not worth it with little kids. Ask me how I know.

Won’t go back until our youngest is at least 8 years old.

My nine year old has already gone twice. Worth it for us!

We went with our 4 year old and a year later he still says it’s his favorite. We did big island and did hiking and beaches. If your into the outdoors then it’s worth it but not just for the beach

Personally I love Hawaii. If you’re just going to sit on the beach and not leave the resort, many Caribbean islands will do. But I love the vibe of Hawaii, it being part of if the US (so feeling familiar enough to drive around islands, at night, etc.) yet still remote and Polynesian feeling. For me Hawaii is the ideal vacation, but obviously it’s a shlep to get out there.

If you are just going to hang out at the beach, I'd say not worth it, go to the Caribbean. We did Hawaii with teens and had a great time on the big island -- a bit of beach time but the big draw was volcanos, hiking, and going up to the Mauna Kea observatory was really cool.

Anonymous wrote:Eh - I didn’t love it. Especially given the distance. The hikes were nice but it wasn’t that special to me. Maybe it had been built up too much? I was just underwhelmed by it and overwhelmed by the tourism.

If you go again, you should get out of the main touristy areas.

Eh - I didn’t love it. Especially given the distance. The hikes were nice but it wasn’t that special to me. Maybe it had been built up too much? I was just underwhelmed by it and overwhelmed by the tourism.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We do. Nothing closer really compares.

Maybe some parts of the Caribbean could compare certain times of the year. But then those places aren’t any cheaper.

We feel the same way. We love Hawaii and think it’s worth the long trip. We enjoy places in the Caribbean too but haven’t found any we like better than Hawaii.

Same here. Hawaii is just a special place to us. Have taken kids three times.

We feel this way too. We have done a bunch of trips to the Caribbean between Hawaii trips and it just doesn't compare. We just went to Maui with elementary school kids and it was amazing. Good mix of hotel resort pool/beach and day trips around the island.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It depends on what it is you want out of a vacation. I know foodies who had an absolutely miserable time. Hikers will have the time of their lives, in contrast.

Honolulu has some of the best food in the world. I literally don’t understand how a foodie could go wrong there.

+1

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Try St. John first. Much shorter flight and similar activities to be had.

OP here, I've considered St. John many times but they don't seem to have much in the way of hotels? Lodging always confuses me.

DP. We stayed in a VRBO there and loved it. I only went with my husband - I would like to return with my kids. I personally would not stay in a hotel there - the house rentals seem better now that Caneel Bay is not open.

Has the island recovered since the big hurricane?

Hoping Caneel Bay returns. Such a beautiful place.

Anonymous wrote:I am not a beach person so the attraction for me is the volcano, hiking, unique landscape. If you just want a beach vacation, Hawaii is too far.

If you go, fly to CA or WA and spend a couple nights before going on, do the same on return. It will help the jet lag and break up the long flight. Doing it nonstop is too much.

We’ve done East Coast to Hawaii 4x and have never spent a night anywhere. I have no interest losing Hawaii time to a night in Seattle or whatever. Just a different view.

We’ve gone through Denver (never again), LA, SF, Seattle, and Phoenix. The way there is easier in terms of jet lag. Almost always red eye back, with at least a day to recoup before school/work. I think I’ve reached the place in my life and have older teens, we plan to do all the way to Hawaii next time. I don’t mind if we have to do Honolulu to Maui or something, but we’ve had enough connection issues, I’m going nonstop next time.

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

Off the top of my head - I felt ok in Aruba and St John.

I didn't feel great outside our resort in Jamaica.