Oahu Honeymoons - A Favorite Among Tourists (Lots to Do)

Oahu is the most populated island in Hawaii. Honolulu is the capital of the state and is considered a major metropolitan area. The traffic in Oahu is intense and can delay things a bit, especially if you are planning a destination wedding in the city, but the slight inconvenience can be offset by gorgeous settings for the wedding ceremony. You can find plenty of resources for wedding planning or honeymoon locations on the island. Honolulu is a favorite among Japanese tourists, so if you are from Japan and looking for a popular place to get married or spend your honeymoon, Oahu is a good choice.  There are plenty of Japanese translators and resources available to make the trip a little easier.

The main airport in Oahu (HNL) is a major hub for international flights from all over the world. The choice of hotels in the area is numerous and deals abound if you are willing to search some of the online discount hotel sites. You may want to also check into an all-inclusive Hawaii package with a ticket agent, since the discounts for this island are usually the best if packaged together.  Some of the main sites on the island are: Diamond Head (easily visible from Waikiki beach and a great place to hike), North Shore (some of the biggest waves in Hawaii and home to big surf riders), Dole Pinaepple plantation, Hanauma Bay and a Sea Life Park (you can see baby turtles there).

Best Places To Stay in Oahu

In Honololu – The bulk of hotels on this island are located in Honolulu. This city has basically everything you could want (shopping, shows, beaches, amazing restaurants, etc.).

The Kahala Hotel

The Royal Hawaiian

Trump International Hotel Waikiki

Halekulani

Hyatt Regency Waikiki

Outrigger Hotels (Reef and Waikiki)

Outside Honolulu – There are only a few major hotels outside of the Waikiki area. Many people actually like the fact that they can escape the hustle and bustle of the city to areas less developed. Here are a few of the choices:

JW Marriot Ihilani

Turtle Bay Resort

Aulani (Disneys new hotel)

Activities & Things To Do

Oahu Sunset Dinner Cruise with Buffet - Spend a romantic evening cruising the coast by Waikiki and Diamond head while enjoying  a delicious buffet dinner. This is a great way to see the city from a view that most other people never have discovered. The lights and backdrop Honolulu is breathtaking.

Half Day Tour of Diamond Head and Oahu - Mix historical, cultural and sightseeing adventure in this half day tour of key sites near Honolulu. This tour gives you a good of the city, they pick you up from your hotel, and the guide is really knowledgeable.

Paradise Cove Luau - A must see for anyone. We took our whole family and friends here right after the wedding and had a blast….all the Mai Tais you can drink. There are activities (like making a hat or lei) that go on directly before the feast and show.

Half Day Tour Of Snorkeling At Hanauma Bay- This small bay that was originally a volcano crater that collapsed is a success story. The reef at one time was badly destroyed, but over the past years Hawaii has managed to restore it considerably. The snorkeling here is perfect for those who don’t have much experience and want a place that will be easy to learn. The beach is also really nice for sunbathing.

Maui Honeymoons - Amazing Snorkeling Adventures

Maui remains a very popular island for visitors for several reasons. Whether your looking to bike down a volcano, or see humpback whales splashing off the coast, Maui is an ideal spot for taking in the beauty and adventure of the Hawaiian islands. This is recognized as the second biggest island in the chain, but still doesn’t feel over crowded.

The landscape of Maui is diverse, the remnants of old volcanic eruptions remain as you tour the island (specifically West Maui where the last recorded eruption was in the late 1700s). Some of the resources that Maui is well known for include coffee, sugar, pineapple, and papaya. Many visitors to this island enjoy the ability to find waterfalls easily, a national park, and gorgeous beaches. It is frequently recognized by many travel magazines as one of the best tourist destinations in the world.

The weather in Maui is ideal (averages of 75-82 degrees year round), moderated by the trade winds that pass through. The island receives rain although it is usually light and usually passes by quickly. There is one main airport and two other small airfields. It is a really quick 30 minute flight from Oahu if traveling by airplane.

Best Places To Stay in Maui

In Kapalua – Located in the northwest part of Maui, Kapalua Resort is a sprawling area of more than twenty thousand acres. The several white sand beaches here are considered prime spots for all sorts of water activities or beach lounging. The land hosts a mix of different attractions including natural sanctuaries, two amazing golf courses, prestigious resorts, and eclectic restaurants.

Aston Kaanapali Shores

Rated One of the Top Hotels In Maui

The Gardens at West Maui

The Ritz Carlton Kapalua Hotel

In Lahaina – The historic town of Lahaina is on the west side of the island. This place served as the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii for 25 years during the early part of the 19th century before moving to Honolulu. Also around this time, it was used a whaling village. Today, the harbor is used to ferry visitors out to view these magnificent ocean creatures.

Sheraton Maui Resort and Spa

Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa

The Westin Maui Resort

In Wailea - Known for its great golf courses and nice beaches, Wailea is nicely situated at the southern section of Maui. Besides the stellar hotels here, you can find a ton of activities, including great snorkeling or diving areas and outdoor running or walking at the parks. The shopping here is also worth checking out, even if you don’t plan on staying in this area.

Four Seasons Resort Maui

Wailea Beach Marriot Resort

Fairmont Kea Lani Maui

Activities & Things To Do

Old Lahaina Luau - This Luau is a favorite among visitors to Maui. It is located on Front St. in Lahaina. A great place for good food, an open bar, shows and other activities for any age group.

Island Value Pass - Great deal on 4 family type attractions (Atlantis Submarine, Maui Ocean Center, Maui Tropical Plantation, and the Bailey House Museum) on Maui.

Maui Downhill - What could be better than waking up early to see the sunrise from Haleakala National Park’s Volcano (the largest dormant volcano in the world), then cruise all the way down on a bike, enjoying the panoramic views of neighboring islands and the lush Maui landscape.

Day Trip To The Hana Coast - A professional guide will spend the day with you as the group travels to the eastern side of the island on the Hana Highway. You will see waterfalls, beaches and other sites along the way. According to many people who take this tour, it is the highlight of their Hawaii trip.

Kauai Honeymoons - Lush Greenery All Around

For gorgeous lush green scenery, look no further. Kauai is nicknamed “the garden island” because of the natural beauty it possesses. It is the oldest of the Hawaiian islands. If you are doing some preliminary honeymoon planning and trying to imagine what Kauai looks like, go and rent Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones’ Raiders of the Lost Ark, or South Pacific today. They were all filmed on location at various places around the island.

Of the four major islands, Kauai remains the least developed. That is one of the charms of “the garden island”. Its quaint towns and natural beauty bring you away from reality for a while and allow you to really unwind and feel totally at ease. Although the island is relatively small in size, a rental car is a must for getting around to see the sites. Anytime of year is good to visit Kauai, the weather stays fairly consistent (around mid 80's). The coastal areas tend to remain drier than the interior, and fortunately, on most occasions the rain is during the nighttime.
Places To Stay

In Poipu- located on the southern part of the island in a city known for getting the most sunshine on the island and least amount of rainy days.

Best Places to Stay in Kauai:

Aston at Poipu Kai

Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa

Sheraton Kauai Resort

In Lihue – on the south eastern side of the island, it is close access to the airport, cruise ship terminal and shopping. Also nearby is the Wailua falls.

Kauai Marriot

Kauai Beach Resort

Koa Kea Hotel

Short Honeymoons - What to Do if You Only Have a Weekend Available

Several of my friends have recently gotten married and are asking me for advice on how to spend their honeymoon since they are both working full time and are strapped for cash. I think in general, people are just starting out in life (early 20's) are feeling the financial pinch as they look for ways to fund a honeymoon that doesn't involve going into debt for the rest of their life.

My Story and How I Spent Less on a Honeymoon 

It was a year after I got married before my spouse and I went on our honeymoon. Initially, we had a simple wedding ceremony for just close friends and relatives at an intimate location in the islands. Within the first year of marriage, we had already started accumulating debt. Since I was the only one working and my pay was really low, there wasn't any alternative because we needed home essentials (like basic furniture, clothes, etc.). So, planning for the honeymoon would require us to use some new skills - budgeting.

Without much to spend on the honeymoon, we decided to take an extended weekend vacation - see here for an example. Going through some of the discount travel websites, we expected to find some great deals. But it must have been the time of the year when we were planning the honeymoon....deals were scarce. With rising gas prices and extra fees for fuel surcharges and baggage fees by the airlines, it looked like my spouse and I would need to drive somewhere within a maximum of 8 hours drive from our house.

We found a quaint little bed and breakfast located in Northern California (about 6 hours from where we live). The bed and breakfast would help us in a few different ways. First, it would save us an average of $60 per nice (compared to staying at a reasonably equivalent hotel). Second, a bed and breakfast would give us the ability to have a unique and comfortable stay while enjoying the hospitality of others during the morning meal. One quick note about honeymoons and bed and breakfasts. Because of the intimate surroundings and structure of a B&B, noises (you should know what I mean here) can sometimes be heard by others (LOL).

Tailoring Activities to your Budget

One of the ways we curtailed the spending while finding fun activities was to look for things to do that would increase the bonds between us but also allow us to go and enjoy the beauty of America. Our decision was to visit the National Parks. Northern California has several that we could see. Our first choice was Yosemite and we are glad that we got to go there. We paid a $20 entrance fee for a week access pass. To save some more money, we also brought sandwiches from subway ($5 footlongs) and water that had in our water bottles from REI. We spent the majority of our weekend discovering new trails and waterfalls. Not only was this one of the most memorable trips I have ever taken, it was also one of the best ways to spend a honeymoon.

Here is an Orientation Video About Yosemite

Big Island Hawaii Honeymoons - Simply Peaceful

The island of Hawaii (also known as “The Big Island”) is the largest, and most visibly active volcanic-wise within the chain. The island is continuously growing as lava from Kilauea continues to spew out for visitors to see. This is one of the highlights of the Hawaiian islands, being able to go to the Volcano National Park to see the lava flow. It is truly a sight worth the cost of a honeymoon all by itself.

The adjacent mountain called Maunakea is the tallest mountain in the world (if measured from sea floor to top of the mountain. The top of the mountain is home to a world class observatory owned by the University of Hawaii and also hosts freezing temperatures (so that even skiing or snowboarding is done there).

Here on this amazing island you can find deserts, lush tropical vegetation, snowy mountain tops and several varieties of sandy beaches (green, black, and white sand). If you go to the Big Island, I would recommend renting a 4×4 vehicle. There are a lot of places that you won’t be able to explore without one, such as hidden snorkeling spots, green sand beach, and more.

The resorts on this island are top notch and the activities are endless. Weather tends to be clearer near Kona than at Hilo or Volcano, but don’t let that deter you from seeing some of the amazing features at the Volcanoes National Park or the many waterfalls just outside Hilo.
Places To Stay

In Kona – This area is located on the western (sunny) side of the island. It stretches some sixty miles from the Kona airport to just past the Kealakekua Bay. This is one of the best areas for coffee growing in the world. You may have already heard about Kona coffee before, but if you are in Kona be sure to get a tour of the Kona Blue Sky Coffee Company(makers of amazing Kona coffee).

The Top Rated Hotels on the Island of Hawaii

Aston Kona By The Sea

Four Season Resort Hualalai

Hilton Waikoloa Village

Kona Seaside Hotel

Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort

In Kohala – Most of the top rated resorts are found in Kohala. The beaches here are pristine and hotels offer a wide selection of activities and entertainment.