Kauai, HI Master Thread

[Dan]

No need for a tour, just rent a kayak from the village and go there.

[chulent613]

was looking into the kayak tour to secret falls- was wondering if anyone did that..

If your planning on going in the summer it's very important to make sure there is water in the water fall.
We went last summer and the falls were so secret that it didn't exist,  and it was overcrowded.

[wonderlust]

If your planning on going in the summer it's very important to make sure there is water in the water fall.
We went last summer and the falls were so secret that it didn't exist,  and it was overcrowded.

Oh- thanks for the heads up!

[wonderlust]

No need for a tour, just rent a kayak from the village and go there.

I assume it's pretty straight foward then (and not such a 'secret')

[3yummyboys]

Has anyone used United's VIP baggage service to deliver bags? We were planning to get a cab for all of our luggage, but United charges $80 for up to 8 bags and we don't have to schlep them.

[wonderlust]

Trying to figure out when is the best time to schedule helicopter tour ( blue Hawaiian ) anyone care to weigh in?
Also, what are my chances of getting a convertible at national if I have executive aisle status?

Thanks

[3yummyboys]

Morning for sure, less chance of fog blocking your view

[wonderlust]

Morning for sure, less chance of fog blocking your view

Thanks- figured as much guess question than is which day- coming in Sunday and leaving Thursday so Monday theoretically might make most sense since we will be jet lagged and prob up early but could also be exhausted from travel & settling in Sunday..

[3yummyboys]

I would advise to do it early in the trip to give you an idea of the layout of the island. Also, as you said, you'll probably be getting up early anyway the first few days.

[wonderlust]

Reason why I have to figure this out now is a pretty cool: I have a $200 Expedia hotel coupon on account of s botched stay in a dira in Israel last summer. The credit expires end of August and since I plan on using c&p for ghk with upgrade, it doesn't make sense to use expediA voucher so I called to see if I can use for activities ( I already tried for flights & they told me it was no go) so I called & the rep told me that she is working on getting An override with her manager & after few minutes she Told me that the voucher can't be transferred but they are willing to give me another 200$ refund on th activity on top of the current hotel voucher!!! So I booked Monday morning aug 29 with blue Hawaiin for 217$ & she gave me confirmation code for $200 refund so will be only 17$ for 1 passenger! I have till August 24 to reschedule so I have to figure out when I want to go & then make second booking for wife (as opposed to my original plan of playing it by ear)..

[efflpetzel]

Has anyone used United's VIP baggage service to deliver bags? We were planning to get a cab for all of our luggage, but United charges $80 for up to 8 bags and we don't have to schlep them.

In kauai?

[efflpetzel]

Also, what are my chances of getting a convertible at national if I have executive aisle status?

Thanks

If they don't have in the lot, you can always swap later

[wonderlust]

If they don't have in the lot, you can always swap later

Did you get when you went? I'm not really interested in coming back just to switch cars.. I could in theory reserve one and cancel it when I get there, insuring there is one there..

[Something Fishy]

Did you get when you went? I'm not really interested in coming back just to switch cars...

It's not that much out of the way when going from the north side of the island to the south side (or vise versa), so it's probably less of a pain than you imagine.

I could in theory reserve one and cancel it when I get there, insuring there is one there..

I did something similar, see my trip report.

[efflpetzel]

Did you get when you went? I'm not really interested in coming back just to switch cars.. I could in theory reserve one and cancel it when I get there, insuring there is one there..

I called when I was in the area & they told me to come by and swap (I didn't coz I was in a rush)

Regarding making a dummy rezzy there's no guarantee that'll work

[wonderlust]

It's not that much out of the way when going from the north side of the island to the south side (or vise versa), so it's probably less of a pain than you imagine.

I did something similar, see my trip report.

lol saw that- my first car rental when I was 18 I kinda got carried away..it was pretty embarrassing going to the front of a very long line of customers frustrated that the location had no more cars available and explaining to Avis that I might be able to help since it seems they made multiple reservations for me... .... since then I kinda shy away from that..

[wonderlust]

besides for cardcash where else can I get hyatt gift cards?

[@Yehuda]

besides for cardcash where else can I get hyatt gift cards?

Check giftcardgranny.com

[wonderlust]

After going thru a few tr's and the 'bible' over the past few months I Would love  some advise/input please;
Going the end of August to Kaui from Sunday(landing noon)Thursday(flight early afternoon) and staying at GHK. Promised the wife that this will be a more chilled & relaxed trip so only really playing with Monday & Wendsday as the rest of the time will be chill time at the GHK. Here's what I figure so far so let me know what you think:
Sunday- arrive, National then walmart then settle in & chill. at Walmart am I better off buying snorkel gear or just renting at beach near Hyatt?Landing at noon Im assuming I can be by the resort by 3:00- how are the rental car lines & traffic?
Monday- booked morning helicopter ride with blue Hawaiin. My impression is the waliea river/secret falls is near the airport- is that correct? Would like to do kayak on waliea & secret falls Dan mentioned to rent from village but per the bible  it's only 10 min ride & was hoping for something a little longer- are there any other places further back that I can do a rental & not a tour? Any other kayak trips/SUP  I should consider instead? Afterwards (assuming there is time) I would head up to St Regis, maybe queens bath &/or tunnel beach & theoretically if there is time would try a surfing class (missed my chance in Maui and would love to give it a try) Where would be a good sunset spot up north? Any must do's that I should consider? Any crazy snorkeling up north that's a must? Also If I recall there is bad traffic from pincville to the south end what time is that the worst?
Tuesday- staying in the south and hanging at the resort and poipu beach. Hope to get some good snorkeling in & do the cliff walk- anything else that's local that I should consider? Where is the best sunset spot in the south?
Wendsday- would like to the west end & wamea canyon. Saw in the bible a hike that I believe is in that area to waipo falls that seemed nice length (2-3hrs)anyone ever done? Not sure if that is before or after the lookout over the canyon...  Afterwards maybe go to polihale beach & hang there for sunset  (not sure if will have 4wd). A there traffic to the west end as well?
Thursday - chill & then flight.
Also very interested in zip-lining and a boat tour that goes up to na Pali if anyone can recomend- just not sure if I would be able to squeeze in or if it's worth doing instead of any of the above.
Sorry for being so lengthy Thanks guys for your help!!

[@Yehuda]

Rent snorkel gear at the beach - not Shipwreck Beach by GHK, but by Poipu Beach 5 minutes drive away. (See my TR for a pic of what the snorkel shop looks like so you know where to go.)
30 minutes at rental pickup, medium traffic. If you can buy all your stuff at home and take with you, it's much nicer to pickup the car and go straight to hotel, than to stop at WM first.
Monday is WAY too packed. Heli is an early wakeup + jetlag. We were exhausted afterwards and just wanted a chill day. Tell your wife, Heli is over at 11AM, and the rest of the day can be chill. Then go out for real activities on Tuesday. That's my opinion. We thought we'd be able to go kayaking that day too, but we were too tired. Anyway, there are plenty of other kayak options further down the river that give you a 1.5-2 hour ride to secret falls. The book should list them. I imagine some aren't a tour and allow you to rent on your own. Remember, you'll have to kayak back to them. No way you'd get in the north shore on this day too. It's nice that kayak is in the area of the airport and so is the heli, but that's only like a 30 minute ride, not such a big deal to have to go back out another day for it.
I think they say the best sunset on the south shore is from Spouting Horn.

I feel for you. Wife want's R&R and you have enough activities planned (or want to add) for a week's worth of activities. You'll have to just pick what you want the most. And most importantly, go in with the mindset that if you don't get to do everything you wanted, you're still in Hawaii and having a great time!