Booked vacation for wife and I for yeshiva break. This is my first time Posting a tr so I apologize if the wording isn't write or my points were not used to the best of their ability. However, they were my points and I used them how my wife and I wanted to used them so I don't really care if you don't approve or think there were better redemptions out there- my trip my points my experiences. (That being said feel free to post how you think I could have done something better and I will definitely take it into account for the future and I hope others booking a similar trip will as well.) I will try to post pictures over the next day or two.
Used 200k chase ur points (total not per person) to fly delta first class JFK-hnl.
Boarding the plane was a disaster. People just rushed the delta agent. Like I have never seen before. Is this a yeshiva break norm?
The seats were nice, fully lay flat not the newest but clean. Kosher food was Borenstein wasn't terrible but wasn't good either - saffron chicken for first meal at 11am and pre landing was deli platter.
Service was great on board.
Flight back overnight was much nicer- better Borenstein food- roasted chicken for dinner just after takeoff and cheese omelet and potatoes for breakfast before landing. (Not sure about time between meals but I wait 3hrs so I was for sure clear. Some people in first class were trying to figure out the math)
Used 20k spg points for the Sheraton Waikiki-
Got upgraded to a suite for SPG gold - beautiful room and view. Chabad delivered our food for most of the week.
Left the next day for Maui
Used 24k united points (total) for interisland round trip flights on Hawaiian air to/from ogg/hnl.
Short flight- not crowded- flight felt more like a subway ride took 22 minutes from wheels up to touch down.
Used 90k SPG points for Westin Maui ocean view room for 5 nights.
Got upgraded to premium room at checkin (seemed like a stretch for the "premium" title) - room was ok- bathroom was fine and view was good but had a parking lot directly below the room.
Used 25k SPG points for 1 night at moana surfrider in Waikiki.
The guy at checkin upgraded us to a suite. This was the nicest room, with the nicest views that I have ever seen or stayed in. We could see the turtles swimming in the ocean from our balcony. I highly recommend this hotel. Service, amenities and location were fantastic.
Food: ordered from chabad Oahu- great food- highly recommend the burger, sesame chicken, sweet and sour chicken, spaghetti and meatballs and any of their sandwiches. The breads were fantastic and great for day trips. The hotels heated and stored our food and were great giving us options to eat in our room, by the pool, beach or in the hotel restaurant. Fet a bit weird eating out of an aluminum tin with plastic cutlery and paper plates in a nice restaurant.we went to the Hyatt luau and got the kosher steak and fish meals. Fish was good - steak smelt great but was as chewey as a flip flop.
Paid oop for car rentals, food, taxes on hotels and airfare and activities. (And gifts for people)
Activities:
Maui:
Hyatt Maui luau - was enjoyable- try to sit in the middle of the audience facing the ocean for best views.
Whale watching boat- saw a lot of whales breaching, swimming and splashing- was really cool.
Road to Hana- was nice- very trafficy - left the hotel at 7am- get the cd at the shell station in piea before the drive (buy it online before the trip to save a few shekels)
Snorkeling - in hanaloa bay and off of black rock by the Sheraton- black rock was nicer and calmer waters.
Went beach touring- so many to see and such nice views.
Warren and annabelles- comedy show- Warren was there- was hilarious and amazing!! Highly highly recommend.
Honolulu:
Walk around Waikiki at night it's an experience
Pesrl harbor- did all 4 sites and it was moving. Felt very patriotic. Was an exhausting long day.
Beach touring- a lot of very nice views- north shore specifically nice.
Dole plantation- more like dull plantation. Don't waste your time here. unless you want clean bathrooms on the drive from Waikiki to the north shore. Bought a pineapple for shabbos at home and it was delicious.
Overall- amazing trip. People don't give the Waikiki beach enough credit for its beauty. Maui is nice and relaxing. Shabbos is tough we just stayed in our room. Had them deactivate the porch ac sensor and we went in and out all day long.
General tips:
Costco Maui is right by the airport go right when you land and save yourself the 30 min drive later on.
We brought a sandwich maker from home and bought water and kosher cheese at Costco and Breads, cereal, snacks and milk at Safeway.
Thank you Dan (and other readers/commenters) for giving tips of the trade to go on such nice and enjoyable trips for minimal out of pocket expenses!
