HAWAII?!

[SkyeNicole87]

I would recommend the Barbers Point Beach Cottages that are owned by the Navy.
They are on a private beach, have a full kitchen, and you can snorkel, swim, and all that fun stuff on that beach. Also, they are reasonably priced, but are about a half an hour to forty five minutes away from Waikiki. The rates for the cottages are between $90-130 per night.

I am a foodie also, and here are my hole in the wall and fine dining recommendations:
Breakfast: Cinnamons (delicious eggs benedict florentine, must try red velvet pancakes, and yummy scrambles) and Boots and Kimos (must try their macadamia nut pancakes!! so good) Both of those restaurants are located in Kailua
Lunch/Casual Dinners: Opal Thai in Haleiwa/North Shore (as seen featured on Food Network. Delicious Thai food, started out as a food truck, now it is a restaurant. The best on the island. Crab and pineapple fried rice, red curry, drunken noodles, and chicken phad thai are wonderful! We have driven an hour just to come here and eat.)
Giovannis Shrimp Truck: Delicious shrimp scampi and lemon butter shrimp. A must try!
The Coffee Gallery: located in Haleiwa as well. It was also featured on Food Network, I think on Racheal Ray's $40 a Day. Yummy Coffee milkshakes, lemon bars, and carrot cake. Vegan place.
Sushi Spot: located in Aiea. Really yummy sushi. Love love love their Lion King maki roll.
Blazing Steaks: is a chain restaurant out here. For $7, you get a Hawaiian style plate lunch with steak, rice, and salad. It's pretty ono as well.
Mexico Lindo: located in Kailua, has the only good Mexican food I've found on this island.
Cocos Curry House Ichiban: is a chain out here and in Japan. Really good authentic Japanese curry and udon
Dinner:
DK Steak (Waikiki): really delicious and pretty well priced for a fancier steakhouse..
Yardhouse (Waikiki): a chain, but in the middle of everything in town. really good beer selection, and also yummy food
Auntie Pastos: 2 locations on island i believe. good italian food
Dukes (Waikiki): nice beachside dining
Keo's (Waikiki): Good thai food in town
Kona Brewing company (Hawaii Kai): Good food, and good beer selection

[jasmine_elaine]

Originally Posted by SkyeNicole87 I would recommend the Barbers Point Beach Cottages that are owned by the Navy. They are on a private beach, have a full kitchen, and you can snorkel, swim, and all that fun stuff on that beach. Also, they are reasonably priced, but are about a half an hour to forty five minutes away from Waikiki. The rates for the cottages are between $90-130 per night. I am a foodie also, and here are my hole in the wall and fine dining recommendations: Breakfast: Cinnamons (delicious eggs benedict florentine, must try red velvet pancakes, and yummy scrambles) and Boots and Kimos (must try their macadamia nut pancakes!! so good) Both of those restaurants are located in Kailua Lunch/Casual Dinners: Opal Thai in Haleiwa/North Shore (as seen featured on Food Network. Delicious Thai food, started out as a food truck, now it is a restaurant. The best on the island. Crab and pineapple fried rice, red curry, drunken noodles, and chicken phad thai are wonderful! We have driven an hour just to come here and eat.) Giovannis Shrimp Truck: Delicious shrimp scampi and lemon butter shrimp. A must try! The Coffee Gallery: located in Haleiwa as well. It was also featured on Food Network, I think on Racheal Ray's $40 a Day. Yummy Coffee milkshakes, lemon bars, and carrot cake. Vegan place. Sushi Spot: located in Aiea. Really yummy sushi. Love love love their Lion King maki roll. Blazing Steaks: is a chain restaurant out here. For $7, you get a Hawaiian style plate lunch with steak, rice, and salad. It's pretty ono as well. Mexico Lindo: located in Kailua, has the only good Mexican food I've found on this island. Cocos Curry House Ichiban: is a chain out here and in Japan. Really good authentic Japanese curry and udon Dinner: DK Steak (Waikiki): really delicious and pretty well priced for a fancier steakhouse.. Yardhouse (Waikiki): a chain, but in the middle of everything in town. really good beer selection, and also yummy food Auntie Pastos: 2 locations on island i believe. good italian food Dukes (Waikiki): nice beachside dining Keo's (Waikiki): Good thai food in town Kona Brewing company (Hawaii Kai): Good food, and good beer selection

WOW. Thank you SO MUCH for taking the time to type all that. I have a few things that popped into mind while reading though ....
-We didn't really want to stay on Oahu (it's too touristy and urban)
-Kona, as in Kona bottled beer?? Ahhhh!
- Are there renals like that on Ka'aui?

We were thinking of staying in a pretty nice beach-front cottage/condo (no more than $250 per night) for the first 5 or 6 days, and then a place like the one you posted for the last 4 or 5 days, depending.

As far as your food suggestions .... thanks sooo much

**Would it be a hassle/expensive to get from island to island?

[jasmine_elaine]

What about the cottages at Kaneohe? (Marine Corps)

[BiggyBiggs]

I like the island of Kauai the best. It was incredible. Definitely a tropical paradise. The fish market made the BEST lunches I have ever had in my entire life (no joke, but you must like fish) and we ate there every single day for lunch.

Maui is cool too though because they have the road to hana. It's so beautiful.

[jasmine_elaine]

Originally Posted by BiggyBiggs I like the island of Kauai the best. It was incredible. Definitely a tropical paradise. The fish market made the BEST lunches I have ever had in my entire life (no joke, but you must like fish) and we ate there every single day for lunch. Maui is cool too though because they have the road to hana. It's so beautiful.

Yes! I looooove fish lol. So does DB! I also want to stay on Kauai Maui sounds good too.

Now my only problem is lodging.
We want a place on the beach .... not too pricey. Know of any good places in Kauai?

[Bruingirl]

I've never stayed in any condos in Hawaii - I've been to Oahu, Maui, and Lanai. Lanai was amazing, but there aren't a lot of lodging options. My second favorite of the three would be Maui. Some of my coworkers get reasonably priced condos in Kapalua Maui. I have stayed in Kapalua twice and it was gorgeous.

[jasmine_elaine]

Originally Posted by Bruingirl I've never stayed in any condos in Hawaii - I've been to Oahu, Maui, and Lanai. Lanai was amazing, but there aren't a lot of lodging options. My second favorite of the three would be Maui. Some of my coworkers get reasonably priced condos in Kapalua Maui. I have stayed in Kapalua twice and it was gorgeous.

I'm thinking I should make a pro/con list for each island. I think each one has a little of what I want, so now I just need to find something to sway me .... and I'm thinking lodging will be the factor. I'm open to stay on one island for 5 days, and then spend 5 days on another.

[SkyeNicole87]

Originally Posted by smdlove88 WOW. Thank you SO MUCH for taking the time to type all that. I have a few things that popped into mind while reading though .... -We didn't really want to stay on Oahu (it's too touristy and urban) -Kona, as in Kona bottled beer?? Ahhhh! - Are there renals like that on Ka'aui? We were thinking of staying in a pretty nice beach-front cottage/condo (no more than $250 per night) for the first 5 or 6 days, and then a place like the one you posted for the last 4 or 5 days, depending. As far as your food suggestions .... thanks sooo much **Would it be a hassle/expensive to get from island to island?

NP. To get island to island you have to fly, there used to be a super ferry but not anymore. The flights aren't long or expensive if you plan to island hop. And, yes there are cabins like that in Kauai. Google Barking Sands at PMFR. Have fun!