• 7 Nights Hotel & Airfare at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott from $1315 (sample price from LA)
  My Marriott Comments. There's an expedia 4 day package at this hotel below, and if you do the math, this package works out to $188 a day, while that one works out to $190 a day - not a big difference, but this one offers free breakfast.

Expedia Hawaii Packages

For any of the following packages, click on the link above, if you don't see the package directly on this page check under Find more Big Island vacation deals.

• Air plus 4 nights at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott from $761 (sample price from LA). End Date: January 15th, 2006.
  My Marriott Comments

• Air plus 4 nights at the Waikoloa Colony Villas from $840 (sample price from LA). End date January 16th, 2006.
  My Colony Villas Comments

Aloha Airlines
If you live on the West Coast of the US mainland you should check Aloha's prices - you may be able to save a substantial amount over flights from the big carriers. Aloha also seems to favor air plus hotel, 5th night free packages.

• Aloha also usually has fly and drive packages available, they say from as cheap as $120 for roundtrip plane tickets and one day car rental (good for island hopping while in Hawaii). Since the cheapest flights I, a resident, can usually get are $79 one-way and that's with no car rental and booking early and online, you can see that $120 would be a substantially low rate, however, when I actually go to the site and try to book it I get prices closer to $200, which could still be a good deal if you aren't booking early. Click on Vacation packages, then Vacations in Hawaii, then specials to get right to the fly and drive link. Sometimes the airlines offer really low rates if you are flying out from Honolulu first thing in the morning when everyone else is flying in, trying to fill empty planes, so maybe thats when those $120 rates come into play.

• Hapuna Prince Hotel 5th Night Free plus $100 Dining & Beverage Credit from $1,039 - valid till December 20th, 2005
  My Hapuna Prince Comments

My Comments on locations and hotels and packages:

Waikoloa Beach Marriott
This is a nice hotel on the Kohala Coast. If you stayed here when it was an Outrigger, consider coming back - the renovations a couple years back really spruced it up. The pool is bigger and there's a nice long waterslide now. This hotel sits on Anaehoomalu Bay, a beautiful white sand beach. The beach is not great for snorkeling, but windsurfing can be fun here. Sometimes (rarely, but it does happen) it gets a little too windy in this area - but that would be a good day to take a trip to Kona or try nearby (7 miles) Hapuna Beach or drive out to the Volcanoes National Park (2 hours). Kohala Coast is far from Kona (20 minute or so drive) so if you plan on going anywhere you will need a car. Personally, I prefer the Hilton in this area, especially since it really is not that much more expensive, but the Hilton does not have a natural beach, just a man-made one (still nice!).

Waikoloa Colony Villas
These villas are really nice. They are big and spotless and new and with a nice pool. However, there is no ocean access on the grounds. You have to walk a significant way (almost a mile) or drive to get to A-Bay or the Hilton and use their facilities. The back of the villas open up to a golf course and the whole area is rather picturesque. I have friends who stay here whenever they can (they have friends who own one of the units) and we have visited them there. The area is gated and quiet and safe. You're *not* supposed to walk on the grass however (because of the golf course maybe). The units are fully stocked, just like your house. Personally, I would rather stay at the Hilton first or the Marriot second, but maybe you'd rather have a golf course and a kitchen.

Hapuna Prince Hotel
This hotel is a grand, luxury hotel located above a perfect beach - Hapuna Beach. The Big Island isn't known for it's beaches, but man, this one is one of the best you'll find anywhere in the world. The Hapuna's pool is also nice and the views are great, however, the Hapuna Prince is far away from everything. I'm serious, you are even farther away from Kona than the Hilton and the Marriott and they are already a good 20 minute drive. So, if you want to really relax in a luxury setting then go for the Hapuna, but really consider how bad the location is if you are going to drive around the island at all.

Submit your Big Island package: email me at lisa at andhawaii.com with the URL to the package. I will review it for possible inclusion here. Thanks!