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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Help Me Decide!
MH and I are travelling to Oahu during the end of Feb/beg of March. We're planning to stay on the NS (Ericka: the place you stayed is booked =T) and I'm having trouble deciding on a place since I don't know the area all that well.
So...maybe those of you who have been there can chime in...both are pretty reasonably priced and we're planning to stay for 5 nights. House #1 one is the cheaper of the two w/a full kitchen, but doesn't have a view and is a little smaller. House #2 looks a little nicer and newer, has an oceanview, and is 60yds from SB. But it doesn't have a stove, just a hot plate for cooking. The difference for cost between the two places is roughly $170.
Thoughts?
Also, can anyone recommend any neat hikes nearby?
TIA 
Re: Help Me Decide!
That is tough!
If my budget was limited, I would go for house #1 because if you are on vacation, you'll probably be out of the house more than in. You could easily plan days at the beach and you'd always have a view everytime you stepped out of the house to go out.
Therefore, having the view may not be as important. If you are budgeting and planning to eat in most of the time instead of buying your meals, again, house #1 sounds like it would suit you guys better.
If we were able to splurge, eat out most of the time, then house #2 would be the one for us! The view and being near the beach would be something we'd enjoy.f
Let us know what you've decided upon.
have you looked at Ke Iki Beach Bungalows? www.keikibeach.com. THat's where I had my wedding - there are a bunch of bungalows, with full kitchens, right on this gorgeous, huge beach. It was amazing and I highly recommend!
As for NS hikes, there is Kaena point, and then not really a hike, but you can walk up to the falls at Waimea which is very pretty.
Hi Anna! I checked the website and looks like they're pretty booked up for the smaller rentals.
Still deciding, but I'm leaning towards house #2.
How are the other places on the NS? Anyone ever stay near Ehukai or Haleiwa?
On another note, has anyone ever stayed in Kailua? There are a ton of small studios & 1-bdrm places there that are reasonably priced. I only thought to stay there b/c of Obama....hehe. But I'm not sure what to expect!
I am partial to staying in Kailua. Kailua town has a ton of stuff to do (restaurants, shopping, etc.) yet it still has the feeling of a small beach town when you're at the beach. I prefer the beaches on the windward side also; much more swimmable in my opinion.
There are lots of rentals in Kailua as well, although I don't have any reqs for small places. We've always been with lots of family and rented large beach homes. Check out places in Lanikai....the BEST beach on Oahu in my opinion!
When you mentioned that the difference is $170, is that per night or for the total cost? If it's total, then I'd pick #2 in a heartbeat. But even if it's per night, if you have room in your budget, I think #2 looks nicer and if you're planning for some days of just chilling around, I'd definitely go for #2. I also think vacations are for eating out at the yummy restaurants in the area, so having a full kitchen wouldn't sway me one way or another...
Sorry, I can't recommend any other places because I've never stayed at NS before...
This was going to be my question too.
If it's $170 total, I'd absolutely go for #2...however, I'm also the type of person who splurges on vacations. I'd rather take fewer trips and be able to stay in nice hotels, eat at yummy restaurants, etc., than go for super budget accommodation and cook in and take more trips. Maybe that means my priorities are whacked lol, but it's just how I roll.
My vote is for #2. Even though the hotel isn't the most important thing to me just b/c we never spend that much time in the room, I still like it to be nice & if you feel like just staying in one day, you would have nice views. As for no kitchen, I don't ever cook while I am on vacation (I don't really want to cook while I am home!). But that is just me! If you like to cook on vacation, then no kitchen would be a problem.
Have fun on your trip!
The total cost difference between the two for 5 nights is $170.
I totally understand about the whole splurging thing, but this whole trip back to Oahu was totally unplanned (tickets were $230RT!!) so we're trying to save a little. Our last two nights there will be spent in a nice hotel (poss back to the ihilani?) and we'll leave nicely pampered! ;D
I like #2. The price difference isn't too extreme and I like that it seems a little more private and very luxurious.
From the pictures the kitchen looks well equipped. We stayed in condos for every trip to HI when I was growing up and I can't remember a single time we actually cooked a full meal that would require an oven or something more than a hotplate. Usually we just liked to have sandwich stuff and breakfast foods on hand - plus lots and lots of cut up pineapple - and then used the BBQ for any dinners we made. It looks like #2 has a bbq - that right there gives you lots of cooking options.
Oh too bad the NS house where we stayed at is not available.
Hmm which is one is closer to the beach?? If #2, then I'd go with #2. We loved that the house where we stayed at was literally right on the beach and we would just walk out anytime we want to. Having a full kitchen shouldn't be a huge deal. #2 has cooking utensils, microwave and refrigerator. That should be sufficient. DH & I didn't really use the stove that much. We mostly used the grill. We would walk to Starbucks every morning to get coffee, buy fresh seafood/produce at Foodland and just grill :-). If we have leftovers, we would just put in the refrigerator and heat up the following morning. I know we all wanna splurge and not cook during our vacation. It was my first time to stay at NS during our trip to Oahu last July. DH & I really enjoyed staying in a house, doing our grocery, grilling in the backyard and pretend like we're locals and live there :-). Also, unless you go to Haleiwa, there's not a whole lot of dining options on NS. I think there is a hiking trail close to SB. Forgot what it's called. It was on the Oahu revealed book. DH & I planned to go but never got to.
If you're going to be pretty active and busy, my vote is for #1. The view from #2 doesn't seem THAT great -- I would pay the extra if it was beach front, but the ocean still looks pretty far away. And, if you're trying to save $, I'd rather have the full stove to cook from, especially since you'll be on the NS and pretty far from town (probably could prep a lot of meals yourself before or after your excursions).
If you're only staying at one spot and want to move around the island, I would prefer to stay in Kailua. You still get the beach and neighborhood feel, but you're much closer to other sites. However, if you're going to hunker down and stay close to your rental, the NS might be preferable for peace and quiet -- and in that case, I might go for house #2.
Find hiking trails here: http://tinyurl.com/dllyzg
You can see general info and search them more extensively online. You need a membership to see full details on this site.
Have a blast!
Sujen - I asked DH about the other place that we looked into renting on the NS. It's beachfront but I just realized that it cost more than the 2 houses that you are looking at. However, check with the owner. Sometimes they give a different rate especially when it is off season :-). GL!
http://www.vrbo.com/131478