re: Tahiti, Cook Islands, or Hawaii for Honeymoon?

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Turks & Caicos or stay home

IMO is really is better than anything over in the pacific. and it is only a 5-8 hour travel day as opposed to 12+ if you are lucky.

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Really? There isn't shite to do there except dive, but the diving is really good.

Top side it's probably the most aesthetically unpleasing place I've ever been. Rocks with a few cactus every once in a while.

I'll never go back to T&C. So many better places in the Caribbean.

I did not stay over the water. I stayed in a cottage with no telephone/internet/tv. It was AWESOME. 30 feet to the best water I've ever seen. Same with Moorea. Just phenomenal.

We flew Air France from LAX to Papaete. Stayed a night, and jumped over to Moorea. The nice thing is that because the island is surrounded by a tropical reef, the huge lagoon is completely placid and makes for crazy long swims and snorkels.

Not many Americans there. Mostly French, Aussies, Kiwis, Japanese and then Americans , Germans, etc.

The island is pristine and there is no real development. The fish/fruit is awesome. It's definitely once in a lifetime. You don't have to stay over the water to enjoy it completely. Maybe do that for two nights to save some money.

Again, research Kauai as well. It's got that rural feel, and those majestic mountain views. The water is nowhere near Tahiti of course, but the resorts are just phenomenal and un crowded-unlike other parts of Hawaii.

I stayed at the Princeville in Kauai, and it was amazing.

I have not been to the Maldives or Tahiti, but I will tell you that Kauai is the kitties titties.

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I stayed at the Princeville in Kauai, and it was amazing.

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Didnt stay there but played The Prince.

Kauai is by far my favorite island.

Me too. My wife and I visit there every other summer and it is my favorite Hawaiian island. Definitely the most beautiful and scenic. Oahu is just to crowded and commercial.

For the OP, Kauai is very laid back and is not over developed. Plenty of dining option, especially from Kapa'a moving northwest to Hanalei. Hanalei itself is a great little town with shopping to satisfy the wife everyday as well as a gorgeous bay with 3000 ft tall mountains rising up just inland a couple of miles from the water.

The Na'Pali coast is a wonder of the world type stretch of shoreline that just has to be seen and experienced to appreciate. Starting in May you can do a catamaran tour down the coastline that travels about 12 or so miles and will take you to one of the most secluded and hard to access beaches in the islands. Google Na'Pali coast to get some images to preview.

Haena is a little area on the north shore where there is a beach park. You can access Tunnels beach there and the snorkeling is very good. The view from Tunnels is paradise like. Bali Hai is right beside you, rising up from the shoreline and the whole area is very beautiful. The last beach you can access by car on the north shore is Ke'e beach. Great place to view the beginning of Na'Pali ridges aand cliffs as they rise from the ocean.

If hiking is something you enjoy, there are so many amazing hikes from short to long. I have done several by myself as my wife isn't a fan of hiking. My favorite so far is the Awa'Awa'Puhi trail. It is about 8 miles round trip and starts at the top of Waiema Canyon. You hike about 4 miles from the trailhead across a long Na'Pali ridge and end at a vista overlooking the Pacific . There is a skinny path there, about 5 feet wide where the drop on either side is about 3000 feet but it is safe as long as you go slow and be careful. The view from that rock outcropping will be forever burned into your memory.

Sorry for the long response. I love that island and have been so many times I feel very passionate about it. If you consider Kauai, I would highly suggest you stay in Princeville. It is a perfect jumping off place. You can a couple miles west and be in Hanalei. A few more miles is Haena and a couple more after that is the end of the road at Ke'e beach. If you go east, you can explore the east side of the island going through Kilueau, Anahole, Kapa'a on around to Li'hue and the south and southwest side. But the north is where you want to stay as the south side is less green and more prairie like . By all means, take at least a day or two and visit down there but spend the majority of your time from Kapa'a to Ke'e beach on the north side.

Areas to see on the south side are Poipou beach area, Hanapepe town and Waimea Canyon (coined the Grand Canyon of the pacific). It's all worth seeing . The geography on the south side is much different than the north. The north is very lush,green and jungle like while the south is more like being in the American west. More prairie like ,especially around the canyon.

Anyway, good luck and if you ever have any questions about this island in particular , I would be glad to assist the best I can

Bora Bora would be the best and you can do it for a lot cheaper than most realize. If you join the Intercontinental Ambassador program you get a 2 for 1 night weekend certificate to use at any IC property. Also IHG has two resorts in Bora Bora, the Le Moana resort and Thalasso Resort. I think the Thalasso is all Over the Water Bungalows.

Another trick that you can use with IHG is to reserve a 15k point a night room anywhere for points + $70 cash then cancel the reservation so that you will get the 10k in points back almost immediately. Currently 50k is the top redemption level for IHG properties so by doing this you can basically stay at any property for at most $350/ night even a resort like Thalasso that runs $900+ per night. Also only the first level or two of rooms is usually available for awards nights, thats why it would better to look into Thalasso than Le Moana where you would have to hope that they upgrade you as an Ambassodor to over the water on a reward night.

ETA: Flights there are still going to be really expensive, I haven't figured how to significantly reduce that yet.

Great post Dick! I am making notes and just from the overall feedback from the board it sounds like Kauai it is if I were to travel to Hawaii. I probably will revisit you with some questions about your experiences later this evening or tomorrow. I am in a discovery phase right now and things are still pretty wide open for me.

Went on my honeymoon to Kauai just last month. Absolutely perfect trip.

Stayed at the Grand Hyatt on Poipu. PGA course and a perfect beach on the resort. The wife and I are already planning our next trip...