We really liked the Grand Hyatt - which is on a nice, but non-swimmable, beach. The rooms are fairly

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We are thinking of dividing the time on two islands (I know that puts a little damper on things) but he has always wanted to stay at the Grand Wailea - I see it as a bit over priced and too large and $$$$.
We love Kauai - so thinking first 4 nights @ Grand Wailea and then 4 nights on Kauai - but not sure what hotel ? What are your favorites? airline tickets as inexpensive as possible We have only stayed at the Kauai Marriott Resort (with business) it was really lovely but not crazy about the beach area..
I think you should stick with Maui Kauai, or just Maui and find a second more laid-back hotel on another part of the island. Sorry I'm no expert on better hotels to make a specific suggestion but I adore Hawaii.
Dawn- we JUST returned from the Big Island (having been to Maui, Kuaia, and Oahu and BI is now our favorite (kauia being second). if you visit the Hilo side of the BI it is basically jungle and very very green! We stayed there 5 nights in a bungalow in Honomu (just north of Hilo) and loved it - would definitely return. Then we moved over to Kohala Coast for the 1/2 Ironman and stayed at the Fairmont Orchid. Enjoyed it too -- small private beach area, good food, great ambiance. On the Kohala Coast I'm not aware of anything other than hotels to stay in, but there may be.
While on the west side of the island we went on a night manta ray snorkel with Coral Reef Adventures and would highly recommend doing it. Amazing acrobatics from the rays within touching distance of us!!
Suze I think you are right... sticking with Maui but moving hotels. I am not really into the Grand Wailea nor is within budget for 8 nights... (not my cup of tea)... I prefer smaller properties/laid back...
If you change your mind about Kauai, the Grand Hyatt is terrific. Not sure what you didn't like about the beach at Marriott, very calm. Some people don't care for the fact that it is not on an open ocean.
As far as the beach at the Marriott in Kauai - it just was not very pretty/Hawaii in my opinion. We did not really like the beach (or lack of) at the Marriott where we stayed for our honeymoon many years ago in Maui - we like the one in Oahu (the ko olina marriott) ...
Dawn - MANY people believe you should not stay on the "hilo" side of the island because it's the "wet" side - therefore it must rain all the time. We didn't encounter rain except one day and it was off and on. Did rain at night and lightly misted a couple of times during one day; Kona being the "dry" side, it rarely gets rain and the landscape shows it. Two very distinct environments on one island.
This was our first time and loved it. Hilo town, not so much, a couple of good restaurants we found, but the town itself, airline tickets as inexpensive as possible meh. Many things to see/do and it's much closer to the volcano airline tickets as inexpensive as possible that Kona / Kohala Coast.
Dawn, I am one who agrees that the Big Island is interesting but not "my" idea of lush Hawaii. I've been there twice, and that is enough for me. I love Oahu; so much to do and so beautiful to drive around it as well as over the mountains.
This is nine nights in October? ONE island will be good, although you could split time ON that island -- or even between Maui and Lanai if the 4S on Lanai is in your budget. (Always go from 'nice' to 'nicer' -- not the reverse!) In October the ocean will have turned from calmer north to calmer south.
Surprise! We are back to Maui! It has wide choices for lodgings, easy-access beaches with good snorkeling, scenic beauty, restaurants...pretty much everything. Road to Hana is even a touch of heavily tropical Kauai.
Wailea airline tickets as inexpensive as possible has one lovely beach after the other. The Marriott there is built farther out on lava than you could build today. (Same with Sheraton at Kaanapali.) Consequently the 'oceanfront' rooms are almost IN the ocean. Good beaches on each side. Nice adults-only airline tickets as inexpensive as possible infinity pool. Steps to Shops At Wailea (upscale mall with Starbucks to Tommy Bahama to Tiffany's to convenience store with deli items). Wailea also has new Hyatt Andaz, the Fairmont, Grand Wailea (too 'Hollywood set' for me), and Four Seasons.
We really airline tickets as inexpensive as possible liked the Grand Hyatt - which is on a nice, but non-swimmable, beach. The rooms are fairly standard, but the common areas are very nice, much much nicer than the Kauai Marriott (which we didn't really like -- a little tired for our taste and a little plain after the Grand Hyatt).
The North Shore is especially beautiful and Oct usually has great weather. Check out the award winning movie - South Pacific - 1958 by Rogers Hammerstein - a WWII love/musical/drama. Filmed at the lush North Shore - with Bali Hai views.