help me decide - hawaii or Maldives?

[shifferBrains]

My lovely brother has given me some money to spend purely on a holiday for me and ds I am so very excited as we haven't been able to afford a proper holiday for quite a few years - it's just us two I have a pretty decent job and manage to support us comfortably but could never stretch to much more than a few days at butlin

So help me decide between these two options or maybe suggest another venue

I've been to both and would definitely choose the Maldives. Choose your island wisely (it can be mind boggling, but we went with a company called Purely Maldives and they really helped us narrow down our choice of island according to our needs and family type) and you can relax while your son does activities. The marine life is absolutely fantastic, so if you like snorkelling or diving you will have a whale of time

It's quite a chilled out destination though; you go to relax and there's not much to do once you're there, whereas Hawaii (depending on which Island you go to) can be more like a mini America with bustling towns and cities and lots of excursions to do, so it depends on what you like best.

Maybe go to a branch of Trailfinders and ask them as they can be brilliant travel advisers.

What time of year would you like to travel?. That would have a bearing particularly if you were to visit the Maldives.

The best time to visit The Maldives is from the end of October through until the end of April, although the sun shines all year and you can visit the Maldives all year round.

Whilst the temperature in the Maldives stays high throughout the year the Southwest Monsoon season starts in May and finishes in August. This is when there is most rainfall, with July and August being the wettest months

Personally I'd go to Oahu in the Hawaiian Islands but its a long way and will involve two flights and possibly an overnight stopover (the flight duration from the West Coast to the Islands is itself around 6 hours).

I haven't been to Hawaii, but have had 9 trips to the Maldives to a variety of islands so you can tell I love it. Mostly I have travelled just with DH, but we have taken sons and grandchildren on other trips. Attila is right about weather patterns, but if you have to go in school hols, I wouldn't worry too much, six of our trips were on late July/August and the weather was generally excellent, prices are a little lower then too.

You don't mention the age of your DS, but whatever it is, please ignore anyone who tries to tell you it is a honeymoon destination, unsuitable for children. Our DGD was coming up to five on her first holiday and she and her brother had a wonderful time in and out of the water all day. It is very safe for children, the only access to each island is by a small jetty manned and secured around the clock. No one is going to kidnap and make off with your child.

I echo Feesh's suggestion of talking to Purely Maldives. It is a very well respected and knowledgeable company. Also seek advice in the Trip Advisor Maldives forum. There is a very friendly bunch of regulars on there who will also give you sound advice, which you will need as the islands vary immensely in cost, facilities and ambiance.

I've been to both and Hawaii gets my vote every time. Maldives is definitely beautiful and has a range of luxury resorts but it's all resorts, there's no 'real' life to see and no culture. You're usually stuck to one Island (and therefore the same shop/restaurants), and you can probably walk all the way around in less than an hour.

Yes Hawaii is part of the States but they have their own culture and so much to see and do, and the people are wonderful. The roads are wide and easy to navigate if you want to get out and explore. We've done Oahu, Maui, Kauai & Big Island and for you and your son I'd recommend Oahu for things to do and Kauai for sheer beauty.

Enjoy whichever you choose, I'm very jealous!!

I'm not sure I would entirely agree with you, Livinabox. For a start, not all the resorts are 'luxury'. The atmosphere of Biyadhoo, for example, is more akin to a posh french campsite, simple rooms but very friendly and amazing snorkelling a few yards off the beach. Yes, you usually stay on one island, and that island will only have one resort, it is in fact the resort, there will be no cars and no one wears shoes. But most resorts offer trips, usually free, and with a guide to explain things, to local islands where ordinary people live and work and we always find these trips most interesting and rewarding.

Ultimately it's horses for courses. The big danger with the Maldives is catching the deadly disease of Maldivitis, for which the treatment is expensive, the only cure being to start saving for your next trip.

Definitely Hawaii. Depending on your time and budget you can combine with city stopovers. We went to New York on the way out and San Francisco on the way back. It does depend on your respective ages and sense of adventure though; Maldives may be better if you want a more relaxed affair but in Hawaii you can have that as well as the history side at Pearl Harbour, and the geological splendour of the volcanoes. It is a long way though, you need to have at least a two week trip. And it's expensive, but then so are the Maldives. You might want to consider thailand depending on time of year etc

I've been to both and definitely preferred Hawaii. How old is your DS?

Not been to Maldives, but Hawaii is a long long way for an experience you could have without such a massive trip. Nice enough, and beaches are lovely (but can be busy in Waikiki) but the culture isn't all that different from mainland USA, save for a few slack key guitars.

If you don't mind the long trip, what about Australia?

Maldives was yawntastic. I so want to go to Hawaii. It seems like it'd be more accessible than an atoll would be in the Maldives. Tiny islands with not much to do. Is Hawaii any different?

It was a toss up for us for honeymoon, Maldives or Hawaii. I didn't much like the Maldives even though it was 'closer' to us. Hawaii sounds more fun.

I've been to Hawaii. Waikiki is just Tenerife with warm water, apart from the 'wow-I'm in Hawaii' factor. But go to the Big Island and you get volcanoes, lava flows, waterfalls - and that's just on the west side. Hire a car and get going. Haven't been to the other island but sounds like plenty there.

www.nps.gov/havo to whet your appetite.

hell of a long way from the UK.

I haven't been to either but really fancy Hawaii. I had priced it up a couple of times but unfortunately it's out of my league. I have put in the 'when the DC leave home' list.

Waikiki is not just Tenerife with warm water!!. LOL, its very different to Tenerife but Waikiki is very built up with hotels so I can sort of see why the reference to Tenerife at all.

I have been fortunate enough to travel to the Big Island (Hawaii). Its mainly volcanic but has many microclimates, infact it has all the microclimates on earth except that of Antarctica. Most people stay on the west side of the Island in Kailua Kona in one of the many resort hotels. It has no white sand beaches, the sand there is volcanic and black.

I have been to both though Hawaii 10 yrs ago. I'd definitely say Hawaii.

The Maldives are simply stunning in a desert island way but we were REALLY bored after a few days of snorkelling, going to the spa and lounging. It was ridiculously hot. So we made two mistakes due to boredom.

1. we walked round the island into the 'private' area. That's how we got to meet the workers (mainly from Pakistan/Bangladesh) in the crammed sheds they slept in behind the scenes of our luxurious resort. They spoke of all kinds of resorts on these atolls and said many paid a pittance. They for example were paid $20 a day and that was what we paid for a cocktail. They seemed very unhappy.
2. a group of persuaded the concierge to let us visit a tiny local's island which we could see from the resort. Wasn't quite what we expected. Dirt poor Muslim women clad head to foot in black living with loads of kids in tin shacks in blistering heat - husbands all working away on islands for a year at a time. They were very hostile to us although they then tried to sell us bits of their paltry furniture somewhat aggressively. The children all begged and we had no money. Their 'pristine' beaches were overgrown and full of plastic and rubbish (apparently a result of the tourists). It was a horrible experience of first world clashing with third world all a few miles away.

We stayed on Kauai in Hawaii and it was very chilled and quiet and beautiful.

TBH I find Tenerife more interesting (and safer!) than Waikiki. This does not apply to the rest of Oahu although I have a lot more to see. one day...

Diamond Head well worth the walk, and Pearl Harbour well worth the effort.

oh, and you can get snow on the Big Island if you strike lucky at the top of Mauna Kea.

There's a lot more to Oahu than Waikiki, as I understand it. OP, Waikiki is the touristy section of Honolulu, lots of high rise hotels and crowded beaches. But Oahu is a large island and friends of ours stayed a few days in Honolulu then the rest of the time at a quiet resort elsewhere in Oahu.

We didn't go to Oahu, we went to Maui. Felt a little silly about going all the way to Hawaii and not seeing Pearl Harbour (which is in Honolulu) but it was OUR honeymoon. A word to the wise, OP, inter island transfers are VERY expensive. You pretty much have to pick one island and stick to it. Fortunately they're big islands. Oh, and it's tricky to do Maui without hiring a car. Our friends got round Honolulu on buses, then transferred to their resort elsewhere on Oahu via coach.

I much preferred Maui to the Maldives. Partly because everyone spoke English, partly because it was obviously a First World country, partly because there was more to do when you left the resort (in the Maldives you are not encouraged to leave the resort). However, it's a significantly longer flight. Also, for budgeting purposes, there are plenty of resorts in the Maldives which do all inclusive holidays, and you can't get all inclusive in Hawaii.

PS, you have a very lovely brother, OP. Also, how old is your DS and is he the type of kid to enjoy a kids club? Most (but not all) resorts have them and they're usually complimentary. If a resort doesn't have one that may be a sign they're not child friendly. My own DS (7) dabbles in kids club, picking and choosing the activities he wants to do and spending most of his time with us. DD (5.5) would much rather hang out with other kids than her dull parents and has to be dragged back to our room when the activities end. But she's an energetic little madam.

Beware of resorts which cater largely to a child free crowd, wherever you go. They don't actually say adults only, but there will be major restrictions on when DC can use the pool, for instance. Any resort which has a separate kiddie pool or family pool is usually a good bet.

Also, you asked for suggestions of other destinations. Have you considered the Caribbean at all? DH, the kids and I had a wonderful all inclusive holiday in the Dominican Republic last October.

Does it have to be a choice of the two?
There are loads of other long haul destinations you could consider.