Big holiday - Hawaii or Canada?

[AnotherBreakfast]

Planning a big birthday holiday for next year and am torn between Hawaii or Canada. Anyone have experience of both? We’ll have a tween and almost tween with us. Currently edging towards Hawaii as not sure lots of hiking will suit our family and idea of lots of beach/slower pace with activities interspersed appeals… would love hotel recs for Hawaii too!

Hawaii for sure. Break the trip with a couple of days in San Fran if you think that will help with putting up with the long journey.

I'd top and tail the trip with stays in Waikiki and do a hop over to Big Island to see the volcano and maybe Maui? The beach front hotels on Waikiki are all lovely but £££. Go one block back from the beach and prices drop straight away. However if you want to splurge, then I'd go for Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort, Royal Hawaiian, Hilton Hawaiian Village or the Sheraton Waikiki.

How old are your kids? I would go to the Indian Ocean rather than trek all the way to Hawaii. 10 hours to 17 hours. Plenty of places to relax explore and have fun. Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Thailand etc

$200 for a taxi from the airport to Waikiki!. Was it a private suburban car?. Regardless you were ripped off three years ago. The fare is $60.

The US is expensive mind you these days, particularly in terms of eating out.

(there is a question re social media on the ESTA form but it’s optional.

The US authorities are generally not interested in Joe publics individual LinkedIn profiles because if they were, they would not be doing anything else!. They don’t have the time or resources to check such things.

I've been to both and honestly, I'd go to Canada or if you want a beach holiday, Maldives, Sri Lanka or Indian Ocean.
I found Hawaii incredibly expensive, overcrowded and commercialised. We stayed on Oahu too long and if I did return I would use it just as a stepping stone for the other islands. We did enjoy it but it didn't live up to my expectations after the huge journey.

This was a family member who had arranged the taxi. We did later discover Uber and Lyft, but it was STILL extortionate in general. We were there in 2022 and I think the islands were still in Covid recovery, so that might also have had something to do with the elevated prices. We actually thought San Francisco much cheaper in comparison

https://costaricaexperts.com/costa-rica-travel-blog/best-family-resorts-in-costa-rica/

Some Costa Rica ideas.

Our DC loved Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands. It’s a fantastic combo of wildlife and relaxing on a boat. I’d do that any time over Hawaii. I don’t know anyone that’s been to Hawaii that rated it. Too commercial and everything’s too big - hotels etc.

We have been to Maritime Canada and it’s lovely and relaxing. I would also suggest Vancouver and Vancouver Island. Lots of beach islands nearer to UK are better.

Western Canada is stunning - I've been 4 times and intend to return. Hawaii has always been on my wish list but I've read a lot recently about the environmental impact of overtourism on Hawaii and tbh I feel reluctant to go now. It is such a beautiful place but it's under threat and I can't bring myself to be part of the problem