Paris or Hawaii?

In My Humble Opinion
1

DeathLlama and I are discussing our summer vacation plans. We actually would like to go on a vacation this year, not just enjoy the time off. Kinda like a second honeymoon. :slight_smile:

I rather like the idea of Hawaii. It’s fairly inexpensive to fly, it’s exotic, tropical, filled with wildlife and all that stuff I’m fascinated with. It has the Polynesian culture and the cultured cuisine…good stuff. All that without the concern of international travel, language, etc. We would, however, have to deal with the substantial room and board expenses. (Pack Spam in the suitcase??)

Meanwhile…a friend of ours is a diplomat stationed in Paris. The hubby wants to go; he’s been there before and figures, hey–free room (and some board), and we’d be with someone who can speak the language! Plus it’s a highly historical and cultured site.

I have several reservations about Paris, though. One (the least rational) is my fear of flying. Obviously we wouldn’t be driving to Hawaii, but it seems more a straight shot. The long, long flight from Los Angeles to Paris–yeesh. I’m not ridiculous, but I am quite white knuckled on take off and landing and avoid air travel when I can. The TWA flight 800 really freaked me out a few years ago, and they were going to Paris, then the shoe bomber was on the Paris flight…doesn’t help.

Then there’s the stereotype that the French aren’t exactly American-friendly. I have no idea how accurate it is, and in and of itself it isn’t a reason to prevent me from going, but it isn’t helping when coupled with other issues.

It’s also international travel. That rather feeds into my first point…the whole anxiety factor.

I’ve never had a particular desire to see France. Other parts of Europe, yes, but never France. No significant reason, it’s just nothing in its lore has piqued my curiosity.

But I’m now here, petitioning you Dopers–particularly those who may have happened to be both places–for your opinions on the locations. Hell, I’d be happy to go to a Colorado mountain cabin.

Thoughts?

2

Visit Ireland instead.

3

If you don’t want a long, nonstop flight to Paris, you can get a flight that connects somewhere like in Newark. It chops the trip up about in half from the west coast. I love Paris and Hawaii, and many other places! Paris is very romantic. It also has some awesome historical sites. How could you not want to see the Notre Dame or the Eiffel Tower in person? The food in Paris is wonderful. You should browse the travel section of a bookstore and look for the Culture Shock series for Paris. It will help you to understand the French and how to deal with them.

There are cheap package deals to Hawaii (includes air and room). You can find inexpensive meals there. Oahu is the least expensive island to visit.

Aloha! & bon voyage! :cool:

4

I would most certainly not suggest East Timor.

However, Bali, is a most beautiful island filled with very friendly people (certainly an improvement over Paris), very inexpensive everything (much better than Hawaii), and a wide variety of enjoyable activities.

It is my favourite destination.

If you want an expensive place with not so friendly people and not much to do, though. Try East Timor.

5

Hawaii. Hawaii every time. Paris, while a nice enough city, is ridiculously overhyped in America, IMHO. After all the buildup, nearly everything was a letdown. Which is too bad, since I think that if I hadn’t had all the buildup I would have really, really enjoyed it. The only thing that didn’t disappoint (again, IMO) was Montmartre. I loved that. The artists and the basilica. Very nice. Oh and Versailles. That was fun, too.

Actually, what might be a better trip than just Paris would be to spend a day or three in Paris, then take a little three day trip down the Loire Valley and see all the chateaus. That was much better than Paris, I thought.

As for the French being rude, I have to be honest. They really weren’t any ruder than what you would encounter in any major city like NYC or LA. In fact, I received a much more hostile welcome in Wales (cornered in a pub by a few Welsh labors and subjected to an hour and a half political diatribe in how they explained in very forceful language how the US is screwing up the air. They did buy me a few a drinks while they were doing it though, so that was nice) than I ever received in Paris. Indeed, most people in Paris just don’t care - they’re used to tourists.

Now, to be honest, Hawaii is much more my type of place. Sunny. Warm. Hit the beach (stay the hell away from Waikiki). In fact, if you can, try and get a nice place near Waimanalo beach. Much prettier, much less crowded. Not as many hotels around there, though. I just asked my roomie, who grew up in the town, and he said to try the Nalo Winds - apparently some B&B that isn’t too expensive. (When I went, I just stayed with him at his folks place). There’s a ton of outdoorsy type things to do. Hawaii would be my recommendation.

Anyway, good luck in your decision.

6

Well, I’d go for Paris (and points beyond), but then I haven’t been to Hawaii. Having a friend there is a BIG plus, in my book, and not just for the free room – it’s always cool to have someone to show you the little hole-in-the-wall restaurants and other places you wouldn’t find on your own.

As for the anxiety factor, I can’t think of any reason to be more worried about international travel than domestic travel nowadays (as long as it’s not to East Timor).

7

I went to both Hawai’i and Paris in 2001 (had to start the millennium off on the right foot, dontcha know :slight_smile: ) and both are pretty damn sweet, but for different reasons.

Hawai’i is the land of beach, surf, kayaking, snorkeling, etc… Paris is for museums, parks, statues, jazz clubs, walks along the river.

If you want urban, go to Paris --and it gives you an excuse to learn French. (Travel Hint-- People everywhere are friendly if you make any attempt to speak their language.)

If your idea of a vacation is to lie there like a slug, you’ll have an easier time of it in Hawai’i.

8

I would vote for both Bali and Ireland. I am a fan of neither Paris nor Hawaii. Both are way over-touristed. Here is an idea - What about Tahiti?

It combines the two places you are interested in. It is Polynesian with a gentle veneer of French without the millions of tourists (there are some however - but many of them are Aussies and hey, they are entertaining in and of themselves).

As for Colorado — you’re always welcome here.

TV

9

Believe me, TV time, we’d love to go to Tahiti. It was out first choice for a honeymoon. But it’s a minimum of $5,000 just to stay; that’s a bit rich for our blood. Someday, but not today. Er…this year.

10

Then Bali is probably a better choice! It has world class beaches, lots to see and do, lots of beautiful people, and best of all…is not very expensive. Especially if you know someone who lives there. Let me know, And I can set you up with your own local who help y’all get things sorted out…at no cost!

11

I appreciate it, but we’ve pretty much narrowed it down to Paris or Hawaii…thus the thread title. :wink: But we promise to read up on Bali!

12

No worries…

13

Paris Paris Paris. Hawaii is too commercial & touristy, way too crowded (especially during the summer), and very expensive. There are some nice spots on the islands, but they tend to be out-of-the-way areas that the locals are very protective of, so unless you know a native there, you’re stuck with the touristy stuff.

Paris has great art, music, food, shopping (window- and otherwise), history, architecture, scenery, public transit, day trips, and civic personality. The only time I’ve found French people are rude is if you act like you should be treated special becuase you’re American. Stay humble, learn a few key phrases, and you’ll be fine.

14

I haven’t been to Paris but I have been to Hawaii. So I say PARIS. Hawaii is nice but it is all tourism. Its a fake place in my opinion. I spent 3 1/2 years there and have no desire to go back.

I guess if you like outdoors then go to Hawaii. There isn’t much to do there indoors that you can’t do anywhere else. Go to the Big Island if you go. Stay away from Oahu. They hate tourists there. The Big Island has the volcano, mountians, snow, beaches, and ranching. The most beautiful waterfalls are on the Big Island and the people are nice (yes that is an oddity for hawaii).

I still say Paris though…

15

Haven’t yet been to Paris, but you sure as heck couldn’t end up regretting going to Hawaii.

16

I’m sorry, but I have to call shenanigans on this.

Same as anywhere else, we (I lived there for ~22 years, so I feel entitled to use the ‘we’ even if I’m not there now) only hate the rude “I’m on vacation so kneel down” tourists. Which I’m sure you two won’t be.

And the people are the nicest I have had to interact with (not just friends and family, mind you, but retail, service, gov’t offices, etc.). Obviously if you go to enough minimum-wage, angsty-high-school-student-hiring businesses, you’ll get the bitchy help, but that’s the exception more than the rule IME. (Of course, I guess I’m a “local” so YMMV.)

As far as the allegations of HI being too touristy/commercial/lacking in hula girls, I’ll have to say that it is true for Oahu, and Maui (though to a lesser extent). Kauai is definitely much less so (there’s an active thread laying around somewhere, as you probably know), and “the Big Island” of Hawaii is probably the best mix of stuff and nature. (Though spending your trip outside of Honolulu while staying on Oahu would probably work too - even the boonies are <40 minutes away from civilization.)

If you have the scratch, I’d recommend splitting your time up between Oahu and the other islands. Oahu is good for cultural stuff (Polynesian Cultural Center = culture, Bishop Museum = Hawaiian History) and the other islands are good for just lounging around (IMHO - not having too much experience with the other islands). All the islands should be good for hiking if you’re looking to do that.

Oh, and as a side note, the Honolulu zoo and aquarium are kinda on the dinky side. (The aquarium has some cool tropical fishies, but is pretty small.)

17

Spent a week in Maui about 14 months back. Found it suprisingly affordable, and not very crowded. Going in November undoubtedly helped; that it was November 2001, two months after 9/11, helped as well.

Mrs. F. and I were both sick on that trip, so we didn’t enjoy it as much as we could have. But Maui was absolutely beautiful, and nothing could spoil that. We’re definitely going back before too many years have passed.

Never been to Paris, so I can’t compare. It’s a very apples-and-oranges comparison, I would expect, just because it’s a city.

18

hawaii, hands down. no interest in paris or france.

now where else can you get a room over a volcano?

i was hoping to go there last feb.

19

Well, Hawaii is far more my speed than Paris. However, I’ve been to neither. Based soley on your situation, I’d have to vote for Paris this time around for one simple reason. You have a friend there. Hawaii will always be there, and you can do it anytime. However the chance at free room and a knowlegable guide in a foreign country is a rare and passing asset. Also note that Paris in the summer would be wonderful, where Hawaii might be better in the fall or winter.

But like I said, for me…I’d take sun, sand, and beaches over a foreign speaking city with a bad reputation towards tourists.

20

I’ve lived in Hawaii and never been to Paris, so I’ve got a strong bias in favour of Hawaii. I spent most of my time working in Japanese tourism there, so I can assure you that, at least 8 years ago, tourists were well-treated indeed. We’d better – the state’s economy depends on them!:smiley:

I never thought of Oahu as being overly touristy, but I very seldom got off of Oahu while I lived there and I did make a point of getting out of Waikiki at least once a week for the 6 1/2 years I lived there. I’ll strongly second the Bishop Museum, although I can’t say quite as much for the Polynesian Cultural Center. Instead, I recommend spending an evening sitting at a table under the banyan tree at the Sheraton Moana Surfrider, listening to real local-style music, especially on nights when a guy named “Moe Keale” is performing, and watching a sunset. The banyan tree is the same one Robert Louis Stevenson once sat under, and you can hire a drink to sit on your table, so it makes for a cheap evening. Also, you can get cheap package deals to Hawaii. Oh yes, if you do decide to go, they have British-style change ringing (bell ringing) at St. Andrew’s Cathedral downtown, with practices Tuesdays and Thursday evenings, Saturday afternoons, and bells run before and after the 10:30 service. If you decide to go, let me know and I’ll give you my real name so you can tell them I said hello. These aren’t little bells, by the way – the lightest one is 595 pounds, and the heaviest is 1,370 pounds. The original heavy metal!

I must admit, I’d love to see Paris some day myself, but Hawaii has sentimental claims for me. So, what’s the statue of limitations on being a kama’aina?

CJ