A view of the Fairmont Orchid. (Courtesy Fairmont Hotels & Resorts)

Top 10 hotels on the Hawaiian islands Ultimate honeymoon destinations

Q: My stepdaughter and her fiance are planning to honeymoon next year and mentioned Hawaii as a possible destination. Which hotels there are popular with honeymooners?

-- J. Siegel, Toronto

A: The Hawaiian islands specialize in romance and there are hotels for all budgets.

Start by setting the right mood: Break out the lei's, dust off retro recordings such as Don Ho's Tiny Bubbles, and pop Blue Hawaii starring Elvis Presley into the DVD player. Then stop by your travel agent's office, where there are a host of Hawaiian honeymoon brochures.

Direct the couple to the Hawaii Tourism Authority's website which is chockfull of honeymoon tips, hotel listings, and details on local businesses specializing in honeymoon planning.  (One example is Hawaii Honeymoons, which has honeymoon packages for all of the islands Hawaii.)

Other sources of information include Frommer's, which recently released a Top 10 list of best honeymoon spots in Hawaii. The guide-book publisher's top 3 picks are Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort on the Big Island, The Fairmont Orchid also on the Big Island, and Hotel Renew on Oahu's Waikiki Beach.

Brides Magazine has a top 20 list of best honeymoon hotels in Hawaii. Luxe brands dominate their Top 5. No. 1 is Four Seasons Maui at Wailea. No. 2 is the Four Seasons Resort Lana'i at Manele Bay on Maui. No. 3 is the St. Regis Princeville on Kauai. No. 4 is the Four Seasons Resort Hawaii at Hualalai on the Big Island. No. 5 is the Fairmont Kea Lani in Maui.

Send your travel questions to ilona@mycompass.ca