Wife wants out of Japan in August... our budget is limited but I like the idea of Maui for kiteboarding. Or even Hatteras :D

But will accommodation and food etc be too expensive? What's it cost to hang out in those spots for 2 or 3 weeks?

We found oodles of places for like $120-130 a night. VRBO.com Three bedrooms await our arrival in just seven (likely long) days at Todd Davis' place Kailolo for a mere $150 a night. Last two nights are at a loft condo on the other side of Maui - $129 a night.

I've been advised to bring our Costco card because food is expensive but some stuff is 30% of the price at Costco. Plus staying at a "home away from home" we can cook easy things like breakfast and lunch and save our coin for nice family meals.

Hit duty free on your way over and you're set pretty cheap.

Also, we rented a car from Enterprise but called the Maui office direct and the price we booked at was $430 compared to the best online price we got of $640.

I hope my skills don't make Maui a waste...Todd's scouring the local scene for a 6 or 7m kite I can bring home as a souvenir

Too much :o 3 weeks of $120 a night for a freakin' hotel just isn't worth it I have funny ideas about hotels too :D

what about tahiti or south Pacific?

Try airbnb.com to rent someone's house or apartment. On my last trip to the bay I had an amazing apartment for less than a decent hotel.

Two words... Beach bum

Itll be like camping, only youll get ran off every now and again!

Hatteras would be cheaper, any way you slice it 3 weeks in hawaii will kill the pocketbook

I really want to go back to Thailand cos the people were nice and the food was awesome :D wasn't impressed with Bali when we were there so don't really want to go back.
South Pacific... meh, if I have to. I don't imagine the food will be up to much though

The US would be interesting cos we've not been there before and it'll be easier to find interesting things to do other than banging around crappy shops. But even with the strong yen, many of the prices around look appalling.

airbnb looks good - thanks for that!

Also, someone said Maui will be nukin' ... I'm looking for a mellow time :D

nebraska's cheap
but we be nuking right now too

I'm only interested in the water on this trip - not jumping around on land, breaking myself :D

Lake Mac buddy!!

(im totally kidding btw )