We know airfare isn't cheap these days. That's why we've partnered with one of our wholesalers to bring you an amazing deal on flights. During the entire month of May you'll get a $250 air discount when booking flights from San Diego, San Jose or Oakland to Kauai or The Big Island for travel between 5/1/13-6/25/13. All you need to do is package the flights with a three-night or longer hotel stay at one of the many properties our wholesaler offers and the discount is yours!
Hawaii
Hawaii Island isn’t just big, it’s still growing. The Island of Hawaii is the youngest island in the Hawaiian chain and is also by far the biggest, providing a vast canvas of environments to discover a variety of unrivaled natural wonders. This is the home of one of the world’s most active volcanoes (Kilauea), located in the largest park in the state (Hawaii Volcanoes National Park). All but two of the world’s climate zones generate everything from lush rain forests to volcanic deserts, snow-capped mountaintops to beautiful black sand beaches.
Kauai
From the soaring cliffs of the Napali Coast to the vast chasms of Waimea Canyon, Kauai embraces the senses like no other destination. Explore the island via land, sea or air to experience settings you’ve only dreamed about. Discover 50-miles of heavenly beaches from Poipu Beach to Hanalei Bay. Explore charming and historic small towns like Hanapepe and Koloa where no building is taller than a coconut tree. With so much to experience, “Hawaii's Island of Discovery,” is begging to be explored.
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The Turtle Bay Resort, located on Oahu's famed North Shore, is in the midst of a multi-million dollar renovation. Not only are they opening two new restaurants (North Shore Kula Grille and 21 Degrees North), a new retail experience called North Shore Water Shed and doubling the size of their spa, but every single room and suite in the hotel is being completely renovated as well.
The room renovation project is being done wing by wing with the first newly renovated rooms scheduled to be open on June 2nd (the entire project is set to finish in October of this year). With new rooms comes new categories and new descriptions. We thought it would be a good idea to educate our clients on the new categories to minimize confusion when the new rooms are available. Here's a rundown of the new room types:
- -Epic Rooms are the new hotel rooms on the 3rd-5th floors. They will only have stand-up glass showers (no tubs).
- -Epic Oceanfront Rooms are what were the Oceanfront and Deluxe (or Premium) Oceanfront rooms, which means guests will need to request a large lanai if so desired (the rooms are no longer split into separate categories for small and large lanais).
- -Epic Oceanview and Epic Partial Oceanview Rooms have been split from the previous Oceanview category. Neither category offers a lanai.
- -Moana Suites and Noana Two-Bedroom Suites are the newly renovated Pikake Suites. They will offer walk-in natural stone showers and a deep-soaker bathtub that is open to the room.
- -Ali'i Rooms and Suites are all located on the 6th floor, and (once renovated) will be considered premium rooms. They will also offer walk-in natural stone showers and a deep-soaker bathtub that is open to the room.
Hopefully this breakdown of the new rooms helps. Epic rooms are available for booking now with travel starting June 2nd. If you have any questions or if you want to know more about the work being done to transform the Turtle Bay Resort give us a call and one of our friendly Hawaii experts will be happy to assist you.
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Your flights are booked, your hotel reservations are made and in a few short weeks (or days) you'll be off to paradise in Hawaii. But what should you do once you get there? Here are a few of the events happening around the islands over the next few months to help you plan your stay.
Aloha Fridays
The Big Island
Every Friday in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park there's a hands-on demonstration lesson given about a cultural craft. The lesson varies from week to week and the events are free, though donations are welcome. Call 808-967-8222 for more information.
LPGA Lotte Championship Presented by J Golf
Oahu
The Ladies Pro Golf Tournament will be held at the amazing Ko Olina Resort from April 14th-20th. The tournament will feature some of the world's best female golfers, including Hawaii's own Michelle Wie. For more information check out www.lottechampionship.com.
A Culinary Romp Through Paradise - Nani Moon Mead
Kauai
Local food experts guide you "from farm to fork" as you explore authentic tastes of Kauai. The monthly tours are designed to offer a variety of tropical flavors as guests explore an exotic fruit orchard, enjoy a cooking demonstration and four-course gourmet meal, and learn about locally made beverages. The tours are held on the east side of the island and reservations are required. Visit www.tastingkauai.com for more information.
Wailuku First Friday
Maui
Wailuku Town's monthly street party comes complete with live music, sidewalk artisans, crafters and food vendors. The street closes to local traffic for this free community event which runs from 6-9pm. The May event will be held on May 3rd. For more information visit them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/wailukufirstfriday
These are just some of the events going on in Hawaii in the coming weeks. Visit Go Hawaii for a full list of all 113 upcoming events.
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Visit one of the most beautiful islands on the planet - the big island of Hawaii.
Call us for some great specials and deals.
For more information about your perfect Hawaii vacation, use the menu links at the top of this page or call our specialists at:
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When it comes to budgeting for your Hawaii honeymoon, one place you don't want to cut too many corners on is your hotel or condo accommodations. After the whirlwind of activity from your wedding it will be nice to finally get to your honeymoon hotel and just relax for a few days. Because of this, you'll probably end up spending more time at the hotel on your honeymoon than you would during a normal vacation. This is why it's so important to stay at the nicest place you can afford.
All of that said, there are a few ways to cut costs on your hotel stay so that you can maximize your dollars and stay at the absolute nicest place your budget will allow. Here are a few tips to help you do just that:
Do you need to stay on the beach?
To some people staying on the beach is one of the most important pieces of the
accommodations puzzle. For others, they're perfectly content staying somewhere across the street or even several blocks from the beach. An important question to ask yourself when determining how important this is to you would be: how much time do you plan on spening at
the beach in front of your hotel (or condo)? If your idea of a perfect Hawaii honeymoon is heading down to the beach as soon as you wake up and spending most of your days soaking up the rays while getting lost in your favorite novel, then staying on the beach might be really important. But if you plan on being out and about away from your hotel most of the time and checking out a new beach every day, then you might not need your accommodations to be sitting on the sand.
Do you need an oceanview from your room?
This is another important question that ties directly back to your budget. Some people envision spending their evenings drinking in the sunset with their new spouse while lounging on their balconies overlooking the ocean. Other people anticipate being away from their hotel most days exploring the island and doing all kinds of activities. In that case a fantastic (and expensive) view of the ocean may be wasted on them. For someone like this it may make more sense to have a gardenview room at a 5-star property rather than an oceanview at a 4-star property.
Book early for peak travel.
Summer is peak wedding season, but it also happens to be one of the peak travel times for Hawaii, too. It's not uncommon for us to be contacted by a bride or groom-to-be only a few weeks prior to their honeymoon. This is understandable knowing the amount of time, energy and effort that goes into planning a wedding. Don't let your honeymoon be an afterthought, though. Try to book your trip no later than three months prior to your departure date to give you the best chance of there being availability at the hotel of your dreams. You also tend to get better rates when you book your trip far in advance, so booking your Hawaii honeymoon four months prior to your trip rather than four weeks could save you quite a bit of money.
Ask your Great Hawaii Vacations travel consultant for a recommendation.
Not all 5-star hotels are priced the same. A place like the Four Seasons Maui is usually going to be priced higher than a hotel of similar quality, like the Fairmont Kea Lani. Our travel consultants have in-depth knowledge of every hotel and condo in Hawaii, so we can usually recommend the best honeymoon hotels offering the greatest bang for your buck. We're also aware of promotions that hotels offer, like free nights, free breakfast and resort credits which can help mitigate the cost of a higher nightly rate on a hotel room.
Follow these honeymoon planning tips and you'll be able to stretch your budget as far as possible!
Call for even more free advice and suggestions.
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Great Hawaii Vacations thanks Dan B for his guest blog post about visiting Waimea Canyon on Kauai.
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Would I recommend visiting Waimea Canyon?
For Great Hawaii Vacation clients visiting Kauai for the first time, I am sure this is a frequently-asked question. Many wonder if it is just a repeat of their childhood trips to the Grand Canyon, and will they be doomed to be bored by countless hours of driving and tourist traps.
We stayed at the Sheraton Kauai in a beautiful ocean view room. Every morning we awoke to the sound of the crashing waves breaking on the shore and Kauai roosters calling to their flocks of chickens. One morning we drove West along the South coast toward Waimea Canyon and we were somewhat apprehensive about being dissapointed.
Waimea Canyon, also known as “The Grand Canyon of the Pacific”, and as it turned out, is a beautiful sight to behold. The canyon was formed by the extreme rainfall from Mount
Wai’ale’ale, known as the Wettest Spot on Earth, which streams down to the Waimea River and finds its way to the Pacific Ocean. Unlike the mainland Grand Canyon, the deep hues of red are met by waterfalls and the lush greens you see everywhere on the Garden Isle.
The canyon has a unique geologic history—it was formed not only by the steady process of erosion, but also by a catastrophic collapse of the volcano that created Kauaʻi. As is explained in the Waimea Canyon State Farm Literature, "Like the other Hawaiian islands, Kauaʻi is the top of an enormous volcano rising from the ocean floor. With lava flows dated to about 5 million years ago, Kauaʻi is the oldest of the large Hawaiian islands. Roughly 4 million years ago, while Kauaʻi was still erupting almost continuously, a portion of the island collapsed. This collapse formed a depression, which then filled with lava flows." and Waimea Canyon was born. It is very beautful to behold. 
Waimea Canyon State Park encompasses 1,866 acres (7.5 km²) and is a popular tourist
attraction on the island. It provides a wilderness area with numerous hiking trails. It can be accessed from Waimea on Hawaiʻi state road 550, which is 18 miles long and leads up to Koke'e State Park.
We took a long walk along a few of these trails and were left breathless by the views. At the top of the park there is a lookout that has one of the world's most panoramic views. It is of the North West Coast of Kauai. This is a spot that you will not want to miss on your tour of Waimea Canyon.
From Waimea Canyon, you can also look out to the Pacific Ocean and see the Forbidden Isle of Ni’ihau in the distance. As Wikipedia describes it, "The people of Niʻihau are known for their gemlike lei pūpū (shell lei) craftsmanship, and speak Hawaiʻian as a primary language. The island is generally off-limits to all but relatives of the island's owners, U.S. Navy personnel, government officials and invited guests, giving it the nickname "The Forbidden Isle". They also go on to mention that, "During World War II, the island was the site of the Niʻihau Incident: A Japanese navy fighter pilot crashed on the island and terrorized its residents for a week after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
In Waimea Town itself, down on the coast, you have a small, very friendly kama’aina (Hawaiian local) community. You can find economically-priced dining, tasty treats like shave ice, and great local artistry.
Whether you are an avid photographer, thrill-seeking hiker, or trying to keep your family entertained on Kauai, Waimea Canyon is a cut above those childhood trips, wouldn’t you agree?
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Sophie Mitchell, who lives in Australia, is an eminent travel writer and we are happy to post an article she wrote for us about her perspective on a Great Hawaii vacation.
Thank you Sophie.
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The moment someone says Hawaii, a very typical image conjures in your mind – lots of
sunshine, stretch of white sandy beaches, lapis lazuli waters, pina coladas, exotic hula dancers and more. You have got it right for the most part – only it is more beautiful up close. The warm tropical climate and the natural scenery makes Hawaii one of the most sought after and preferred holiday destination for tourists from all over the world, - we Aussies being no exception.
You want to get married or spend a honeymoon week, or an outdoor shoot for some ad campaign, or simply visiting – whatever your reason is – you can never go wrong with Hawaii. And now, especially with flightsaustralia.com.au you can get cheap flights to USA from Australia.
This Polynesian archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean is wonder in itself. The fresh floral air energizes you and the warm tranquil water refreshes you. The six unique islands with their distinct flavor and experience fascinates any traveler be it the very first time or his fifth visit! The dramatic coast, the vibrant shores, the miles of white sands, dolphin friendly waters, the volcanoes, springs and more will capture you attention. Napali Coast, Waikiki Beach, Hulopoe Bay, Haleakala, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is just to name a few.
A visit to the historic landmarks of Hawaii will let you learn a thing or two about the rich and vibrant of the land. Wear your best bikini, get a tan on the beach; learn how to surf, go snorkeling and kayaking, watch whales in their habitat, attend a traditional luau – find out all there is about the hula. Romantic escapes, family vacations, walking on a volcano, see Hawaii on a bike, trek, and swim with a manta ray, sample the cuisine, go fishing, and indulge in a sensual spa massage – all the ingredients of a perfect holiday in one place!
From five star resorts to vacation rentals, and beautiful condos - accommodation is a not a problem in Hawaii and Great Hawaii Vactions knows it all. Hawaii is a place for everyone. There is something for everybody. Plan a Hawaiian wedding or a bachelor party or your annual family reunion, whatever is the event – Hawaii will rise to the occasion. Meet the lovely people; get aquatinted with the flora and fauna of this paradise island, give your taste buds a little treat with the delectable and refreshing flavors of the Hawaiian cuisine. Sip a cocktail sunbathing at the beach, get a massage, and get pampered. Go shopping- collect unique memorabilia and cute souvenirs from the shops.
Sophie Mitchell is an eminent travel writer. Her articles are mostly based on various tourist destinations and how to reach the spot. Readers get a good idea of how to have a vacation on a moderate budget. In the above article,
For more information about your perfect Hawaii vacation, use the menu links at the top of this page or call our specialists at:
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One of the most important things to consider when planning your perfect Hawaii honeymoon is your budget. Do you cut back on the accommodations so you can do more activites? Or do
you splurge for that fabulous oceanview knowing that you'll have to do one or two less excursions? Maybe you need help in creating a realistic overall budget. This article will definitely help with that.
Budgeting for Flights
Thankfully, the price of flights have been on the way down for a few months now. Earlier in the year we were seeing flight prices to Maui between $600-$700/ticket, and that was from major West Coast cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco. Now the air has come down so significantly that it's not unheard of to find roundtrip airfare from those cities for less than $400. While airfare in the $300 isn't quite the norm yet, a good goal to aim for if traveling from the West coast is sub $500. Good airfare from the Midwest and East Coast will be a bit more, usually around $100-$200 more per person.
How do you find those great fares? Here are a few tips:
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If possible, avoid departing/returning on weekends. It's usually cheaper to fly Monday-Thursday.
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Be flexible on your dates. Sometimes being able to leave even one day later or earlier can save you hundreds of dollars.
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Take the redeye. We know it's not the most desirable schedule for most people, but flying home overnight can usually save you a decent chunk of change.
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Avoid "super peak" travel times. Hawaii's typical peak periods are the summer and winter months. By "super peak" we mean when Hawaii is most busy, such as between Christmas and New Years, Spring Break and the middle of February. Airfare usually skyrockets during these times of the year.
Budgeting for Accommodations
Now that you know whether you'll be honeymooing in a hotel or condo (previous post) it's time to set your accommodations budget. Accommodations in Hawaii can range widely in price, but a good general rule of thumb is as follows:
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2-star accommodations: $125-$175/night
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3-star accommodations: $175-$250/night
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4-star accommodations: $250-$325/night
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5-star accommodations: $325/night+
You'll probably notice we didn't give a range for 1-star accommodations. This is because with as special of a trip as this is we really don't recommend spending your honeymoon in anything less than three-stars, and definitely recommend avoiding one-star accommodations. Of course, these are just general ranges and options such as a better view can vary the cost even greater.
Budgeting for Ground Transportation
We get asked this question all the time: "Do I need a car rental in Hawaii?" The short answer - If you're staying anywhere other than Waikiki, absolutely. The long answer is that public transportation isn't really great on most of the islands (outside of Waikiki, which is part of a big city) and a lot of times you'll end up spending as much, if not more, on roundtrip airport transfers just to get you to/from your hotel. While you do have to look out for separate parking charges at some hotels, the reality is that most hotels that charge a daily resort fee (like the Sheraton Maui, for example) include self-parking in the resort fee. So, you're basically paying for parking whether or not you even have a car, so it won't cost extra to have one.
Also, if you plan on doing activities like luaus, horseback riding, etc, most tour companies charge extra to pick you up at your hotel. So between the extra cost charged by the activities companies, the price of airport transfers and the price of cabs to get you around the island it usually becomes more cost effective (and convenient) to rent your own car. Driving around the islands is super easy, so don't be intimidated by the thought of driving around a strange island you've never been to.
So how much should you budget for ground transportation? You typically get a better rate for having a car for a week, and a weekly rate on a mid-size car right now is running around $27/day (tax included). Of course, it can be really fund to have a fancy car like a convertible or a Jeep Wrangler while you're exploring the islands. Though they cost more (usually around $50/day) there really isn't anything quite like going on a scenic drive like the Road to Hana on Maui or Waimea Canyon on Kauai with the top down and the warm Hawaii air blowing in your face.
Budgeting for Food and Activities
So know you know how much to spend to get where you're going, to stay in the hotel of your dreams and to be able to get around the island. But how much money should you plan on spending every day for food and activities? We usually tell people to plan for about $100/person per day, but on a honeymoon where you're more likely to do more activities and have a few meals at some fancy restaurants you may want to plan on $150/person per day or even more. The average cost of an activity in Hawaii is $80/person, so if you had one really cool activity planned each day that alone would eat up most of your $100/day budget. Also, a dinner at one of the nice restaurants at the 5-star hotels can easily cost $150-$200, while a treatment at their spa (like a massage) can be anywhere from $100-$300.
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Like any major purchase, planning ahead for the costs associated with your honeymoon and knowing the prices ahead of time (especially for things like activities) will mitigate sticker shock and can help adjust your financial expectations. This way while you're lounging at the pool you'll be more concerned with how quickly you can get your next Mai Tai rather than how much it costs.
For more information about your perfect Hawaii vacation, use the menu links at the top of this page or call our specialists at:
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We are happy to provide some great savings at these Marriott Resorts in Hawaii.
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Once you've picked the island for your perfect Hawaii honeymoon, the first question you need
to ask yourself is, do you want to stay in a hotel/resort or a condo (with a kitchen)?
Yes, this question even comes before you set your budget. Why? Because the answer to this question can actually help in determining how much to spend each night for your accommodations.
Resorts with lots of restaurants and room service are usually what people picture when they're daydreaming about their honeymoon accommodations, but keep in mind this means you'll need to eat out for almost every meal and the food at the resorts (especially room service) can be pricey.
On the other hand, condos offer fully equipped kitchens meaning you can reheat leftovers, whip up a quick meal or, if you're foodies, cook up a special romantic dinner using local ingredients to enjoy on your private lanai (balcony). Preparing some meals yourself will reduce food costs and could potentially allow you to spend that money on upgrading your accommodations, for example going from a three-star to a four-star or getting an oceanview instead of a gardenview.
Let's take a look at the pros and cons of each:
Hotels
PROS
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CONS
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+ Full-service hotels offer amenities such as restaurants and activities
+ Room service
+ On-site health spa with romantic treatments such as couple massage
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-More expensive than comparable quality condo accommodations
-No kitchen facilities, so all meals will need to be eaten out at restaurants
-Smaller rooms
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Condos
PROS
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CONS
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+ Full kitchen in your unit means you can reheat last night's dinner or cook up a romantic dinner for two to enjoy on your balcony
+ More space than traditional hotel rooms
+ Some properties offer condo accommodations in a resort atmosphere offering the best of both worlds
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-Typically don't offer the same kinds of amenities as hotels
-More space than traditional hotel rooms
-Some properties offer condo accommodations in a resort atmosphere offering the best of both worlds
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All that said, there are some properties that are the best of both worlds.
For example, the Honua Kai Resort & Spa on Maui has resort-style pools complete with a waterslide, two restaurants and even a fitness center. This type of hybrid property can give you the best of both experiences. Ask your Great Hawaii Vacations personal travel consultant to recommend some other properties like the Honua Kai if this type of option interests you.
For more information about your perfect Hawaii vacation, use the menu links at the top of this page or call our specialists at:
Participate with us on Facebook for Hawaii discussions, free contests and great specials.
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