As you are making your plans for your Hawaii vacation, you may want to consider bringing a small stash of snacks for your trip. You will thank yourself for bringing a few snacks in these situations: After a long journey to get to Hawaii, you stumble to your accommodation like a zombie. You practically pass out when your head hits ... Read More »

Here’s the latest batch of Hawaii deals on the horizon. * Maui’s Kapalua Villas resort condominiums are on sale with Outrigger Resorts, the new property management company. You can book a 1-bedroom fairway-view villa for $199 plus a $25 resort fee per night. With this rate, you’ll also receive $150 resort credit. This deal is valid for travel dates through ... Read More »

Free, free, we love free! Don’t we? Well, here are three free samples that are perfect for travelers, whether you’re headed to Hawaii or anywhere else: 1.  Get free samples of shampoo and conditioner from Aveeno – click here to order. 2.  Burt’s Bees is offering a free sample of their new line of natural toothpaste – click here to ... Read More »

It’s time again for another deals and news roundup. * Here’s an excellent article from Seattle’s Parent Map that’s  filled with ideas on how to save money on a Maui family vacation. * One of the best Hawaii luxury deals I’ve seen in a while is this one to stay at Maui’s Kapalua Ritz-Carlton for $299 per night. In addition ... Read More »

I was recently asked for my thoughts on the Go Oahu Card. This activity discount card allows you entrance to 30 Oahu attractions over a specific number of days. They advertise that you can “save up to 40% or more compared to buying regular tickets.” Since I’ve never used the cards, I thought I’d use one of my lifelines and ... Read More »

Just a couple quick things to let you know: * A closure is planned on part of the road to Hana in May and early June. The Paihi Bridge which is  between Hana and Kipahulu will be closed beginning May 5th, 2009 for approximately 4 weeks. Thus the Seven Pools and Lindbergh’s Grave will only be accessible via the back ... Read More »

Have you ever noticed that news seems to come in waves? Here are the vacation news and deal nuggets I found while surfing the waves of the net. * Just a reminder that there are some fantastic airfare deals to Honolulu. Check out the most recent updates from airfarewatchdog. The list includes deals like these: Baltimore/Honolulu $414 round-trip Boston/Honolulu $419 ... Read More »

Pssst! Hey you! Shh! Here’s a secret for ya: Hawaii beaches are practically deserted near sunset. Can you believe it? We took this photo from Waikiki Beach near sunset. Notice that this extremely popular beach isn’t very crowded at all and it became even more quiet as the sunset was nearing. We were amazed at how quiet Waikiki Beach would ... Read More »

I was delighted to answer Budget Travel Magazine readers’ Hawaii travel questions yesterday.  There were over 30 great questions that I answered.  If you missed the chat, then perhaps you’d be interested in reading the full transcript.  Here are a few excerpts from the chat. __________________________________________________________________________ Burlington, N.J.: We are planning on visiting Hawaii in October of 09. What Island/Islands ... Read More »

After reading my article on packing light, a reader recently asked how is it possible to travel to Hawaii with just carry-on luggage. I can certainly understand how that might be a mystery, especially for the first time vacationer to Hawaii. On my first and second visits to Hawaii, I way over packed. Now as a seasoned Hawaii traveler, I ... Read More »