Trip Coach: November 25, 2008

Thanks,
Lisa

Sheila Beal: Hi Lisa–Happy upcoming birthday! When I look for a vacation rental, I normally start with VRBO.com (Vacation Rental By Owner) I've generally found the best rates that way. Just a couple of words of advice, do carefully vet the rental homes that you are considering. I ask the owners a lot of questions and must see lots photos before I feel comfortable to rent from that person. If possible try to pay with a credit card for added protection.

One high-end recommendation from Wendy Perrin (a trusted source from Concierge.com),is HawaiiHideaways.com.

As far as activities and adventures: Here are my suggestions for budget-friendly Oahu activities

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Haleyville, Ala.: My wife and I want to travel to Maui for a couple of weeks beginning on April 20th, 2009. We would either fly from Huntsville, Ala. or Nashville, Tenn. Right now, flights from these two places are extremely high. Any chance the cost of airfare may come down for our desired time of travel? Thanks for any advice.

Sheila Beal: Hello Haleyville, Alabama–I sure wish I knew the exact answer to your question, but unfortunately, there's no way to predict that, particularly in our present economy. Here's a couple of thoughts for you:

- Sign up for custom e-mail alerts from your desired departure cities on Web sites like Kayak.com, Expedia.com, Travelocity.com, Orbitz.com, etc. Airlines also offer offer this type of free alert service.
- Orbitz.com has a guarantee that if you purchase a flight and someone else purchases the exact flights for less, they'll automatically refund you the difference.

I hope you find a great airfare bargain!

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Denver, Colo.: I'm wondering if cabs, gas, groceries and fast food restaurants are generally priced the same in Hawaii as they are in the western states? I'm planning to travel to Hawaii in 2010.

Sheila Beal: Hi Denver–In general, groceries, gas, and fast food does cost a little more in Hawaii as compared to the U.S. Mainland, but not outrageously so. Public transport on buses is quite reasonable, though.

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Fairfax, Va.: My wife and I will be celebrating 30 years of wedding bliss next March. We would like to finally visit the Islands. While I am completely satisfied with the beach she loves tennis. Can you recommend a good place to stay?

Sheila Beal: Happy upcoming anniversary! With the combination that you described, the first place to come to mind is either the Mauna Kea Resort or its sister location at the Hapuna Prince. Both resorts are on the sunny Kohala Coast of the Big Island with great beaches and with a shared ocean-side tennis complex.

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Boston, Mass.: I will be traveling with my daughter, my son-in-law and my twin grandchildren aged four. The trip is planned in early March on the Island of Kauai. All of the adults are active, i.e. kayaking, hiking scuba diving. Obviously the four-year-old twins have the usual limitations of four year olds. Do you have suggestions for a family itinerary which would be out of the ordinary?

Sheila Beal: Hi Boston–Here are some suggestions that are appropriate for the whole family.
- I'd certainly not miss these "must see" Kauai ideas

- A luau would be something that the whole family would enjoy.I might suggest Gaylord's Luau Kalamaku where you can add on a train ride through tropical plantation grounds.

- A catamaran cruise of the Na Pali Coast, if you are not prone to sea sickness. (Even if you don't get sea sick, you might want to take precautions.) There are some tours that combine a snorkeling/diving trip with a Na Pali Coast boat cruise. Those are typically morning cruises, and the great thing about morning cruises is that's when the dolphins are very active, so there's a great chance you'll see dolphins.

- The humpback whales should still be around Kauai's waters in March. They are amazing creatures. If you don't see them on a catamaran cruise of the Na Pali coast, you might want to take a whale watching cruise.

- Kauai is excellent for hiking, particularly in Kokee State Park. I could suggest some hikes, but I'm not sure how far the grandchildren might be able to go. So, I recommend that you stop in at the Kokee Museum (admission is free) and describe the types of hikes you may be looking for and they will be able to suggest some trails to match the whole family's skills. You can also purchase trail maps for a nominal fee there.

- Here's a collection of other itineraries that may spur some additional ideas for you.

I hope these ideas help. Enjoy your family vacation in beautiful Kauai!

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Denver, Colo.: My husband and I will be arriving on the island of Kauai on Wed., December 3rd and will be there until the night of December 6th. We are staying at the Sheraton resort. We are interested in sailing and kayaking while we are there. Do you have any suggestions?

Sheila Beal: Hi Denver–If you aren't prone to getting sea sick, then I'd recommend a Na Pali Coast catamaran sail. The coast is gorgeous and if the water is smooth enough, it should make for a very peaceful cruise. Note that winter surf tends to be rougher than summer surf. If you do take a catamaran cruise, be on the look out for humpback whales when you're not admiring the Na Pali.

You won't be able to do any sea kayaking in December. (Late May - September have conditions suitable for kayaking the Na Pali Coast.) Kauai has some excellent rivers for kayaking. Wailua River is very pretty as is Hanalei River. Wailua River is closer to where you'll be staying, so I'd be more inclined to chose that one since you only have 3 days on Kauai. There are tour companies who will supply the kayak and perhaps lunch for you. Alternatively, depending on your skill level and ability to transport a kayak, you could rent a kayak on your own. If you choose a kayak tour provider for the Wailua River, I might suggest you look for one that also includes a short hike to Secret Falls.

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Phoenix, Ariz.: Our United Airlines flight from San Francisco arrives in Honolulu at 4 pm. Our connecting flight on Hawaiian Airlines to Kapalua, Maui departs at 4:50 pm. What is the quickest way to get from United to Hawaiian Air in this brief amount of time?

Sheila Beal: Hello Phoenix - Here is a diagram of Honolulu Airport. According to the diagram, United flights typically arrive at gates 6–11. I suggest you call Hawaiian and ask from which gate your flight to Kapalau normally departs. You'll then have an idea of where you'll be going and the quickest route. You'll find some information centers in the airport. Feel free to ask them for directions and advice. There's a train called the Wiki Wiki that is supposed to help you transport to the terminals. Personally I've never found the train to be Wiki Wiki (e.g. fast) at all. I always opt to walk over using the Wiki Wiki. Based on my experience, I'd estimate that it probably won't take you more than 15 minutes to walk to your gate. I hope your United flight arrives early, so you won't have to rush. Enjoy Maui!

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Swansea, Mass.: Where can you get a car rental for a month in Feb. without paying the outrageous prices at the airport rentals? Thanks C

Sheila Beal: Hi C from Swansea, Mass–That's a good question. I'd start with a travel search tool like Kayak.com to first see what the cheapest rates are over February. Then, you might want to call the car rental office directly on the island that you are going to visit and try to negotiate.

There are a few local rental companies in Hawaii that wouldn't show up on a travel search engine. You should check their rates as well. They are island specific companies. Since you didn't mention which island you'll be visiting, here's a trick you can use to help you find those local companies. First open a browser for maps.google.com then enter the name of the island you'll be visiting and click "search maps". Once the map of the island is displayed, you'll see a pop out box on the map pointing to the island. In that pop out box, click "search nearby". Another box will open and in the search nearby field enter something like "rental car" and you'll find results that include the locally operated companies as well as the big national companies.

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Independence, Mo.: My son lives in Maui and he is planning on getting married Aug 26, 2009 close to Lahaina. My wife and I plus daughter and husband and 4 yr old boy are planning on being there for a week 8/22/09 to 8/28/09. Is it possible to find a condo in that area for less than a $1,000.00? Or would we be better off finding a hotel/resort?

Sheila Beal: Aloha Independence - You're much more likely to find a condo for under $1,000 than hotel rooms that would accommodate four adults and a child. It may be a bit of a challenge to find a condo for less than $1000, but I think you'll come very close to it.

Staying in a condo can really help stretch your vacation budget, plus they add quite a bit more privacy and conveniences. Check out VRBO.com (Vacation Rental By Owner) Try to negotiate with the owners. Also, try to protect yourself with these tips:
- Try to pay by credit card for your own protection
- Make sure you see plenty of photos so that you know what you are getting
- Ask the owner as many questions as you can think of and don't be afraid to ask for references from recent vacation renters.

I hope you find a great bargain in Maui!

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San Diego, Calif.: We will be visiting Lana'i next February. What should we be sure not to miss? Thanks. Leonard

Sheila Beal: Hello Leonard–Lana'i in February will be excellent for whale watching, so don't miss that. You can watch from the shoreline or take a whale watching cruise. From the Four Seasons at Manele Bay, you'll find an excellent vantage point.

Don't miss the hike to Koloiki Ridge for an excellent view of the gulch and nearby islands.

Don't miss Hulopoe Beach which is great for sunbathing and if the water is calm enough, snorkeling. If you go there in the morning, there's a great chance you'll see dolphins. They love this bay. Many people get to swim with them. You'll also find Puupehe (Sweetheart Rock) in this area, so do take the short hike out to see it.

Check out my Lanai articles for more ideas.

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Winston-Salem, N.C.: Could you recommend a website that has a listing of condos to rent for the week in Oahu or Maui?

Sheila Beal: Hi Winston-Salem–VRBO.com is a site that I've used with good luck. Also, see the previous answers for Independence, MO and Seattle, WA.

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Harrisburg, Pa.: I am thinking about a helicopter tour in Kauai. What company would you recommend?

Sheila Beal: Aloha Harrisburg–Kauai is perhaps the perfect island for taking a helicopter ride. I do advise that you do your homework before you select a company. Check out safety records, seating configurations, etc. Here's all my tips for choosing a helicopter tour in Hawaii

I took a tour with Inter-Island Helicopters and I liked this company because they don't use doors. Having no doors adds a slight bit more risk, but you are well strapped in. The benefit of not having doors is that your photos will probably come out better because you won't have to contend with window reflections.

Enjoy Kauai from the air! It is spectacular!

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Cape Girardeau, Mo.: I've noticed that brochures on Hawaii show May at it's lowest fares for the year. Why is May considered the "off" season?

Sheila Beal: Hi Cape Girardeau–That's an excellent question. Let me say first that May is an ideal month to visit Hawaii because of the rates, weather, and lack of crowds. May is considered low season for these two main reasons:
- Spring has arrived on the US Mainland and the "snow birds" aren't anxious for a retreat from the bitter cold of winter.
- Children are still in school and summer vacation is just around the corner. So families aren't there on vacation.

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Washingtonville, N.Y.: Sheila, We are an older couple (55 & 64)going to Kauai next Sept. This is our first time and we're not sure whether to stay up north, stay south or go on the east side. All of these places look great! We love sunsets, exploring, and relaxing on the beach. Where would you suggest? Thanks

Sheila Beal: Hi Washingtonville–I can relate to your dilemma. I also had a difficult time deciding where to stay on Kauai. Based on the things that you mentioned that you like, I'd steer you either to the South in the Poipu area or on the North Shore near Princeville. Since you like sunsets, I'd skip the East. You can't go wrong with Poipu or Princeville. Personally, I prefer the Princeville area because of the nearby lush green mountains and I think the North Shore beaches are particularly stunning. You are more likely to encounter a brief passing shower on the North Shore, though. No matter where you choose, you can pretty easily get from one end to the other to explore and get back in the same day.

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Colorado Springs, Colo.: We are planning on visiting Hawaii in late June. It will be my parents (80's), my husband & I (58 & 62), and our children (son, daughter, & daughter-in-law 30's). We want to visit Honolulu for a few days and then rent a house on the Big Island for a week. Can we get a package with flights and a hotel in Honolulu and then rent a house and buy that flight separately? What is the best way to find a house to rent - individuals or a rental agency? Any recommendations? We want to see Pearl Harbor and the cemetary at the Puchbowl. My Dad served in the Pacific in WW II and my husband and daughter are WWII buffs. Is there any way to take public transportation or do we need to get a cab? We weren't planning on renting a car in Honolulu. We will on the Big Island. Most of us will be leaving from Denver or Colorado Springs. Our son & his wife wil leave from Portland. Thanks. Jo Anne

Sheila Beal: Aloha Jo Anne from Colorado Springs–Most of the internet travel sites aren't really designed with the amount of flexibility you need for the situation you described. To get a package price for flights and just Honolulu hotel, you'll probably need to work with a travel agency.

In some of the previous questions, I've mentioned VRBO.com as a good resource for finding vacation rentals. Please see those answers for tips.

If you don't want to rent a car in Honolulu, then you might want to consider tour companies that will pick up at or nearby your hotel and take you to the see the sites you mentioned. Since you are WWII buffs, you'll love Oahu! If you choose a tour company to take you to Punchbowl, if I'm not mistaken, I think Roberts of Hawaii is the only tour company that is allowed to stop and let the passengers walk around. Please double check that, though. Don't miss the excellent view of Honolulu from Punchbowl while you're there.

As far as public transportation, also check out Oahu's excellent bus system online at TheBus.org You can use Google Transit as well to help you navigate to the sites of your interest.

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Newland, N.C.: I'm hoping to take my Mom to Oahu for the New Year. Where's the best place to see fireworks? Thanks! Bonnie

Sheila Beal: Hi Bonnie from Newland, NC–Honolulu will have some spectacular fireworks for New Year's Eve. For certain, there will be a fantastic display from the Aloha Tower Marketplace. I've been told that there will also be fireworks from Waikiki Beach, but no details have been released, yet.

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Atlanta, Ga.: Can I get a free flight if I book with a hotel?

Sheila Beal: Hi Atlanta–Oh, how I wish that was the case! Unfortunately, I've not heard of any free flight offers from hotels. Do bear in mind that there are some excellent deals available now that make Hawaii much more affordable than it was, say, a year ago. The flight and hotel deals are particularly good if you can complete your travel to Hawaii before December 21st.

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Elmira, N.Y.: Which company on Oahu is best for snorkeling?

Sheila Beal: My advice is to check reviews of Oahu snorkeling companies at TripAdvisor.com

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Sheila Beal: Thank you for all your excellent questions. I invite you to to visit Go Visit Hawaii where you'll find more tips to help you have a great Hawaii vacation. I frequently share practical advice, unbiased reviews, and great Hawaii travel deals that catch my eye. Sign up for my free daily updates to stay in the know on Hawaii travel.

Aloha and happy travels to Hawaii!