Thinking about heading to paradise? I’ve got 5 mission critical tips to making your Hawai‘i vacation amazing. Click here to watch the corresponding video and check out some great pictures from my trip!
Tip #1 to making your Hawai‘i vacation amazing: stick with one island! I know, I know! It’s a once-in-a-lifetime trip and you want to see everything. But every day that you change islands, that means more time wasted in an airport and standing in line at rental car companies. And those lines can be long sometimes. And the airlines still want you there way ahead of time even if it’s just an inter-island flight. Ditto for the baggage check-in lines. So think long and hard before you decide to do any island hopping.
Tip #2: Choose your island carefully. Every island has its own personality in Hawai‘i. If you were an adventurer like me, you might prefer the Big Island because that’s where the volcano is, yet they still have beautiful beaches. If you’re a honeymooner and looking for more solitude, maybe Kaua’i would be more your speed. If huge stretches of beaches are your favorite thing, consider Maui. Or if nightlife is a must, O’ahu would definitely be the appropriate choice. My point is do your research before you go and choose accordingly. I’ve put some links down below to books that have always helped me choose wisely. So take a look!
Tip #3: spring for a helicopter tour, if at all possible, and do it at the beginning of your trip. I know they’re pricey, but it’s a quick and mind-blowing way to familiarize yourself with all the island has to offer, and you might get more ideas of things you’d like to do there.
Tip #4: book a hotel room with a small kitchenette. Hawai‘i is very expensive. At a resort I went to, a plain two egg cheese omelet was twenty five dollars. Even just having a small fridge to stash some bagels will save you a load of cash if you can skip a few meals out. And that leaves you with more money for things like snorkeling, boat tours, and other cool stuff.
Finally, Tip #5: get out of your resort. I’m sure the pool is fun and you might even have a beach right at your hotel. But there is so much to see. And no one ever came home from a trip to Hawai‘i saying “Gee, I really wish I spent more time at the hotel pool.”
But wait – there’s more! Here’s a bonus tip for you. Be respectful of the wildlife. You’ll see some incredible endangered animals if you’re lucky, but don’t get too close or you could end up in serious legal trouble. Besides that, it’s just wrong! We need to take care of these animals AND all of the Hawaiian Islands so that kids like me can take our kids there one day and it’ll be just as beautiful.
Useful Hawai‘i guidebooks:
Big Island: https://amzn.to/37x0JAI
Maui: https://amzn.to/2DbPlw7
O’ahu: https://amzn.to/35pY3TA
Kaua’i: https://amzn.to/37APzLe
Nix The Norm 