Next Stop - Hawaii!


We've only finished posting about our LA trip, and it's already time for our adventure!
It seems like we travel A LOT! but we rarely travel this much...this is just one of those special summers =)

Well as a frugal couple, we - of course - did some researching before going - hopefully we won't be tourist trapped!

What do YOU want us to check out in Hawaii Honolulu? or food to try? of things to do? Leave us a comment!

Here’s our current plan.


Flight:

fly from Bellingham: Alaska Air → keep checking for price drops (better if you’re going with a group to have people check and alert each other)
park in Bellingham: don’t park at the official airport parking, its more expensive (10$/day). Park at those independent ones (7$ per day). They all use a shuttle service but the independent one, you dont have to wait much because they have less customers and time it so that they get to the gate at every flight. They are waiting for you. The gates of their parking lot is also locked overnight so less likely to have thieves visitations.
Moreover, its an domestic flight so you dont have to be there 2 hours ahead of time, in fact they dont want to see your face until 2hrs before the flight.

fly from Vancouver: parking is a RIP OFF! Let me tell you a story. I went on a work trip that lasted a week. The coupon said it would be 40$ (excuse all the $ signs after the number, i’m French Canadian) for a week, summer special.
http://www.geo.ca/August%20%2025%20LTL%20Specials%20e-Coupon%20template%20-%20Bonus%20Uniglobe%20Geo%20N%20Van.pdf (DO NOT CLICK UNTIL YOU READ THE FOLLOWING)
That sounds like a good deal, but...

I finish the week of work, wait for the shuttle for the longest time (10minutes, whereas i could just take a cab home instantaneously). Then they take you to the parking lot, you get to your car, get out of the parking lot. At the gate, they charge you something like 60$!!! I said, WTF, it says 40$. She explains this:

72*1.12*(some gas tax) - 32 = 60!!!!!!!!!
1- Gas tax? i didnt even use gas while in the parking lot, except for getting in and out!
2- what the hell calculation is that??? its not a 32$ coupon, its a coupon that says i pay 40$ per week!!!

I said what the hell? its 40$. She says, yes, but 50% tax. I said, 50%????? she said yes.
Company paid for it. And i paid for the gas of driving to the airport, which is about 7$ from my place. So really, how much did i save for all the trouble? 50$ taxi * 2 = 100$. This costed me 67$, and that’s with a coupon! imagine in normal days, it would have costed me 99$. the same thing as taking a cab and passing out in the cab. I digress.

Or you could take the skytrain to the airport and park your car on the street. I drive a Tercel so i dont really care where i leave my car. More than ready to get it stolen and get insurance for it. But even from Marine Drive station, the skytrain takes a really long time to get to the airport, that’s plus the waiting time, so you actually save lots of money, but you will lose a lot of time. I wouldnt do that if its company money as they can claim the cab money as loss but i cant claim my time as loss.


Accomodation
Aston at the Waikiki Banyan: we got condos that sleep 6. about 211.67$ (tx included) per night, in the summer!!! The place has a kitchen which really is a good balance if you’re staying long. There are things to buy and cook, a lot of strange fish that you’d want to try cooking yourself!
http://www.astonhotels.com/resort/overview/aston-at-the-waikiki-banyan


Snorkeling

Rent or buy? that is the question.
http://www.hawaiisnorkelingguide.com/rent_snorkeling_gear.html
That blog has a very good point, i’ll summarize:
- the snorkel and mask, you want to buy:
- hygiene reasons (you dont know where it’s been or if they clean it well)
- mask needs to be a good fit so you want to spend local time snorkeling rather than shopping around
- flippers, you can rent
    - they are pretty big so wold fill up your suitcase
    - its pretty cheap and you dont really care about much as long as they arent broken.

Motorcycle rides

- for transportation, we’re going to rent scooters, will let you know how it was.

Island hoping
- kinda expensive but... really should do it!

Comments

  1. I want to go!!!! Thanks for the research and suggestions...

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  2. Thanks for linking up to my travel party!

    Ok, I have some tips. I used to live on Oahu, in Waikiki actually.

    If you're going to snorkel, you HAVE to go to Hanauma Bay. It's pretty touristy, but for a reason. I went 4 times when I lived on the island, and I don't regret going at all. I saw something different each time. A shimmering rainbow fish as big as me, a giant sea turtle, a huge school of pretty yellow fish, baby turtles...the list goes on. Plus it is BEAUTIFUL there.

    Scooters are fun, but they aren't allowed on the highways. Sometimes the highways are the only way to get to a certain place on Oahu. So if you rent scooters, do it when you know you'll stay somewhere for a day.

    Hike Manoa Falls and Maunawilli Falls trails. Both are so worth it. The waterfalls are both gorgeous, and so is the hike. But wear bug spray! :)

    Hike up Diamond Head. It's to the southeast of Waikiki and is a pretty intense hike, but so worth it. You'll be able to see all of Waikiki and Honolulu when you're up there, not to mention the gorgeous ocean.

    Visit the Dole Plantation and buy a pineapple ice cream float. Worth it.

    Drive up to North Shore and visit beaches up there. Get some shave ice from Matsumoto Shave Ice. And then drive up to Turtle Bay (northern-most point on Oahu). Stop along any beach along the way. The drive is gorgeous and sooo worth it.

    Go to Kailua for calm waves, but a windy beach. Good for windsurfing if you want to go. Kayaking tours are amazing up there, too, and they'll take you out to smaller islands off the shore. Shave ice is good in Kailua as well. Eat at Aloha Salads. SO good.

    Go to Sandy Beach Park to watch the body surfers. They are intense! Try it yourself, but be careful! The waves brake really close to the shore.

    Koko Crater Botanical gardens are awesome. So many weird and beautiful flowers and plants. Plus it's free!

    If you're looking for a luau, Germaine's is the best, with the best food.

    Try restaurants that are a little outside of Waikiki. Restaurants right in Waikiki are expensive because it's right where all the tourists are. South Shore Grill off Monsarrat is soo good. Their fish tacos are amazing. DON'T go to the cheap buffets they have in Waikiki. They are gross.

    Sorry for the long post. I just had a lot to say! :) Hope any of this helps!

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  3. Packing light can also make a difference to your budget. Just make sure you don't miss out any of the bare essentials. Also expect to hand wash clothes often. :)

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