Hawaii Vacations, Hawaii Vacation Packages

Adventuring in Hawaii
Hawaii is a phenomenal vacation destination offering a multitude of options bound to please any taste, a destination where TravelStore has enormous expertise. Each of the major islands: Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Hawaii and Lanai, are a unique destination unto themselves.

< Hawaii Vacation Packages: Quick Tip >
You can shop and create your own Hawaii vacation package right now on our Hawaii booking engine and see how easy it is to shop and compare options, or you can contact one of our Hawaii travel experts. But read on for more information that may help you plan your Hawaii vacation.

Whether you're looking for history and culture, total relaxation, active adventures, great spas, or just delectable cuisine and superlative weather, a Hawaii vacation package is hard to beat for delivering on the promises of a great holiday.

You can select between an independent Hawaii vacation package, an escorted tour or a Hawaii cruise, and each offers its advantages. When we arrange your Hawaiian package, we can also pre-arrange choice activities you may not want to miss. See our Hawaiian Experiences for more information on these programs.

What’s the best way to book Hawaii vacation packages?
Usually the most economical way is to book a package that includes airfare, accommodations and car rental. By booking these components together, you can save quite a bit versus booking each item separately, because you can take advantage of lower priced bulk airfare contracts.

How many islands should I visit?
This is somewhat determined by how much time you’ll be spending there, and perhaps how far you have to fly to get here.

Our recommendation is that Hawaii vacation packages should include no fewer than three nights on any one island, and no more than two islands, particularly if you are spending a typical week here.

While inter-island flights are readily available, you’ll spend a half day getting to the airport, checking in, taking the flight, picking up a car rental and getting to your accommodations on the next island.

There is so much to enjoy on any one of the major islands that the added time and cost involved with inter-island travel doesn't warrant adding more islands unless you're adding more days to your Hawaii vacation package. After all, you're probably coming here for fun and relaxation, and minimizing inter-island commuting will only maximize your time to vacation!

Which island(s) should I visit?
For most there is no right answer because any answer is correct! If you have very specific interests there may be reasons to visit one over another island.

Hawaii is comprised of six main islands: Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Hawaii, Molokai and Lanai. Each is distinctly different and offers unique experiences. If you’ve never been, or if you’re budget conscious, Oahu is home to Waikiki Beach, Pearl Harbor, Bishop Museum, Iolani Palace (the only Royal Palace on U.S. soil) and the Polynesian Cultural Center. The Honolulu International Airport is here and the island is the most developed, offering the most museums in the state, including the Honolulu Academy of the Arts. Flying to Oahu and staying here avoids the cost of inter-island airfare, and perhaps the necessity of having a car.

On the other extreme is Molokai, the least visited and least developed of the major islands. There are few resorts here. Molokai is perhaps most famous for the leper colony founded by Father Damien, which can still be visited by donkey along a steep narrow trail.

In between Oahu and Molokai are three incredible islands, Maui, Kauai and Hawaii, all pretty much requiring a car rental. Plus there's one other small island of note: Lanai.

Of these the most traveled to is Maui, offering an incredible array of accommodations, great dining, shopping and a multitude of activity options, including Art Night on Friday nights in Lahaiana Town. A Maui vacation has it all, from great restaurants and resorts, to secluded beaches and beautiful natural escapes such as Iao Valley State Park, the Hana drive, or the drive north of Kapalua. Maui vacations are incredibly popular and early reservations are recommended for the best selection of resorts.

Lanai is a small gem of an island readily accessible from Maui, and features two upscale resorts operated by Four Seasons, with some fine snorkeling and great golfing. Here, too, are the ancient petroglyphs at Shipwreck Beach and the foothills of the Palawai caldera.

Kauai is known as “The Garden Isle,” and the favorite of those who most appreciate its lushness. A popular location to visit on Kauai vacations is Waimea Canyon, known as "The Grand Canyon of the Pacific" and Kokee State Park, as well as the famous Na Pali Coast . Much of the island is inaccessible, and a Kaui vacation is popular with hikers, given some of the hiking trails available. The small Kauai Museum features ancient Hawaiian artifacts.

Hawaii, known as “The Big Island” is the largest as well as the youngest, and one of the most fascinating islands from a geological point of view, featuring as it does Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and the Volcano Art Center. You can also view the ancient royal fish ponds and visit Puuhonua O Honaunau National Historic Park. It is growing in popularity as a number of resorts and condos have developed, and is popular with golfers and spa enthusiasts.

There is another island some are familiar with called Niihau. This island is "kapu" (forbidden) to tourists, as it is preserved for native Hawaiians that live here, though they are few in number. There are some companies that offer fly-overs of the island, or the opportunity to snorkel offshore (which we can arrange). If you've been to Hawaii a number of times, this might be an option you haven't considered yet.

Because there is no right answer as to which islands to visit, you should, of course, visit them all! If you need help, contact one of our Hawaii travel experts who can arrange Hawaii vacation packages that best meet your needs and interests.

What are the accommodations choices and room types?
Hawaii has a wide variety of accommodations, from camping to the most luxurious resorts of the world. We are not experts on camping, and advise you to turn elsewhere for camping advice.

Most travelers prefer hotels or condominiums. Hotels offer various conveniences and luxuries, and range in price based on those. Hotels will generally have more dining choices, spas, shops and other types of services.

Room prices at any property will vary based on season, type of room (suite or standard), view (ocean or not) and location (on the beach or not). The most expensive rooms will be ocean-front which imply a full ocean view from the lanai (balcony). Ocean-view rooms will generally offer a partial view of the ocean, or an ocean view from an angle. Mountain-view or other room types imply no view of the ocean. If you wish to enjoy a view of the ocean, then you should request an ocean-view or ocean-front room.

< Hawaii Hotel: Quick Tip >
Many hotels charge a daily resort fee, over and above their daily room charge and taxes. Find out if your hotel charges a daily resort fee and whether it is included or not in your package price.

Condominium rentals are quite popular in Hawaii, especially for families or couples staying together. The main difference between a condo and hotel is that a condo includes a kitchen, enabling you to prepare some of your own meals and avoid the higher cost of eating out each meal. Condos are often privately owned, and furnishings may vary based on the owners preferences; however, the condos we arrange do adhere to certain quality standards and are reviewed each year to ensure they meet those standards. Some condos offer turn-down and room cleaning services similar to a hotel, while others may not. Always clarify the services included. We can arrange all-inclusive Hawaii vacation packages utilizing condominiums that are inspected to ensure they are of acceptable standards.

< Hawaii Vacation: Quick Tip >
Food is not inexpensive in Hawaii, particularly at hotels. Some of Hawaii's resorts are more remote than others, and finding alternative dining options to hotels or condominiums may be a challenge, particularly without a car. On all islands except perhaps Oahu, we recommend you consider a car rental as part of your package to provide you the greatest flexibility.

What are some of the activities available?
There are probably very few activities you can't find in Hawaii. Here's our list of top bets:

• Snorkeling & Diving
• Kayaking & Canoeing
• Sailing & Windsurfing
• Whale Watching (Dec - Apr)
• Surfing & Fishing
• Hiking and Biking
• Caving
• Golfing (book with us and we can arrange your tee times)
  
  

What about an escorted tour?
A number of our wholesale partners offer escorted tours of the Hawaiian Islands, which are fine if you prefer to have your arrangements taken care of and not have to worry about planning your day's activities. On an escorted tour you travel with the same group of people each day, by motorcoach and with a guide. If you would prefer an escorted tour of Hawaii, please contact one of our Hawaii travel experts who can assist you, or search our database for Hawaii vacations.

Finally, don't forget two basics!
"Aloha" means hello as well as goodbye.
"Mahalo" means thank you.

TravelStore looks forward to arranging your next Hawaii vacation package, Hawaii cruise or escorted tour. For more information, reference our comprehensive Hawaii resources pages.