Thanks for all your ratings and comments!! Lacking in inspiration at the mo but going to try a ciao ...
Thanks for all your ratings and comments!! Lacking in inspiration at the mo but going to try a ciao cafe review next ooohhhh :)
Member since:03.04.2007
Reviews:13
Members who trust:26
To give you the angle, I'm a single parent and my daughter had her 7th birthday while we were there last year, and this is how it was for us.
Arrived Honoluluairport early from Las Vegas, then was met by a very friendly hostess and the bus driver, we had fresh lei's (really made the day for my daughter - having just watch Lilo and Stitch at the time). and a warm welcome. The bus driver and hostess did a double act from the airport to the hotel - which was very funny! The trip only took about 40 minutes to get to the hotel (Outrigger Waikiki on the beach - see my other report) althought traffic was busy around honolulu - and seemed that way
most of our stay.
After settling in at the hotel, (that consisted of throwing the bags in the room, quick shower and change) we walked along waikiki beach - Beautiful, there is lots of content on the web about it, so have a browse, I found it slightly different in being there. The beach has beautiful golden sand, is very clean, however very narrow,the water was a luke warm (which I loved you can just fall into the sea without that shudder as your feet then rest of your body go in), this is great for kids as they can play in and out of the sea all day!!! On the beach their is access to toilets, food, and drinks at different points - which is great. We bought some shave ice (yeap just as it sounds its shaved ice served in a cone and squirted with a range of exoctic flavours to suit), we also bought an inflatable lilo for only $2 - very cheap. Having just come from Las vegas, (which was cheap) and hearing back in the UK how expensive Hawaii was, I was very surprised just how cheap things were. OK you'll pay more for some things, but generally it was cheaper than the states - McDonalds was by about 50 cents and they served rice!
Tourist attractions - far to many to list, and they are also on another review (I'll add later) however one tip is to make use of vouchers and coupons, you can get them everywhere (hotels, restaurants, McDonalds, and there is lots of little tourist sites around and about. Coach trips are generally cheap however make use of the bus service, all hotels have little maps, and bus times or they can get them. The bus service is $1 per person per ride, We went from waikiki beach to the sea life centre, changed buses once (very easy - and the bus drivers are very helpful) and it took just over an hour (wish it was that cheap here) Another tip for tourist type stuff - while your on the plane, you have about 10-12 hours from the UK to Vegas/San Fransico then about 5 1/2 to 6 hours over to Honolulu in Oahu, make use of this time. I got a rough guide to hawaii which I found invaluable, and while on the plane I made a shortlist of things to do - there really are that many! And you have to be carefull not to try and do so much that you don't enjoy them, here's our shortlist, and I'd highly recommend them all.
Sea life centre - swim or teach dolphins - AMAZING Waikiki Beach - Just because its Waikiki Beach!! - Watch a sunset Make sure you get a Lei - or make one Watch a luaa - they have whole day experiences - Fantastic Whale watching trip - kids love boat rides - espeacially when you spot a whale
Also see another island, we went to the Big Island and walked upto a live volcano - great experience
Tips - yeap the money kind not the best way to use bicarb of soda :) Reccomend $1 - for each bag (airport and hotel) Restaurants - 15% - 20%, room service $1-2, Don't tip in McDonalds :) Tour guides are variable, gave ours $5, it's up to you and Cafe's etc about 10%.
One thing I did find interesting was that pretty much everything is half english and half japanese - very high proportion of japanese living and holidaying there.
Lastly we went in January and got to see a baby whale!!! Yeah.
So check out weather sites before you go, I chose January because the weather is pretty much constant 70 - 80 degrees 24/7, it dropped to 65 one day. Also January/February is the best time to spot whales as they come close to the Islands to give birth. And another best bit about this time of year is less risk of Tsunami -allegedly - although you can never be sure :)
Anyhow I can't imagine anyone not having a great time!!! Would recommend everyone went there!!! I would definately go again
Pictures of Honolulu
Waikiki Beach
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sounds lovely and the pictures are fantastic - lyn x
nickyturnill 20.06.2007 11:37
I' went to the airport on the way to, or perhaps it was from, Oz many years ago.... I'm not sure that counts though! I'd love to go properly some time... Nicky x
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