Planning Your Hawaii Trip

When traveling from the west your jet lag will be worse coming than going. But most visitors are coming from the east, and whether you're coming from sunny California or chilly New York the shortest amount of time you'll be on a plane is about five to six hours. If you're flying from New York, Boston, or most any other town on the East Coast you can expect to add another four to five hours to that number. In general, planes will have to fly into headwinds on their way west toward the islands, and thus you will notice your flight to the islands taking longer than your trip back home. Most visitors who are heading to the islands of Hawaii or Kauai may have to first make a stop in Honolulu, as there are few flights that fly directly into Kona, Hilo, or Lihue airport. If you're flying to Molokai or Lanai, you can definitely count on a stop in Honolulu or Kahului on Maui. Many flights do fly directly into Kahului on Maui if you're visiting that island.

Regardless of how long it takes you to arrive, the fact of the matter is you likely will experience some jet lag arriving, even from the east; so take it easy that first day and get some rest. Depending on when you visit you'll gain between two to six hours (Hawaii does not observe daylight saving time) if coming from the U.S. mainland. Our advice to travelers is always the same: Attempt to keep your schedule close to what you had back home. Other websites and guidebooks will tell you to convert yourself to Hawaii time as soon as possible, but we won't.  Here's why:

If you're coming from the East Coast in the spring, for example, you're going to gain six hours during your flight. So if you leave at 6 a.m. and arrive at 4 p.m., you've actually been awake a lot longer than it sounds. Back home it's actually 10 p.m. when you arrive in Hawaii, so you've already had a full day. We believe that by keeping to your regular schedule you can avoid the worst cases of jet lag, plus you'll have a leg up on most other travelers. If you can continue to get to bed early after sunset in Hawaii-- say around 8-10 p.m. Hawaii time-- then you can get up a lot earlier than most visitors and hit the road far ahead of the crowds. For an East Coast traveler, even a wake-up call of 5 a.m. in Hawaii is the equivalent to 11 a.m. back home. It is our opinion you should use this to your advantage. When all is said and done it will also make your journey back home a lot easier, too. Losing three to six hours heading home to the west is a lot harder than most people think.

Regardless of how you arrive in Hawaii, take it easy the first day you arrive. A good night's rest and a good meal after a long day's journey will refresh you for the rest of your vacation. Also, leave the fast-paced mainland behind you... relax into Hawaii's lifestyle now.

Money

Let's be honest, traveling to Hawaii isn't cheap. Almost any mode of transportation to arrive on these beautiful shores is going to cost a pretty penny. Booking a room here isn't the deal some folks are used to when they travel (though you can find bargains if you look), occupancy is almost always high, and so are the prices. And the cost of importing goods to the islands is passed on to you by merchants, especially at the grocery store and gas station. The only real break you'll catch is with a rental car-- competition is fierce, and the prices reflect it.

As a traveler to Hawaii, you will likely come under one of two conditions: the budget traveler or the luxury traveler. Believe it or not, Hawaii may be just about the only place you can choose one style over another and leave with the same experience. Most people who have tried both lifestyles have reported having just as good time either way. So whether you conscientiously save money in Hawaii by seeking out great deals or spend loads of money on resorts, tours, and fine dining, you'll likely leave with the same great experience.

That's the magic of Hawaii; the real gift is what's around you... the natural beauty of the island, the people, and the friendly atmosphere. Sure, you can buy great things, participate in amazing activities, and eat in first-class restaurants while here, and we certainly encourage travelers to live life in Hawaii to the max. On the same token, we also encourage everyone to enjoy the best part of Hawaii, the part that's free to everyone-- the spirit of Aloha.

Ultimately, our point is that you don't have to spend a fortune on a Hawaii vacation to have a good time. Our website is designed for every type of traveler- whether you're on a tight budget or are looking to splurge. We offer fun tours and activities on Maui, Kauai, Oahu, and Big Island; and you'll surely find accommodations and activities that give you the best Hawaiian experience for your vacation dollars. 

Our last suggestion regarding money is to pay for most of your bills and purchases in Hawaii with credit, debit, or check. Traveling with cash, even in Hawaii, is generally never a good idea. We have heard countless stories of people who have lost their money and lost their fun. On a recent trip around the islands, we ran into one poor soul who had lost his wallet containing all his money on a beach. You can cancel checks and plastic cards, but you can't replace your cash. This isn't to say you shouldn't bring any cash, but as a general rule of thumb, we would suggest purchasing most things with an alternative payment form. If nothing else, it keeps a record of it for future review. (Which may or may not be a good thing!) 

Planning your Trip with Us 

It goes without saying that the internet has completely revolutionized travel. Here at Hawaii Guide, we often wonder how we researched our Hawaiian destinations, planned our itineraries, packed accordingly, and made sure we were completely prepared for our adventure. (Well, we don't really wonder-- we remember this all involved lots of travel books, phone calls to multiple locations, voicemails, notebooks, checklists, maps on the wall, etc. Ahh... the good 'Ol days!)  

Thankfully, technology has now made it easier than ever plan an amazing Hawaiian vacation. To that end, here at HawaiiGuide, our goal is to be your one-stop-shop for Hawaiian vacation planning. We are proud to offer a wide variety of Hawaii Travel Tips, Hawaii Tours, and Activities, Hawaii Accommodations, Must See and Do stops, and more to make planning, booking, and heading off to the Islands as easy and fun as lounging on your favorite beach. Well... almost!