The Big Island is my personal favorite. There are two main reasons why it is my favorite island. First, the landscape is so diverse which offers so many different attractions. Second, it is wide open and less crowded.
White Sands Beach:
This is a state park on the west side of the island. It is a nice, clean beach. If you are looking to go hang out on the beach for the day this is my pick. We also went para sailing here, which was great.
Punalulu Beach Park - Black Sands Beach:
This beach is on the south east side of the island. This is one of the best places to see turtles. They say that if you get there early enough you can see the turtles up on the beach. We were not able to see this, but we saw turtles in the water the whole time we were there.
Puu Mahana - Green Sands Beach:
This beach is at the southern most tip of the island. It is not the easiest beach to get to. You have to hike about 2.5 miles to the beach. The hike is on flat ground, and offers views of the ocean. You then have to make your way down a small cliff to the beach. It may sound like a lot of work, but I think it is worth it. You get to relax on a secluded green beach with great body surfing waves for the day.
The City of Refuge:
This is a very beautiful historical site on the southern side of the island. It is a great place to learn about the early inhabitants of the island. It has a very peaceful feeling that makes you want to just stroll around and enjoy the scenery. There are also many turtles here to see.
Volcanoes National Park:
This is one of the most popular tourist attractions on the island. You can hike on trails and through lava tubes. Probably, the most popular attraction is to drive down to the active lava flow site in the evening. As it gets dark you can see the lava flowing.
Akaka Falls:
These are popular falls near Hilo, and worth seeing. It is just a short easy walk to the falls. The falls plunge down 442 feet.
Captain Cook Monument:
This is a very popular snorkeling area. You can only get there by boat. So, you can take a tour boat or you can kayak. I would definitely recommend the kayak. There are many shops where you can rent your own kayak and snorkel gear. The kayak secures onto the top of your car. You then drive to the Napoopoo area to launch your kayak into Kealakekua Bay. Launching your kayak is the most difficult part. The launching area is up a few feet from the water and it is difficult to do without help. There are locals there that will be happy to help you. Just make sure you tip them. As you kayak across the bay you will probably see spinner dolphins.
Waipio Valley:
This is a valley on the north side of the island that is surrounded by 2,000 foot cliffs. Off the cliffs you will see multiple waterfalls cascading down. Most people just stop at the lookout. If you have the opportunity to go down into the valley do it. The only way into the valley is on a very steep 25% grade road. Believe me it is steep. There are tours that will take you down, or you can walk down. This is not an easy hike at all. The whole time we were there we saw only one other person walking. Once you get down go to your right. There is a black sand beach and a waterfall over that way.
Conclusion:
As you fly into Kona it may not be what you expect of Hawaii. Instead of dense green foliage and palm trees, you see dry land and lava rock. Don't be fooled by this first view of the island. The island is filled with many treasures that has made it one of my favorite destinations.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Hawaii Series Introduction
My family and I love to visit the Hawaiian Islands. Each island is unique, and offers something different. There is not one island that is every one's favorite. It seems like each person has a favorite island for their own reasons.
The purpose of this series is to highlight each of the Hawaiian islands to give you an idea of what each one has to offer. My reviews will be based on personal experience. My hope is that by reading this series you will have an idea of what each island can offer you, and you can plan your visit to get the best Hawaiian experience possible.
I have not visited Molokai. I have only been to Maui for 3 days, and most of that was without luggage. For these reasons, these two islands will not be reviewed yet. I will hopefully visit them this year. I will then include them in the series.
The purpose of this series is to highlight each of the Hawaiian islands to give you an idea of what each one has to offer. My reviews will be based on personal experience. My hope is that by reading this series you will have an idea of what each island can offer you, and you can plan your visit to get the best Hawaiian experience possible.
I have not visited Molokai. I have only been to Maui for 3 days, and most of that was without luggage. For these reasons, these two islands will not be reviewed yet. I will hopefully visit them this year. I will then include them in the series.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Airline Miles
Should you be earning airline miles? The answer is definately YES! The worst they can give you is a free flight. If you don't use them, then you are not out anything.
So, how should you go about earning miles? Here are a few pointers:
1. Find out what airline operates their main hub at your airport. Why should you know this? Since it is the airlines main hub you are going to find the most destinations, diverse itineraries, and most direct flights from your airport.
2. Now that you know what airline will give you the most options, sign up for their frequent flyer program. It's free!
3. Do some research on all the possible ways to earn miles. You don't just earn miles when you book flights. You can earn them with car rentals, hotel reservations, and even shopping.
4. Get a credit card that earns miles for your airline, or that earns points that can be used for any airline. One advantage to the points is if you decide not to fly with your points you can turn them in for cash, or other products. DO NOT pay an annual fee for a credit card. There are many cards that do not have fees. Do your homework, and find the best card for you. Use this credit card for all your purchases, but treat it like a checkbook. DO NOT charge more than what you have in your bank account!
5. DO NOT PAY FOR ANYTHING WITHOUT GETTING MILES FOR IT!!!
By doing these simple things you will be surprised at how fast the miles add up. Really, there is no reason not to do it, because the worst you can get out of it is a free flight. If your points expire for some reason then oh well, you didn't pay anything for them. This is something every traveler should do.
So, how should you go about earning miles? Here are a few pointers:
1. Find out what airline operates their main hub at your airport. Why should you know this? Since it is the airlines main hub you are going to find the most destinations, diverse itineraries, and most direct flights from your airport.
2. Now that you know what airline will give you the most options, sign up for their frequent flyer program. It's free!
3. Do some research on all the possible ways to earn miles. You don't just earn miles when you book flights. You can earn them with car rentals, hotel reservations, and even shopping.
4. Get a credit card that earns miles for your airline, or that earns points that can be used for any airline. One advantage to the points is if you decide not to fly with your points you can turn them in for cash, or other products. DO NOT pay an annual fee for a credit card. There are many cards that do not have fees. Do your homework, and find the best card for you. Use this credit card for all your purchases, but treat it like a checkbook. DO NOT charge more than what you have in your bank account!
5. DO NOT PAY FOR ANYTHING WITHOUT GETTING MILES FOR IT!!!
By doing these simple things you will be surprised at how fast the miles add up. Really, there is no reason not to do it, because the worst you can get out of it is a free flight. If your points expire for some reason then oh well, you didn't pay anything for them. This is something every traveler should do.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Timeshares???
A question that many people ask me is should I buy a timeshare? My answer to about 9 out of 10 of those people is No. Now, before you read further you need to know that I own a very large timeshare. I love my timeshare. Timeshares can be a good thing, or a bad thing for people. So, before you buy a timeshare please read about how I got involved in my timeshare.
My wife and I were in Vegas shortly after we were married. We knew nothing about timeshares at this point. A man stopped us and said he would give us free show tickets if we took a tour of their resort. We said sure. We took a tour of a very nice resort, and then sat down with a salesman. We went over how much we pay each year for vacations, etc. Remember we were very young and knew nothing about timeshares. Then, he made his proposal. He said, "Once your loan is paid off you have free vacations for life. They failed to focus on the fact that you still pay maintenance fees for life. (These maintenance fees never go away. In fact, they will increase a little each year. When you pass your timeshare onto your children they are required to pay the maintenance fees also.) He said, "You can go anywhere you want." I asked, "Can I go to Hawaii now?" He responded, "Ya, you can go to Hawaii anytime you want." To us, it was a lot of money that they were asking for a very small starter package. But, we looked at it as an investment, because we wanted to travel throughout our lives. We bought it!
I went home all excited to book my first vacation. I dialed the number and eagerly told the person on the other end of the line that I wanted to go to Hawaii! They told me I couldn't because there was no availability. I was crushed. I said, "But we were told that we could go anywhere we wanted to." The person said they were sorry, but Hawaii was not available. I had other plans, and none of them worked out either. I felt betrayed. I felt like I did not get what I paid for. I was so stressed trying to learn everything about the timeshare "system."
I learned more and more as time went on. We went on vacations, even though it was not always where we wanted to. We decided to upgrade. We felt like with more points and VIP status that we could get more of what we wanted. Again, we continued to enjoy some vacations, but not always what we wanted. I finally decided that I had had enough. I was going to sell, and maybe I can make some money off of it.(OK stop laughing!) I had our timeshare listed for two years. I dropped the price multiple times. I never received one offer. (Timeshares are not investments. You will probably never get what you paid for it if you try to sell. There are hundreds to thousands listed on Ebay for $1 and they never even receive a bid. Timeshares are only worth the enjoyment you get out of them.)
At this point I felt like I was at a crossroad with my timeshare. I could either keep it, invest more into it, and learn more about how to use it to my advantage. Or, I just needed to get rid of it, even if it meant giving it away. We had been able to go on some great vacations, and I had learned more about how to work the "system." I decided to keep it and invest more into it. I had a feeling it was going to be a good thing for my family. So I upgraded to another VIP level.
Enough time had gone by that I had really learned a lot about how to get the most out of my timeshare. I started to be able to do the things that I wanted to do. Were things the way that the salesman had described them to me? Of course not. Each time I have upgraded I have met with a different salesperson. There is only one person out of many that I truly believed was honest with me and cared about my interests.
So you are probably wondering how I could have gone through all this and love my timeshare. I go on multiple vacations every year. I stay in 3 bedroom condos with my family instead of a hotel room. I stay at resorts that I could never afford otherwise. Here are the reasons why I can enjoy it:(These things are what I tell people are a must if they are going to buy a timeshare. If they do not have all these things I would not do it)
1. I know the "system." I know how to get the most out of my points. I spent a lot of time and frustration studying the system and asking questions.
2. My work is very flexible. I work 3 days a week as a nurse. If I schedule myself right I can go on a vacation for a week and not use any PTO. I can travel in the off-season. I can plan far in advance, but I can also plan last minute. My family usually goes on more than 6 vacations a year.
3. I am going to travel every year, and spend money traveling every year. So, I don't mind paying maintenance fees, because I would spend that money anyway and I know how to get the most out of the maintenance fees.
So, the conclusion to all of this is know what you are getting into. Talk to people who own timeshares. Research timeshares. Decide if you can obtain the 3 qualities that I described. If you do all this, and feel like timeshares are for you, then they probably are.
My wife and I were in Vegas shortly after we were married. We knew nothing about timeshares at this point. A man stopped us and said he would give us free show tickets if we took a tour of their resort. We said sure. We took a tour of a very nice resort, and then sat down with a salesman. We went over how much we pay each year for vacations, etc. Remember we were very young and knew nothing about timeshares. Then, he made his proposal. He said, "Once your loan is paid off you have free vacations for life. They failed to focus on the fact that you still pay maintenance fees for life. (These maintenance fees never go away. In fact, they will increase a little each year. When you pass your timeshare onto your children they are required to pay the maintenance fees also.) He said, "You can go anywhere you want." I asked, "Can I go to Hawaii now?" He responded, "Ya, you can go to Hawaii anytime you want." To us, it was a lot of money that they were asking for a very small starter package. But, we looked at it as an investment, because we wanted to travel throughout our lives. We bought it!
I went home all excited to book my first vacation. I dialed the number and eagerly told the person on the other end of the line that I wanted to go to Hawaii! They told me I couldn't because there was no availability. I was crushed. I said, "But we were told that we could go anywhere we wanted to." The person said they were sorry, but Hawaii was not available. I had other plans, and none of them worked out either. I felt betrayed. I felt like I did not get what I paid for. I was so stressed trying to learn everything about the timeshare "system."
I learned more and more as time went on. We went on vacations, even though it was not always where we wanted to. We decided to upgrade. We felt like with more points and VIP status that we could get more of what we wanted. Again, we continued to enjoy some vacations, but not always what we wanted. I finally decided that I had had enough. I was going to sell, and maybe I can make some money off of it.(OK stop laughing!) I had our timeshare listed for two years. I dropped the price multiple times. I never received one offer. (Timeshares are not investments. You will probably never get what you paid for it if you try to sell. There are hundreds to thousands listed on Ebay for $1 and they never even receive a bid. Timeshares are only worth the enjoyment you get out of them.)
At this point I felt like I was at a crossroad with my timeshare. I could either keep it, invest more into it, and learn more about how to use it to my advantage. Or, I just needed to get rid of it, even if it meant giving it away. We had been able to go on some great vacations, and I had learned more about how to work the "system." I decided to keep it and invest more into it. I had a feeling it was going to be a good thing for my family. So I upgraded to another VIP level.
Enough time had gone by that I had really learned a lot about how to get the most out of my timeshare. I started to be able to do the things that I wanted to do. Were things the way that the salesman had described them to me? Of course not. Each time I have upgraded I have met with a different salesperson. There is only one person out of many that I truly believed was honest with me and cared about my interests.
So you are probably wondering how I could have gone through all this and love my timeshare. I go on multiple vacations every year. I stay in 3 bedroom condos with my family instead of a hotel room. I stay at resorts that I could never afford otherwise. Here are the reasons why I can enjoy it:(These things are what I tell people are a must if they are going to buy a timeshare. If they do not have all these things I would not do it)
1. I know the "system." I know how to get the most out of my points. I spent a lot of time and frustration studying the system and asking questions.
2. My work is very flexible. I work 3 days a week as a nurse. If I schedule myself right I can go on a vacation for a week and not use any PTO. I can travel in the off-season. I can plan far in advance, but I can also plan last minute. My family usually goes on more than 6 vacations a year.
3. I am going to travel every year, and spend money traveling every year. So, I don't mind paying maintenance fees, because I would spend that money anyway and I know how to get the most out of the maintenance fees.
So, the conclusion to all of this is know what you are getting into. Talk to people who own timeshares. Research timeshares. Decide if you can obtain the 3 qualities that I described. If you do all this, and feel like timeshares are for you, then they probably are.
Introduction
If someone asks me what my hobby is, I usually say traveling. They might ask how can traveling be a hobby? A hobby is something that you spend your free time doing. True, I can't travel during all my free time. However, when I spend my free time thinking about travel, researching travel, and planning travel it becomes a hobby. I have two reasons for writing this blog. First, it is an opportunity for me to bring all my travel thoughts and experiences together. The second reason is the most important to me. I love to help others have great vacations. If this blog in any way helps you enjoy a vacation then I have succeeded.
I am in no way an expert. I would love to learn from you as well. So please feel free to comment and share your experiences.
I am in no way an expert. I would love to learn from you as well. So please feel free to comment and share your experiences.
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