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Home  Themed Vacations Americas Your Hawaii Vacation – Five Islands, Infinite Variety |
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Your Hawaii Vacation – Five Islands, Infinite Variety |
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Written by Lori Wilkerson
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Feb 04, 2005 at 12:45 PM |
Hawaiian vacation packages give you more flexibility than any other type of tropical beach vacation around. With five islands to choose from, each with its own distinct personality and amenities, you can plan a Hawaiian vacation that suits you perfectly no matter what you’re looking for.
And with no worries about passports, exchange rates or import taxes on souvenirs, it’s a surprisingly cheap way to get to experience the tropics without ever leaving the country.
There are several ways to afford Hawaii on a budget so that you can enjoy anything from a few days to a month or two in paradise. If you’re looking for the ease of staying in a hotel, look into several levels of accommodations. Hawaii has everything from the most luxurious five-star resorts to relatively cheap hotels that offer the basics of a good, clean, air conditioned room and adjacent restaurant and everything in between.
It’s entirely up to you how you want to travel – if you’re only interested in using your hotel as a base for sleeping, you can find some great deals on chain hotels that are safe and consistent that offer great packages. If you prefer a bit of pampering, look into some of the finer resorts’ special deals for couples, families and themed trips that can save you money, especially when bundled with activities like day sailing excursions and fishing trips.
For beach vacations in Hawaii, you should also consider condo rentals. For families traveling together, these are a great money-saving option, especially if you have a large family. You can get great deals on condos when you rent with an eye toward using roll-away beds or fold-out couches for the kids and prepare some of your meals yourself. If you plan on spending a lot of time soaking up the sun, a beach-front condo is an excellent choice.
Hawaii is considered by many people to be one of the most beautiful places on earth. This cluster of islands is completely surrounded by turquoise waters and has islands ranging in size from only a few miles across to over 250 miles wide, each with beaches from rocky coral coves to soft, white sand beaches depending upon location. There are sheer mountain cliffs with roaring waterfalls and undulating, semitropical rainforests. The difficult part of planning a Hawaiian vacation isn’t finding cheap deals – there are plenty of great packages out there – it’s deciding which package to go with!
Maui – Paradise on the Beach
The second largest island in the chain, Maui is also home to the most fabulous beaches in the world. If your Hawaii vacation includes lounging surf-side or walking on powdery sand with salt-water tickling your toes, then Maui is the best choice for relaxing and soaking up the sun.
It’s also home to Napili Bay and Big Beach, both wide swathes of family-friendly beaches with plenty of opportunities for boogie-boarding and body surfing.
Snorkeling opportunities abound for visitors at Molokini, a tiny island off the coast that’s surrounded by tropical fish and fascinating sea creatures. You can also go dolphin spotting and whale watching on one of the many chartered catamarans or glass bottom boats.
Kauai – The Emerald Isle of the Pacific
Kauai is often referred to as the Garden Isle or the Green Island because of the incredibly lush flora on this small island. The North Shore in particular is a fabulous wealth of natural beauty, with incredible waterfalls and tropical foliage everywhere.
Kauai is an island suited to those looking for kicking back in natural surroundings. The accommodations are pleasing and casual, but there are no casinos and little night life here. If you want to go horseback riding, hiking or follow some of the most beautiful nature trails you’ll ever see, though, this is the island you’ll want to stay on. Waimea Canyon is a hiker’s dream, with incredible views and challenging climbs leading to a curve of gorgeous beach.
Oahu – History’s Home
Oahu is home of the largest cities in Hawaii, including Waikiki and Honolulu, so if you’d enjoy some nightlife and culture, don’t miss this island. Museums, theaters and plenty of restaurants and clubs. The shopping is great and you’ll find the latest fashions next to local arts and crafts in boutiques around the island.
Oahu’s also awash in history, home to Pearl Harbor and the site of the U.S.S. Arizona as well as a variety of other historical sites, including the Missouri and Diamond Head Crater. Want to learn more about Polynesian customs? Attend one of the many luaus and experience Samoan dancers, the hula (traditional dance of Hawaii), a re-enactment of a royal Hawaiian procession and a pig roast.
Molokai – The Forbidden Island
The story behind Molokai is a grim one, but the island itself is an unspoiled gem. Called the forbidden island by natives because of Father Damien’s leper colony in the previous century, Molokai has few hotels and fewer residents. In fact, it’s so small there isn’t a street light anywhere on the island!
Molokai is a place to go fishing, take long walks on seclude beaches and relax…It’s the closest thing you can get to your own deserted island, but with all the amenities still in place.
The Big Island
The big island of Hawaii has just about everything imaginable you could ask for in a vacation. In fact, depending on the time of year your vacation could encompass a visit to the beach on one end of the island and, if you trek of one of the dormant volcanic mountains at the other end, an invigorating afternoon of snowboarding on snow-dusted slopes!
Volcanoes National Park has one of the world’s largest rings of natural volcanoes both dormant and active and you will often see spectacular lava flows that demonstrate the full power of nature’s potentially destructive forces.
On the Kona side of the island, visit Hawaii’s famous coffee plantations and horse and cattle ranches. On the Hilo side, take in the beauty of orchid-filled rainforests and majestic waterfalls. And of course, the big island has plenty of nightlife and shopping!
With so many great Hawaii vacation package deals to choose from, you’re guaranteed to find the perfect trip to paradise!
About the Author
Lori Wilkerson is a full-time freelance writer who loves her job because it gives her the opportunity to learn more about the world every day. Right now, she knows a little bit about almost everything, and a lot about Hawaii Vacations, Beach Vacation Deals, and Cheap Beach Vacations. Lori once led a Conga line to the tune, "Hot, Hot, Hot," throughout an entire cruise ship sailing to Nassau. beach-vacations-4u.com
(True story!)
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Last Updated ( Dec 22, 2006 at 12:32 AM )
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