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| Honolulu sunset: Photo by HaBeeGirl |
Fall of 2015, after two weeks of vacation in Europe, I was starting to get the holiday blues. Work was stressing, weather was getting cool, started to feel the need for some warmth again. My motto "Work hard, play hard!". I'm always on the internet checking for vacation ideas, and cheap flights! Target date: January - March 2016 time frame, and somewhere hot with lots of great seafood and sushi. Only two places in to my mind, Okinawa and Honolulu. So, now that I have tentative desirable destinations, it was time to start bargin hunting!!!!!!! After a week of searching ... BAM! Found a great deal direct flight from Toronto to Honolulu with Air Canada $500CAD!!!!!!!!!!! Couldn't say NO to that.Honolulu, here I come!
In my years of traveling experiences, the trick is to check for flights during the mid week time frame. I think airline companies know that most people think about vacation either on the weekends, Mondays (first day back to work, already thinking about the weekend) and/or Fridays (getting close to the weekend, in the mood to plan weekend or holiday fun). That's why I recommend checking flights on a Wednesday! (not departure on a wednesday, but checking for flights on a wednesday, make sense?!)
So now that I have my flight, what do I do about accommodations, excursions, day tour, restaurants, uber or rent a car and the list goes on and on....? Cha Ching Cha Ching Cha Ching is what I was thinking .... $$$$$$$$$$$!!!!
Best websites for hotels:
www.booking.com - Cheapest in town, and they will match your lowest price. Amazing customer service. Great Loyalty program called Genius.
www.hotel.com - Great Loyalty program, its like collection stamps from your local coffee shop. Book 10 get one free.
Best for bundling packages:
Expedia
Best for travel deals:
www.nextdeparture.ca
Best for city tours and passes:
www.viator.com
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| Received a free upgrade upon arrive. Nice Surprise!! Photo by HaBeeGirl |
To make a long story short, I actually saved $500 by booking 3 different hotels during my 10 day stay in Honolulu (the island of Oahu). 1 night at a boutique hotel called Vive Hotel , 4 nights at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki and 4 nights at the Lotus Diamond Head Hotel.
For more info and reviews on the hotels, please check out my tripadvisor page.
Bee833
Vive Hotel Waikiki
Hyatt Regency Waikiki
Lotus Diamond Head Waikiki
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| View from Balcony of hotel room Lotus Diamond Head Hotel. Photo by HaBeeGirl |
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| Lotus Diamond Head Hotel - Room with double balcony. Photo by HaBeeGirl |
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| Hyatt Regency. Photo by HaBeeGirl |
Pearl Harbor - Highly recommend doing a city tour, its the best way to see all the famous attractions and learn about the island and culture!
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| Pearl Harbor - Famous tourist attraction. Photo by HaBeeGirl |
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| North Shore. Photo by HaBeeGirl |
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| Kailua Beach - Dogs are everywhere!!!! |
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| Kailua Beach. Photos by HaBeeGirl |
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| Here's another beach, north of Kailua and Sandy Beach (can't remember the name of this one), but this is where they film many movies, like Jurassic Park and 51st Date. Photo by HaBeeGirl |
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| Pineapple soft serve - must have, worth the long line up! Photo by HaBeeGirl |
Shopping Shopping Shopping
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| Photos by HaBeeGirl |
When people tell you Hawaii is like PARADISE ... well, its true!!!! A paradise that comes with a heavy price tag. But hey, you only live one, why not! That's how you live a happy, healthy, balanced life.
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| HaBeeGirl, enjoying vacation time in Honolulu! |
"I still love things that you don't even need to pay for. Going to the beach and being around five of your friends and having a good time means so much more than going out and spending hundreds of dollars" --- Maria Sharapova
Until next time ...... Mahalo (Hawaiian word for thanks)
Cheers,
HaBeeGirl
PS: This is a late post, vacation took place at the end of January to early February 2016.
Stay tuned ... next blog entry, eating in Honolulu!!
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https://www.instagram.com/habeegirl/
All photos by HaBeeGirl
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