Hawaii Vacation Blog

Booking Vacations Online Declining

2007-08-23T05:46:55Z

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The latest results from the Consumer Internet Barometer confirms what we have known for quite sometime, especially for Hawaii; People are using the internet more for research than to actually book their vacations. Today Bruce and Yaling discuss this trend and offer advice to consumers on how they can do their research and also save money using local travel agents in Hawaii.

Bruce and Yaling talk about TV bounty hunter Duane "Dog" Chapman's book which debuted on the New York Times bestseller list in the top spot. Chapman's "You can run but you can't hide what" is the number one selling hardcover notification book in the country! Way to go Dog!

Show Timeline:

    * 0:00 Intro
    * 03:00 Dog Hits #1
    * 04:26 Today's Poll results
    * 05:08 Todays Topic: Online Booking is declining
    * 18.02 Is Hawaii #1 for Honeymooners?
    * 15:45 Congrats and Kudos Agent Shout outs: Tisha and Ashley
    * 22:04 Show close

Have a question about Hawaii? Have a comment about our podcast? Just give us a call and say ALOHA and let us know you’re out there and enjoy the show! Call our PODCAST HOTLINE now 24/7 at 1-808-237-5255 or Toll Free at 1-800-843-8771 ext. 4

Show Links:
Dog hits #1 on NY Times Best Seller List
Is Hawaii #1 for Honeymooners?

Are Hawaii Vacation rentals legal in Hawaii?

2007-08-21T04:41:41Z

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With the growing trend of visitors looking for alternative accommodations, today we discuss the controversial question about weather or not Vacation rentals and B&B's are legal in Hawaii. We only scratch the surface on this topic because there is very little concrete information available easily.

The problem we face as agents is that we cannot expose ourselves to litigation so we have to be very careful to deal with accommodations that are licensed and insured.   Of course, all the properties we deal with including condos are all legal and insured. Our condos are provided to us by wholesalers, so there is even an extra layer of protection. We love the idea of alternative accommodations and if that's what you want we will always guide you in the right direction and give you advice when we're working with you to develop your vacation plan.

Show Timeline:
* 00:19    Intro
    * 05:30    Hawaii Vacation News Starwood buys Renaissance
    * 06:40    Superferry to Launch Aug. 28th, Hurricane Fossie Update
    * 08:00    Todays Topic: Are Hawaii Vacation rentals Legal?
    * 12:20   Podcast listener Questions
* 24.00 Show Close

Congratulations to new customers, kudos to agents. Agent shout outs! Chris, Robert and Tara

Have a question about Hawaii? Have a comment about our podcast? Just give us a call and say ALOHA and let us know you’re out there and enjoy the show! Call our PODCAST HOTLINE now 24/7 at 1-808-237-5255 or Toll Free at 1-800-843-8771 ext. 4

Show music:
Go Jimmy Go!

Show Links:
Is Hawaii ready for the Superferry?
Maui Bed and Breakfast Association
Our Mypace Page
Create your own custom Hawaii Vacation

Hawaii Vacation News - Hurricane Flossie Update

2007-08-14T07:05:12Z

Episode #168 Hawaii Vacation News - Hurricane Flossie Update
Yaling and Bruce talk about the latest Hawaii Vacation news and discuss the latest on Hurricane Flossie which is threatening the Big Island. They also answer podcast hotline questions and give kudos to new customers.
Listen Now:

Links/Show Notes:
Hospitality Advisor's Report Hurricane Flossie Kauai's Beaches Hawaii package finder Yaling and Bruce's Myspace page
Have a question about Hawaii? Have a comment about our podcast? Just give us a call and say ALOHA and let us know you're out there and enjoy the show!

Call our PODCAST HOTLINE now 24/7 at 1-808-237-5255 or Toll Free at 1-800-843-8771 ext. 45

Pricing a Hawaii Cruise

2007-08-11T22:49:54Z

There are eight major islands and more than 120 minor reefs and islands in the Hawaiian island chain. Cruising is a way to visit many of the main islands in a short period of time without multiple airfares or having to pack and unpack in each port. Enjoy lush tropical forests, fabulous beaches, rugged volcanic landscapes, steep mountains, carefully groomed golf courses, snorkeling, nightlife and more. Typical costs: * Fares for 7-day roundtrips from Honolulu run $520-$1,100 for a standard cabin; $1,000-$1,650 for one with a balcony; and $1,600-$3,000 for a suite. Airfare to Hawaii is extra. * 10-15-night cruises departing from the western mainland (anywhere from Ensenada, Mexico to Vancouver, BC and numerous ports in-between) start around $900-$2,700 for a cabin; $1,500-$2,900 for a balcony; and $1,700-$4,700 or more for a suite. * Some cruises of 15-31 days are available at prices ranging from $1,100-$4,500 or more. * Hawaiian cruises are offered year round. The best weather is summer and fall, when the islands get the least amount of rain. Summer and Christmas season are the most popular and therefore at the higher end of the price range. Except for holidays, cruises are cheapest November-February. What should be included: * Standard stops include Honolulu on Oahu; Kona on the Island of Hawaii; Lahaina or Kahului on Maui; Kauai; Lanai; and Molokai. CruiseCritic.com lists intriguing Hawaiian port excursions. * USA Today explains which type of travelers most enjoy seeing Hawaii from a ship. * For wildlife enthusiasts, dolphins are usually visible from ships year-round, but migrating whales are seen in Hawaii only in the winter months. Additional costs: * Port taxes and other fees vary; be sure they’re included in the quoted fare. * On-shore activities are extra, and prices vary depending widely depending on what’s involved. * Onboard tipping adds $5-$10 daily per traveler, or an additional $70-$140 for a couple on a seven-day trip. Some cruise lines, such as Radisson Seven Seas, Seabourn, Silversea and Windstar, include tips in the price. * Luxury ships generally include everything except bar tabs and port excursions, while lower-priced vessels may charge for special shows, restaurants, spa treatments or other shipboard amenities, which can double the cost of a low-priced fare. Discounts: * Many cruise lines offer discounts for seniors or for early bookings. If traveling with a large group of family and friends, ask about a group rate. * Look for last minute bargains on cruises that haven’t sold out.

Will your flight to Hawaii Arrive on time?

2007-08-09T19:15:04Z

Episode #167 Will your flight to Hawaii Arrive on Time? August 8, 2007 Yaling and Bruce discuss flight arrival times into Hawaii and also go over the latest Hawaii Travel News. They also answer a podcast listener question and map out a day trip for them to take when they visit Oahu.

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Top 5 Hawaii planning tips

2007-08-07T04:27:28Z

Episode #166 Top 5 tips for planning your Hawaii Vacation August 6, 2007 Today Yaling and Bruce offer their 5 top tips for planning your Hawaii vacation. They also congratulate new customers and the agents that booked them.

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Show notes/links:
Hawaii Visitors Bureau

Planning for Hawaii Activities
Tips for planning a Hawaiian Vacation
Hawaii vacation planning tips
Tips for a Maui Vacation
Yaling and Bruce's Myspace page
 Subscribe to the Hawaii Vacation Connection

From Bust to Boom

2007-07-28T05:19:24Z

SUCCESS STORIES From Bust to Boom BY MIMI KMET Agent@ Home Magazine July An Internet company finds success as a travel retailer after dot-com fallout When the dot-com industry went bust a few years ago, Bruce Fisher and his wife, Yaling Yu, went into the travel business out of necessity. Today, their Honolulu-based at-home agency, Hawaii-Aloha.com, is booming. Last year, the agency did $5.4 million in gross sales, nearly double its 2005 sales, according to Fisher. Moreover, gross sales in the first quarter of 2007 are up 120 percent over the first quarter last year, thanks mainly to their embrace of technology. "We started out as a dot-com in 1997 and got dot-bombed when the Internet marketing business went bad in 2000," Fisher says, referring to the Internet marketing company they operated from home. But what kept Fisher and Yu afloat was their affiliation with Planet Hawaii, a portal with a hotel booking engine, which was still getting plenty of traffic. Fisher says, "We were getting commission checks from Planet Hawaii, because people were booking travel. We had a licensing agreement to run Planet Hawaii, so we were getting any money that came through." And when that agreement came to an end, Fisher and Yu, who operated Hawaii-Aloha.corn as the website for their marketing company, posted their phone number on the site. "We made a conscious decision out of desperation, because we were going out of business," Fisher says, adding that the response was almost immediate. "When we stuck the phone number on our website, someone called, and I didn't know what I was doing. So I booked the air on Orbitz, I booked the hotel on the Planet Hawaii affiliate program, and I used a supermarket coupon that offered free companion inter-island air. I bundled it together, and it was cheaper than what the client could find online at the time." The transition into travel retailing seemed natural, since Hawaii-Aloha. com had clients such as the former Aston Hotels & Resorts (now ResortQuest Hawaii) and Prince Resorts Hawaii when it was an Internet marketing company. Nonetheless, Fisher and Yu weren't familiar with all of the hotels there, he admits. So Fisher bought the book "Hawaii for Dummies," and HawaiiAloha.com started growing as an inbound Hawaii travel retailer. In fact, he says, "By the second year, we were so overwhelmed by the amount of traffic we were getting, we were turning down business. At the same time we weren't making a killing." This put Fisher and Yu into another dilemma: They needed employees but couldn't afford to pay them regular salaries or rent office space. At that time, Voiceover Internet Phone (VOIP) service, which uses the Internet as a phone connection point, was becoming popular. They embraced the new technology by setting up a part-time agent with VOIP in her home. Now, when HawaiiAloha.com's toll-free number rings, it rings on all phones with the company's VOIP service, and the first person to answer takes the call. Agents also can transfer calls to one another, participate in conference calls and perform other phone functions as if they were located in the same office. Today, Fisher and Yu still book travel from their home office, while 15 agent affiliates, most of whom are in Hawaii and all of whom are certified Hawaii specialists, work completely on an independent , basis, aside from the VOIP connection. But that's where web technology gives way to personal interaction. "Once a customer interacts with our website and makes contact with us, the Internet experience ends and it's humanized from that point forward," Fisher says, explaining that clients then speak to the agents via phone. "We use Internet technology just to make things easier," he says, noting that agents also have live, online chats with clients. Each of the Hawaii-Aloha.com's agents has a blog on the website. And the company recently celebrated the one-year anniversary of its podcast, www.hawaiialoha.com/podcast, a travel show that goes online three times a week, covering topics such as all-inclusive options and inexpensive airfare. Fisher also answers questions submitted by podcast customers and provides information about packages. The podcasts resulted in regular appearances on the Travel Channel's "Hawaii Do's and Don'ts." In addition, Fisher appears regularly on AllExperts.com in Hawaii, where he answers questions about traveling to the islands. Although he does this gratis, his appearances boost his credibility, and some of the people who have posed questions are now clients. Next on the tech agenda is developing a proprietary database program. "We develop our own stuff," Fisher says. "There are so many cookie-cutter sites out there," most of which use engines such as Expedia to operate. Hawaii-Aloha.com is also venturing into wholesaling with its commissionable "Oahu Carefree All-Inclusive" package, which it rolled out in April. "Hawaii is not really an all-inclusive destination, but there are a lot of people who want it," Fisher says.

Hawaii Hotel Update

2007-07-24T03:11:27Z

THE OUTRIGGER REEF has added in-room, high-speed Internet as a value-add for guests. Also, the hotel's fitness center was renovated and reopened, part of a $100 million remake still underway. The makeover of the Ocean Tower's 200 rooms and suites was just completed. THE FOUR SEASONS RESORT MAUI at Wailea has completed the installation of contemporary Hawaiian art, part of the hotel's recently completed $50 million remodel. The 280 works are featured in the hotel's guest rooms, corridors and public areas. RESORTQUEST HAWAII has announced a wide range of fall specials for its three properties on the Big Island. Fourth-night-free promotions are available at Kona by the Sea, Shores at Waikoloa and Waikoloa Colony Villas. Free luaus, discount books and kids-stay-free deals are also available. Call (866) 774-2924 or visit www.resortquesthawaii.com. THE WAILEA BEACH MARRIOTT Resort & Spa is offering the Exotic Escape Package, which includes daily breakfast for two, a 50-minute Elemis Coconut Rub and Milk Ritual and valet parking. The package, valid through Dec. 20, is priced from $369 to $413 per night for a minimum four-night stay. Call (800) 220-2925 or visit www.waileamarriott.com. THE HILTON WAIKOLOA VILLAGE has completed most phases of a $90 million upgrade, with updated rooms, enhanced service options and property-wide improvements. The room upgrades included new carpeting, wall art, renovated bathrooms and the installation of Hilton Serenity beds. All pools were resurfaced and retiled. Technology improvements include high-speed wireless Internet access.

Lava returns to Puu Oo crater on Hawaii

2007-07-18T22:53:19Z

Fresh lava returns to Puu Oo crater on Hawaii Fourteen days after the lava stopped after twenty five years of flowing, raising concerns it might be over for good, fresh lava has been found at the collapsed floor of the Pu'u O'o crater, the source of lava for most of those years. The presence of new lava in the bottom of Pu'u O'o crater was confirmed by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) on Monday July 2. The fresh flows were first reported by local helicopter tour operators between 8 and 9 a.m. on Monday morning. The lava was flowing across the crater floor, which sank more than 350 feet over the last two weeks. Loud, gas-jetting noises could be heard associated with spattering on the crater floor. HVO monitoring instruments detected a slightly elevated seismic tremor. A University of Hawaii infra-sound array identified signals from Pu'u Oo, suggesting change was in the works. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is one of the biggest tourist attractions in the state and has lately been getting hundreds more visitors per day, even while overall Big Island arrivals by air ran a fifth below last year.

Hawaii Tourism News

2007-07-16T18:42:49Z

AIR CAPACITY TO HAWAII from the Mainland is inching downward compared to the same period in 2006, according to the Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism, with a 4.3% decline in capacity for the July-through-September quarter. Although ATA has increased its seat count to the islands, the trend is lower; ironically, the shrinking Japanese market will see a 1.9% increase in seat count to Hawaii. The reduced capacity affects all islands, with capacity down 1.3%, or about 25,000 seats, with Kahului down 7.1%, Kona down 20.9%, and Hilo and Lihue down about 13%. The figures point to fewer visitors flying through Los Angeles and San Francisco and more flying direct from second tier cities. Capacity will be down 15% from LAX and almost 17% from SFO, affecting flights to all four main islands. Delta is nearly halving its Salt Lake City service and reducing its Cincinnati flights (connecting from European routes) by two thirds; it is also cutting capacity 26% from Atlanta. At the same time, capacity will be up 20% from Sacramento, 25% from Portland, more than a third from both Seattle and Oakland (a hub for ATA), and almost 54% from Denver (a United Airlines hub). NON-HOTEL ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATIONS are being selected by a growing number of Hawaii-bound visitors, according to Hospitality Advisors. Many hotels have seen occupancies dropping thanks to alternatives like timeshares, condominium ownership and cruise ships. Statewide occupancies at the end of June stood at 77.1%, down almost 10 percentage points from 2006. And while hikes in daily room rates have helped keep bottom lines strong for hoteliers, they're generally lower than 2006, with occupancies lower for all islands despite record visitor arrivals, according to Hospitality Advisors. In addition, in May, Hawaii occupancies declined in each of five price-tier categories, ranging from budget to luxury, with revenue per available room falling 2.3%, to $129.

Is Hawaii ready for the Superferry?

2007-07-04T19:07:40Z

There's been a lot of anticipation about the superferry coming to Hawaii and I have to say that I've been caught up in this anticipation as well. When I first heard about the ferry coming, I thought it would be a great idea and as a travel agent, I was thinking of all the possibilities that this could open up. For example; we could create all-inclusive packages that include a car and our clients could simply drive onto the ferry then disembark and drive to their hotel or any activity that they choose. I also thought it would be great for people who live here who will finally be able to get to some of the other islands pretty easily with their car.I love driving my car however, there's not too many places you can drive after awhile; you pretty much drive around in circles here so I looked forward to the idea of maybe driving up to Haleakala or a ride down Front Street! So as days approached for the ferry to come to Hawaii I kept checking to see when you would be able to purchase tickets online and finally last week they started accepting reservations for later in August because they do not have a start date for the first voyage. I decided to make reservations for a date in August and started to drill down through their website to add the various components for the reservation. I selected 2 adults, the Premium upgrade, and one car, the total price was $466.33 WHAT!!! Wait a minute I said, I don't think I'm quite ready to spend 500 bucks to go over to Maui plus a three hour boat ride!!! Additionally, when I get there I have to have pay for a hotel for the night because the ferry won't be back until the next day And then it hit me!! This superferry may not be such a good idea after all especially from a cost/time perspective. Think about this, you have to get yourself together and drive on down to the port, wait on a line if you have a car, and get your car through their inspection, then you have to find seats on the ferry, then you have to eat, yes, more money!! You also need or four or five hours to spare because that's how long this whole fun trip is going to take. The jury is still out on the superferry and I really hope that we can find some ways to make this work for us both to the tourist and for Kamaaina. I will certainly take the ferry as soon as I have an extra of $466 to spare but in the meantime I think taking the ferry might be a little too expensive. Especially when you fly the neighbor Islands for half the price.

Hawaii Travel News

2007-07-04T18:02:05Z

KING KAMEHAMEHA'S Kona Beach Hotel was purchased by Investwest Financial/Pacifica Hotel Co. and a group of Hawaiian investors. The new owners have committed $25 million to a renovation that will emphasize the hotels historical setting as one-time home to the warrior king, Kamehameha. The hotel will remain open during the renovation, which will begin next spring. The purchase is the first in Hawaii for InvestWest Financial/Pacifica, which owns and operates hotels in California and Florida. MORGAN STANLEY REAL ESTATE and Trinity Investments have completed a $575 million purchase of Maui's 1,800-acre Makena Resort. The purchase includes 1,300 undeveloped acres, two golf courses and the 310-room Maui Prince Hotel. STARWOOD HOTELS & RESORTS is negotiating to purchase or partner in the controversial expansion of the Turtle Bay Resort on Oahu's North Shore. Newspaper reports, unconfirmed by Starwood, identify the company as a potential joint-venture partner with the current owner, Oaktree Capital Management. The master plan for the resort, approved in the early 1980s, includes five hotels with a total of 2,500 rooms, although it is likely that timeshare projects may replace the currently planned hotels. HAWAIIAN AIRLINES, Aloha Airlines and Mesa Air Group all reported first-quarter losses due to high fuel costs and an on-going fare war initiated in June 2006, when Mesa Air launched Go, a low-cost, interisland carrier. Aloha lost $24.3 million, Hawaiian lost $11.9 million and Mesa lost $24 million. HAWAII'S PLANTATION VILLAGE, located in central Oahu, is now offering tours that emphasize Hawaii's historical and cultural diversity. Tours depart Waikiki and include Honolulu's historic landmarks, Hawaii's Plantation Village (an outdoor history museum showcasing restored buildings and replicas of plantation structures), a 45-minute narrated ride on a vintage locomotive and a finale at the Paradise Cove Luau. Tours ($109 for adults, $90 children 12 and under) are offered every Wednesday, with pickups at various Waikiki locations starting at 12:45 p.m., returning to Waikiki is at about 10 p.m. Call (808) 677-0110.

Tips for Hawaii first- time Cruisers

2007-06-19T15:55:20Z

If you're a first-time cruiser and you chose any one of the NCL seven-day cruises you made the right decision.These cruises are great for first-timers because they are seven days and offer a lot land time. You don't have to worry about being on the open seas for very long so just in case cruising turns out not to be for you, there's really not a whole lot of sailing going on. The Hawaii cruises are designed to give you a lot of land time you get overnights in both Maui and Hawaii which gives you the opportunity to experience the islands. I equate the cruise to a floating hotel that travels from island to island. Another other reason is great is because first-time cruisers don't have any other cruise ships to compare this to; the NCL's product is quite different from those of the other cruise lines. They have freestyle cruising which means there's no preset meals and the formal nights are optional. The Hawaii cruises also have the only All-American crew in the world, this makes the experience quite different and it's very comforting for first-time cruisers because all of the crew members are from the United States and could speak our language and our very personable. First-time cruisers very often wonder where they should stay on the ship and again because the ship doesn't cruise that much it's not as an important issue however, it's always advisable to be as close to make ship is possible and most people like to be as high up on the ship is possible, the reason for this is because if you're on the lower deck you generally have to go up to the various decks which have the restaurants and activities. If you're considering a Hawaii Cruise as your first adventure on the seas then any one of the three ships sailing here would be a good choice. Happy cruising!

Hawaii's Airports

2007-06-05T18:26:02Z

There are six Hawaii different islands available for tourists to select. The people who decide to go to Hawaii for the first time usually plan to visit one or more than one island but have numerous questions relating to where exactly to go and how exactly to get there. In fact, this article serves as an introductory guide on one of the most famous worldwide vacation locations if you are interested in reaching the Hawaii area and checking out some of its islands. Thus, you should know that mainly airline companies connect the islands together by offering the needed inter-island flights. Hawaiian Airlines, Aloha Airlines, or Island Air are some of the companies that serve customers on a daily basis and finding the best price deals can usually be done through the companies’ websites or through your mainland flight company or travel agent If you are considering visiting Hawaii during your vacations period, most probably you will fly into the Honolulu International Airport (HNL). Most mainland and International flights use this airport for their flights and travelers heading on to another island may have to deplane and get on an inter-island flight to reach their final destination. The HNL airport is located on the outskirts of Honolulu, about a 20-minute drive to Waikiki, and about a 45-minute drive to the North Shore. In addition, Maui has three airports. The major airport is Kahalui Airport (OGG), which allows direct flights from the West coast of the U.S. mainland. The drive from the airport to Kihei or Wailea is less than half an hour, but if you plan to visit Lahaina or Kaanapali then be prepared for another hour of traveling. Much closer to the Lahaina area is Kapalua Airport (JHM), but since it serves only local flights, you can reach this destination specifically from Honolulu. Another airport is located in Hana (HNM) in case driving is not your favorite sport, but you will be taking a very small plane. Pacific Wings offer this specific flight. Local agents can also assist you in finding day ferries from Maui to Lanai and Molokai. Hawaii Vacation Guide Articles Hawaii, which actually is called the Big Island to avoid any confusion, has two airports; Hilo International Airport (ITO) and Keahole Airport (KOA). Located an a 2.5 hour drive away from each other these two airports can lead you to some of the finest destination points of your Hawaii visit. While Hilo is closest to Honokaa, Kapoho, and Volcano, Keahole is in Kailua-Kona, which is closest to all of Kona, Puako, Kohala, Waikoloa, and Waimea. Direct flights exist from the mainland only to Keahole and no ferries from the Big Island (Hawaii) are available to any other island. Although sad, it is true. Furthermore, Lihue Airport (LIH) is the sole airport of Kauai, in Lihue, and some carriers offer direct flights from the mainland. Specifically, Lihue is about halfway to everything on the island-but a bit closer to Poipu than Princeville. Keep in mind that there are no ferries from Kauai to any other island. In addition, Molokai has one airport, Molokai Airport (MKK) which is located in central Molokai. As a visitor you will probably have to take a small airplane in, usually no bigger than 20-seats. You will be able to fly there from Honolulu or Kahului via Island and small commercial boats can transfer you from Maui to Molokai. Moreover, Lanai has one airport, Lanai Airport (LNY), near Lanai City, but it also accepts only small airplanes. Again, Island Air can fly you in from Honolulu and small commercial boats are available for you to take from Maui to Molokai. Finally, travel agents state that by 2007 Hawaii Super Ferry should be operating between all the islands and will hopefully revolutionize the current expensive and inefficient inter-island travel systems. But until then, you should better book your flight in advance and keep a copy of this article in hand.

Hawaii Vacations for Nurses?

2007-05-23T17:26:18Z

When I was asked to contribute to a article about a Hawaii (Big Island) vacation for nurses, I thought to myself; How can I specifically target nurses over any other demographic? While it's true that nurses are in one of the most important professions, they are pretty much like everybody else when it comes to taking a vacation and having fun and as such, have the same needs/budgets and any vacationers. If you don't have some pre-arranged accommodations planned through your organization you're probably looking for some hotel/condo advice. On the Big Island, Kona is the place for deal seekers. You'll find a lot a budget hotels and also some really great affordable condos that are quite nice. For those on a budget I often recommend that families get a condo. If you really need to strech your dollar, a family of four can easily fit in a one-bedroom but keep in mind two people will have to sleep on the sofa in the living room. They all have kitchens and also made service. Budget condo recommendations: -- Royal Sea Cliffs 1, 2 AND 3 BEDROOMS -- Kona Reef 1 AND 2 BEDROOMS Budget hotel recommendations: -- Royal Kona Resort -- King Kamehameha In the moderate price range I recommend the Sheraton. The property is beautiful and has something for everyone. The great water features and pool area make you forget that there isn't a beach! You can also find some decent priced condos in Waikoloa at the Waikoloa shores in the Fairway Villas. These condos are located on golf courses but not far from some nice beaches. Moderate priced Hotel Recommendations: -- Sheraton Kona Moderate priced condo recommendations: -- Waikoloa Shores -- Fairway Villas For those that have heftier budgets, Waikoloa, north of Kona is the ideal location. Some of the finest hotels in all of Hawaii are located here, including the Four seasons, Fairmont orchid and Mauna Lani. A very popular property for families in this area is the Hilton Hawaiian Village. All of these are good choices and you won't be disappointed with picking any one of them for your vacation. If I had to pick one to recommend to you and you had the budget for it, I would choose the Four Seasons. High End Choice Hotels -- Four Seasons -- Fairmont Orchid -- Muna Lani -- Hilton Waikaloa Village (more family oriented) High End Choice Condos --Mauna Lani Point Condos While in Kona may want to take the Kona walking tour, it's a 75 minute walking tour which brings to life the village of Kailua-Kona. Another great activity is a trip to Kalakaukua Bay. This spectacular marine sanctuary offers an abundance of colorful tropical fish, a variety of beautiful coral reefs and visibility often to 100 feet, making it perfect for snorkeling. One of the favorite activities to engage in on the Big Island especially in Kona, is deep sea fishing. It's pretty much second to none anywhere in the world, if you can catch a Hawaii A'u (Marlin) I promise you'' never forget it!!. And of course there's always Hawaii Volcanoes National Park home to Madame Pele. Keep in mind that this is near the town of Hilo and it's quite a ride depending on which way you go, three to six hours. Bruce's must do's -- Kona walking tour -- trip to Kalakaukua Bay -- Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Finally, the best thing to do when planning a trip to Hawaii is to consult with a professional which will save you both time and money. I highly recommend choosing one located directly in Hawaii. For example, an agency like ours, HAWAII-ALOHA.COM which specializes in Hawaii with an agent network located in the Hawaiian Islands.