April 5th, 2008

Mahalo…Thank you

My blog today is in honor of all Hawaii visitors who have been affected by Aloha Airlines and ATA Airlines shutting down and leaving them stranded either in Hawaii or their home cities.

The news was of a great shock to me and my colleagues in the travel business here in Hawaii and across the mainland.

Our 1st response or emotion would be.. "is my client affected" and then we hustle thru all our files and see who we need to call and what we need to do to help you.

Your patience and true understanding that this was a situation way beyond our control and nothing we would ever want to happen to any traveler was amazing.

You had to miss work, you had to make personal family arrangements, you needed to pay extra monies on new tickets and many other inconvenience things that would cause you to be stressed and upset. But from all those that I helped and I believe it’s the same for most of us in this business that the traveler (passengers) affected shined with an awesome character of patience and understanding.

Visitor’s of any destination saves up for a trip, earns valuable vacation time to take a well needed vacation, plans a wedding or honeymoon, plans a celebration…what ever the reason is, that traveler never anticipates something like this to happen and that’s why I honor everyone of you for your patience and understanding. Mahalo (Thank you)

Also big Mahalo to the other airlines who stepped up big time to help stranded travelers get back home. I am sure your travel agent express their appreciation for supporting their business, if they don’t, I say Mahalo (Thank you). You are valuable to us. You have many options out their to book travel, but you choose to trust us and book with us.

Mahalo (Thank you)!!!!

 Lisa Zablan Hawaii Aloha Travel

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March 27th, 2008

Kilauea Volcano Eruption

    
 
My topic for today’s blog is the Eruption of Kilauea and links to websites were visitors can get current information on the Volcano and the current Lava flow and conditions that visitors need to be aware of.
 
The reason I wanted to put this on my blog page is that in my booking reservations for my clients a lot of them have interested in doing a day trip over to the Volcano wanting to view the spectacular Lava flow into the ocean not being aware that the gases that are being omitted in the air can cause havoc on their allergies or other health conditions.
 
I would be remised as a Travel Agent if I just sold a tour to the Volcano without advising my client of the conditions that could affect their health.
 
Here are some links to view if you are planning on visiting the Big Island and viewing the Volcano and Lava flow.
           
 
  • County of Hawaii Eruption update
 
  • Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
 
  • Eruption Update
 
  • Printable Lava Safety Guide
 
 
  • Frequently asked questions
 
 
I hope you enjoyed this information. If you are planning a trip to Hawaii and want to see the Volcano, email or give me a call. It would be my pleasure to assist you with your travel plans.
 
Mahalo (Thank you),
Lisa Zablan
Toll Free:1-800-843-8771 ext 27
Direct Line: 1-808-237-5267
lisa@hawaii-aloha.com

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January 8th, 2008

Aloha Airlines Direct to Kona

Aloha Airlines has just added a direct Non-Stop Flight from San Diego California to Kona. This is great news. I get clients that live in San Diego that dislike that they have to either drive up to Los Angeles to take advantage of a lower price flight to Hawaii. The drive is about 2 hours. Or..they a regular schedule flight takes them to Los Angeles to change planes which the connection time is sometimes longer than if you drove. So I am HAPPY (we say Maikai - excellent in Hawaiian) for my San Diego travelers. The flight departs at  8:00am and get you into Kona at 1:37pm and then it departs Kona for San Diego at 2:55pm and you arrive at 11:15pm. The price currently is running in the low 400.00 per person (subject to change and based on availability). I just checked a United flight that goes thru LAX and the price was 100.00 more. So if you live in San Diego and want to visit Kona, give me a call, I would love to assist you with your travel plans and give you expert advise on what to do in Kona.

Lisa Zablan
Hawaii Aloha Travel
6800 Kalanianaole Hwy #127
Honolulu, Hawaii 96825
lisa@hawaii-aloha.com
1-800-843-8771 ext 27

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December 17th, 2007

Mele Kalikimaka from Hawaii!!

Mele Kalikimaka (Merry Christmas)

8 days till Christmas and we are still receiving request for travelers who want to escape the cold weather of winter on the Mainland USA.

I checked air availability today and there are only a few air seats on Dec 24th or 25th with a return date of 02Jan. (ex: New York to Honolulu). Staying at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Waikiki. Total Package price for 2 = $6,995.00.* Call now as space is limited and not guaranteed until purchased.

If you can’t make it to Hawaii for Christmas start booking your 2008 Hawaii vacation packages for as little as a $50.00 per person deposit and your final payment not due till 35 days till your departure date*

Call me at 1-800-843-8771 ext. 27 to book your vacation package to Hawaii. It will be my pleasure to assist you.

Lisa Zablan
Your Hawaii Travel Specialist
*Certain Restrictions Apply

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November 2nd, 2007

“Travel Advisor’s” Ratings Good and Bad

Hotel Ratings Good and Bad

The other day Hawaii Aloha Travel did a podcast on "trip advisor" and hotel ratings or comments plus other issues.   I wanted to add my comments to it.

 Customer’s will use "trip advisor’s" (anyone you choose) to see how the hotel I quoted them rates (good or bad) and only the negative comments will stand out and be remembered and counted vs. the good comments. I will always advise my client to look at the link to the hotel that I send them so that they can see what the hotel offers and to see if the hotel meets their travel preference and needs vs. what someone may have posted on a website.  

For example we had a customer who booked a trip with a 5 star deluxe hotel property as requested and confirmed by the purchase of the package. Well the customer checks in and after a couple of days into his reservation he calls to complain that the hotel did not have free internet service and that he had to pay…apparently he was on vacation and on business too and needed to use his notebook computer to do work. He neglected to tell us this was important in his type of accommodations. He was not happy and of course made a complain about us and the hotel. These kind of customer’s will take the negative of their trip and post it on "trip advisor" website that allows for comments and ratings. What this customer forgets is that he was booked in a beautiful deluxe ocean view room in a hotel on the beach…he also had free daily buffet breakfast. He also never complained about the staff service at the hotel because there was nothing to complain about. So this guy could have wrote something nice about the hotel, because to me, paying for internet service is only a small negative vs. he had a lot of good things to write about. This could also be because those travel advisor websites only allow you so many words to each posting.

So what I am trying to convey is that use "trip advisor’s" (anyone you which to visit) and take from it the good comments..because the bad comments will normally be from a customer who neglected to inform their travel agent of what they needed in a way of accommodations…(internet, restaurants, refrigerator..etc)….or want a cheap vacation and request the least inexpensive hotel, forgetting their travel preference and needs.

You as the consumer you save  money for a trip to Hawaii, you wait years before you can take a long vacation,…Dream of coming to Hawaii since you were little,…choose Hawaii as your honeymoon vacation spot,….what ever the reason for coming to Hawaii, don’t use "trip advisor’s" to totally decide on the hotel you will stay in.  View the hotel’s own websites and look at the amenity section to see if the property meets your travel preference needs. Or most important ask me….."your travel agent" what you need in way’s of accommodation. I am not in this business to make a quick buck, but I am in this business to help make your dreams and/or vacation experience a most memorable one.

Call me when you are ready to book a vacation to Hawaii. I have stayed in almost every hotel and if I didn’t stay in it, I as a travel professional do my homework and I do hotel site inspections frequently.

 

Lisa Zablan
Hawaii Aloha Travel
6800 Kalanianaole Hwy #127
Honolulu, Hawaii 96825
lisa@hawaii-aloha.com
1-800-843-8771 ext 27

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October 14th, 2007

Best Travel Souvenir?

What is your best travel souvenir? It’s your memories from your trip. A box of Macadamia Chocolate will be gone in one sitting (if I was eating it) or last a few days. That Fresh Lei that you got when you arrived at the airport will last a few days too. But Memories are the best souvenir and it will last a life time.

If you have read most of my blogs, I will talk about how much I love my job and how I enjoy helping families make memories by being their travel specialist…and it is still true today and it will be repeated again in the future for sure.

Right now it’s the travel season where it’s hard to find seats for Christmas Packages  and people are shopping around trying to find the best deal for the next big travel season …"Spring Break".  But I welcome you to give me a call for what ever date you are traveling as it would be my pleasure to assist you in your travel planning and to help you bring home the best travel souvenir…."Memories".

I can be reached via email: Lisa@Hawaii-Aloha.com or by calling our toll free number: 1-800-843-8771 ext: 27.

 

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October 11th, 2007

2008 Travel Packages to Hawaii

HAWAIIAN EXPLORER 8 DAY PACKAGE

8 Days From $2035
Featuring: OAHU Honolulu, Waikiki, HAWAII Hilo, Kona, Volcanoes National Park MAUI Kaanapali Resort, Lahaina
Departs Returns Land Price
Sun, 30 March 2008 Sun, 06 April 2008 $2035

Package Includes:Touring by deluxe air-conditioned motorcoaches with recling seats for maximum comfort. Hotel accomodation, Meals (Breakfast Daily, Dinner and Lunch in certain days, Sightseeing Excursions and entrance fees to places of interesed as indicated on itinerary, Porterage Fee and Tips for waiter service and baggage handling. Price is per person based on double occupancy.

Call me to book this package before it sells out. It just takes a $200.00 payment with the final payment not due till 45 days prior to the arrival date.

Call or email me. I look foward to assisting you with your travel plans to Hawaii.

Lisa Zablan
Hawaii Aloha Travel
lisa@hawaii-aloha.com
1-800-843-8771 ext 27

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October 11th, 2007

Cruise Hawaii

It’s still not to late to try and get on the Pride of Hawaii before she leaves Hawaii for good. NCL plans to take her out of Hawaii and reposition her in Europe.

Oct, 29th still has some Balcony Cabins let starting at $1299.00 per person and Mini-Suite starting at $1349.00 per person. Taxes and fees and air not included.

Are you ready for a Cruise in 2008? Here are some specials for 2008.

Princes Cruises Prices start from $2095.00. Sailing from Los Angeles to Hawaii for 15 nights. You will visit Nawiliwili (Kauai), Lahaina (Maui), Honolulu (Oahu) Kona (Hawaii’s Big Island), Hilo (Hawaii’s Big Island), and return to Esendada, Los Angeles.

Holland America - ms Zaandam starts from $1599.00 per person. 15 Night Itinerary departs San Diego and visits Hilo, Kona, Honolulu, Lahaina before returning to Ensenada, San Diego

Norwegian Cruise Line still offers a 7 day cruise aboard the Pride of America with prices starting from $679.00 per person. Pride of Aloha offers either a 10 or 11 day cruise with rates from $599.00 per person.

Give me a call or email me the dates you desire to travel and I will be happy to send you a quote and assist you with your plans to travel to Hawaii.

Mahalo (Thank you),

Lisa Zablan
Hawaii Aloha Travel
lisa@hawaii-aloha.com
1-800-843-8771 ext 27

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August 8th, 2007

Great Hawaii Cruise Special

Are you looking for a last minute special to celebrate a anniversary, birthday or do you just need to get a way. Check out the below great special on the Pride of America or Pride of Hawaii. A 7 day sailing here in Hawaii. Price includes your cabin and meals. (taxes and fees not included). Based on double occupancy. Air can also be added on, please call me for a quote.
Lisa Zablan
Hawaii Aloha Travel
6800 Kalanianaole Hwy #127
Honolulu, Hawaii 96825
lisa@hawaii-aloha.com
1-800-843-8771 ext 27

 

 
 
 
           Hawaii Cruise Special
 
 
Departures: 11/3, 11/27 & 12/1/07
 
INSIDE FROM
OCEANVIEW FROM
BALCONY FROM
OBSTRUCTED VIEW
FAMILY SUITE FROM
$679*
$849*
$1,149*
$1,599
 
 
INSIDE FROM
OCEANVIEW FROM
BALCONY FROM
MINI-SUITE FROM
$649*
$849*
$1,149*
$1,449
 

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July 30th, 2007

2008 Hawaii Pro Bowl Packages Now Available

 
 
 
All 2008 Pro Bowl Packages include:
  • Fresh flower lei greeting
  • Roundtrip airport transfers
  • 4 nights hotel (additional nights available)
  • Hotel taxes
  • Game tickets (Based on end zone seats. Upgrade to upper/lower sideline & premium club available).
  • Escorted transfers to and from Aloha Stadium
  • NFL official Tailgate party
  • NFL official Pro Bowl t-shirt
  • Optional items also available at additional cost:
  • Saturday Night NFL VIP Party
  • NFL Gift Bag
 
 
Sample Air and Room Package Quotes
 
Round-trip Airfare on Hawaiian Airlines from Los Angeles & San Francisco
Prices Starting From, Per Person
Single
Double
Triple
Quad
ResortQuest Waikiki Circle
(Partial OceanView)
Children 17 and under stay free in room.
$1,699
$1,399
$1,339
$1,295
ResortQuest Waikiki Sunset
(One bedroom Superior)
$1,969
$1,499
$1,379
$1,299
ResortQuest Waikiki Beach Hotel
(Partial Ocean View)
$2,145
$1,599
$1,489
n/a
Hilton Prince Kuhio
(ROH City/Mountain View)
$2,145
$1,599
$1,499
$1,449
-$150 non-refundable deposit per person required.
-Other cities also available, please inquire.
 
If you would like more information, have questions or if you are ready to book your Pro Bowl Package, feel free to give me a call. I look forward to personally assisting you with your travel plans.
 
Lisa Zablan
Hawaii Aloha Travel
6800 Kalanianaole Hwy #127
Honolulu, Hawaii 96825
lisa@hawaii-aloha.com
1-800-843-8771 ext 27
 
Restrictions apply. Subject to change without notice.

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