golf on Kauai

I stayed at the Hyatt a few years ago and played Poipu Bay...a great experience. Now I will be back for a week 3/9-3/16 and staying at the Marriott Beach Club in Poupu. I would like to play a different course such as Princeville Prince or possibly Kauai Lagoons. I have heard and read about conditions at the Prince and e-mailed them and they say good condition now except has been wet from a lot of rain. I can get a rate of $155. What is cost at Kauai Lagoons and has anyone played it recently. I am open to all responses. I play of lot of great courses when I travel, but have time for only ONE round on Kauai.

golf on Kauai

Bogie

Just FYI, a while back they were doing some construction or whatever up by kauai lagoons and one of the courses was closed.

now, that might all be completed, but you might want to call them and find out the straight scoop.

One of the two was open, and one was not. It has been a few months, but will not hurt to check.

Kauai Lagoons, Kiele Course 800-634-6400. Ask if you get a discount since you are staying at the Marriot in Poipu. There is a discount for the marriot at lihue, so perhaps they will honor the Waiohai Marriot in poipu as well.

Smart move checking with the Prince, as it has been somewhat wet, with the north shore especially. That dagone upper level low pressure is still effecting some of the islands, and we need for that to be done with.

Denny

Denny

golf on Kauai

if you are looking to play a quality track other than poipu, and lagoons is closed, i%26#39;d go to puakea.

i%26#39;ve played princeville a few times in the past 4 years and it has never had conditions i would even refer to as ';good';. the only reason i went back for the 3rd time was b/c i was w/ a friend that just had to play there. i don%26#39;t think i%26#39;ll ever go there again. it has some great views, but so does the muni. and the muni has less crabgrass in the fairways.

i understand that it%26#39;s somewhat of a golfing mecca though, so if you%26#39;ve just got to play it to say you%26#39;ve done it, that%26#39;s understandable.

Bogieman,

Kauai Lagoons Kiele course is being renovated and I belive the pro shop and part of the back nine is closed or under construction.

If you haven%26#39;t played the Prince Course, and can only play ONCE, I would select the Prince, just to experience it. It is extremely challenging. I do agree that the condition the last few years has been anything but top notch, but the layout is beyond compare.

I would throw in a second vote for Puakea, a very nice track, very well conditioned, although without the spectacular ocean views. However I think any view on Kauai is spectacular, ocean or not.

Third, I would opt for the 3 nines at the Makaii in Princeville. They did offer a package to play all three nines in one day. You would have to call the pro shop to check on that. It is not a spectacular course, but you will still see some of the best views on the island from the Ocean Nine. It is usually well maintained and a fair challenge.

Here is one more vote for Puakea -- great condition, beautiful course, challenging, but fair and the price is reasonable. Last time we played there, I%26#39;m thinking it was $75 or $80 after 11 a.m. NO fancy club house, but so what?

If you opt for the Prince course, bring lots of golf balls.

Anyone tried Aloha Kauai Tours (Kokee Kauai tour)?

I did a search on this subject and didn%26#39;t find much on the day tour by Aloha Kauai -- it is from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and goes to Waimea canyon, Kokee state park, etc.

Since we decided against the boat tour of Na Pali (since I am way too prone to motion sickness) -- I wanted to add a different sightseeing tour. I know this tour won%26#39;t give me the view of the NaPali coast, but I wondered if it is a fun and worthwile thing to do . . .

Thank for any input

Michelle

Anyone tried Aloha Kauai Tours (Kokee Kauai tour)?

Bunecca,

Aloha Kauai Tours is a class act. I have been on one of their tours, met the different drivers, visited with the owners ( great people ) and was totally impressed.

I believe that no matter what tour you chose , it would be great. Heck, call them, and tell them what you want out of a tour, and wish to have a dynomite tour guide. The fellas, and ladies that I met and visited with were really fun.

The tour I went on , was in an air conditioned van with four wheel drive, lots of fun interacting with the driver and other passengers, great information on the island, culture , flora, fauna, and local scoops and history. We did some hiking, and had a ball.

Denny

Private Home Vacation Rentals?

I am getting married in Maui in July and have been looking for accomodations for my family to stay. We were looking at 5-6 bedroom houses, and then came along an article saying that Maui is banning private vacation rentals (starting Jan 2008). My question is, how safe would it be for me to secure a private home. And how can I find out if the home has a legal permit to rent?

Private Home Vacation Rentals?

Have you checked out www.VRBO.com?

Private Home Vacation Rentals?

I have checked VRBO and have found a few private homes that I like. Just wondering if it is safe to rent these with the new regulations?

check www.homeaway.com

Where did you read the article? Were there sources quoted? We are renting a private home in June from Luxury retreats and have had no problems thus far with our reservation. The property is located in Lahaina.

I rented a house in Florida last year through www.homeaway.com (it was a lot cheaper %26amp; nicer than any hotel we stayed in). We are renting a condo in Maui through www.vrbo.com this May. Both people were listed on both websites. I check out the feedback from other people who have stayed there %26amp; the dates they stayed there. If their feedback is 10 years old, then the house might not be as nice as it was then (I ran into that renting motels, looked real nice but, when I got there it was run down). Lots of people will leave their e-mail address or phone number in their feedback. I try to get in touch with the most recent one, to get their opinion on the rental. Hope this helps.

Another good source for private homes is :

http://www.hawaiibound.com/

I think you have to go by the reviews if any and your gut instinct and talk to the person on the phone. The first time I rented off the internet, I wanted to make sure the home was owned by the person I was renting from so I called the utilities company. I do not understand how Maui can ban an owner from renting their own property or even renting their timeshares (like I am doing in Cabo this year)... Can you send a link to that article?

Yes it is true that they are cracking down on illegally rented homes in Maui but there still are a number of homes that are licensed and totally fine to rent. Oahu has been doing this for a few years already. I would caution you on renting through vrbo or personal sites as you may not be renting a licensed home. ASK questions. I know Villas of Hawaii uses only licensed homes as do a number of other agencies - check that any agency you use is a member of the Hawaii Visitors Bureau and look at TA for opinions, etc. The main areas that have been trouble are upcountry and Paia as well as some in Kihei. If the price seems too good to be true, you may want to double check. Homes are expensive to rent and you may want to look at condos instead.

Try Tropical Villa Vacations if you are not on a budget. They have some BEAUTIFUL homes for rent. They are very professional and can take care of your every need. The website has great photos, details and availability of all the rentals.

I have read numerous articles on this issue on www.mauinews.com; If you search under vacation rentals you will get lots of information on the closing of these rental homes. Thanks for the info in the previous posts!

hawaii liquor superstore

does anyone know if this place is as good as costco for buying beer/liquor? anyone know what a case of Corona costs in maui?

hawaii liquor superstore

I don%26#39;t remember the cost of a case but we just always pick it up at Costco. Longs Druga has pretty good deals on wine. You can buy alcohol virtually everywhere even at the grocery store.

hawaii liquor superstore

A case of Corona at Costco is usually about a few bucks more than buying 2 12 packs at Safeway or Long%26#39;s. I don%26#39;t remember exactly the price at Costco, but I know whenever I look at it I think to myself, geeze, that is more than Safeway! At Long%26#39;s and Safeway Corona%26#39;s are almost always $12.99 a 12 pack.

I never buy beer at Hawaii Liquor Superstore, so I can%26#39;t help you there, but I will tell you I only go there when I am looking for something particular, such a brand not carried elsewhere, or at Christmas time for gift packs. I have never found their prices to be any better than prices at Long%26#39;s or Safeway so it is hardly worth the trip for me.

Honeymoon Itinerary Help

We just totally changed our March travel plan from Oahu/Kauai/Maui to Big Island/Maui. It seems more exciting to us to have more variety in the trip. We%26#39;re going for 13 nights, hopefully March 8 through the 21st. We want to book ASAP. We%26#39;re in our thirties and hope to pay about $7,000 for all lodging and travel, not including food and activities.

I%26#39;m thinking we%26#39;d fly into Kona, stay a few nights in Kona area and a few nights on the other side of the Big Island, and then fly to Maui. Fly home from Maui. We have lots of Maui info but nothing on the Big Island, since we just changed our plan.

--How to break up 7 nights on the BI? I.e. how many in which areas?

--Which area to stay in on the ';wet'; side of the Big Island?

--Any specific hotel recs? We will need most to be mid-range but want to spend a few nights of the trip at more luxurious places if we can.

--Any other tips?

Thank you!

P.S. Forgive me if this is a double post. My first one didn%26#39;t seem to ever show up.

Honeymoon Itinerary Help

I hope you enjoy the Island of Hawaii!! Don%26#39;t be put off by the lava fields you see upon landing at KOA...there are lush green parts of the island, just not there. If you want to see Volcano National Park and the east side, maybe 2 nights over there. People will probably suggest places up in Volcano Village.

On the Kona/Kohala side, the Sheraton is popular and lower-priced but be aware the pools are not heated and there is no ';beach'; where you can enter the water. You%26#39;d have to drive to beaches, but the place is conveneient for snorkel/dive trips from Keauhou.

The Marriott Waikoloa gets dumped on by some (not exactly sure why), but it is on a good beach and very close to others. It is on the Kona/Kohala border, convenient to Shops and restaurants. I was in the public areas a couple of weeks ago and I thought it looked very nice. If you want to spend more, Mauna Lani Bay Hotel is my favorite in the world. See my review.

Honeymoon Itinerary Help

$7000 seems a little high to me. If you paid $700 per plane ticket, which is on the high side, that leaves $400 plus per night for a condo. The condo you are staying in on Maui is nice, but not particularly luxurious so I%26#39;m assuming you aren%26#39;t paying that price for your condo there. Are you saving money there to spend on accommodations for the Big Island? If so, I would definitely stay in the Kohola area rather than Kona where the nicer resorts and hotels are. The Orchid is lovely and we%26#39;ve always enjoyed our stays there, but there are several fabulous places in that area to stay. If not, the Sheraton is a more mid range property. There are several condos available as well in the Kona area, but I think you are wanting a resort, right? You could stay 4 nights at one of the very nice resorts then drive over to the other side and stay in a B%26amp;B, visit Volcano National Park, and the other beautiful sites. If you do it this way, you could fly to Maui out of Hilo instead of driving back to Kona to save some drive time, but remember there will most likely be a drop off charge for your rental car if you pick it up at the Kona airport and drop it off in Hilo.

We would love to spend less if we can! Plane tix for us from Wisconsin right now are about $900 pp.

OMG, I didn%26#39;t know you haven%26#39;t got your plane tickets yet. Eeeekkkk...this might get ugly.

With respect to pricing, have you tried a travel agent and asked for a generally more mid-priced deal?

I think your budget is very nice and should allow for comfort. Might I also suggest you check out Mauna Lani Bay Hotel - no I haven%26#39;t stayed there, but it gets great reviews all over the place. Top that off with their reservation/specials page they are offering a 25th anniversary sale - 25% off for this year! It looks positively delicious to us and we are going for our 30th honeymoon.

Conratulations and have fun

Congratulations, and I don%26#39;t know that I%26#39;d spend a few nights on the wet side; they might really be WET. I%26#39;d go for 5 and 2, I think. The Volcano lodging will be less expensive. I%26#39;d do the math and figure out your actual nightly budget for the west side rooms ...

sorry, I have enough trouble sorting my own budget without pricing trips out for others, you will need to pick a number for the Kohala area (Kailua-Kona is not that romantic), and then see what fits.

I think your trip is going to coincide with Spring Break vacations which seem spread out through March these days, which means the family appealing hotels will be full up with kids ... for that reason I%26#39;d probably skip the Marriott, the Hilton, and the Sheraton (which is in Kailua-Kona). If Mauna Lani is too high or the Orchid, I%26#39;d look for a deal at Hapuna Prince.

If you want a condo for 5 days, there are many fine choices, but you are awfully close to the date, you%26#39;d better move fast!

The Marriot gets dumped on because it%26#39;s an entirely mediocre hotel, even for a Marriot, on an island with some really great hotels. It certainly isn%26#39;t the way to start out a honeymoon!

So from what I gather you%26#39;re planning to spend about $5,000 for 13 nights of lodging. You%26#39;re staying in Maui for 6 nights, spending what, about $2000 of that? That leaves you with $3000 for seven nights, or about $350 per night before taxes.

I%26#39;d go with the Mauna Lani. It%26#39;s perfectly located to do day trips to the %26#39;wet side%26#39; (no need to stay over there), has a beautiful little quiet beach on the property, nice swimming, great walks on the ocean and among the fish poinds, and is all around a very nice hotel in the price range.

I would only stay at one property, there%26#39;s no reason to move around if you only are here a week. But you could spend a night or two down in Volcano if you wanted.

PlayaGirl,

First once you are married, are you going to change your screen name?

Second, Book AIR NOW. ASAP, get Farecast and see what it says, but most likely it will only get more expensive. Decide, book and then work on lodging and rental car. Do NOT delay any longer.

Good luck and happy travels!

Thank you! We actually were laughing about the screen name comment. It%26#39;s ';playa,'; meaning ';beach'; in Spanish, not ';playa';, as in ';I%26#39;m such a playa.'; I bet a lot of people think my screen name means I%26#39;m a player/';playa';.

Latest itinerary includes the Mauna Lani...we%26#39;re really excited. HOpe to book tomorrow. Still just deciding if we can save $$ anywhere by cutting any corners (not cutting the Mauna Lani).

natural beauty tips

girl myspace

Weather in Hawaii

We will be on a ship at the end of February. We have heard the seas have been rough. Does anyone have an idea on what we can expect the weather to be like at this time? Are the recent rough seas unusual?

Weather in Hawaii

You are on a ship cruising hawaiian waters in the winter time.

This is the begining week of feb, and you are interested in what the weather will be like at the end of feb. And what the sea conditions will be.

You might monitor the NWS, but they are not going to be able to accuratly predict the ocean conditions three weeks down the road. They can take a wild guess.

Figure fairly good accuracy maybe three days ahead of time. They can look at their models, and give a prediction, and hope that the dynamics of the weather do not decide to change.

I would say that our current winter conditions are pretty much normal. Last year we were in a drought condition....no so this year.

Actually today and yesterday brought sunshine to the south shore. Might even be nice up north ,not sure, and our Kauai weather is supposed to improve for the next few days.

Denny

Weather in Hawaii

Yep. this is usual winter weather. There%26#39;s a reason the north shore of Oahu is ground zero for the mega surfing competitions.

No way to know just how it will be in 2 weeks. Today was beautiful weatherwise, but the weatherman predicted 10-15 ft waves on the north shore for today. It%26#39;s pretty flat on the east side right now.

Just got back from a cruise, the water was very choppy (we could feel it even on a large ship) but the last few days of our trip it got much better. Most of the time the deck was very unrelaxing because it was so windy.One of the days we could not even port in Hilo because of the choppiness. But on the islands itself the weather is really nice, even when it rains it is only for a little while, nothing to ruin an activity. The ocean water was a little colder than we thought it was going to be but it was easy to get used to.

Use this NWS website to keep up to date with weather and water conditions:

www.nws.noaa.gov/climate/index.php?wfo=hnl

US Airways

Has anyone ever flown US Airways from the East Coast? We got the best price of about $200 per person cheaper flying this airlines vs American/United/Delta, etc.

Any advise will be appreciated. Just wondering why they are so much cheaper.

US Airways

I have no idea why they are cheaper, but sounds like a good thing. How much are tickets? What time of year are you thinking of going? Hope it works out for you.

US Airways

price including taxes is $687 from Baltimore; other airlines are over $800 and not sure why this is.

We are going Thanksgiving 11/27 to 12/11 and doing multi-destination BWI-Oahu and then Maui to BWI.

Last time we flew in Sept and got a price of $575 per person doing the same multiflight only on American Airlines which now is showing $958 per ticket. Can%26#39;t figure out why the difference in prices between airlines and wanted to be sure US Airlines is worth flying on (they leave 12 midnight to come home so flight time is not good, that may be the reason).

Possibly the flight time is a factor. But it is a good price. I guess you have to take the good with the bad.

Having flown on US Air, I can say they are just as good/bad as any other airline and saving the $200 is definitely worth it.

We flew US Air last year and are flying them again this year. I have been watching prices for nine months or so and have never seen another airline beat their price. We had no problems with our flight last year. No delays, no lost luggage...I have no idea why there is such a price difference.

Pi'ilanihale Heiau??

Anyone been? Worth checking out? We%26#39;ll be in Hana two nights and already have a bunch of stuff planned but this looks pretty neat.

Saw it in the latest version of MR. I mainly bought it to see what kind of changes they%26#39;d made. They no longer recommend going to Blue Pool and guide you to get to Venus Pool via the stream bed. (Uh....no thanks) Olivine Pools still in there, although they do tell you that people can and HAVE been swept out to sea and died by getting too close to the edge.

Pi'ilanihale Heiau??

Without getting into another debate on the book. See this thread on the Heiau. We were just discussing it the other day ironically.

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60630-i845-k17229…

Pi'ilanihale Heiau??

JC, FYI, I wasn%26#39;t condoning MR, in fact I really only bought it to see what changes they had made. Now that I%26#39;m more ';in the know'; I realize their errors in misleading people to places they shouldn%26#39;t go. It does have some good information and maps though. If I DO take it I will put it in a book cover, think I will get one of the mile by mile books.

Thanks!

Outrigger Royal Kahana

Any feedback on this condo unit would be greatly appreciated.

Outrigger Royal Kahana

The search function is quite handy. This is a thread posted earlier today:

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g29220-i86-k172309…

Byob- Corkage fee in Maui???

Will be visiting Maui in 10 days, and spoiled here in California, where we can bring our own wine to restaurants. I don%26#39;t recall if you can do that in Maui. Don%26#39;t do it every night, but we have a couple special bottles for our Anniversary

Thanks

Winowoman

Byob- Corkage fee in Maui???

im pretty sure you can especially when you explain to the restaurant that its for a special occasion

how are you getting the wine to maui -- you cant carry it on the plane --- be very careful if you are packing it in your checked luggage

hair braiding

suite paradise/poipu kai resort

I stayed at this resort back in the early 90%26#39;s and

it was nice...I%26#39;m now returning to spend a romantic

10 days with my husband for our Anniversary, and

would like an ocean view condo close to the beach

without construction and kids...has this place been well

kept or do you have any other suggestions?? I would

like to stay around 200-225 a night. Am I dreaming

or is it possible to find something close to that price range that is exceptional??

suite paradise/poipu kai resort

Oh yes, Poipu Kai , especially if you get an ocean view will be just as wonderful as your original visit.

The Manualoha section has some great ocean views, and you might even be very near the pool over looking brennecks beach. Easy, easy short walk to brenneckes and poipu beach park.

They also have some very nice units in the poipu sands section overlooking shipwreck beach near the Hyatt.

The grounds are just as you remember them. Though we have not stayed there in a couple of years since moving here, we still walk thru the grounds every week or so.

actually we go to poipu beach park to bbq, but Erica makes sure we earn it. So, first a hike is in order.

We love the walk along the litified cliffs just past the hyatt, and we will walk from poipu along the heritage trail for the start, and return by walking thru poipu kai. Except for some new regency section buildings, you will get the same wonderful feeling as your first visit.

It is still very special to us, just strolling and remembering our stays there.

For up to date prices, you might want to seach,

suite-paradise.com. We used them for 12 years of visits at poipu kai.

Oh, the kids deal. You might think about the POIPU SANDS section overlooking SHIPWRECK. The manualoha section is near the semi-pivate pool, and brenneckes beach, which is a popular boogie boarding and body surfing beach.

In our many visits, just FYI, we were never inudated with kids at any of the sections of poipu kai. I know they must have been there, and we were there in the summmer, but never bothered.

Denny

suite paradise/poipu kai resort

Thanks for the info!!! Any other suggestions for the 10 days we are there in May? We would like to

do atleast one excursion. We%26#39;ve visited the fern

grotto once.....and have eaten at the Plantation

Gardens, The Beach House and Brenekke%26#39;s., but will

do some cooking in our condo for dinners. Any particular place to grocery shop for seafood or

steaks you could recommend? Thanks!!

natural beauty tips

Sugar Train

Hi, I have another question. We were thinking of taking the Sugar Train. I know you can take it just for the view and the ride, but there is a sunset one which ends in a buffet. Has anyone ever taken this tour and is it worth taking? Any reviews would be appreciated.

Alberta Travelbug

Sugar Train

This is excedingly boring. I%26#39;d skip it. Even toddlers are bored.

Sugar Train

I would much rather have you spend your money seeing some real sunset views at one of the Kaanapali or Lahaina restaurants facing the ocean. The view on the train is of the back fences of houses, very little ocean view.

Skip it.

You should skip this one/you%26#39;re money would be best spent somewhere else. My 12 year old was bored out of her skull.....

Kinda reminds me of Sanford and Son- rerun after re run after re run-a boring and pricey rip off-note the many bad TA reviews

I%26#39;m the opposite. I enjoyed it. The train does run through the hills of Kaanapali, but there are views of the ocean. It also runs through one golf course at Kaanapali. When it runs over the tall trestle, the engine blows it%26#39;s steam. The picture I took of it turned out great. I wouldn%26#39;t do this for the sunset and buffet, though. I%26#39;d rather have a 5:30pm reservation at The Hula Grill (Whalers Village), enjoy a great cocktail and dinner. Enjoy the train ride.

I second the reservation at either the Hula Grill or Leilani%26#39;s at 5:30. Much better ambiance.

The dinner train was discontinued in January. It was a lot of fun, the food was quite good, catered by the Sheraton. The musicians played on the train on the way to the paniolo-style bbq, and were joined by keiki dancers from a local halau to entertain you during dinner. But, it is no more.

Protecting your Kauai Photos - What do you do?

Hmmm... maybe you guys can help me.

I plan to bring my digital camera with me and hopefully an extra memory card because I will probably fill up the first one! :)

I%26#39;m really paranoid of something happening to my picutres on the camera or card before I get back (whether something gets deleted or lost etc...) but I don%26#39;t have a laptop to dump the photos onto or burn them to a disc.

So my question is how do I get the photos onto a disc while I%26#39;m on the island? Can I just go into Costco and hand them my memory card? Will they put the photos onto a disc for me? I have one of those smaller cards, like the XD ones I think.

I%26#39;m just trying to figure out a way to protect my photos before flying home - just incase!!!

What do you guys do?

Thanks!

Jen

Protecting your Kauai Photos - What do you do?

Aloha from Michigan

I would think you could go to Costco, Walmart, Kmart, or even Longs to do that.

Protecting your Kauai Photos - What do you do?

I%26#39;ve never lost a digital print while flying - ever. BUT - I%26#39;m like you, still paranoid of ';what if.';

Since I usually take thousands of photos at a time while on the islands, I back them up in two places (other than my laptop). One set I put on a digital flash drive and I burn another copy to DVD disk. The DVD is the ultimate backup in my honest opinion. If you had internet access, you could even upload them to a photo site like Webshots or Flickr.

I should read more closely - you said DON%26#39;T have a laptop.

In that case, I agree with the previous poster. That%26#39;s your best bet.

aloha jenp :)

I%26#39;m not a digital photographer ~ I%26#39;m a film girl and i%26#39;m just starting with digital. That being said, there is a WONDERFUL photo place in Lihue that does nothing by photo processing, as opposed to Walmart, Longs, and the like. It%26#39;s called ';Photo Spectrum'; and on my last visits to Photo Spectrum, there were the computer terminals and folks were there viewing their digital photos. I%26#39;m pretty sure you can also burn a cd from there.

Also, should you want to print any ~ PS has the BEST color processing as they really strive to get the best Kauai color matches. You pay a little more, but if you%26#39;re like me and treasure your photos, you might consider them over Walmart. I%26#39;ve never been able to get my stuff done at Walmart as they%26#39;ve been broken down, super crowded, etc. And the one time I did use Walmart (on the Big Island) the photos turned out brownish.

Photo Spectrum is in Lihue, close to the museum, and Hamurai Saiman Diner. 245-7667, 2987 Umi Street in Lihue. You can start there :)

jc

';thousands of photos';

good Lord!

If you are a COSTCO member, I would suggest downloading your photos there...when you get home, you can view them online and have them printed etc and mailed to you, or pickthem up at yr local Costco center...ALWAYS back up yr photos..and always have xtr memory card...Never use same memory in someone else%26#39;s camera...and make you format before use...

fyi..

Erica is quite particular about her photos.

She uses photo spectrum for all of her photographic needs. Putting the digitial pictures on disks or getting enlargements, etc.

She took one of her kalalau valley photos and had it put on convas and mounted like an oil painting, all done by photo spectrum. Impressive !

We have also used longs when first moving to the island, and I thought they were just fine. But, the expert with eyeballs....she can still see...now prefers to use photo spectrum. If the admiral is happy, I am happy.

Photo spectrum is on Umi street. Turn makai on Rice, and in maybe a minute or so, Umi will be on your right. Turn right and park on the right. Photo spectrum is next to kibo japanese resturant on the right.

The UKG will have Umi on their map.

Denny

Thanks guys!

As long as I can store them somehow, I%26#39;ll be happy!

Photo Spectrum sounds great! On canvas huh? Oh, how nice! Do they have a website? I wonder what the largest photo size they will do... I%26#39;d love to blow up a really nice shot (hopefully that I%26#39;ll take) to a poster size and get it plaqued! :)

I%26#39;m sooo excited! 9 weeks seems so far away right now!

Take care,

Jen

jcwander: Thanks for Photo Spectrum.

I still do film with some digital. Nice to know about Photo Spectrum. I have mailed film to www.adorama.com and www.mpix.com, both of which are high quality (an reasonably-priced) processors. Although they do fantastic work (photos, enlargements, canvas, coffee cups,etc.), it is always scary to drop unprocessed film in the mail.

Would echo what others have said. Costco, Walmart, et al are ok if you aren%26#39;t picky. But if you are using a high quality camera system, why lose the quality with a budget processor?

Rocky ~

%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;jcwander: Thanks for Photo Spectrum. I still do film with some digital. Nice to know about Photo Spectrum. %26lt;%26lt;%26lt;

you%26#39;re welcome! I%26#39;m glad I found them. They do a great job, and strive to be one-hour, but usually the same day.

Another nice feature they have ~ they used to have drop off and pick up at major resorts. I know for sure they did the Marriott in Lihue when I stayed there. Drop off in the morning in the Sundries shop, and they%26#39;d have my prints back to me in the evening. I was free during the day to do whatever and didn%26#39;t have to plan visits to Photo Sepctrum or Walmart.

%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;Would echo what others have said. Costco, Walmart, et al are ok if you aren%26#39;t picky. But if you are using a high quality camera system, why lose the quality with a budget processor?%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;

EXACTLY! You get what you pay for! I have had my film processed there, plus purchased a cd of my prints. I%26#39;ve mailed PRINTS home, and carried all negs/cd%26#39;s with me. As people from other travel communities know, I am obsessive about my film.

And the Photo Spectrum people really do a good job. None of this ';batch'; mentality ~

I hope you use them, and like them :)

jc

June Honeymoon

Looking to relax on the islands of Kauai, IOH and/or Maui. Being in June, we are looking to avoid family hotspots and focus on hotels that focus on couples. No kids menus, no kids clubs, etc. This is hard to find in Hawaii, since the same places that have family packages also push their ';romantic getaways.'; How are those two supposed to coincide with one another? It%26#39;s like a bad episode of the Odd Couple. We would also like to avoid a huge place that caters to business conventions. This is a honeymoon, not a free corporate reward trip. Any constructive ideas would be welcome.

June Honeymoon

I have been to both Maui and Kauai and I think Maui is a better honeymoon spot. If you like hiking and plan on doing a lot of daytrips then Kauai is for you. If you just want to lie on the beach and do nothing, Maui is the place. We stayed at the Ritz Carlton and it was amazing. The food, service, beach and pool. We did not run in to many kids there at all, but then again it was September when we went.

June Honeymoon

Check out Hotel Hana-Maui. It is very remote but very couple oriented. I would split my stay between there and a bed and breakfast like Hooilo House on the other side of the island for a well rounded visit. If you decide on Kauai - stay up north in June. There are lots of gorgeous condos up north (such as Puu Poa) as well as the Princeville Resort. The Princeville may be undergoing some renovations then, so you might want to check on that. Have fun!

Goodness! - i just realized the original post was from 2005 - good grief!

Marriott Ko Olina New Pool with Slide?

Hi

We are staying at the Marriott, Ko Olina beach club in June. I have heard that the existing pool gets really crowded, but that they were in the process of building a new family pool with a SLIDE. Is this pool completed, and is there a slide? is the slide for adults, too, or is it just a %26#39;kiddie%26#39; small slide?

thanks for any info

Marriott Ko Olina New Pool with Slide?

Have you even thought about contacting the Marriott and asking them? Chuck...

Marriott Ko Olina New Pool with Slide?

I have posted a similar question. There is definately a new pool with swim up bar and slide in Phase 3 bldg, just don%26#39;t know completion date. I called the hotel today, and no one seemed to know. I%26#39;ll try again, and hopefully get someone who knows what they%26#39;re doing.

I stayed there this past Xmas break and it was at capacity...pools were not overcrowded. Always got a chair when and where I wanted...(see my review).

cs files

Where to stay in Oahu ~ Help!!

Hey Guys,

I posted earlier about my apprehension regarding the condo I booked in Makaha before I realized that it wasn%26#39;t the ideal location.

Now it looks like I might be able to get out of that rental as the owner made a mistake and double booked our last night.

So I am now looking for a condo for my husband and I to stay in for the first 5 nights of our vacation 2/23-2/28. We are satying in Waikiki fo rhte second half so we want to stay somewhere a bit out of town. We are in our mid 20%26#39;s and are renting a car to explore the island. We would like to be close to a town/restaurant/bar area.

Any Suggestions? We need to let the condo owner ASAP of we want out so any suggestions would be very appreciated.

Thanks in Advance!!

Jen

Where to stay in Oahu ~ Help!!

Try Kailua and the VRBO site.

I haven%26#39;t done VRBO, but we love the windward side of the island.

Where to stay in Oahu ~ Help!!

Jen,

I agree with the last post. Kaiua is a fabulous area and I have seen plenty of rentals for that area on VRBO.

I agree with the Kailua comments. It is beautiful and one of the best parts of the island. Also beautiful (but not too far from Honolulu so i don%26#39;t know if it counts as out of the city) is Hawaii Kai. It is just around the corner from Hanauma Bay and close to amazing beaches as well.

I agree with the Kailua comments. It is beautiful and one of the best parts of the island. Also beautiful (but not too far from Honolulu so i don%26#39;t know if it counts as out of the city) is Hawaii Kai. It is just around the corner from Hanauma Bay and close to amazing beaches as well.

Kailua/Lanikai or North Shore.

I highly recommend Marriott%26#39;s Ko Olina Beach Club. (see my review). Not too far. Only 18 miles to Waikiki.Feels like Maui there. Beautiful lagoons, luxury accomodations, great heated pools,etc.

Kailua is great, but can be very expensive. You could also try Haleiwa on the North Shore. There are lots of rentals and the town is cute. We love both places.

Ferry from Maui to Oahu

Hi,

I know there is a ferry that is going from Maui to Oahu but how far is from where ferry is at to Pearl Harbor?? do I need to have a car to get there? thanks

Amanda

Ferry from Maui to Oahu

You%26#39;ll need a car to get to Pearl Harbor unless you can find a tour that will pick you up at the pier. You should know that the ferry has been somewhat unreliable. They tend to cancel trips due to rough seas, and if you%26#39;re scheduled for one of those you%26#39;re out of luck.

Ferry from Maui to Oahu

You are much better off taking a flight from Maui to Oahu.

Many of the car rental agencies are at the airport or close by. None are at the Superferry landing.

Superferry has canceled many of its scheduled trips the past month. Those that were not canceled only had about 1/3 of its anticipated passengers.

Don%26#39;t count on it to be running on any date. Don%26#39;t count on it to be in Hawaii very long.

You do not need a car to get from airport to USS Arizona Memorial parking lot. The city bus only takes about 10 minutes. A cab is about $10. Or you can rent a car %26amp; see much of Oahu in a day.

The Bus route #20 goes from right in front of the Nimitz Highway frontage at the Ferry Terminal pier to the Arizona Memorial....

For the terminal location see:

hawaiisuperferry.com/travel-information/…

For the bus route see:

www.thebus.org/Route/Maps/rm8-19-20.pdf

You will have to cross Nimitz (a divided roadway with buildings between the two one-way sections) to reach a stop on the West/Ewa bound lanes towards Pearl Harbor.

According to the bus schedule, the trip should take about 30 to 40 minutes.

The biggest obstacle will be to make it to the memorial in time following landing; it closes at 5 PM. The Maui-Oahu run is scheduled to make port at 2:15, so figure at the verrrrry best you could make it to the memorial sometime after three or so.

If the arrival is delayed at all, it could be quite close or allow nominal time to pay your respects.

Plus, one never knows how crowded the memorial will be on any day. Sometimes they fill all the tour spaces for an afternoon long before when you would be arriving; so there is some (though minimal) risk of disappointment even if you can get there on time.

Thank you all for the helpful information

Amanda

I would also like to point out that there are no return ferry trip from Oahu to Maui on that same day. Morning ferry from Oahu to Maui, then afternoon Maui to Oahu.

Check out the superferry schedule on their website.

I agree with dusy and yung. Take a flight for guaranteed travel. Plus it makes for a much shorter trip.

Absolutely, take a flight, I read a story in the Honolulu Newspaper last week,about the Ferry being very unreliable,besides, the air fare is so cheap. You can take the Bus to Pearl Harbor,it is easy, cheap.

Even more Superferry trips canceled February 13 to March 2:

http://kgmb9.com/main/content/view/3992/76/

natural beauty tips

Help re Car Rental

Hi Folks - Irish guy here heading to waikiki in March for 10 days. The place i rented has free parking. I am reluctant to rent car at airport after such a long flight (26 hours) but I would like to rent a car in Waikiki and return to airport. My flight back home leaves at 7am so i need to check in and return car by 5am.

I am getting huge variances in price from 181 dollars for 10 days (including taxes) but insurance is then 17 dollars a day extra. Other companies include full insurance for about 300 dollars.

Anyone any suggestions. Thanks

Help re Car Rental

Well - first, you may want to return your car on Waikiki and take a cab to the airport. Save you the trouble so early in the morning.

Yes, the prices vary greatly - day-to-day, company- by-company and model-by-model. As we would say here in the States, ';it%26#39;s a turkey shoot!'; You could save money through various association or package discounts. Also, taxes and insurances are added on. The insurance you can wave ... but being from out of the country ... I%26#39;d take it. If you had an accident, settling with a non-US company could be a real hassle.

That being said -- you probably won%26#39;t need or want a car every day. You could just rent for the days you want to use it.

_

Help re Car Rental

That sounds like a deal! Getting out of Waikiki is a must, at least for a few day trips (Pearl Harbor, the eastern shore, the north shore, etc. etc.) Just make sure that the car rental agency will take your car that early in the morning AND you can get from the lot to the airport (so their shuttle has to be running that early, too). One or two car rental companies have ';difficult'; hours and you don%26#39;t want to find that out too late (I think Enterprise and one other). ENJOY!

hi

if it was me i would rent the car in waikiki and return it the day before you leave.that way you don%26#39;t have to pay the extra fee to drop off at airport.you can take taxi or get the shuttle back to airport in the morning.the shuttle was only 9.00 to airport when we used it or if you get the shuttle to waikiki when you arrive you can get roundtrip for 15.00.

aloha marie

Thanks for all the responses folks. Well I rented car from day after I arrive - after 26 hours i dont want to drive - and I can leave it back at airport. This suits better because I need to check in at 5am to come home and wasnt sure about cabs at that hour. I got a good deal from a broker here in ireland. 220 euros + a 25 dollar local charge to leave it back at airport.

please don't laugh

I live in scotland we don%26#39;t have valet parking over here.so how does it work .do i drive up to the front of the hotel%26#39; and if the valet takes my keys and goes park my car do i have to stand and wait till he comes back to get my keys back.and how much should i give the guy..please explain how it works..thanks..brian

please don't laugh

Aloha, Where are you staying?

please don't laugh

hI AA we are staying st the mauna lani hotel and i am going to the fourseasons hotel for dinner so i want to know what is the right thing to do ..

Mauna Lani offer both valet and self parking. When you arrive you will be tired so let them park your car for you, they will bring the keys to the desk where you are checking in. I normally tip when they bring me back the car. After that you can continue to valet park or self park, which ever makes you comfortable.

We went to the Four Seasons for dinner. You can park yourself. The parking is just before you get to valet parking. We actually went around the circular drive way where valet is, just turned around and went into the parking lot. You can%26#39;t miss it. Personally, I don%26#39;t like valet, seems like something rich people do because they are too lazy to walk. lol

No laughing ... good question.

I separate the car key from any other keys--but with a rental it%26#39;s probably just the car key on the ring anyway. Give the valet the keys and he%26#39;ll give you your claim tag ... and you head off to check in.

When you go to get your car, the keys will be at the desk and given to the attendant who brings your car round, and yes, that is when you tip, unfair as it might seem to the original guy who parked your car. (Maybe they pool the tips, I don%26#39;t know.)

At the Mauna Lani, it%26#39;s a very short walk from guest parking to the entrance, so I suggest that after your original check-in, when you have luggage, you may want to save the tip money and self-park until you approach the end of your stay. Or not, depending on how much you want to be pampered.

At the Hilton, it%26#39;s entirely different, quite the trek from the parking lot. The Hilton charges for valet, as I recall, PLUS the tip.

Valet parking is also nice to do if you visit Hapuna Prince, as they have a big dark parking structure for self park that lets you out into a side wing of the hotel rather than near the lobby and restaurants.

We also use valet parking if we eat dinner at the Fairmont Orchid.

Hapuna, Mauna Lani, and Fairmont are class acts that don%26#39;t charge patrons for valet parking. The tip is the only cost. We usually tip $5 per pickup, but perhaps we are out of touch. Anyone tip more than that? Am I a appearing to be a tightwad because I don%26#39;t know the going tip rate?

Brian288,

Not sure you got an answer to your question, so I thought I would clarify.

No you do not wait for your keys. They will tag your keys and keep them while the car is parked. To valet park follow the signs, usually to a circular entry or covered car port area. There usually is a desk or podium that the valet attendants use. The attendant will usually come to your car (unless the area is busy) quickly and open your door(s). In Hawaii the normal uniform for most valet attendants consists of a name tag, either an Aloha shirt or polo shirt, and either khaki shorts or pants.

To retrieve your car, you may call ahead from your room or present your half of the ticket at the valet desk. If you are staying multiple nights, do not remove the tag from your keys, just leave it on there and keep your stub.

You should always tip valet attendants. One or two dollars is sufficient.

Valet is useful in instances where you have lots of luggage, perishable food, or a spouse with heels etc. These instances use of valet reduces the time and distance one has to walk.

Most places in Hawaii also offer self park. This usually is cheaper than valet. Every hotel has their own rules regarding parking, I strongly suggest contacting yours to not be surprised by a per night parking charge, even for self park.

Good luck and happy travels!

re the rich person comment ...

well, we are not rich and not terribly lazy, but in my experience the staff at a four star hotel expects you to valet park when you arrive and it is a mark of cheapness to arrive at the entry with your luggage in tow from the self park. Second mark of cheapness, to insist on taking your own bags up so you don%26#39;t have to tip.

It is part of their service to pamper you as a guest and make you feel special, and the young men working there are usually local boys who live on that tip money, so it%26#39;s a way to support the local economy.

As for valet parking to go to a good dinner, we do so because to be frank, living on the island, we rarely wear our dress footwear, and are so used to wearing slippers (flipflops), that I start hobbling pretty quickly in my ';dinner shoes';! They are just not made for walking far.

ah, I see in the meantime echolynch provided the perfect reply, all the details, AND he knows about the high heels dilemma. ;-)

Not that I wear high heels any more.

KK mentioned it but I neglected to - the tip goes to the person who gets your car OUT of Valet when retrieving it.

Most hotels charge you for the parking anyway nowadays so you might as well just use the valet. They will keep your car keys and will not give it to Front Desk. If you decide to park on your own after the valet on the first day you just keep the keys. Tip when they retrieve your car. The tip is pooled by the attendants.

Superferry cancels yet more trips

They%26#39;ll stop running Feb 13 and resume March 2. Cancellation is for maintenance that they claim is just annual maintenance done early.

http://kgmb9.com/main/content/view/3992/76/

Superferry cancels yet more trips

nothing to do with the high surf advisories, i suppose.

blond hair

Ali'i Luau package vs. Admission/Evening show at PCC

I was just looking at the package prices for PCC...it would cost an extra $74 for the most basic package for our family if we chose that over just the admission/evening show price. Seems like quite a bit for a buffet and ';preferred'; seating, especially since we don%26#39;t really like buffets. So, I%26#39;m looking for opinions on this. We are a family of four, with 2 kids, ages 8 and 6. We could just go to the ';snack bar'; onsite and get our dinner, but not sure what that would cost. The kids are light eaters.

Whattya think? TIA!

Mel

Ali'i Luau package vs. Admission/Evening show at PCC

I%26#39;ve been debating that, too. I think we%26#39;ll go for the Ali%26#39;i simply to have the whole experience. It%26#39;s doubtful that my family will go for any traditional or different foods while on vacation, but this will give them an opportunity to try. It is quite a price difference but may be worth it.

Ali'i Luau package vs. Admission/Evening show at PCC

If you choose to go cheap there%26#39;s a McDonald%26#39;s just outside the gate. We ate there before going into PCC.

We did the luau and enjoyed it, however, I can understand your concern with little ones. You will all enjoy the night show.

Only you can decide if it is worth the additional cost.

The new prices are $83 ($59 kids) for the Ali%26#39;i Luau package or $58 ($47 kids) for admission/evening show package.

You%26#39;re right it comes out to be $74 more for your family.

Snacks will probably cost around $10 each, so your total savings will probably only be $34.

You can save $40 with an Entertainment Book coupon regardless which package you choose.

The seats for %26#39;Horizons%26#39; are better if you get the Ali%26#39;i Luau package. But, even the seats for the other package are OK.

I think I would opt for the Ali%26#39;i Luau package, because of the better seats fro %26#39;Horizons%26#39;.

They also have an optional buffet for about $15 each (maybe a little less for kids). No entertainment with that buffet, but it is better food than that at the Ali%26#39;i Luau. But you%26#39;re stuck with the cheap seats for %26#39;Horizons%26#39; with this option. And you wouldn%26#39;t save that much with this option either.

If you can swing it, I would definitely recommend booking a package that has a guide (such as any of the ambassador packages). I really think you get a lot more out of the day and the villages if you have a guide to explain and give additional information about the various villages and the cultures they represent. You can ask lots of questions and they will also make sure you get to the demonstrations at the right time. Otherwise, you may be wandering around and missing out on a lot.

My husband and I did the ambassador prime rib package this past October and felt it was worth every penny. We added on the transportation from our hotel as well. The bus picked us up at about 10:15 that morning and we returned about 10:30 that night. The guide on the bus gave us lots of information and funny anecdotes about what we were seeing along the way. I know you are a family of four and your costs will be higher, but in my opinion the PCC was a highlight of our trip and we wouldn%26#39;t have had the same experience without a guide.

Aloha!

I wanted to add that the reason we did the ambassador prime rib dinner rather than the luau is because we already had a great luau at our hotel. If not, we would have opted for the ambassador luau.

Have fun!

We have had the Ambassador Prime Rib package both times that we have been to the PCC. I think the food is good and it%26#39;s a relaxing, peaceful, cool place to sit. If you go, see if they will seat you in the raised portion in the middle of the restaurant. You have a nice view and the tables seem more spread out to me.

I haven%26#39;t done the Luau, but I%26#39;ve heard it is very hectic and has lines for food. You see so many shows during the day, that it%26#39;s nice to have a break while eating, in my opinion. Going into the parking lot to McDonalds would not be a choice I%26#39;d make.

We eat and then browse our way to the show while shopping in the stores. That way we can think about what to buy on the way out. You do not need to get to the show more than a couple minutes before it starts.

Take your time leaving unless you want to sit in the parking lot. Twenty to thirty minutes is enough time.

I love having a guide to take us around. You get a good, optimal place to sit at the various shows and you don%26#39;t have to think of the timing. Especially for your first time, I would get the tour. Have fun!

We did the Ambassador Prime Rib pkg in Oct. The food was better than I expected. Our seats for the Horizons show were phenomenal! We were 2nd row, smack dab in the middle. We do not regret getting that pkg. Since our trip was in Oct., I purchased my Entertainment Book in August for about $10 or so. As far as the guide goes, that is the luck of the draw. Our guide was just so-so. For some reason we were always the last group to get to the shows. Sometimes we had to stand in the back. Thankfully, our tickets included general admission for 3 days after, and we were able to take advantage of that to see what we missed.

So is the price worth it? To us it was. We were on vacation plus it was only the two of us.

Would we have chosen the same package if it was the 4 of us, I%26#39;m not sure.

So happy to read the last few posts because we have booked the Prime Rib package (with transportation), too. My husband is a big beef lover and since this whole trip is for me (just a little bit of golf for him!) I thought he might like something familiar.

However!! If we were bringing the kids, I%26#39;m sure I would have gone for the cheapest luau available figuring there HAS to be something in a buffet they would eat and knowing they wouldn%26#39;t eat enough to warrant an expensive meal. I would also seriously consider good old Mickey D. outside the gate. I would definitely let them spend the day touring all the villages as kids the age of yours are best when they are active! I%26#39;m also sure they will love the Horizons show with all the dancing, colors and action. Lucky kids to be going to Hawaii!!

We don't want to snorkel - Hanauma Bay still worth visiting?

Travelling in June with my partner (who can%26#39;t swim!!)

I don%26#39;t want to be unfair on him and jump into the water without him.

Is Hanauma Bay still worth visiting in this situation?

We don't want to snorkel - Hanauma Bay still worth visiting?

If you have the time and do not mind spending time at Hanauma Bay you may find it worth your while. I assume you will be staying near or in Waikiki.

Hanauma Bay is very different from Waikiki. You go down to the H Bay from quite a height. It is an old (ancient) sunken volcano.

You will have to view an educational video of H Bay to know what to do and not to do, this is really for people who will be swimming there, but I am sure you will have to view it whether you swim or not. (I think...) I guess you can ask if you can skip it but it is educational and not long.

H Bay is well, a bay, a bay with a very large coral formation. This coral formation is a haven for fish so that is why people love snorkeling there. But because of this coral formation the water is very calm near the beach so it would be good for your non-swimming partner to get his feet wet. The view, the natural formation of the bay is unique and I think its worth going to see. If you have a car you can drive further east to the Halona Blowhole and there are several scenic points where the view is quite amazing. If you drive to Makapuu beach park you will get a great view of the lighthouse and Rabbit Island. The island looks like a head of a rabbit. The waves at Makapuu are really strong, not near as strong as the North Shore. Its a popular boogie boarding beach.

If you are interested in beautiful scenic views, then it will be worth your while.

But H Bay may be more than 30 minutes from Waikiki. If you are taking the Bus it will probably be twice that so it will depend on if you want to spend that time.

If you want to get away from Waikiki and explore it could be a fun trip.

We don't want to snorkel - Hanauma Bay still worth visiting?

Surely your partner could relax on the beach while you go in for a while? If that is not likely, then I%26#39;d say not to go because you will be frustrated.

He can walk out (on the sandy bottom) on the water and still can see fish even if he does not swim. Actually if he can float, he can float near shore and see plenty of fish. Stay at the middle of the bay and don%26#39;t venture too far out, he should be fine.

Otherwise it might not be worth going down to the beach area, but the lookout on top is very scenic and worth a stop for photo.

I would still go, it is a beautiful place even if you just lie on the beach and take in the scenery. The day we were there, don%26#39;t know if it was low tide or something, you could just walk out in the sandy areas, (DON%26#39;T WALK ON THE CORAL!) and stick you head in the water and see a ton of fish, you would not have had to swim or even float to get in some great snorkeling.

Watching the educational video is required even if you don%26#39;t plan on getting in the water. The only way to skip it is if you%26#39;ve seen it in the past year and signed the log book so they can verify it the next time you visit. Its short though - only about 5 minutes and it is interesting.

If you are driving or taking a bus around the island, make it one of your stops. Beautiful.

Because most of Hanauma Bay is shallow, you don%26#39;t need to know how to swim to snorkel there or to go in the water if you don%26#39;t snorkel.

So it is worth visiting.

As others mentioned, you will have to pay the $5 %26amp; watch the video. Plus $1 for parking.

Or if you are driving %26amp; just want to see what the bay looks like, you can stay above at the lookouts %26amp; won%26#39;t have to pay the $5 or see the video. It will still be $1 for parking but you will get that back if you leave within 15 minutes.

No....and even if you wanted to snorkel its not......

This poor littel bay was protected about 20 years too late and is a good example of a bay killed off by massive overuse..... Stick to the beach in Honolulu

Hawaiidan -- Why don%26#39;t they close it for a few years? Or only open it for a couple days a week with reservations? It%26#39;s being loved to death.

Last time I was there, I didn%26#39;t snorkel, but my cousin did.

I still enjoyed laying out in the sun (especially since I%26#39;d just arrived from snowy Canada) and it really is a beautiful area. I also like it because part of Blue Hawaii was filmed there. It is cool to share the same beach as Elvis did.

It is quite a shame that more isn%26#39;t done to protect the area. I think it should be closed 3 times a week, and have a limit on the amount of people.

I went snorkelling in Xel-Ha in Mexico, and they required that all sunscreen be biodegradable, whereas that wasn%26#39;t a requirement at Hanauma Bay. I think its a really shame, and a bit surprising that Mexico is more environmentally responsible than the US (in that aspect, anyways).

Six hours enough to see anything?

I am thinking of stopping in Hilo en route to HNL, coming from Maui. We could arrive at Hilo at 9:30 a.m., rent a car, drive to the Park then return to the airport to fly to HNL. Is it worth it, or should I just go to HNL and see the Park another time.

We could take a flight to HNL from Hilo at 5, 6, 7, or 8 PM.

Six hours enough to see anything?

Rushing anything in Hawaii is not worth it..in my opinon...by time you rent the car, it will be time to return it...Start planning your next trip for next year!

Six hours enough to see anything?

If you ever plan to return I would wait for another day, but you could get to the park and do the Crater Rim Drive. It%26#39;s about 2 hours with stops for looking around and walking through the Thurston Lava Tube.

I recently rushed through (because of winter wind %26amp; rain) and made it around the rim and Chain of Crater Road all the way to the Sea Arch in less than 4 hours... but I was fresh and not fried from a flight from the mainland and nowhere to go afterwards.

Do not expect to see flowing lava unless you take a copter. Aloha

Thanks for the replies. We would not be flying in from the Mainland. We would be leaving Maui after four nights there. But if there is no view of the lava flow, without helicopter, perhaps I will plan more time next trip.

In case anyone down the road is looking for the same information, I wanted to add my solution. Reading reviews on Trip Advisor, there were rave reviews for Vavoom Volcano Tours, with Lori the tour guide. Its listed as the number one activity out of Hilo. (808)966-8858.

I was able to extend our stopover on the Big Island making it a nine hour stop over instead. My wife and I are excited to be taking the six hour (full day) tour to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Last trip to Hawaii, we did something similar in Oahu, taking the Kos Hummer tour. We get a great sample of the island by these tours, and there%26#39;s a better sense of what to expect on future trips.

I agree with JBR, if you decide to take a tour, Vavoom Volcano Tours, with Lori the tour guide is a very good option. It%26#39;s a reputable company, licensed and insured. Lori sometimes takes local business people on a free tour just to introduce her company to others.

We just did a day trip from Maui to Hilo to see the Volcano. We had a total of 8 hours from arriving in Hilo to the time our flight left back to Maui. The Volcano park is nice, but without any evidence of flowing lava it was only OK. Last time we visited the park back in 1993 there was lava flowing into the ocean and it was a cool trip. This time we went with our kids to see the volcano and I have to say it wasn%26#39;t worth the effort or money. We spent about 3 hours exploring the park, then went to lunch in Volcano Village, took a quick drive to Rainbow Falls and a quick spin around Hilo and were back at the airport in plenty of time.

It%26#39;s not a terrible idea if the airfare isn%26#39;t much and you get a decent rental price, or if money isn%26#39;t an issue.

I assume the 9:30 is the nonstop from Maui, and that%26#39;s why you%26#39;re taking it (as most other flights would take you to HNL en route to Hilo from Maui).

6 hours -- are you counting the 60-90 minutes of airport time?

';Worth it'; is impossible to say from the little we know of you. It%26#39;s very individual how much you%26#39;ll enjoy the park, driving the Crater Rim and maybe Thurston tube. It will be a sight you can%26#39;t see elsewhere in the state.

Hilo airport is mellow, and the drive from the airport is not bad.

OTOH there%26#39;s no doubt you%26#39;ll have less vacation time on that day due to adding an airport in and out onto the trip.

natural beauty tips

Trip Report Jan 2008 Maui

ok, we are back.

arrived in OGG on Friday night at about 11:30 PM, picked up our minivan and drove an hour or so to our hotel (Westin)

Checked in and went straight to bed.

Woke up the first morning and had a lovely brunch poolside and then walked around the hotel to check out all five pools, the beach etc... (My I interject to tell you we came home to minus 40 and a flat tire!!!!) well, we decided instead of driving up the mountain to see the crater, and just hung out at the amazing pool instead. We went to the room, got freshened up and went to whalers village to shop for a couple hours. Headed back to the room, bought tix to the luau at the Hyatt.

The walk back home down the beach after a few cocktails was super fun :)

as we were at our hotel, my friend stopped for a cigarette and we ended up chatting to a couple of people, we all decided to walk down the beach and have a drink and pizza at a place in the sand (Anyone help me with the name of this place?) the pizza was FANTASTIC!

went back to the hotel and to bed, woke up the next morning, packed up, had brunch, hung out at the pool and checked out, drove out to the Haleakala crater, oh my... what a windy road! drove to the ranger station where they told us there was no visibility... argh!

Well, we got some beautiful pics under the cloud cover on the way down. went to dinner at Outback and drove our friends to the airport then headed back to Lahaina - by whalers village - where the Westin was... and checked into our B%26amp;B.

dinner is ready, more later...

Trip Report Jan 2008 Maui

we got to our B%26amp;B around 8:45 PM and we were TIRED... went almost straight to bed... woke up at 5:45 AM and decided we wanted to go outside to watch the sunrise... went upstairs to get the car and realized two of our hosts were up and around, asked where we could drive to to see a great sunrise... they laughed at us.... I said, I expect your laughing means we are not on the right side of the island to see a sunrise? they said, NO, so, we headed outside to the pool area and watched the sky get light... sounds of the birds chirping and seeing the sky light up was nice (Not a sunrise, but, nice)

hostess was a bit gruff in the AM... we went to whalers village to shop a bit more... came back and packed up, showered and headed off towards the airport, with stops along the way.

Trip Report Jan 2008 Maui

Hey, glad you ladies made it and hopefully things went well. Maybe you can plan a trip when you can spend more time.

Place in the sand would be the Hula Grill. Great views from there as well don%26#39;t you think...and prime people watching spot. I can%26#39;t believe you went for such a short time, you must have needed a holiday when you got back! I%26#39;m sure you were inspired to go for much longer next time.

thanks for the name of that place, that was totally it.

Yes, I want to go for a longer amount of time next time. We are still catching up on laundry, housework and sleep and I am happy the weekend is here :)

I would like to go to Honolulu next time just so I can see another island, although I understand it is quite a bit like a city more so than tropical. Hope I explained that well.

Premade Meal Preparation company?

Hi Everyone,

When we went to Maui 2 years ago, I found a company like we have here in Seattle, that you can pick meals off of a menu, and they will make up for you to take home and bake, (or you can go in and make them yourself) It was great! I can%26#39;t remember the name of the company we used on Maui, here in Washington it%26#39;s called Dinner%26#39;s Ready, or we also have Meals U Make.

Anyone know of something like this on the big Island? we%26#39;d love to do that again, saved a lot on groceries and with having a condo we could store all the premade meals in the fridge and cook which we felt like for dinner.

Thanks for any help anyone can provide.

Kris

Premade Meal Preparation company?

Blue Sky Cafe 808.327.4388

Premade Meal Preparation company?

there ar a lot of places from outback to pizza palces, and many grocery strores...and costco.

However, owing to the sheer size of this place ( 5times larger than maui....it is not economical for a delivery service other than Pizzas in Kona...

There are several professional chefs that will come to your home and cook, I think they do stuff for about $35 a person..min 6 persons or $75 an hour...food extra. but they clean up....

HD, can you get me the info on the $35/person catering? The last time we used caterers we paid $100/person plus $60/hour for the chef. (I called around that time and that was the lowest price I found for quality food. Not chips and salsa.)

I think what krimoore meant is there are places that have all the ingredients to make specific meals and you either go there and put together the meals yourself, take home and freeze or you can pick them up premade and all you have to do is cook them.

I thought Blue Sky just had take out.

I never really thought of it before but this would be an excellent option for those in rental homes/condo%26#39;s.

The places we have at home are relatively inexpensive ($4-5pp) and are basically meal assembly establishments.

If there is one is Kailua-Kona I%26#39;d be stoked.

Oh! I guess I misunderstood the posting. Blue Sky indeed is a takeout place. I don%26#39;t think any place would let you to go there and cook dishes yourself, it%26#39;s a liability issue. COSTCO has some prepared dishes that you only need to cook/bake at home and most supermarkets have some prepared fish like stuffed salmon and different kind of marinated fish, but that would be all.

Nor-Cal-Chicklet, yes! exactly what i ment. we have those all over around here. You choose meals off the menu, go in and prepare the meals, (not cooked) and you pack up the meals in freezer bags and aluminum pans that you can pop into the oven and cook. We did find the one on maui and it was great. I%26#39;ll keep hunting for something like this on the island = )

If you find a place that does that please post it!!!

I would totally appreciate it!

white hair

Maui Rain

Aloha ~

I%26#39;m heading over to Maui in about a week. I know it has been raining a lot. I know it%26#39;s winter so I am expecting rain. My question is, is it a COLD rain? Is it COLD out? I am planning on taking just a carry-on and backpack. Will I need to pack long pants, sweatshirts? If so, I%26#39;ll need to probably check my bag.

Also, I%26#39;ll be staying in Wailuku. Do the streets flood there?

Mahalo for any replies ~

jc

Maui Rain

Conditions at

Lahaina

2008.02.05 1845 UTC

Wind from the NE (050 degrees) at 9 MPH (8 KT)

Visibility 10 mile(s)

Sky conditions overcast

Weather Light rain showers

Temperature 68 F (20 C)

Dew Point 66 F (19 C)

Relative Humidity 93%

Pressure (altimeter) 30.1 in. Hg (1019 hPa)

ob PHJH 051845Z 05008KT 10SM -SHRA SCT020 BKN030 OVC080 20/19 A3010

Maui Rain

http://hawaiiweathertoday.com/

Some kind TA respondent shared this. I think you will find it handy.

We%26#39;re leaving on Saturday. Planning on taking a poncho and sweatshirt.

Here is another weather source, with specific area forecasts from the National Weather Service. Hawaiiweathertoday, uses these forecasts, but this is even more specific. You can also enter the name of any other city, or click on the map at the bottom of the page for other nearby forecasts.

forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php…

Yes, in the winter it can be a cold rain. I have a friend coming on Mon. I told her to bring a sweatshirt and a long pair of pants. It looks like it may be warming up, but that can change in an instant!! Come prepared. Most of Wailuku is pretty hilly. Havne%26#39;t been there during a hard rain so don%26#39;t know if the streets flood. It is on a rather rainy part of the island though.

Just got back. Yes it%26#39;s a cold rain.. sweatshirt..or other med overshirt works. I picked up a cute long sleeved shirt at Crazy Shirt and ended wearing it almost every day..even to the beaches!! When it%26#39;s sunny it%26#39;s HOT. Have fun ALOHA

luckyz:

even though it rained ~ were you still able to do things? or were you holed up inside? I am going to the Keali%26#39;i Reichel concert and I will kayak to it if I have to.

everyone else, thank you for your replies. I will definitely be changing wardrobe!

jc

We arrived on Maui, on Dec. 31st, in the middle of quite the rainstorm. I dont%26#39; know what the temp was but, strangely, I found it cold. Coming from Calgary, Canada, it was odd that I was so cold. I was wearing my water-resistant fleece on the plane (cause it was freezing), as well as jeans, and still had the fleece on in Maui.

The Alamo lot attendant was complaining of the cold and rain, as well.

But it was all great after that, warm and sunny. Very pleasant.

When rain is forcasted for Maui.. it means that somewhere on the island it will be raining..but not everywhere. It poured one night while we dined at Roy%26#39;s..but afterward it stopped. We were able to go somewhere everyday..except one...(we had breakfast and shopped in Lahaina..where it was very overcast) when it didn%26#39;t occur to us to drive elswhere. Check other parts of the island.. about every 30 minute drive the weather seemed to be different!! ALOHA and have lots of fun!

Thanks luckyz ~ I appreciate it. I%26#39;ll have fun whatever I do ~ I won%26#39;t be at my office and that%26#39;s always a good thing :)

4 more days and a wakeup!

jc

Orchidland Estate

Aloha! We are going to Big Island in late April. Since we were not too crazy about the hassle-bassle in Kailua-Kona area last time we were in the island, we decided to stay in Hilo side. We just got a reservations at a vacation rental in the Orchidland Estate in Keaau. Could anyone tell me what the areais like? This place is located on Pohaku Dr., about 2 miles west from 130 (Keaau-Pahoa Rd.). It%26#39;s very reasonable ($360 total for 5nights), the pictures look very nice, and the owner seems honest and responsible. I just want to have right expectation. Thanks in advance for your advice.

Orchidland Estate

Oh My Gosh! Staying in a ';hassle-bassle'; area is one thing but staying in Orchidland Estates is like staying in a third world country. It%26#39;s an agricultural subdivison where probably pakalolo is the major crop. Most of the roads are bad dirt roads and if the house is two miles back from Hwy 130 than you really will be in the bonies, in the back of the subdivision, close to Hawaiian Acres. (Another infamous area.) The right expectations?! Lots of rain, coffee shacks, roaming dogs, roosters, you name it. You might want to look for a more ';civilized'; area instead. There are lots of catchy name subdivisions here and the ';Estates'; in the name of ';Orchidland Estates'; has nothing to do with estates.

Orchidland Estate

TT%26#39;s reaction resembles mine.

Now, you have been to the island before. Did you go to Puna? Did you drive in Orchidland or any of the rough unpaved street subdivisions?

There ARE some nice places in Orchidland and there are people who plan to move to the island who would be well served by a nice little place there, but for a vacation, unless you really know Orchidland, I say no.

The East Hawai`i Mapbook generally lists unpaved roads as ';unpaved'; -- but the western half of Pohaku is listed as %26#39;washboard'; and they kid you not. This is AWFUL road.

I went out looking for property in Orchidland ONCE. The roads did me in (and the roads flood, even flash flood).

The area is up and coming, but very mixed. Kind of a combination of local, potgrowers (hippy and local), and newbies with stars in their eyes. Theft is a big problem.

It%26#39;s a very wet area. I looked for property there in May or June and it was sopping wet, drippy rain forest.

Hawaiian Paradise Park (Kaloli Point), Hawaiian Shores or Beaches Oceanfront, and Kapoho Vacationland, Kapoho Beach Lots, and Kehena, are Puna areas that are reasonable for a vacation, although all involve too much driving, but I%26#39;d leave Orchidland to the visitor who has already been to Orchidland. Unless you are totally cool with drippy rain forest, outlaw country, bad road, hideaway in the woods alternative style vacationing.

Orchidland is not as out there as Fern Forest, Fern Acres, or Aloha Estates, I%26#39;ll say that ... nor is there quite as much crime as in the neighbor subdivisions Ainaloa or Hawaiian Acres. (But where do the druggies from Ainaloa go looking for pickings -- Orchidland)

Please don%26#39;t take this as saying the owners is either dishonest or responsible. I don%26#39;t know the property and there are definitely good people living there ... but they%26#39;re still outnumbered.

Pacific Monarch

Thinking about booking this hotel for a week in the best room they offer. Anything I should know before I do?

Pacific Monarch

Teetee,

My wife and I stayed here in%26#39;04 and were pleased with the hotel. The location is great, although it can be a little noisy at night when you%26#39;re sleeping, and the views of the ocean are great(if you can get at least a partial ocean view room. Now for the drawbacks..IMO...

1)The one big thing that you need to be aware of is the parking. When we were there it was $12/day and the thing to be aware of is that there could be times when there may not be a lot of available parking spaces. Also, there were times when we would return late from a drive (like maybe 10:00%26#39;ish) and the gate would be closed. If that%26#39;s the case you have to go to the front desk and ask them to open it.

2) The studios have small kitchenettes. If there are only 2 people it%26#39;s not so bad but anymore people than that and it could be a challenge because the rooms have TINY refrigerators. If you get a 1 bedroom that you should be ok as most have have full kitchens.

Hope that helps! Enjoy your trip!

Smoking on balcony's in Honolulu

Can anyone advise me of any hotels in honolulu that allow smoking on your room balcony?? Can understand smoke free room, but balcony??

Cheers

Smoking on balcony's in Honolulu

We were at the New Otani in April 2007, and they did not allow smoking anywhere on the hotel property. Remember, if you smoke, the smoke has to go somewhere. And if you are on your balcony/lanai, it will drift to neighboring rooms. I believe there were some posts on these boards about rooms that allow smoking-maybe at a condo?

Smoking on balcony's in Honolulu

If it is non-smoking it means both the hotel room and the lanai, in most cases.

As above it is about smoke drifting in to other people%26#39;s rooms. You likely would prefer to find a smoking room, if that%26#39;s what you want.

The Doubletree had 2 floors of smoking rooms/lanais when i was there in april.

Yeah, I went to Maui in May %26amp; was bummed when I was forced to smoke in the parking lot. Normally I smoke only when I am on vacation. Check out this link for more info:

travel-hawaii.com/smoking.html

Hawaii Hotels %26amp; Condominiums that Do Not Allow Smoking in Any Room.

(Smoking may be allowed in designated, outdoor areas, as listed below) :

Ala Moana Hotel

Oahu

Aqua Coconut Plaza

Oahu

ASTON Maui Lu

Maui

Smoking is allowed in designated areas of the property.

Embassy Suites Hotel Waikiki Beach Walk

Oahu

Hanalei Bay Resort

Kauai

Smoking is allowed outdoors and 20 feet away from any building.

Honu Hale Lanikai

Oahu

Hotel Kai Waikiki

Oahu

Kailua Beach House and Tradewinds Cottage

Oahu

Kailua Kai Guest House

Oahu

Kalaka on the Beach

Oahu

Kapalua Bay, a Renaissance Resort

Maui

Kauai Marriott Resort and Beach Club

Kauai

This hotel offers 5 designated smoking areas for guests. A map of these areas are provided to guests.

Kolea at Waikoloa Beach

Big Island

Marriott Ihilani Resort and Spa

Oahu

This hotels offers a smoking area next to the shuttle stop area.

Maui Ocean Club

Maui

Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort

Oahu

Napili Sunset

Maui

Smoking is permitted in designated outside areas only.

Napili Surf Beach Resort

Maui

Ocean Resort Hotel

Oahu

This hotel provides a smoking room for all guests to smoke in.

OHANA East

Oahu

OHANA Islander Waikiki

Oahu

OHANA Maile Sky Court

Oahu

OHANA Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel

Oahu

OHANA Waikiki Malia

Oahu

OHANA Waikiki West

Oahu

Outrigger Aina Nalu

Maui

Outrigger Fairway Villas

Big Island

Outrigger Kanaloa at Kona

Big Island

Outrigger Keauhou Beach Hotel

Big Island

Outrigger Kiahuna Plantation

Kauai

This hotel allows smoking outdoors as long as it is 20 feet from a building.

Outrigger Lae Nani

Kauai

Outrigger Luana Waikiki Studio %26amp; Suites

Oahu

This hotel offers a desginated smoking area at lobby level towards the back of the hotel.

Outrigger Maui Eldorado Resort

Maui

Outrigger Napili Shores

Maui

Outrigger Palms at Wailea

Maui

Outrigger Reef on the Beach

Oahu

This hotel offers a designated smoking area on the side of the hotel next to Fort DeRussy Museum.

Outrigger Regency on Beach Walk

Oahu

Outrigger Royal Kahana Resort

Maui

Outrigger Royal Sea Cliff Resort

Big Island

Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach

Oahu

Outrigger Waikiki Shore

Oahu

Outrigger Waipouli Beach Resort %26amp; Spa

Kauai

Renaissance Ilikai Waikiki

Oahu

This hotel offers a designated smoking area in the hotel courtyard.

Renaissance Wailea Beach Resort

Maui

This hotel offers a designated smoking area in the hotel lobby next to the bell desk.

ResortQuest at Papakea Resort

Maui

Smoking is allowed outdoors and 20 feet away from any building.

ResortQuest at Poipu Kai

Kauai

Smoking is allowed in the the parking lot only.

ResortQuest at the Executive Centre

Oahu

ResortQuest at the Maui Banyan

Maui

This hotel offers two designated smoking areas next to the swimming pools.

ResortQuest at the Waikiki Banyan

Oahu

This hotel offers a designated smoking area the the front porte cocher and the 6th floor recreation area.

ResortQuest Islander on the Beach

Kauai

This property offers designated smoking areas in the parking lot, on the side of the property and on the ocean side of hotel.

ResortQuest Kaanapali Shores

Maui

ResortQuest Kauai Beach at Makaiwa

Kauai

This property offers designated smoking areas in the parking lot and out by the pool.

ResortQuest Kona by the Sea

Big Island

This hotels offers smoking areas in front of the hotel and in the parking lot.

ResortQuest Mahana at Kaanapali

Maui

This property offers a designated smoking area near the tennis court.

ResortQuest Maui Hill

Maui

ResortQuest Maui Kaanapali Villas

Maui

ResortQuest Pacific Monarch

Oahu

ResortQuest Paki Maui

Maui

This hotel offers a designated smoking area in the parking lot.

ResortQuest Shores at Waikoloa

Big Island

This hotel has designated various areas on the property where smoking is allowed.

ResortQuest Waikiki Beach Hotel

Oahu

ResortQuest Waikiki Beach Tower

Oahu

ResortQuest Waikiki Beachside Hotel

Oahu

ResortQuest Waikiki Circle Hotel

Oahu

This property offers a designated smoking area located at the surfboard rack near the front of the hotel.

ResortQuest Waikiki Sunset

Oahu

This hotel offers a designated smoking area in the hotel lobby.

ResortQuest Waikoloa Colony Villas

Big Island

ResortQuest Waimea Plantation Cottages

Kauai

Smoking is allowed on lanais of rooms and in desginated areas.

Ritz Carlton Kapalua

Maui

Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort

Oahu

Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort %26amp; Spa

Big Island

This hotel offers designated smoking areas outside next to the luau area, next to tennis courts, and at the cabana.

Wailea Marriott Resort

Maui

This property offers a designated smoking area next to the bell desk.

Westin Maui Resort And Spa

Maui

This property offers designated smoking areas next to the bell desk and near the beach.

Whaler on Kaanapali Beach

Maui

I was in Honolulu in November when the new smoking rule came into force. It was headlines in the papers and on the television news bulletins. I understand its forbidden on all hotel balconies. My travelling companions are smokers and were horrified at the ban, although it didn%26#39;t stop them having their hourly puff! Could be a good excuse to give it up and get healthy on your holiday and surprise your family and/or friends at home. Whatever way, you%26#39;ll have fun.

Maui-

Kaanapali Beach Hotel has some smoking rooms

Maui Oceanfront Inn has some smoking rooms

Oahu-

Prince Hotel Waikiki has some smoking rooms

Aqua Bamboo %26amp; Spa has some smoking rooms

Big Island-

Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel has some smoking rooms

Accurate as of 02/002/08

Rooms are on a request basis only, cannot be guaranteed.

Kaanapali Beach Hotel says they have some smoking rooms on various floors in certain bldgs at their hotel. We are staying there in March and I have spoken to them about this. You CANNOT smoke in any rooms. If you have a so called smoking room, that means ONLY on the lanai. They did not offer this information when I called initially to make a reservation. I found this out elsewhere and then called them to verify it.

We are also staying at the Waikiki Outrigger for a week. They do not have any smoking rooms Nor do they allow smoking on the lanai. We shall see when we get there if there is any designated area for smoking.

These are only 2 of many places, but I just thought I%26#39;d share the info.

Yes, Kaanapali Beach Hotel has a couple of floors considered smoking rooms - - these are only on the lanai - - 6th floor of Lanai wing and first %26amp; fourth of the Kauai wing.... might even include first floor of Lanai Wing...... this way they have covered varying view levels of price and keep guests happy. The maid service cleans your ashtray on the lanai every day - as well as wipe the ralining fre of bird droppings! They have many designated smoking areas on the grounds, but if you are strolling it doesn%26#39;t matter much. The beach is right there as well.

Most places offer designated areas - - some more than others and some even though they tell you up front that they are a non-smoking propertythat is to comply with HI law and usually there are areas.

Many VRBO%26#39;s however when they say no-smoking it means anywhere because some of them have owners living adjacent... others allow on the patio or in yard. Each property is allowed its own judgement there.

Also the Hyatt on Kauai (which I would assume all Hyatt%26#39;s do) offer smoking rooms, though I got two different stories on that. One woman said they allow only certain floors of particular wings and they only allow inside the room so as not to disturb others - - another woman said it was lanai only.

I don%26#39;t smoke in my own house so I certainly don%26#39;t want a hotel room that smells like an ashtray.

Check the Royal Hawaiian. Their best tower rooms used to be all smoking. They are renovating soon, so my guess is that will change ... but meanwhile, it%26#39;s worth a call.

Hi -

I%26#39;m a reporter with a national newspaper. I%26#39;m working on a story about how hotels are increasingly fining people hundreds of dollars if they smoke in a non-smoking room. I鈥檝e talked to the hotels about how they know someone is smoking and what their fining procedures are. Now I need to find people who have actually been fined.

I noticed there were a few traveling smokers on this post鈥ondering if any of you have been fined for smoking in a hotel room?

If so it would be great to chat with you so I can understand how the hotel communicated the fine to you, if you actually had to pay in the end, if you felt it was justified, etc鈥?/p>

I am available at the number below or by e-mail.

Many thanks 鈥?/p>

Sarah Nassauer

1-212-416-3859

snassauer@yahoo.com

natural beauty tips