BEAT OF HAWAII AND BEYOND

Updated 1/30/09:  Many of the dates (especially weekends) are already gone, so you’ll have to be flexible on dates at this point.  Those who subscribe via RSS feed (not email), had access to all dates, when first announced late yesterday.

This is an expansion of the offer we had earlier this week from Pleasant Holidays.

Not only is this a great deal, frankly it seems too good to be true.  While I am able to easily book it now, the offer won’t last long.

Continue Reading »

This is the first in a series of posts on affordable Hawaii, 2009.

1.  Consider package deals.

Having said that, always price it yourself separately to be sure it is truly a good value.  Online travel agencies, including Orbitz, Travelocity and Expedia are anxious for you to book their air plus hotel or car deals.  We featured a good air/car package just this week.  Often the best value hotel packages use the higher end hotels where there is more room to maneuver.  The packages aren’t always as good if you’re on a tight budget.  Be sure to do your homework, including pricing the components separately and don’t forget to “carefully” check reviews on hotels you’re considering.  Often the hotels included at the bottom price (at least here in Hawaii) aren’t ones I’d care to spend even one night sleeping at.

Continue Reading »

First the Deal.

The Sheraton Keahou on the Big Island sits on 22 acres of oceanfront property near Kailua-Kona, on Keahou Bay.  Its stunning location is an evening feeding spot for manta rays.  The resort has 521 rooms and suites, each with private lanai.  It features a 14,000 square foot pool, plus a spa and fitness center, wedding chapel and extensive meeting facilities.

The prices below reflect a purported savings of up to 65 percent:

• Price:  $119 (garden view), $139 (partial ocean view), $179 (ocean view), $199 (ocean front)
• Dates:  Valid for stays through September 30
• Book by:  February 11

Next the Trouble.

The Hawaii press is reporting that the resort is in imminent danger of being foreclosed on by its creditors.  The property’s main lender, Lehman Brothers Holdings, filed for bankruptcy last year.  At the same time, due to economic conditions and competition, the hotel has seen its occupancy plummet to around 50 percent.

In the event of a foreclosure, the management company asserts that the resort will remain open.  Unfortunately, only time will tell.  Given the approximately 300 employees, we hope that the hotel can remain open.

As with the $61 Ilikai offer we featured recently, you might consider a backup reservation in the event of any unforseen problems.

This deal really exists (at least as I write this).  It appears to be a mistake, so if you want it, don’t wait even one minute before booking.

• Price:  $225 to $232 RT (all-inclusive)
• Airline:  United Airlines (book only on their site)
• Availability:  April 27 through end of May 31
• Days:  Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday
• Stopovers:  Permitted (San Francisco)

If you miss this deal, I suggest you subscribe to our free RSS feed (not email).  That way you can take advantage of the next offer by getting it immediately as it is posted.  Here are  some prior suggestions regarding how to use RSS to find the best travel deals.

Three New Airbus 330-200 Aircraft Now Scheduled for 2010

This is Hawaiian Airlines’ first non-Boeing aircraft acquisitions in years.  It will  increase their ability to compete on more distant routes including the East Coast and Asia.

I’m not betting on Asia yet but will on Chicago, Atlanta and New York.

The new planes will feature:

• 6,050 nautical mile range
• 2-class seating
• 298 passenger seating capacity
• Improved fuel efficiency
• Rolls Royce engines

My Prediction:  There’s Going to be a Buy-Out.

Continue Reading »

There are no great deals right now from California to Hawaii, as they have all either just expired or will be forthwith.  I would not be surprised, however, to see new ones pop up at any time now, so please do stay tuned.

While you are waiting, or if you need to book now, Pleasant Holidays has some very reasonable (though perhaps not great) offers.

Flights to/from Honolulu or Kahului (Maui) plus 3-day Hertz car rental:

• San Francisco:  $299
• Los Angeles:  $239

Add about $40 in taxes and this is still a very good value.  United is offering the exact same flights without car for about $375.  On dates I tried, extending the trip to one week, including economy car, only added about $25 to the total cost for 2 persons.

Flights to/from Honolulu with 3-nights hotel:

• Los Angeles:  $299

I’m not fond of the hotels included in the $299 price, and prefer the flight plus car rental deal above.  You should be able to negotiate better hotel deals on your own.

Delta Airlines has announced a January system sale, and it reaches all the way to Honolulu.  The price from Los Angeles isn’t noteworthy, but from East Coast cities, these are solid deals.

From:

Colorado Springs, CO (COS) $199
Kansas City, MO (MCI) $209
Los Angeles, CA (LAX) $179
New Orleans, LA (MSY) $229
New York-Kennedy, NY (JFK) $239
Orlando, FL (MCO) $239
Philadelphia, PA (PHL) $239

• Fares are one way plus tax
• Purchase by January 26
• Valid for departures through March 4
• Availability is excellent
• Advance purchase: 14 days
• Minimum/maximum: Saturday night/None

Here’s a look back at Beat of Hawaii’s ten most popular posts from 2008.  I removed posts that contained time sensitive information (like airfare deals) and came up with the following list based on page views.

1. How To Eat Well At 30,000 Feet
2. First Look: Kauai’s Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas
3. When To Find The Best Airfare Deals
4. Best Deal in Hawaii: $69 Oceanfront Room on Big Island
5. Centipedes In Hawaii:  I Was Stung Today
6. Our Top 7 In-Flight Airline Tips
7. Do You Trust Hotel and Restaurant Reviews?
8. Can You Trust TripAdvisor?
9. Po Chai And Duct Tape: 10 Unlikely Things To Pack
10. A View From Inside American Airlines

Do you have a favorite post that did not make the cut?  I’m still fond of, Can Rambutan Reduce Super Bowl Stress.  Maybe because it’s rambutan season again and my favorite team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, will be in this year’s Super Bowl.

There may be a reason it is so cheap, I can’t say for sure. Read on before deciding to make a reservation.

In any event, I do like the location of the Ilikai, with its easy access into and out of Waikiki and its proximity to Ala Moana beach park and shopping.

The gamble:

As I recently wrote about, the Ilikai is in foreclosure and it isn’t yet clear whether there will be access to the condos starting February 8.

If you decide to take advantage of this offer, consider the following:

• Make a reservation using a major credit card in case of problems.
• Consider an alternate, cancellable reservation in case everything doesn’t work out okay with the Ilikai and the court.
• Stay tuned and we’ll update you as soon as we learn more.

The deal:

• Waikiki Marina Resort all-condo hotel located at the Ilikai Hotel.
• Rates start at $61/night, based on 5 or more nights. Use rate code TVT.
• Studio with full kitchen.  Sleeps 4 with private lanai.
• Valid from February 1 through January 2010.

The added problem:

As an added bonus, there appears to be a plethora of mostly fake Tripadvisor reviews for your perusal.

Effective April 1 (for real), the only domestic 747 route to Hawaii begins thanks to Delta.

If you’re on the East Coast, you’ll be able to catch Delta flight 803 leaving Atlanta at 10:15 am, arriving Honolulu at 1:30 pm.  The return, Delta flight 802, leaves Honolulu at 3:15 pm and arrives Atlanta the next day at 5:35 am.

Delta is currently incorporating and repainting Northwest’s 747 livery.  Naturally, I’ll be keeping my eyes pealed for any deals thereon.

I remember in the old days flying a 747 on short distance Pan Am (remember them?) flights between Los Angeles and San Francisco.  The fare was $59 in first-class and $29 in economy.

Last month I wrote about four recent Hawaii hotel foreclosures.  At that time it did not appear that the foreclosures would directly affect visitors.  Now I’ve learned that in fact that may not be true.

Good question from a reader.

Micc wrote a comment on the previous post and had the good sense and perhaps premonition to ask:

“It never occured to me that a property we rent might be under foreclosure. Has this been a problem in Hawaii? We want to rent a condo on the Big Island for our next trip. Should we be concerned about unknowingly renting a foreclosed upon unit?”

Well Micc, the answer is yes, there can be reason for concern.  In the case of Ilikai for example, it isn’t clear yet what might happen with privately managed condo units in the event the hotel management ceases to provide basic services.  In other words, there is question whether there would be access even to units not foreclosed upon.

Suggestion.

With any accommodation reservation, paying by credit card affords you protection in the event that which you pay for doesn’t materialize.  If you pay by check, you could easily be out whatever you’ve paid.

The Ilikai Hotel.

The vintage 1964, 1050 room hotel may be closed as soon as February 8.  According to news reports out this week, the lender has indicated to the bankruptcy court that it will stop paying for operational expenses, which would likely result in the hotel’s closure.

Our top dining pick at Ala Moana Shopping Center is the Mariposa.  It’s located on the third level of Neiman Marcus.  We recently had a most pleasant and reasonable lunch there for under twenty dollars per person.

The location is incredible; upstairs and ocean side in the center of the mall.  It’s a large restaurant with fabulous views of Ala Moana beach through the park.

Half of the seating is on a covered lanai and the rest is indoors though still facing the ocean.  While still very much in the department store and the mall, the feeling is completely removed from both, and delightfully so.

We still love the warm, freshly baked popovers which arrived together with consomme, soon after we were seated.  Both are complementary.  Neiman Marcus has been serving those as I recall for at least 30 years, and I still enjoy them just as much.

Mariposa is the 2008 Honolulu Advertiser’s pick for best business lunch.

Atmosphere.

Dignified while still island casual.  Great views all day long with spectacular sunsets.

Food.

The menu is traditional Hawaiiana in the fusion sense.  We really enjoyed everything we ate.  So either the food was great or I was starving as I’m not that easy to please.  You can check out the menus on their website.

Service.

The service was okay by Hawaii standards, but not exceptional.  Others have commented similarly.

We made our reservation using Open Table, which was simple and hassle-free.  Within a few minutes of our arrival we were seated.

Details.

Open 11 am-9:30 pm (Sundays-Wednesdays) and 11 am-10 pm (Thursdays-Saturdays). Reservations recommended.  Phone: (808) 951-3420.  Level Three, Ala Moana Shopping Center.

Note:  If you want to try the popovers but can’t make it to Neiman Marcus, here’s the recipe.