Air Travel Weak?; Non Existent Hawaii Packages?; Tahiti or Hawaii?

I’ve added my thoughts on these discussions and more over the past week. Here’s a recap of the articles I found most relevant to our readers:

1. What is the weak economy’s impact on vacation and business travel?

First Signs of Softening Demand for Air Travel by Rick Seaney, pointed to a Bloomberg study indicating a decline. I’d seen the study, but it is at direct odds with another current report. So what’s the point?

Beat of Hawaii: While acknowledging Bloomberg, I pointed to a Travelocity study with conflicting results that shows high demand for summer air travel. My interpretation: Yes, discretionary travel is down, both business and personal. Travelers do not believe, however, that their summer vacations are discretionary. Key business and personal travel is definitely not on the decline.

2. What about packages as an alternative to stratospheric Hawaii air fares?

We’ve been out shopping for ourselves in the past week, and were flabbergasted at the prices we found for summer travel between the West Coast and Hawaii.

Airfares to Hawaii have taken a big hit, according to Arthur Frommer. He talked about the ridiculously high price of travel to Hawaii this summer, and pointed to air and land packages, such as those offered by Pleasant Holidays.

Beat of Hawaii: I also saw last week’s Pleasant Holidays offerings (summer airfare and hotel starting at $479/pp). I went to their website but was unable to locate any dates with that pricing, in the early June through mid-August time period. The cheapest I found in fact was more than double that. Did anyone else fair (or is it fare) better?

3. Next stop Tahiti?

Visitors thrive on independent travel throughout Hawaii. Nearly as close to the West Coast, Tahiti seems the logical next island destination. But what is it really like for the independent traveler there?

How is Maui comparable to Tahiti? A visitor to Maui asks on Frommer’s about Tahiti and how it contrasts, for planning a future vacation.

Beat of Hawaii: Tahiti, by which the poster most likely means French Polynesia (FP), is comprised of over 100 islands. The island of Tahiti itself, the commercial hub, is the most populated and the least interesting. Second least appealing for me is Bora Bora, which while once idyllic and still having the most amazing lagoon, is totally over developed. Moorea is okay, but lacks charm, in part due to its proximity, and as a bedroom community to Papeete. I suggest one consider the more remote and less visited islands as an alternative.

We’ve recently visited FP again and have been busy writing about it and plan to publish it soon.

While a trip to FP would appear to be as easy a trip as Hawaii, nothing could be further from the truth. For a prearranged and very costly trip, it is relatively straight-forward. On the downside, you should expect to have very little real experience of the people and the culture.

If you are an independent traveler planning on visiting FP, you will need to do much research, and even after you do, it will be a most challenging trip. I’d actually compare the difficulties more to a trip to Nepal or India than to a trip to Hawaii.

You should expect surprises around every corner. Have a major car rental reservation? Don’t expect it to be honored at the price quoted. Want to buy bread at the store? Expect to be there before 7am. Think you’ve reserved a great place to stay, having seen all the reviews and photos? Wait until you arrive and find you’re staying someplace totally different than you thought.

4. Hawaii accommodation questions from Fodors and Frommers travel boards:

4 nights of luxury, Fodors. A couple looking for Oahu luxury away from a “kid-filled, all-inclusive” resort.”

Beat of Hawaii: I really prefer the Kahala Resort to Halekulani. While Halekulani is newer and has better rooms, its the Kahala’s location that makes a world of difference. Kahala is completely removed from the drone of Waikiki (which Halekulani is in the midst of).

Which Resort in Kauai is better? Frommers. A young couple visiting in September asks about staying at either Sheraton Kauai or the Princeville Resort. Most others favored Princeville.

Beat of Hawaii: While Princeville is definitely upscale (Ritz Carlton like), I don’t care for its vibe, which is snooty, cold, removed, mildewy, and to me, not Kauai-like. Having both stayed and regularly attended functions there, I find it does have one appealing feature unique in Kauai properties: a drop dead location and its view of Bali Hai (Makana Peak).

The Sheraton is decidedly motel-like and aging. Yet the Ultimate Kauai guidebook says the Sheraton is also “A hidden gem…. (that) boldly embraces the ocean.”

As for the beaches near each hotel, my favorite for summer is Hanalei, a short drive from Princeville. But for a more active and totally fun ocean experience, Sheraton’s beach is great.

Hanalei Bay Resort, Frommers. A couple planning an affordable honeymoon asks about this lower-cost Princeville alternative.

Beat of Hawaii: The location is beautiful, while the property appears somewhat run down. Units, many of which are privately owned, run the gamut from wonderful to dreadful. We’ve stayed there twice and have experienced both extremes. Therefore, we suggest that researching and reserving a specific unit is essential.

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