BEAT OF HAWAII AND BEYOND

We’re fans of Aqua Resorts; it’s become Hawaii’s hottest hotel chain. Aqua does a great job managing and promoting renovated properties and then offering them at consistently reasonable prices.

Win one of nine free 3-night Aqua stays of your choice.

Prizes will be awarded weekly starting April 7. Winners must redeem their certificate by June 1, 2011. All Aqua Hotels will participate expect The Equus and Waikiki Marina.

1. Download the entry form and send to:

Spring Sweepstakes, c/o Aqua Hotels & Resorts, 1850 Ala Moana Boulevard, Honolulu, HI 96815.

If you’re unable to print the form you can send a self addressed stamped envelope to the same address and request that one be sent to you. Another option is to obtain an entry form at any Aqua location through May 31, 2010.

2. Alternatively, book online using promo code “SWP” at one of their hotels for stays April 1 through May 31, 2010 and be automatically entered to win.

Additional 15% off for Spring

Aqua will also give you 15 percent off their best available rates for stays between April 1 through May 31, 2010 by using promo code  “SWP.”

If you’re a lucky winner, at which Aqua would you plan to stay? I think I’d go back to Hotel Molokai because I really enjoy the island.

(Beat of Hawaii received no compensation in any form to publicize Aqua and this contest).

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There is still plenty of space available for this great deal.  Four carriers are competing on this route to create a far better price than normal.

• Airlines: American,  Continental, Delta and United Airlines.
• Price: $386 round trip (all-inclusive).
• Availability: The only days the fare is currently not available from LAX are March 13, 19, 20 and 27, and April 1, 2, and 3.  Thereafter it is wide open through May.
• Book on-line at each carrier’s website.
• Offer valid both directions (a great opportunity for Hawaii residents).

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Photo:  Maui view en-route from Lanai

Right on the heels of their $25 million loss due to snowstorms, Continental is going to give you a great price to either escape the cold or visit New York.  This deal has been on and off again for about a year.  Yesterday it resurfaced on Continental’s convenient and typically more expensive daily non-stop.

• Airline:  Continental Airlines.
• Price: $585 round trip (all-inclusive).
• Availability:  Good availability from now through May.

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It’s full moon, and winter is thawing, together with some very good Hawaii airfare deals.

You can now fly on Hawaiian Airlines from all of their West Coast locations to Hawaii for between $124 and $170 each way, plus tax.  Pricing is based on their website price, less 5 percent using Hawaiian’s affiliate program (with which we have no affiliation).  Available dates vary widely depending on the city.  Some are only valid in March, while others are available through May.

• Las Vegas $171
• Los Angeles $157
• Oakland $159
• Phoenix $154
• Portland $133
• Sacramento $156
• San Diego $190
• San Francisco $137
• San Jose $143
• Seattle $124

Let us know if you land one of these deals.

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If you’ve got the time, and are in the Atlanta area, we’ve got the deal.  Available in April and May, on US Airways.  This offer will only be available for a brief time.  Service is on US Air’s current Charlotte to Honolulu non-stop (which itself may not be available that much longer).

• Airline: US Airways.
• Price: Approx. $436 round trip (all-inclusive).
• Availability:  April and May.
• How to find dates: I used Kayak’s monthly fare calendar.

Reasonable Spring fares on the most heavily trafficked California to Hawaii routes are now available. You will need to act quickly due to limited availability.

• Airline: Hawaiian.
• Price: Approx. $320 round trip (all-inclusive).
• SFO availability: Now through March 15, and April 13 to May 20 (most days). Many corresponding return dates.
• LAX availability: March 1 through 16, and April 7 through 29  (most days).  Cheapest return dates are mid to late April.
• Oakland, Sacramento and San Jose all have intermittent availability in both directions through May.
• Additional Spring sale dates are up to $15 more each way, while others are up to $15 less.
• Pricing is based on published fare, less 5% savings using an Hawaiian Air Affiliate link.
• How to find dates: Use Hawaiian Air’s monthly fare calendar.

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Good News For Hawaii Visitors – Bad News For Hotels

Hawaii hotel revenues dropped nearly 20 percent in 2009 to $3.6 billion.  That’s a decrease of $741 million from the prior year, primarily due to lower occupancy and reduced room rates. The 2009 occupancy rate by island was:

• Oahu 73%
• Maui 62%
• Kauai 60%
• Big Island 55%

With no sign of any amelioration in sight, here’s how that works in favor of visitors.

Reasonable hotel rates will be easy to find.

Even during most of our peak seasons, expect to pay less. Use the methods we’ve been writing about to find the best Hawaii hotel deals for you.

Your Hawaii vacation should cost less overall.

Even more economical than prior periods of abounding fare wars. Even though airfare has increased your land costs are down.

Here’s a comparison of 2008 and 2010 estimated costs for a 7-night trip from Los Angeles to Honolulu:

2008 costs:  $1,900 total air and lodging

• Airfare for two at $250 total per person: $500
• Four star hotel for two, seven nights at $200/night $1,400

2010 costs:  $1,500 total air and lodging

• Airfare for two at $400 total per person: $800
• Four star hotel for two, seven nights at $100/night: $700

Suggestion:

Don’t wait for low summer airfares that may well not materialize this year.  Instead, I suggest you use this strategy to find great accommodation deals.

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Starting June 17, Hawaiian Air is adding two new flights, and for a limited time, is offering a super deal.  Many of you have asked for cheaper summer fares from the Bay Area, and frankly it isn’t going to get better than this.  The inaugural pricing can save you $300 or more round trip over alternative flights.

Airline:  Hawaiian Air.

Price:  $203 one-way (based on $214 fare, less 5% affiliate discount).

Availability:  Excellent at this time.  Weekday flights only.  Other days $25 additional.

Note:  I’m watching for matching from Alaska Air.  At this point they have occasional days at $230 each way from Oakland.

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Earlier this week, I posted an unpublished price of $145 each way on Hawaiian Air, through early March.

Delta has now joined in with a $152 fare ($325 round trip, all-inclusive).

While this still isn’t as good as what we saw last year, it is starting to give me hope for renewed competition and better fares for the mid-April through mid-June Spring season.

• Airline: Delta Airlines.
• Price: Approx. $325 round trip (all-inclusive).
• Availability: through mid-March.
• How to find dates: I used Travelocity flexible date search, then went to delta.com.

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I’m always keeping an eye on airfares. When an exceptional Hawaii cruise deal comes along, however, I take notice.

These cruises on the Carnival Spirit happens twice this year in each direction. They include the 5 day ocean voyage to or from the West Coast (Ensenada or Vancouver).

Each trip also includes 7 days cruising around the islands. With your meals and room provided at no extra cost, this is truly a great deal.  You would expect to pay this much for a 7 day NCL inter-island cruise that does not include transportation to/from the West Coast.

This has all the makings for a fantastic first trip (or even a return visit) to Hawaii. You’ll need to add one-way airfare which (to Los Angeles) is approximately $300.

If you live in Hawaii or would like to begin your cruise here, catch either the return voyage to Vancouver on April 22 (from $899) or to Ensenada on September 26 (from $749).

Here’s the April itinerary from Ensenada, priced from $779:

April 11 Depart Ensenada, Mexico
April 17 Hilo, Hawaii
April 18 Kona, Hawaii
April 19 Kahului, Maui
April 20 Lahaina, Maui
April 21 Nawiliwili, Kauai
April 22 Honolulu, Oahu
April 23 Honolulu, Oahu Disembark

Prices are for inside rooms, per person, based on double-occupancy.  Ocean view starts at about $300 more. I found these deals on the Carnival and Vacations to Go websites. What are you waiting for? I’d jump soon at this offer.

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At long last, a reasonable price to Hawaii on the single most traveled route. This is an unadvertised fare on Hawaiian airlines that has good availability through March 10. For travel in April, May and early June, the cost is $28 more each way.

• Airline: Hawaiian Air.
• Price: Approx. $311 round trip (all-inclusive).
• Availability: February and early March.
• Pricing is based on published fare of $152 each way, less 5% savings using an Hawaiian Air Affiliate link.
• How to find dates: Use Hawaiian’s monthly fare calendar.

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It’s unusual to see a Hawaii mileage sale, so this is a great find. Instead of 40,000 miles round trip, you can visit Hawaii for only 32,000 miles.  From the East Coast, smaller cities, and even most West Coast cities, this represents excellent value.  I typically think of miles as being worth one cent each, by which calculation you fly to Hawaii for the equivalent of about $300.

• Book by February 2
• Valid either starting on the Mainland or in Hawaii
• Travel from January 26 through May 12
• Fly any day of the week (subject to availability)