Earlier this year we offered our 10 Hawaii safe driving tips. You can save money, and your life, by slowing done and buckling up. Here are two things you should know: 1. Hawaii speeding fines are expensive. Up to 29 miles over the speed limit, the fine is $5 per mile and a $57 court administration fee. If you’re […]
As a regular feature at Beat of Hawaii, I enjoy sharing comments I’ve made elsewhere on the web: Day trips from Honolulu.
Hawaii is the only state where the sun passes directly overhead in summer. Have fun under our tropical sun but be sure to exercise caution. Here are some tips and ideas to help you protect your skin. A. Check out the Skin Deep database from EWG. Find the sunscreen that’s best for you. You’ll be surprised by their best […]
We’re starting to think that VOG, volcanic smog, may be a part of Hawaii’s landscape for the foreseeable future. It eminates from Mt. Kilauea on the Big Island, 250 miles south of Kauai, and has all the look and feel of real smog. The volcano has been belching more acid-rich air pollution than the dirtiest U.S. power plants for […]
Here’s my contrary tip to save money this summer and have your dream vacation too: Don’t book early. In fact, don’t book at all. Booking early and paying the max is exactly what airlines, hotels and car rentals are counting on right at this time. If you’re reading USA Today’s article Cheap Tricks for Summer Travel, you’ll see their […]
If you think that the exchange rate from Dollars to Euros isn’t enough to spoil your European beach vacation, and send you packing to Hawaii, there is a new and potentially serious problem arising there. The Economist is reporting an unprecedented invasion of jellyfish on European beaches this summer. Theorists point to global warming, overfishing and ocean pollution as […]
See our February post about why you should consider travel insurance for your upcoming Hawaii vacation. In light of recent developments, I thought it timely to revisit the subject. Travel insurance, bought online, can protect your family vacation in the event of failure of an airline (or other carrier) to provide services contracted for. While hopefully we have seen […]
I’m having a difficult time wearing the free hat that Trip Advisor sent me with its, “Get the truth, then go,” slogan. The problem is I no longer feel that I can always trust their site. After posting many reviews on Trip Advisor, in November they declined to publish my negative review of the Pacific Monarch Hotel in Honolulu. […]
The Kona Tiki Hotel has to be one of the best Hawaii deals on Big Island. Where else can you pay $69 a night for two and get a clean, comfortable, oceanfront room? Update: Rooms are now from $80 nightly. We just returned from a 5 day stay and give Kona Tiki in Kailua-Kona our two thumbs up for […]
Travel insurance can be complicated and confusing. So when is travel insurance appropriate and advisable and when is it just a waste of money? In the past, travel insurance was often not recommended for domestic travel. That was because airline change fees were minor and hotels allowed cancellations up to the last day. In today’s market, however, hotel cancellation […]
When I visit Ala Moana Shopping Center near Waikiki, I always stop at Book-Off and Honolulu Coffee Company.Coffee and books are two of my passions. If you love to shop you’ll enjoy Ala Moana’s 260 stores and 70 dining options.It’s a great way to spend an afternoon.This spring, on March 7, Nordstrom will join the line-up of stores.You can […]
If you want to take Hawaii pineapples home with you to the mainland, just shop around for the best deal and bring them in your carry-on bags. As long as the pineapples are in good condition, agriculture inspectors will not care if you bought them at an airport store or from a local market. What’s a good condition for […]
