Travel Tips & Adventures

Hawaii was my dream vacation that I had waited over four years to take. Every time we tried to set a date, either my husband or I had a work commitment that got in the way.

We won an auction vacation package at a fabulous rate that included luxury hotels. Ultimately, we had to forfeit the package because we couldn’t travel by the deadlines. Boo hiss!

So, finally, we planned our own Hawaiian getaway without a travel agent and on our own. We had 10 days to experience all/most of the things we wanted to do and see.

Waterfall in Hawaii

Our itinerary required us to spend time flying between the islands, but we were resigned to that since we really wanted to see more than just Oahu.

We divided up our time on the Big Island (Hawaii), Oahu and Kauai. Each had its own points to recommend it. The Big Island had lush open areas with many waterfalls. Oahu had the tourist experiences with shopping, Diamond Head and a chance to see the Pearl Harbor monument. Kauai was the real, laid back vacation that I yearned for and wished would never end.

At Pearl Harbor Memorial

Along the way, we took a tour of popular spots where movies were filmed, ate more Spam (not the e-mails, but the meat) than I could ever imagine and saw the Dole Pineapple Plantation. And we did hang out at beaches, watching the waves.

Hawaiian beach- one of many

We do have a tendency to overdo our itinerary with too many things to do and too much crowded into a vacation. Leisure and vacation do not always equate for my husband and a crowded itinerary is a badge of honor to him. I’m at the other end of the spectrum, not quite working on a tan on the beach every day, but wishing for some “goof off time.” We strike a balance.

Arrival in Hawaii

When we arrived at the airport in Oahu, after a layover in Los Angeles, we were eager to experience the true Hawaii. That had to wait while we traveled through traffic in our rental car to our downtown Oahu hotel. Our booking said we had an ocean view. We did – if you walked out on the balcony and craned your neck and did some contortions. We did finally get to walk up and down next to the ocean.
I love the water, so I was in heaven.

We were only staying in Oahu for a day, so we could get to the other islands and some real Hawaiian adventures. We had our list of places to eat, but also asked natives where they preferred.

The biggest change we had to get acclimated to was the very intense humidity. Living in Arizona, we’re not used to humidity. That took some adjusting to.

Once we got past the tourist stuff and just took in the scenery, Hawaii was the place I had always dreamed it would be.

More Hawaiian adventures to follow …

Scotland: Fall 2009

Last week,  I came across a Web site that focuses on multi-stop itineraries for independent travelers. European Destinations www.europeandestinations.com lets you create your own trip or customize their suggested itineraries. As you add in hotels, car rentals, train passes, etc., the price of your trip upgrades so you know immediately what your costs are.

I tweaked my itinerary and then compared it to the hotel Web sites of those properties I selected as well as with www.hotels.com to see if the prices were in line, or even better.

What I found was the following ($1.46 = £1): (more…)

Scotland: Fall 2009

Since last week, I have decided to cut back our trip from three to two weeks due to some timing issues that have come up.  So, there needed to be some consolidation.

It was then that I began to wonder if it was any cheaper to find a company that could consolidate all of my independent travel needs. (more…)

Scotland – - Fall – - 2009

It’s been a week since my first installment of planning a trip to Scotland on my own.  Have I come to my senses and handed it over to a travel agent yet?  Have I scrapped the whole idea and decided to sit on my sofa the entire time talking to people at my office on the company provided cell phone? 

Absolutely not! 

Actually, I’ve been on line looking for a kilt to wear to one of the Whiskey Week dinners! (more…)

As promised, I’m filling in the return trip for my recent visit to North Carolina.  The four days we spent in North Carolina were rainy, gloomy, chilly and drizzly. 

It reminded me of the Judith Viorst book, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (great book, not just for children).  Only the day was a long weekend.  (more…)

What I have in mind – Scotland in Fall 2009

Am I out of my mind?

Yes, it’s 2009…the stock market is in roller coaster mode…businesses are shutting down faster than a speeding bullet…every news show says the world is in a financial collapse… airlines are on the verge of the “B” word…the dollar is worth diddly…

So, why am I planning a trip to Scotland in the fall? Haven’t I heard the news…it’s the 1930s all over again!!!! I should be scared, I should be in panic mode, I should be petrified to travel out of my driveway!

I have my reasons:

(more…)

On a recent trip from Phoenix to Raleigh Durham International Airport via US Airways, things went surprisingly well! Beginning with parking, it may have been Friday the 13th, but everything seemed to fall into place smoothly. (more…)