Tips for visiting Hawaii
- April Powers
- Apr 5, 2016
- 3 min read
If you've been thinking of a trip to Hawaii or you've already made plans to visit, here are a few tips (I wish someone had shared with me) to make the most of your getaway.
Get as much sleep on the plane as possible. If you are on the east coast, Hawaii is 6 hours behind you and that means you'll be ready for bed by 5 P.M. your first night.. This begins the circle of "craziness" as you'll be wide awake, ready for the day at 3 A.M. On my first visit, I spent 3 days trying to get my internal clock on Hawaiian time. It was madness! Plan ahead and sleep on the plane.
PEARL HARBOR - ARIZONA MEMORIAL
If you are visiting Honolulu, chances are you'll want to see Pearl Harbor. Make your reservations a few months in advance. This is a very popular site and if you wait until you arrive in Honolulu, you may be disappointed.
ROAD TO HANA
If you visit the island of Maui, one of the highlights is driving the Road to Hana. Disclaimer, if you are prone to car sickness/motion sickness, this will not be a highlight for you. While few drives are as beautiful as the Road to Hana, it is a curvy coastal road, and this all day outing will be miserable if you are queasy. Another thing to consider, this can be a stressful drive and requires total focus. You may consider taking an escorted tour where you can feel more relaxed and have the option of taking your eyes off the road to enjoy the scenery. The Road to Hana is all about the views, cliffs and lush rainforest along the way. The designated driver will miss the majority of these views and a lot of car rental companies do not allow you to take certain roads and paths on this drive. Plan ahead and decide if driving yourself or taking a tour is best for you.
NA PALI COAST
When visiting Kauai, one of the most beautiful sights is the Na Pali Coast. This is a 15-mile expanse of rocky, steep, yet gorgeous coastline that stretches along Kauai's northwest shore. There are 3 ways to take in the beauty of the Na Pali Coast - by foot, by water, or from air. If you plan to go on foot - this is a strenuous excursion that should only be done by experienced hikers. Sure, you can tough it out, but why spend the next several days suffering and unable to enjoy the rest of your trip? If you aren't an experienced hiker, you can take a catamaran or kayak, but you'll be in some rough waves along the north shore. If you are prone to motion sickness, I'd skip this option. Last option, a one hour helicopter tour and you'll get to see everything without getting nauseous or suffering with aching muscles. You'll definitely want to make reservations in advance if you opt to tour the Na Pali Coast by helicopter.
The departing flights back to the mainland are red eye flights. All that time you gained on your flight over is now coming back to you. Allow yourself a day or two for your internal clock to adjust again. My best recommendation is to take at least a day before you return to work.
Do you have any tips you'd like to share? Please leave them in the comments below.
April Powers is the owner of Second Honeymoons and Romance Travel. She has 9 years' experience working with couples to create their ideal romantic getaway. For more information about planning your romantic trip, visit: www.anniversarytravel.com
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