To have a great trip in the Aloha State, avoid these 12 pitfalls.
Don't Automatically Opt for a Beachside Hotel
When imagining a perfect Hawaii vacation, many people envision a
beachfront hotel with an ocean view.
But staying off the beach has its advantages, too.
First, you're likely paying a lot less than you'd pay for an ocean view. High five. And second, you're not going to get stuck in a beach rut.
Have I mentioned all
beaches in Hawaii are public? That means that any hotel's beach is, essentially, your beach as well.
And if you don't have a default, roll-out-of-bed-and-onto-the-sand option, you're far more likely to push yourself to find those incredible off-the-beaten path spots that make a Hawaiian vacation truly memorable.
And if you're not holed up in a resort compound, you'll also likely
eat better food and see more of the island. That's win-win, in our book.
Don’t Forget About Resort Alternatives
There may not be quite as many
lodging options as there are grains of sand in Hawaii, but it's close. With their
waterslides and swim-up bars, hotel resorts get most of the attention; however, if you're looking for great overall value, you'd be wise to consider other options as well.
Like hotels,
vacation rentals span the spectrum between affordable and
upscale—and they will get you kitchens, living spaces, and often nice extras like grills and washer/dryers, too. Vacation club resorts offer a mix of more space and hotel-like amenities.
Don’t Skip the Car Rental
Flickr/Intiaz Rahim
Unless you really are totally committed to
relaxing at your resort and doing nothing more than lounging by the pool, sleeping at the beach, swimming, and
eating (not a bad proposition, it's true), then you need to rent a car.
Hawaii delivers serious splendor beyond resort walls, and you're going to need a car to visit many of these incredible spots. Hidden beaches,
volcanic peaks, wild valleys, and thundering waterfalls beckon from the end of
long highways and down bumpy roads, accessible only to those willing to drive (
and sometimes hike) for a peek.
Keep in mind that many car-rental companies in Hawaii restrict where you can and can't bring non-four-wheel-drive rental cars. If you're planning on venturing down unpaved roads, compare policies by rental agency and car type. And if you're planning to
rent a car under age 25, there are other considerations as well.
Don't Assume You'll Speed Through the Car-Rental Pickup
You land in Hawaii after a
long flight primed to start your vacation. You grab your
checked bags and head to the street to grab the car-rental shuttle. And that's when you realize everyone else on your flight (and on every flight that landed around the same time) is headed to one of a few car-rental agencies at the airport, too. And then you wait. And wait.
Patience will be key, but there are certain steps you can take to expedite the process. Join the rental agency's
loyalty program before you go; that will likely entitle you to stand in the shorter line or allow you to
skip the line altogether and head straight to your car.
And whatever you do, don't make anything complicated. On a recent trip, I tried out
third-party car-rental insurance and wanted to add my spouse to the contract. Thirty minutes later we were still discussing the finer points of car-rental policies with the branch supervisor. Never again. Remember: Patience, preparation, simplicity. Repeat this mantra as needed while standing in line.
Don't Eat Out All the Time
What happens when you take a loaf of bread (or simply the flour to make the bread) and ship it 2,000 miles? The person who eventually eats the bread pays a long-distance markup. There's no getting around it—eating out in Hawaii is expensive. It's not just fancy spots, either; local spots (and even the grocery store, frankly) seem pricier than their mainland counterparts.
Even if you feel like it's just not vacation unless you're
dining out regularly (I am familiar with the phenomenon, being married to a person with this affliction), you can still save hundreds of questionably spent dollars by insourcing some of your meals. Breakfast is an easy one: Head to the local market, pick up some cereal and milk, and occupy the mini-fridge.
If you're a bit more ambitious, keep sandwich fixings and snacks on hand and make some of your own lunches. After all, a
picnic lunch pairs perfectly with a day at the beach.
Don’t Underestimate Hawaiian Food
Flickr/horspowr1001
I'll admit I was guilty of this. I don't like Spam and I'm not a huge fan of finding surprise pineapple in my food. But there's so much more to Hawaiian food than potted meat and hidden tropical fruit. Over the last decade, Hawaii has done its
local bounty proud, finding new and better ways to showcase the incredible interplay of agricultural abundance and rich cultural influences.
How do you unlock the culinary delights of the Hawaiian Islands? By getting out there with an appetite. Hit up a
farmers' market on any island for a taste of what's freshest. Try some local vodka made with sugar cane and deep-ocean mineral water. Stop at a
roadside shack for smoothies. Explore a
coffee plantation, then enjoy a fresh cup of the local brew. Stand in line at a food truck for shave ice. Feast on furikake chicken at a local joint, and eat every
malasada (Hawaiian-Portuguese donuts) and manju (sweet buns filled with coconut, sweet potato, and other delights) that dares to cross your path. Try a plate lunch, saimin, poke, and other local specialties you find.
Don't Skimp on Sunscreen in Hawaii
When my dermatologist found basal-cell carcinoma on my face a few years ago, I was surprised. I had a few
bad sunburns when I was young, but for decades I've been dutifully applying sunscreen and wearing hats. But she said that most people (including me) weren't applying adequate sunscreen, and weren't reapplying often enough. This
applies to children, too.
If a thick initial application and top-ups every 90 minutes in the sun seems like a vacation buzzkill, try reframing it this way: You're on vacation. That means you're not spending days replying to work emails (if you are,
we need to have another conversation), you're not running errands, reorganizing the kitchen cupboards, or commuting. Most of your time is dedicated to fun and relaxation. So consider this the one thing on your to-do list.
And come on, if "Apply sunscreen" is the main thing on your to-do list, you are winning at life.
Don't Stick to the Same Beach in Hawaii
All beaches in Hawaii are public. Even if they're at a fancy resort, or surrounded by a gated community, or bordered by private property, beaches must be accessible and open to anyone. And each of Hawaii's beaches offers a slightly different twist on paradise: calm lava pools and lolling sea turtles, stunning
black sand,
vivid blue water, wide resort beaches dotted with chaise lounges, and everything in between. No beach is quite the same, which means you've got your work cut out for you if you're harboring beach-expert aspirations.
Don’t Forget There's More to Hawaii Than Beaches
Yes, Hawaii is
best known for its beaches. Yes, people come from all over the world to bask on its shores. But a trip that ends at the beach misses out on the rich culture and diverse natural beauty of the islands. Learn about Hawaii's complicated history and strong cultural identity at historical sites and cultural centers. Explore its natural beauty at botanical gardens and
along hiking or biking trails. Enjoy the rhythms of
local life in its small towns. Your curiosity will be rewarded.
Don't Rent Snorkels
Getty Images/Donald Miralle
Let's talk about snorkel rentals. Yes, of course they're cleaning them, but snorkels go inside your mouth. Would you share a partially eaten Lifesaver with a stranger? What if we cleaned it really well first? See what we're getting at here? All the
germs aside, there's the issue of cost. If you just want to
rent a snorkel for an hour or two to check out some cool turtles, or stingrays, or brightly colored fish, then it might be cost-efficient.
But let's face it, snorkeling in Hawaii is pretty addictive, and after you've done it once you're probably going to feel like swimming without snorkel gear is like going to an amazing museum with a blindfold. You'll still be in the museum, sure, but you're not going to truly enjoy what makes it beautiful.So what do you do instead? Head to a larger town and find a Costco, Target, or other big box store. In a pinch, you can even head to a well-stocked grocery store. There, you'll find snorkel gear starting from about $20 for the mask-snorkel combo.
Don't Speed in Hawaii
While stuck in a marathon-based traffic jam on the
Big Island, I noticed regular cars equipped with flashing lights cruising along the shoulder, bypassing the gridlock. At the time, my husband and I half-joked that some savvy locals had bought stick-on sirens (the marathon creates long lines of stopped traffic every year), but I soon discovered that these totally normal-looking, nary-a-Crown-Vic-in-sight cars make up a significant part of the police fleet on Oahu and the Big Island.
Since officers can opt to use their own cars for work, any car can be a cop car. And that means drivers can't fall back on the keeping-an-eye-out-for-cop-cars approach to pushing the speed limit. So stick to the speed limit and enjoy the scenery.
Don’t Dismiss Warning Signs in Hawaii
Strong current. Sharp coral. Stinging jellyfish. Wastewater bacteria. You'll find signs covering these dangers and others at beaches around Hawaii. And let's put it this way: They're not just for show. The sand may be soft and the water warm, but
these and other beach hazards are real and can be life-threatening.
So on your way from parking lot to beach, take a minute to read the signs so that you know what to look out for. And if what you read makes you think twice about entering the water, consider another beach. That, after all, is one of the great things about Hawaii—there are always more beaches to try out.
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