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Lodging and Dining Essentials |
Selecting the right place to stay in Hawaii is not easy, especially if you've never been to the islands and don't know anyone to help you with a recommendation.
Hotels and Resorts
Unlike some areas of the world where you may find two or three hotels at a
given destination, Hawaii has literally thousands of places where you can stay.
If money is no object and you really want to be pampered, there are many top-notch, world-class resorts on each of the major islands. All of the large hotel
chains are present - Hilton, Hyatt, Ritz-Carlton, and Westin, to name just a few.
In Condé Nast Traveler's annual reader poll seeking the best in hotels and resorts in the world, Hawaii had 24 properties listed. Check out our feature "Best Hotels, Resorts and Spas in Hawaii" for more details.
You'll also find several chains which are less familiar to you by name, but which offer excellent accommodations throughout the islands, the largest of which is Outrigger. Many of these resorts feature special programs for children and teens, allowing parents some time for themselves.
In addition to luxury resorts, you'll find many less expensive hotels which offer fewer amenities, but which also are much more affordable, especially if you're bringing a large family. In many areas you can find hotels which have kitchenettes in the room. This will allow you to prepare breakfast and some smaller meals at less expense than a restaurant.
A great resource for information about hotels anywhere in the world is our own About Guide Jana Jones. Her excellent site on Hotels, Resorts, and Inns can help steer you in the right direction.
Rental Homes
For a large family with some money to burn, many of the islands have rental
homes which can be obtained on a weekly or monthly basis. The cost can be high,
but you have all of the comforts of home and a lot more privacy than at a hotel.
Condominiums
For many folks, a rental condominium is the choice of accommodation. Renting
a condo is a good compromise between a staying at a hotel and renting an entire
house. Most rental condominiums are available for stays as short as three days,
up to as long as you'd like. Most come with full kitchens. The prices for condo
rentals are very affordable for most folks, often about half of what you would
pay in one of the luxury hotels.
Bed and Breakfasts
A final option for lodgings in Hawaii are bed and breakfasts. You'll find
many of these on the islands, especially on Kauai and Maui. Some even have small
on-site cottages where the guests stay while the host stays in the
main house.
If you've never stayed in a bed and breakfast and want to know more about what to expect from the experience, there's no better place to start than with our own Elizabeth Arneson, About's Guide to Bed and Breakfasts. Don't miss her feature on several bed and breakfasts on the island of Maui entitled, "Visiting the Island Paradise of Maui".
How to Book Your Lodging
Booking your lodging can be done in several ways. You can, of course, book
through a travel agent or contact the lodging directly. Many bed and breakfasts,
condos and hotels offer specials only available on the Net and available only when you book online. There are also many booking companies which specialize in
reserving accommodations on the islands. Many of these offer discounts when the
booking is handled online.
Eating in Hawaii
Finding the right place to eat in Hawaii is really pretty easy. If anything,
you'll have so many choices that you'll wish your stay were longer, so you could
try them all. In the major resort
areas and larger towns you'll find excellent restaurants, many of which have won
international fame, such as Sam Choy's in Honolulu or Jameson's in Lahaina,
Maui..
In Waikiki you'll find restaurant after restaurant as you wander along Ala Moana Boulevard, Kalakaua Avenue or Kuhio Avenue. These restaurants really want your business, and many offer two-for-one coupons in the free tourist publications available at the airport or on most street corners. The quality and quantity of the food at many of these smaller restaurants vary, but you can get some great bargains if you're careful.
Most of the major restaurant chains that you know on the mainland are also in Hawaii. If you want steak you can go to an Outback Steakhouse or the more expensive Ruth's Chris Steakhouse. You also find most of the fast food restaurants that you are familiar with, such as Burger King, McDonalds and Wendy's. Don't be too surprised if you don't find milkshakes on the menu. Milk products are very expensive in Hawaii.
Hawaii Regional Cuisine
Just in case you missed it, Hawaii is an island state and it's also the
closest state to the Far East. In addition to the cuisine that you find in most
places on the mainland, you'll find excellent seafood restaurants featuring many
types of fish that you've never eaten before such as ahi (yellowfin tuna),
mahimahi (dolphin fish), opah (moonfish), opakapaka (crimson snapper) or ono
(which means delicious in Hawaiian and it is!)
You'll also find excellent Pacific rim cuisine such as Chinese, Japanese, Filipino and Thai. Hawaii also has it's own style of fast food known as the plate lunch. You'll see lunch wagons parked at beaches or off the roadway. In many towns plate lunches are served in small restaurants. You'll get a fish, meat or poultry entree, two scoops of sticky rice, and some macaroni salad. The price is usually very affordable and you'll probably get more food than you can eat. For dessert, be sure to have a shaved ice, Hawaii's tropical version of sno-cones, slushies or water ice.
Finally, what would a trip to Hawaii be without a luau? Each of the major islands has several world-class luaus to choose from. Attending a luau is a part of the Hawaiian culture. It is a celebration, a feast, a tribute and in addition you get a fantastic show. We recommend that you read our feature "Luau: The Hawaiian Feast" as well as our detailed article on what is largely considered to be the best luau in Hawaii, the "Old Lahaina Luau".
Wherever you decide to stay and wherever you decide to eat, it's hard to go too far wrong in Hawaii, especially if you do your homework.
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