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Travel Essentials |
Clothing
Casual is definitely the name of the game in Hawaii. You'll rarely
see a necktie and even sports jackets on men are a rare sight. For more details
we suggest you read our article entitled, Packing
for Hawaii.
Electricity
Hawaii uses the standard US 110-120 volt, 60 cycle AC.
Money Matters
Hawaii uses standard United States currency. All major international
credit cards, including American Express, MasterCard and Visa, are acceptable at
most locations. You'll find cash machines all over the islands, at banks,
in hotels and in convenience stores. You may pay a surcharge for withdrawing
your money, however.
Tipping works just the same way as everywhere else. A 15-20% gratuity is standard for restaurants. Other folks also appreciate a token of your appreciation including baggage porters, taxi drivers, tour guides and valet parking attendants.
If you're traveling from a foreign country, instead of converting money, which can be expensive, check out to see if your ATM card is honored anywhere near your accommodations. The ATM card has gone a long way to eliminate the use of travelers checks and money exchanges.
Time Differences
Hawaii is the same day as the mainland and one day earlier than Asia.
In Hawaii it's two hours earlier than in California and five hours earlier than
in Philadelphia. It's ten hours earlier than London. Hawaii does not observe
daylight savings time, so in the summer it's three hours earlier than in
California and six hours earlier than in Philadelphia.
Vaccinations
None are required for you and your family, but don't even think about
bringing your pets. Animals are subject to a strict quarantine which is bound to
be longer than your vacation.
Visas and Passports
Entry requirements for Hawaii are the same as they are for the rest
of the United States. That means you don't need a passport. The same holds true
for our Canadian visitors.
Weather
The weather is perfect almost every time of the year. There are
months when the rain is heavier and months when it's a bit hotter. For detailed
information take a look at our article entitled, So
How's the Weather?
When to Visit
There really is no time when it's not the perfect time to visit
Hawaii. There are, however, two peak tourist seasons when the islands are more
crowded and prices are higher. Those seasons are June through August and
December through February. There are other times when you may also encounter
more tourists. Many Japanese take their vacations in late April and early May
during Golden
Week. During this period Waikiki is more crowded. The Merrie Monarch
festival is held in Hilo on the Big Island each year during the week after
Easter, so you may wish to avoid the Hilo area during the festival.
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