Hawaii: 20 cheap eats under $20 on Maui
A Taste of Maui: Dining on a budget? Here's a guide to 20 yummy meal deals. You'll like the ambience, variety and views, too.
By Rosemary McClure, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
April 4, 2008
Lahaina, Maui
Everyone wants to score a first-rate deal on the road. But deals can be difficult to come by in a tourist zone -- especially one like Maui, where the cost of dining can be as breathtaking as the landscape.
So we went to the people who know Maui best -- its residents -- and asked them for suggestions on how to eat well here on a budget.
Our local experts included Charmaine Tavares, the mayor of Maui; Bobby Santos, chef instructor of the Maui Culinary Academy; students at the academy; Bonnie Friedman, cookbook author; and Benita Brazier, of the Maui Office of Economic Development.
Their advice helped us develop this list of 20 great Maui meals for less than $20, our second in a series of occasional stories on getting the best value for your vacation dining dollar.
Bon appétit, or as they say in the islands: E mea ai maik'i.
(Note: Some of the restaurants take cash only, and some are hard to find; call first for hours and directions.)
1. CJ'S DELI & DINER
Price: $7.95 to $9.95
Scoping it out: Only $10 to spend? Stop at CJ's Deli & Diner for what may be the best burger in Maui. For $9.95, our burger combo included half a pound of Angus beef (topped with caramelized Maui onions, cheese and bacon) a refillable soda and a heaping mound of wonderfully seasoned fries. The diner is cheerful and appealing and is just down the street from the über-expensive resorts at Kaanapali. "I opened this restaurant because I was tired of all the tourist traps," says owner Christian Jorgensen, formerly executive chef at the Westin Maui. His menu includes more than burgers: Jorgensen's comfort meals include entrees such as meatloaf ($8.50), pot roast ($9.95) and roast turkey ($8.95). And you can BYOB without a corkage fee. Other pluses: Order lunch to take on a picnic or the road to Hana, and CJ will lend you an ice chest.
We loved. . . everything, including CJ's wickedly wonderful sweets, such as Road to Hana brownies or macadamia nut Hana bars.
We didn't love. . . that the place is hard to find.
CJ's Deli & Diner, Kaanapali Fairway Shops, 2580 Kekaa Drive, No. 120 (just off Honoapiilani Road); (808) 667-0968, www.cjsmaui.com.
2. ALOHA MIXED PLATE
Price: $6.25 to $13.95
Scoping it out: Lahaina, once a whaling capital, is now a tourist hub with restaurants crowding Front Street, the main drag. Many are chain eateries with high prices -- hey, you might as well have stayed at home. So try something different: Aloha Mixed Plate. The funky ocean-side restaurant features plate lunches, an only-in-Hawaii cuisine that includes foods of many cultures. Typical dishes are teriyaki beef, kalua pork, poi, rice, macaroni salad and lomi lomi salmon, but finicky eaters can skip the local food and get a burger or salad. You'll dine outdoors on paper plates, but the view is worth a million dollars, especially at sunset: tiki torches, lush vegetation, crashing surf and a flotilla of sailboats riding at anchor. Come around 8 p.m. and you'll hear the music and dancing from the Old Lahaina Luau next door.
We loved. . . the location and setting.
We didn't love . . . the difficulty finding a parking space.
Aloha Mixed Plate, 1285 Front St., Lahaina (behind the Lahaina Cannery Mall); (808) 661-3322, www.alohamixedplate.com.
3. SUNRISE CAFE
Price: $5.95 to $9.95
Scoping it out: Sunrise Cafe is a day brightener. Tucked away on a side street in busy Lahaina, the diner offers breakfast specials for $5.95 each. At a resort hotel, you'd pay as much as $28 a person. This tiny, family-run restaurant has only 13 tables but is charming, with two shady covered patios for dining and people watching. It's an easy stop on the way to the whale watching and snorkeling boats. Breakfast is served until 3 p.m., when the cafe closes for the day. After 11:30 a.m., appetizers, soups and sandwiches are added to the menu.
We loved . . . the eggs Benedict, the restaurant's specialty.
We didn't love . . . the cash-only policy. No credit cards.
Sunrise Cafe, 693 N. Front St., Lahaina (next to the Lahaina Library on Market Street); (808) 661-8558.
4. BA-LE FRENCH SANDWICHES & BAKERY
Price: $7.75 to $8.25
Scoping it out: This food court restaurant, with two locations in Maui (and 23 others in the state), may have an identity crisis. Is it Vietnamese, French or Hawaiian? It's a little of each, with various dishes to complement the cultures. Visit here for pho (a Vietnamese soup), hot or cold noodle dishes, saimin and lunch plates featuring short ribs, teriyaki chicken and pork. Sandwiches are served on French-style baguettes. Pastries and puddings round out the offerings.
We loved . . . the fast service.
We didn't love . . . the French bread, which was too hard.
4a: Ba-Le French Sandwiches & Bakery, 1221 Honoapiilani Road, Lahaina (in the Lahaina Cannery Mall); (808) 661-5566. Also, 4b: 270 Dairy Road, Kahului (in the Maui Marketplace); (808) 877-2400, www.ba-le.com.
5. SCOOPS
Price: $3.25 to $6.25
Scoping it out: Selling ice cream is the best job in the world, says Scoops' owner Michael Martinelli, "because 99 out of 100 customers go away smiling." After tasting Lappert's Hawaii ice cream, we understand why. Lappert's Hawaii ice cream, a boutique brand from Kauai that's sold at Scoops, is creamy and delicious. Scoops, on the main drag in Lahaina, offers 32 flavors and is a granddaddy of ice cream stores: Martinelli has dished up frozen goodness almost every day for 22 years. His biggest seller is Kauai pie (Kona coffee ice cream laced with fudge and coconut) on a chocolate-dipped, nut-encrusted handmade waffle cone. Yes, we know, ice cream isn't a meal. But sometimes nothing else tastes as good.
We loved . . . luscious ice cream on a hot night.
We didn't love . . . the diminutive size of the scoop.
Scoops, 888 Front St., Lahaina; (808) 661-5632.
6. FISH MARKET MAUI
Price: $8.99 to $12.99
Scoping it out: It's easy to get hooked on the food at Fish Market Maui. If you want a great fish dinner without paying a fortune, this tiny shop in a West Maui strip mall makes it easy. Owners Jim and Tricia Patch buy from local fisherman and resell to the public. Plan a condo picnic or beach-side barbecue and pick up ready-to-grill varieties such as opakapaka (Hawaiian pink snapper), mahi mahi, ono, wild salmon and striped marlin. Or phone ahead and ask them to cook it for you. The market also has a to-go counter with sandwiches, fish tacos and pizzas, including crab and avocado. And there's a deli counter with delicacies such as lobster salad, poke (raw ahi salad) and smoked fish.
We loved . . . eating fish that just came off the boat.
We didn't love . . . the location, north of Kaanapali, which is too far for visitors staying in Kihei or Wailea.
Fish Market Maui, 3600 Lower Honoapiilani Road, Lahaina; (808) 665-9895.
7. HONOLUA STORE DELI
Price: All less than $7
Scoping it out: Kapalua is a pretty tony address. This resort community at the far end of West Maui is home to the swanky Ritz-Carlton Kapalua and other pricey digs. But it's also home to the quaint Honolua Store, a fixture since 1929, when the area was part of a giant pineapple plantation. The store, which sells T-shirts and tourist necessities, has a new addition. In December, a deli was added; its takeout menu has quickly become so popular that locals and tourists line up outside before the 6 a.m. daily opening. Chef Romeo Arruiza, formerly of the Westin Kaanapali, offers a changing menu of lunch plates, pizzas and sandwiches. And you can walk out the door, with a beverage, for less than $10. Stop by for a picnic lunch if you go snorkeling at beautiful Kapalua Beach or drive the West Maui coast road. Or dine outside on the patio.
We loved . . . the fast, fresh, inexpensive local food.
We didn't love . . . getting lost on Kapalua's dead-end roads.
Honolua Store Deli, 502 Office Road, Lahaina; (808) 665-9109.
8. MAUI CULINARY ACADEMY
Price: $5 to $8.50
Scoping it out: Where on Maui do you find the best food for the lowest prices? The winner, hands down, is Maui Culinary Academy, which operates seven specialty kitchens and a high-end restaurant at Maui Community College. The restaurants are part of the school's food service program and offer a terrific place to eat breakfast or lunch if you're lucky enough to visit the island during the school season. Sushi, seafood, pasta, salads -- all beautifully prepared and presented -- are available in the Paina Food Court daily. (It's near the airport and is open 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.) "A lot of people think we aren't open to the public," says longtime chef instructor Bobby Santos. "We embrace the public. The busier we are, the more the students are going to learn."
We loved. . . the choice, the taste, the prices.
We didn't love. . . that it's not open for dinner.
Maui Culinary Academy, Maui Community College, 310 W. Kaahumanu Ave., Kahului; (808) 984-3225, www.mauiculinary.com.
9. DA KITCHEN CAFE
Price: $6.75 to $13.95
Scoping it out: Ask a Maui resident about his or her favorite budget restaurant and the name that keeps popping up is Da Kitchen, which has two strip mall locations. (The main cafe is in Central Maui near the airport; an express version is in Kihei.) Da Kitchen is known for its plate lunches. It's also known for huge portions. The teriyaki chicken plate has about 1 1/2 pounds of chicken, the kalua pork has about a pound of meat. "And at least 75% of our customers have no problem eating it all," says Mariah Brown, who owns the cafes with Les Tomita. "He's a big guy who likes to eat," says Mariah of her business partner, "and he thinks we should serve big food." That's why their motto is "Home of da world's biggest plate lunch."
We loved. . . the tempura mahi mahi.
We didn't love. . . the 30- to 40-minute wait in line for lunch or dinner at the Central Maui location.
Da Kitchen, Triangle Square, 425 Koloa St., No. 104, Kahului; (808) 871-7782, www.da-kitchen.com. Da Kitchen Express, Rainbow Mall, 2439 S. Kihei Road, No. A107, Kihei; (808) 875-7782.
10. BANGKOK CUISINE
Price: $7.50 to $17.50
Scoping it out: In some ways, this 11-table strip mall restaurant is amazing. Given the low prices, it's amazing that the restaurant has cloth napkins, colorful sari tablecloths and bright tapestries on the wall. And there's amazing food too. In fact, that's the dish you should try: "The Amazing, your choice of chicken, beef or pork simmered in peanut curry sauce and coconut milk and served over steamed veggies" ($10.50). We loved it. Visit Bangkok Cuisine on the way to or from the airport or bound for Kmart or Costco.
We loved. . . the speedy service and eye appeal of the food.
We didn't love. . . long lines on weekends.
Bangkok Cuisine, 395 Dairy Road, Kahului; (808) 893-0026.
11. STILLWELL'S BAKERY & CAFE
Price: $5.45 to $12.45
Scoping it out: Planning a trip to beautiful Iao Valley? Stillwell's is an easy stop for pastries and sandwiches. If the cream horns and macadamia nut muffins don't tempt you, nothing will. Roy Stillwell's Bakery & Cafe has a pastry case chock-full of wonderfully excessive treats. No surprise: He was once a pastry chef. Arrive early for the best variety of pastries; everything sells out fast. (He makes and sells about 200 cream horns a day.) Not into sweets? Try his sandwiches; the breads are 100% homemade, and some people swear the tuna sandwich is the best they've ever tasted. "Unique, fresh, fast and reasonable" is how Stillwell describes his restaurant. We agree.
We loved. . . the sweets and the Reuben sandwiches.
We didn't love . . . that the restaurant closes at 3 p.m.
Stillwell's Bakery & Cafe, 1740 Kaahumanu Ave., Wailuku; (808) 243-2243.
12. TOKYO TEI RESTAURANT
Price: $5 to $14.50
Scoping it out: A grainy black-and-white photo of John F. Kennedy hangs in Tokyo Tei. It was taken when he visited the restaurant in 1959. This Maui institution -- about 75 years old and counting -- is off the tourist routes, but well worth the trip if you'd like to hobnob with locals and try Japanese food with a Maui flair. Tokyo Tei opened in 1934 and has been a local favorite ever since, although during World War II the owners were forced to rename it Rainbow Inn for a time. The matriarch of the family, Betsy Cardoza, 83, still comes to work every day, but daughter Eunice Kitagawa does the heavy lifting now. Order the teriyaki steak ($14.50) or the ahi sashimi ($10).
We loved. . . that customers feel like part of the family.
We didn't love. . . that it's very hard to find. Call for directions.
Tokyo Tei, 1063 E. Lower Main St., Wailuku; (808) 242-9630.
13. DOWN TO EARTH
Price: $7.75 to $8.25
Scoping it out: Tofuand organic food fans, this is your place.Down to Earth, a Honolulu company, has two outposts in Maui; the main store is in Kahului on Dairy Road, near the airport, and a satellite store is Upcountry in Makawao. If you forgot to pack your ginseng, you can pick up some in the wellness center, which is packed with vitamins and elixirs. Or score lunch or dinner at the salad and food bars or the deli counter. (Try the Greek salad or the blackened tofu, both $7.59 a pound.) Other pluses: pastries, lots of fresh produce, ethnic foods and plenty of legumes, nuts and grains.
We loved. . . having healthy vegetarian choices.
We didn't love. . . the staff's lack of aloha spirit.
Down to Earth, 305 Dairy Road, Kahului; (808) 877-2661, or 1169 Makawao Ave., Makawao; (808) 572-1488, www.downtoearth.org.
14. CAFE O'LEI
Price: Lunch $6.95 to $12.95; dinner $14.95 to $38.95
Scoping it out: Many of our under-$20 restaurants are modest. Diners order at a walk-up counter, and the food comes in Styrofoam containers. That doesn't mean the fare isn't tasty, just that the surroundings and amenities are simple. Cafe O'Lei Steak & Seafood is a pleasant exception. It's a real restaurant, with cloth napkins, white tablecloths, fresh flower arrangements and candles burning on the table. It has martini and sushi bars to add to the setting. The food is more expensive, but more than half the dinner entrees make our under-$20 cut, and the artfully prepared dishes and enjoyable ambience make it worth the price. We overheard a fellow diner call it "a terrific value." We agree.
We loved . . . baked Maui onion soup en croûte ($6.95) and macadamia nut-crusted breast of chicken ($17.95).
We didn't love . . . a $5.95 charge to split a meal.
Cafe O'Lei, 2439 S. Kihei Road (upstairs at Rainbow Mall), Kihei, (808) 891-1368; or 1333 Maui Lani Parkway, Kahului, (808) 877-0073; www.cafeoleirestaurants.com.
15. SHAKA SANDWICH & PIZZA
Price: $6.35 to $25.95
Scoping it out: Maui is one of the last places you might look for a good slice of New York-style pizza, but this open-air pizzeria in Kihei has the recipe. For 18 years, Shaka has dished up hoagies, hot and cold sandwiches, cheese steaks, calzone, Stromboli and New York- and Sicilian-style pizzas. Magazines, local newspapers and guidebooks (including Frommer's) have listed it as having the best pizza in Maui. We liked it too. The crust is light, and the toppings are generous. Try the Maui pineapple and ham or the white cheese and spinach varieties.
We loved . . . pizza by the slice for $2.97.
We didn't love . . . the traffic noise from busy Kihei Road, which can be daunting.
Shaka Sandwich & Pizza Inc., 1770 S. Kihei Road, Kihei; (808) 874-0331.
16. JAWZ TACOS
Price: $6.75 to $12.95
Scoping it out: Baja-style tacos go Hawaiian here. Jawz is a strip-mall cafe in Kihei (also operating two taco trucks at Big Beach daily) that will help satisfy your need for a Mexican beer, chips and a good jolt of salsa. Diners order fast-food-style at a counter, but the dining room has an appealing tropical ambience, with floral tablecloths, beach murals and plants. The salsa bay is one of the most interesting we've seen, with roasted jalapeño, serrano, habanero, corn and chipotle salsas. The menu runs the Mexican food gamut, including fajitas, burritos, quesadillas and fish and meat tacos. But don't expect California-style Mexican food or you'll be disappointed. This has its own very different style.
We loved. . . the enchilada pie and the many varieties of salsa.
We didn't love . . . the mounds of salad and paucity of protein on the tacos.
Jawz Tacos, Azeka Mall, 1279 S. Kihei Road, Kihei; (808) 874-TACO (874-8226), www.jawzfishtacos.com
17. ALEXANDER'S FAMOUS FISH CO.
Price: $7.95 to $13.95
Scoping it out: Chickens graze in the breezeway at Alexander's Famous Fish Co., a rustic highway stand on the main drag in Kihei. Nearby, patrons sit at resin tables, wolfing down fish and chips. A mural of a hula dancer decorates the walls. Alexander's doesn't offer much in the way of ambience, but the fish is fresh and perfectly cooked, not dry or mushy. The takeout stand specializes in local fish: ahi, ono and mahi. Order it fried or grilled. There are also fish tacos, sandwiches, salads, shrimp, fried chicken and ribs. Most people take the food to go, but some eat it there. Just don't be surprised if a chicken hops by looking for a handout.
We loved . . . the simple menu and fast service.
We didn't love . . . that it may be a little too plain and laid-back.
Alexander's Famous Fish Co., 1913 S. Kihei Road, Kihei; (808) 874-0788.
18. SERPICO'S
Price: $6.75 to $17.25
Scoping it out: What's a nice New Jersey family doing in Upcountry Maui, tossing pizza dough, layering lasagna noodles and cooking up tennis-ball-sized meatballs? Serpico's Pizzeria & Restaurant, a 10-table Italian eatery in Pukalani, offers a fine, low-cost family stop on the way home from Haleakala National Park. This is a plain-wrap kind of place, where the chairs and tables are mismatched, but the food is big-city Italian. Owner Charles Clark was in the pizzeria biz for 32 years before visiting Maui on vacation with the kids. (He and wife Miriam have six.) No one wanted to go home, so he opened Serpico's.
We loved. . . the meatballs and the pizza, which is hand-tossed, East Coast-style.
We didn't love. . . the decor. Serpico's needs a little ambience.
Serpico's, 7 Aewa Place, Pukalani; (808) 572-8498, www.serpico
19. PAIA FISH MARKET
Price: $8.50 to $17.95
Scoping it out: This is a popular place in a popular town. Paia, a one-time sugar plantation town turned New Age settlement, is one of the last stops on the North Shore road to Hana, so things can get hectic, especially on weekends. Seafood, of course, is the specialty at Paia Fish Market. Order at a counter; you have your choice of various seafoods prepared as a steak, in a sandwich or a taco, and you can have it fried, charbroiled, sautéed in butter with garlic and lemon, or blackened Cajun-style. (Burgers are also available.) Eat at a picnic table or take the food to go. This low-key diner is a tourist favorite; when we visited late on a Saturday afternoon, 16 people were in line ahead of us. But the fish is well-prepared and very fresh.
We loved. . . the ahi and the mahi-mahi.
We didn't love. . . waiting in line and jockeying for a table.
Paia Fish Market, 100 Hana Highway, Paia; (808) 579-8030.
20. FOR A SPLURGE . . .
Price: $20 or less
Scoping it out: The bartender smiled when I asked him about drink prices. "Maui isn't the place to visit if you're on a budget," he said, shaking his head, "and the Grand Wailea especially isn't the place to visit if you're on a budget."
He's right, of course. The Grand Wailea, Maui's top-tier resort palace, is priced for kings and landed gentry, not commoners.
But if you keep a tight rein on your wallet, you too can live like the moneyed class that stops here. The Grand Wailea is one of three beachfront resorts we're lumping together as our 20th entry. The others are in West Maui: the Westin Maui in Kaanapali and Napili Kai Beach Resort near Kapalua. Each offers spectacular surroundings or scenery that is worth a little splurge. Just don't splurge too much. Have a drink and an appetizer and enjoy the vibe as long as possible.
At the Grand Wailea, the draw is the hotel's massive open-air lobby. Stroll through the grounds and watch the sunset from the beach or the lobby for the price of a drink (mai tai, $12.50) or order a beer ($6.50) and an appetizer (a heaping plate of onion rings for $11).
The Westin grounds are also impressive, with wandering pools, slides, great sunset views of the beach and a flock of flamingos to watch. I had lunch poolside at the Ono Bar & Grill, where my grilled chicken ciabatta sandwich came with portabello mushrooms, Asiago cheese and a side of French fries for $14. I could have ordered chicken noodle and wonton soup; a big bowl with veggies costs $9.50. And there's a bonus here: Children dine free at the Westin when accompanied by an adult who orders an entree.
At the far end of Maui, my favorite stop is the Sea House Restaurant at Napili Kai Beach Resort, with stunning views of Napili Bay and Molokai. Walk through the resort grounds, play in the water or snorkel at beautiful Kapalua Bay on the opposite side of the hotel, then have lunch or appetizers on the outdoor patio. (An order of coconut macadamia nut shrimp is $11; a crab cake sandwich $12.) It's a great way to spend a day in paradise.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
How cheap does a bad vacation have to be before it becomes OK?
This is a question that was posed by a wonderful speaker and motivational travel agent trainer, Nolan Burris, at one of his seminars a while back but I think it is the time to bring it up again.
With all of the options in booking travel, why should you work with a travel professional? Isn’t it just easier and cheaper to do the research online and just book it all yourself? Yes, you could do that if you just want the cheapest trip out there and aren’t looking for the assistance, guidance and expertise that a travel professional can offer.
Let me give you an example:
Did you hear about the honeymoon couple that booked their Greek Island honeymoon through one of the big online agencies that starts with an E? They were traveling in November. That would bring up a red flag in any good travel professional’s eyes. Honeymoon couple gets to Santorini and finds a cab to take them to their hotel which is closed for the season. Unfortunately, they booked it online so there was no one to advise them that the season in Santorini is May-September and most hotels are closed down in October for the winter. What did the honeymoon couple do? Obviously, they didn’t get the honeymoon of their dreams. They did, I believe, get their money back from the big online agency for that part of their trip.
If a honeymoon couple insists on visiting the Greek Islands in November, I might have suggested a Mediterranean cruise that instead. A couple of cruise ships still stop at numerous Greek Islands in November as Meredith and Matt did aboard the Celebrity Solstice this past November.
Let me give you another example:
You want to go to Maui for a vacation and you do all of your research online. How hard could Maui be to book? It’s part of the US and they use US$ and they speak English.
So you find a great deal at a great property in Maui that is right on the beach and you book it with airfare. The price is too good to be true and they are giving you a 3rd night free and breakfast, too. Also, the reviews on all the consumer websites were really good. Perfect- you put down your credit card # and you start to pack.
OK, the flights weren’t ideal. The lay over in LAX was a bit longer than you expected but you’re on vacation, so you can deal with it. You finally arrive in Maui and it is almost dark there. You get to the airport and figure you’ll just hop a cab to the hotel in the Ka’anapali Beach area. Shouldn’t be too far and, anyway, you don’t need a car in Maui, right? Fifty five minutes and $100 later, you arrive at your gorgeous hotel. The lobby is everything you read about. It looks like you are in a tropical rain forest. You forget about your $100 cab ride and put it behind you. Your bell hop takes you to your terrace view room. That sounds so great- terrace view. Too bad it’s dark by now and you won’t be able to see the view until tomorrow morning.
The room is nice- great bathroom, comfy bed, big TV. You put down your bags and go get a bite to eat and wander around the hotel just a bit before going back to your room to unpack and go to bed. It’s a long flight to Maui from the East Coast.
Every few minutes you are hearing a weird noise. Beep, Beep. Sounds like the noise when you are locking your car door. You just ignore it thinking that you must just be tired. You settle into your wonderfully comfortable bed and then hear a car alarm go off.
Now you aren’t imagining it and you go to sliding glass doors and step onto your lanai to realize that your terrace view is actually of the parking lot. This might be happening all week long (:
Had you called a good travel professional, especially one who has been to Maui, they would have recommended you rent a car – probably for less money than a round trip cab ride to the airport and they would have been able to get you that same deal but would have recommended the mountain view room instead.
Again, how cheap does a bad vacation have to be, before it becomes OK?
If you are ok with a vacation like the 2 described above, by all means, please book your vacation online. If you are looking for an experience, please contact me at mindy@myvacationlady.com
With all of the options in booking travel, why should you work with a travel professional? Isn’t it just easier and cheaper to do the research online and just book it all yourself? Yes, you could do that if you just want the cheapest trip out there and aren’t looking for the assistance, guidance and expertise that a travel professional can offer.
Let me give you an example:
Did you hear about the honeymoon couple that booked their Greek Island honeymoon through one of the big online agencies that starts with an E? They were traveling in November. That would bring up a red flag in any good travel professional’s eyes. Honeymoon couple gets to Santorini and finds a cab to take them to their hotel which is closed for the season. Unfortunately, they booked it online so there was no one to advise them that the season in Santorini is May-September and most hotels are closed down in October for the winter. What did the honeymoon couple do? Obviously, they didn’t get the honeymoon of their dreams. They did, I believe, get their money back from the big online agency for that part of their trip.
If a honeymoon couple insists on visiting the Greek Islands in November, I might have suggested a Mediterranean cruise that instead. A couple of cruise ships still stop at numerous Greek Islands in November as Meredith and Matt did aboard the Celebrity Solstice this past November.
Let me give you another example:
You want to go to Maui for a vacation and you do all of your research online. How hard could Maui be to book? It’s part of the US and they use US$ and they speak English.
So you find a great deal at a great property in Maui that is right on the beach and you book it with airfare. The price is too good to be true and they are giving you a 3rd night free and breakfast, too. Also, the reviews on all the consumer websites were really good. Perfect- you put down your credit card # and you start to pack.
OK, the flights weren’t ideal. The lay over in LAX was a bit longer than you expected but you’re on vacation, so you can deal with it. You finally arrive in Maui and it is almost dark there. You get to the airport and figure you’ll just hop a cab to the hotel in the Ka’anapali Beach area. Shouldn’t be too far and, anyway, you don’t need a car in Maui, right? Fifty five minutes and $100 later, you arrive at your gorgeous hotel. The lobby is everything you read about. It looks like you are in a tropical rain forest. You forget about your $100 cab ride and put it behind you. Your bell hop takes you to your terrace view room. That sounds so great- terrace view. Too bad it’s dark by now and you won’t be able to see the view until tomorrow morning.
The room is nice- great bathroom, comfy bed, big TV. You put down your bags and go get a bite to eat and wander around the hotel just a bit before going back to your room to unpack and go to bed. It’s a long flight to Maui from the East Coast.
Every few minutes you are hearing a weird noise. Beep, Beep. Sounds like the noise when you are locking your car door. You just ignore it thinking that you must just be tired. You settle into your wonderfully comfortable bed and then hear a car alarm go off.
Now you aren’t imagining it and you go to sliding glass doors and step onto your lanai to realize that your terrace view is actually of the parking lot. This might be happening all week long (:
Had you called a good travel professional, especially one who has been to Maui, they would have recommended you rent a car – probably for less money than a round trip cab ride to the airport and they would have been able to get you that same deal but would have recommended the mountain view room instead.
Again, how cheap does a bad vacation have to be, before it becomes OK?
If you are ok with a vacation like the 2 described above, by all means, please book your vacation online. If you are looking for an experience, please contact me at mindy@myvacationlady.com
Monday, February 1, 2010
New Carnival Luggage Policy
This stirred a bit of debate on one of my travel agent forums.
Carnival is requiring that all luggage that is going to be given to porters and later delivered to cabins be left unlocked so that they can search them.
These are similar rules to the airlines but is Carnival's motive to boost liquor sales on board the ship or for the safety of the passengers? What are your thoughts?
"SECURITY SCREENING AND PROHIBITED ITEMS POLICY
In order to maintain a safe and secure environment, Carnival prohibits certain items onboard, i.e., weapons, candles, irons, alcohol, or other dangerous goods. According to our policy, Carnival conducts security scanning of all luggage and if prohibited items are found, they will be removed and stored for safekeeping until the end of the voyage. Retained item(s) will be delivered to the guest’s stateroom on the last night of their cruise. Unsealed liquids that are prohibited will be discarded, as well as any unclaimed items left after the voyage, and no compensation will be given in either case.
IMPORTANT - All luggage must be unlocked before being turned over to the porters in order to avoid any inconvenience or delay in delivering the luggage to the guest’s stateroom.
For additional information, please refer to the terms and conditions located in our cruise ticket contract and related FAQs on Carnival.com.
This policy will now be strictly enforced effective with January 30th sailings of all of our Miami ships, with the rest of the fleet to follow shortly thereafter. We kindly request your assistance in making sure your clients are aware of this policy so they can be properly prepared once they arrive at the port for their cruise departure."
Carnival is requiring that all luggage that is going to be given to porters and later delivered to cabins be left unlocked so that they can search them.
These are similar rules to the airlines but is Carnival's motive to boost liquor sales on board the ship or for the safety of the passengers? What are your thoughts?
"SECURITY SCREENING AND PROHIBITED ITEMS POLICY
In order to maintain a safe and secure environment, Carnival prohibits certain items onboard, i.e., weapons, candles, irons, alcohol, or other dangerous goods. According to our policy, Carnival conducts security scanning of all luggage and if prohibited items are found, they will be removed and stored for safekeeping until the end of the voyage. Retained item(s) will be delivered to the guest’s stateroom on the last night of their cruise. Unsealed liquids that are prohibited will be discarded, as well as any unclaimed items left after the voyage, and no compensation will be given in either case.
IMPORTANT - All luggage must be unlocked before being turned over to the porters in order to avoid any inconvenience or delay in delivering the luggage to the guest’s stateroom.
For additional information, please refer to the terms and conditions located in our cruise ticket contract and related FAQs on Carnival.com.
This policy will now be strictly enforced effective with January 30th sailings of all of our Miami ships, with the rest of the fleet to follow shortly thereafter. We kindly request your assistance in making sure your clients are aware of this policy so they can be properly prepared once they arrive at the port for their cruise departure."
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Controversy continues on whether Royal Caribbean ships should call on Labadee
It has been a couple of weeks since the horrific earthquake devasted the city of Port-au-Prince in Haiti and just days after the quake, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity ships have been docking at the private reserve, Labadee, on the western peninsula of the island. There has been a lot of media bashing of Royal Caribbean for making the decision to continue to call on this port when there is so much devastation just 60 miles away.
This editorial is from the editor in chief of a popular travel industry magazine and brings up the positive side of why she feels Royal Caribbean's decision to continue to call on Labadee is a good one. What do you think?
"Doing the Right Thing in Haiti
By Theresa Norton Masek
Published on: January 27, 2010
Over the past week Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. has been weathering an attack of unfair criticism for continuing to call at Labadee, its private beach resort in Haiti. Several consumer press outlets have attacked the line for allowing in so many words pampered Americans to loll in the sand, sip fruity drinks and dance in the surf while the capital city, Port-au-Prince, is attempting to deal with the Jan. 12 earthquake that killed an estimated 150,000 people. They believe that Royal Caribbean should cancel calls until Haiti is back on its feet. They couldn’t be more wrong!
Instead of withdrawing during Haiti’s time of desperate need, Royal Caribbean immediately pledged to donate at least $1 million in humanitarian relief the tally has already surpassed $2 million and missed not a single call at Labadee. The decision was not made lightly. “We knew there was always the possibility that not everyone would be happy with the decision,” says Royal Caribbean spokeswoman Cynthia Martinez. “We’ve had an almost 30-year relationship with Haiti, and we’ve been going to Labadee for almost 15 years. We wanted to go back to take relief supplies and also help with the long-term economy. We have 230 Haitian employees on the Labadee site, and there are 300 Haitians who have booths in the straw market or braid hair, so every time a ship calls it impacts more than 500 local Haitians.”
Still, Royal Caribbean wanted to make sure its efforts were welcome. “We needed to make sure Haiti was ready and willing for us to come back, and we wouldn’t come back until we heard something from them,” Martinez says. “They stressed how important it was for the recovery and economy for us to continue. And now, especially after this negative reaction, we’ve had a lot of letters of support from the Ministry of Tourism, President Clinton [now U.N. special envoy to Haiti] and local relief organizations.”
Since the earthquake, six Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises ships have called on Labadee and delivered more than 400 pallets of supplies water, rice, dried beans, powdered milk, canned goods, medical supplies, hygiene products and disinfectants. The supplies are a combination of donated items and goods purchased by Royal Caribbean. What’s more, all net revenue generated by the calls at Labadee will be donated to Haiti relief. The company also invited its passengers to donate to the relief effort through their onboard accounts. So far, guests have donated $170,000 to the organization Food for the Poor.
Royal Caribbean’s latest gesture is to assign a top executive with intimate knowledge of Haiti to work with Paul Farmer, the deputy U.N special envoy under Clinton. John Weis, Royal Caribbean’s associate vice president-private destinations, spent a lot of time working on Labadee’s recent enhancement and has since spearheaded the company’s relief efforts. Weis will work with Farmer for three months, while the cruise company pays his salary. “His first task is setting up logistics,” Martinez says. “He has contacts in Haiti and understands the country well. He will be a valuable asset.”
So what about the cruise passengersω Are they uneasy about getting off in Haitiω Martinez said the ship’s captain and cruise director make an announcement before every stop at Labadee to explain the situation and status of relief efforts. “Every single time, they get a standing ovation,” she says. “And just like all of us, our passengers have seen the coverage and want to do something to help – and they can. They know the proceeds of the call will be donated. And the straw market is doing very well and people aren’t haggling.” On average, 80 percent of the guests are getting off the ship at Labadee, which is not that far off the normal number.
I believe Royal Caribbean clearly made the right decision. Cancelling calls at Labadee would have only hurt Haiti when it needed help the most. Yes, on the surface it appears unseemly to have cruisers frolicking on a beach when 100 miles away a city is in ruins. But don’t forget that, shortly after 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina, officials were urging tourists to return to New York City and New Orleans. Haiti, considered the first- or second-poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, is hardly the tourism mecca that those two cities are, so it rightly should hang on to whatever visitor income it can muster especially now. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. should not be criticized for its actions, but should be thanked and congratulated.
Theresa Norton Masek is editor-in-chief of Vacation Agent magazine, sister publication to TravelPulse.com, and a veteran cruise editor."
This editorial is from the editor in chief of a popular travel industry magazine and brings up the positive side of why she feels Royal Caribbean's decision to continue to call on Labadee is a good one. What do you think?
"Doing the Right Thing in Haiti
By Theresa Norton Masek
Published on: January 27, 2010
Over the past week Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. has been weathering an attack of unfair criticism for continuing to call at Labadee, its private beach resort in Haiti. Several consumer press outlets have attacked the line for allowing in so many words pampered Americans to loll in the sand, sip fruity drinks and dance in the surf while the capital city, Port-au-Prince, is attempting to deal with the Jan. 12 earthquake that killed an estimated 150,000 people. They believe that Royal Caribbean should cancel calls until Haiti is back on its feet. They couldn’t be more wrong!
Instead of withdrawing during Haiti’s time of desperate need, Royal Caribbean immediately pledged to donate at least $1 million in humanitarian relief the tally has already surpassed $2 million and missed not a single call at Labadee. The decision was not made lightly. “We knew there was always the possibility that not everyone would be happy with the decision,” says Royal Caribbean spokeswoman Cynthia Martinez. “We’ve had an almost 30-year relationship with Haiti, and we’ve been going to Labadee for almost 15 years. We wanted to go back to take relief supplies and also help with the long-term economy. We have 230 Haitian employees on the Labadee site, and there are 300 Haitians who have booths in the straw market or braid hair, so every time a ship calls it impacts more than 500 local Haitians.”
Still, Royal Caribbean wanted to make sure its efforts were welcome. “We needed to make sure Haiti was ready and willing for us to come back, and we wouldn’t come back until we heard something from them,” Martinez says. “They stressed how important it was for the recovery and economy for us to continue. And now, especially after this negative reaction, we’ve had a lot of letters of support from the Ministry of Tourism, President Clinton [now U.N. special envoy to Haiti] and local relief organizations.”
Since the earthquake, six Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises ships have called on Labadee and delivered more than 400 pallets of supplies water, rice, dried beans, powdered milk, canned goods, medical supplies, hygiene products and disinfectants. The supplies are a combination of donated items and goods purchased by Royal Caribbean. What’s more, all net revenue generated by the calls at Labadee will be donated to Haiti relief. The company also invited its passengers to donate to the relief effort through their onboard accounts. So far, guests have donated $170,000 to the organization Food for the Poor.
Royal Caribbean’s latest gesture is to assign a top executive with intimate knowledge of Haiti to work with Paul Farmer, the deputy U.N special envoy under Clinton. John Weis, Royal Caribbean’s associate vice president-private destinations, spent a lot of time working on Labadee’s recent enhancement and has since spearheaded the company’s relief efforts. Weis will work with Farmer for three months, while the cruise company pays his salary. “His first task is setting up logistics,” Martinez says. “He has contacts in Haiti and understands the country well. He will be a valuable asset.”
So what about the cruise passengersω Are they uneasy about getting off in Haitiω Martinez said the ship’s captain and cruise director make an announcement before every stop at Labadee to explain the situation and status of relief efforts. “Every single time, they get a standing ovation,” she says. “And just like all of us, our passengers have seen the coverage and want to do something to help – and they can. They know the proceeds of the call will be donated. And the straw market is doing very well and people aren’t haggling.” On average, 80 percent of the guests are getting off the ship at Labadee, which is not that far off the normal number.
I believe Royal Caribbean clearly made the right decision. Cancelling calls at Labadee would have only hurt Haiti when it needed help the most. Yes, on the surface it appears unseemly to have cruisers frolicking on a beach when 100 miles away a city is in ruins. But don’t forget that, shortly after 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina, officials were urging tourists to return to New York City and New Orleans. Haiti, considered the first- or second-poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, is hardly the tourism mecca that those two cities are, so it rightly should hang on to whatever visitor income it can muster especially now. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. should not be criticized for its actions, but should be thanked and congratulated.
Theresa Norton Masek is editor-in-chief of Vacation Agent magazine, sister publication to TravelPulse.com, and a veteran cruise editor."
Monday, January 25, 2010
Fun and Free it Waikiki
Yes, Hawaii can be expensive to get to and to stay there but more and more of the islands are offering very reasonable or even FREE family oriented entertainment. Check out this article from the Seattle Times:
By Brian J. Cantwell
Seattle Times travel staff
Waikiki is one of Hawaii's busiest tourist areas, with luxury hotels edging miles of white-sand beach on the edge of downtown Honolulu. But it's easy to find low-cost or free fun around Waikiki. Among the options:
• Hula shows on the beach. Lots of Hawaiian hotels stage luaus that include hula, and you can pay a lot to see them. Or you can enjoy the free, authentic Hawaiian music and hula shows by some of Hawaii's finest dance troupes and performers Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays (weather permitting) at the Kuhio Beach Hula Mound, near the Duke Kahanamoku statue, beachside at Uluniu and Kalakaua avenues in Waikiki. Opens with traditional blowing of a conch shell. It's 6:30-7:30 p.m. most of the year, or 6-7 p.m. November through January. Seating on the grass; beach chairs, mats, etc., OK and cameras are welcome. For information, call 808-843-8002.
(get there early if you have little ones because the best seats in the front fill up fast. The Duke Kahanamoku statue is past the Hyatt but before the Resort Quest Beach Hotel right on the beach side of the promenade.
• Music and movies on the beach. "Sunset on the Beach" is a series of free movie nights, usually a couple nights a month, with a large screen set up on Queen's Beach in Waikiki. Live musical performances precede the 7 p.m. movies, and dinner is available from local food wagons. Check the schedule at www.sunsetonthebeach.net.
• Band concerts at the palace. The Royal Hawaiian Band, founded in 1836 by King Kamehameha III and claiming today to be the only full-time municipal band in the United States, gives free concerts at noon most Fridays on the lawn in front of 'Iolani Palace, the official residence of the Hawaiian Kingdom's last two monarchs — King Kalakaua, who built the palace in 1882, and his sister and successor, Queen Lili'uokalani. It's a short bus ride from Waikiki. More information: www.honolulu.gov/rhb.
• Tropical farmers market. Even if you don't spend a penny on fresh produce, flowers or breakfast from local vendors, the Saturday farmers market in the parking lot at Kapi'olani Community College, 4303 Diamond Head Road, is worth a wander to take in the sights, smells and spectacle. Instead of salmon and local apples like you'd find in Seattle, expect local papaya, fragrant white ginger flowers and apple bananas. Every Saturday, 7:30 to 11 a.m. Get there a half-hour before opening time, everyone else does. See www.hfbf.org/farmersMarket.shtml.
• A jungle hike. Hike to Manoa Falls, starting from a trailhead within a 20-minute drive of Waikiki, for a great (though muddy) introduction to wild Hawaiian forest — go ahead, call it jungle — complete with hanging vines and philodendron leaves the size of elephant ears. Two miles round trip. When we were there a couple of years ago, they were charging to park your car close to the entrance but there is free parking on the street below.
If you don't mind the $5 suggested donation, and you're a fan of long, quiet trails lined with exotic flowers that make the place like an open-air perfume factory, a wander around nearby Lyon Arboretum is well worth your time, too. See www.hawaii.edu/lyonarboretum.
• A free art museum. The Hawai'i State Art Museum, 250 S. Hotel St., across from 'Iolani Palace, presents a large collection of work by Hawaii artists. See http://hawaii.gov/sfca.
• Hula and ukulele lessons. Royal Hawaiian Center, 2201 Kalakaua Ave., one of Waikiki's main malls, offers free cultural enrichment alongside shopping at Cartier, Hermes and Ferragamo. See www.royalhawaiiancenter.com/hawaiian-heritage/cultural-classes for details.
• Friday fireworks. Hilton Hawaiian Village, 2005 Kalia Road, puts on a fireworks show every Friday night at 7:45. A poolside seat for the Rockin' Hawaiian Rainbow Revue, just before the show, is $15. But you can see the fireworks for free from the beach or most anywhere around Waikiki. Details: www.hiltonhawaiianvillage.com.
By Brian J. Cantwell
Seattle Times travel staff
Waikiki is one of Hawaii's busiest tourist areas, with luxury hotels edging miles of white-sand beach on the edge of downtown Honolulu. But it's easy to find low-cost or free fun around Waikiki. Among the options:
• Hula shows on the beach. Lots of Hawaiian hotels stage luaus that include hula, and you can pay a lot to see them. Or you can enjoy the free, authentic Hawaiian music and hula shows by some of Hawaii's finest dance troupes and performers Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays (weather permitting) at the Kuhio Beach Hula Mound, near the Duke Kahanamoku statue, beachside at Uluniu and Kalakaua avenues in Waikiki. Opens with traditional blowing of a conch shell. It's 6:30-7:30 p.m. most of the year, or 6-7 p.m. November through January. Seating on the grass; beach chairs, mats, etc., OK and cameras are welcome. For information, call 808-843-8002.
(get there early if you have little ones because the best seats in the front fill up fast. The Duke Kahanamoku statue is past the Hyatt but before the Resort Quest Beach Hotel right on the beach side of the promenade.
• Music and movies on the beach. "Sunset on the Beach" is a series of free movie nights, usually a couple nights a month, with a large screen set up on Queen's Beach in Waikiki. Live musical performances precede the 7 p.m. movies, and dinner is available from local food wagons. Check the schedule at www.sunsetonthebeach.net.
• Band concerts at the palace. The Royal Hawaiian Band, founded in 1836 by King Kamehameha III and claiming today to be the only full-time municipal band in the United States, gives free concerts at noon most Fridays on the lawn in front of 'Iolani Palace, the official residence of the Hawaiian Kingdom's last two monarchs — King Kalakaua, who built the palace in 1882, and his sister and successor, Queen Lili'uokalani. It's a short bus ride from Waikiki. More information: www.honolulu.gov/rhb.
• Tropical farmers market. Even if you don't spend a penny on fresh produce, flowers or breakfast from local vendors, the Saturday farmers market in the parking lot at Kapi'olani Community College, 4303 Diamond Head Road, is worth a wander to take in the sights, smells and spectacle. Instead of salmon and local apples like you'd find in Seattle, expect local papaya, fragrant white ginger flowers and apple bananas. Every Saturday, 7:30 to 11 a.m. Get there a half-hour before opening time, everyone else does. See www.hfbf.org/farmersMarket.shtml.
• A jungle hike. Hike to Manoa Falls, starting from a trailhead within a 20-minute drive of Waikiki, for a great (though muddy) introduction to wild Hawaiian forest — go ahead, call it jungle — complete with hanging vines and philodendron leaves the size of elephant ears. Two miles round trip. When we were there a couple of years ago, they were charging to park your car close to the entrance but there is free parking on the street below.
If you don't mind the $5 suggested donation, and you're a fan of long, quiet trails lined with exotic flowers that make the place like an open-air perfume factory, a wander around nearby Lyon Arboretum is well worth your time, too. See www.hawaii.edu/lyonarboretum.
• A free art museum. The Hawai'i State Art Museum, 250 S. Hotel St., across from 'Iolani Palace, presents a large collection of work by Hawaii artists. See http://hawaii.gov/sfca.
• Hula and ukulele lessons. Royal Hawaiian Center, 2201 Kalakaua Ave., one of Waikiki's main malls, offers free cultural enrichment alongside shopping at Cartier, Hermes and Ferragamo. See www.royalhawaiiancenter.com/hawaiian-heritage/cultural-classes for details.
• Friday fireworks. Hilton Hawaiian Village, 2005 Kalia Road, puts on a fireworks show every Friday night at 7:45. A poolside seat for the Rockin' Hawaiian Rainbow Revue, just before the show, is $15. But you can see the fireworks for free from the beach or most anywhere around Waikiki. Details: www.hiltonhawaiianvillage.com.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Conde Nast Gold List 2010
Every year Conde Naste comes out with their gold list of hotels, resorts and cruise ships that earn high marks. This is their 16th annual list. Take a look and see if your favorite hotels and cruise ships made it:
http://www.concierge.com/tools/travelawards/goldlist/2010
Again, in Kauai, the Grand Hyatt came out on top. In Maui, the Four Seasons, Grand Wailea, Hotel Hana and Fairmont Kea Lani made the top list. Of course in the Big Island, my 2 faves are top on the list with the Four Seasons and the Fairmont Orchid. In Ohau, the Halekalani, JW Marriott and the Kahala, made the grade.
http://www.concierge.com/tools/travelawards/goldlist/2010
Again, in Kauai, the Grand Hyatt came out on top. In Maui, the Four Seasons, Grand Wailea, Hotel Hana and Fairmont Kea Lani made the top list. Of course in the Big Island, my 2 faves are top on the list with the Four Seasons and the Fairmont Orchid. In Ohau, the Halekalani, JW Marriott and the Kahala, made the grade.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Disney names new resort in Hawaii
Disney is moving along with its new resort in the great state of Hawaii.
Disney Names New Hawaiian Resort
Walt Disney Parks & Resorts announced the name of its new Hawaii resort, along with a new website for travel agents to visit to stay connected to the resort’s development. Reflecting the discovery, understanding and belonging of the culture, the resort will be called Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, Ko Olina, Hawaii. It is Disney’s first stand-alone family destination resort and it is scheduled to open in 2011.
“Once completed, the beautiful Aulani (pronounced “ow-lonee”) resort will be another unique Disney experience and one which surrounds clients in the lore of Hawaii and its rich stories,” said Randy A. Garfield, executive vice president of worldwide sales and travel operations for Walt Disney Parks & Resorts. “We anticipate opening sales for the resort in summer 2010, and we are kicking off our trade education program concurrent with this naming announcement. This promises to be an outstanding family experience, and one only Disney can deliver.”
“We want this resort destination to reflect the vibrant culture that surrounds it. The name ‘Aulani’ expresses a connection to tradition and deep story-telling -- and its roots are in this land right here,” said Joe Rohde, senior vice president, creative for Walt Disney Imagineering. “We’re so grateful to the local Hawaiians who led us to the discovery of this name, and our goal is to live up to its meaning.” Rohde noted that Aulani means “the place that speaks for the great ones” or “the place that speaks with deep messages.”
Near historical sites on the western side of Oahu, Aulani will be located on 21 acres of oceanfront property in the Ko Olina Resort & Marina development. The resort is planned to have 360 hotel rooms and 481 two-bedroom equivalent Disney Vacation Club villas. Design plans call for amenities to engage every member of the family, a hallmark of a Disney vacation. Among the recreational highlights planned for the resort are pools and sunset-facing hot tubs, a snorkeling lagoon, a variety of Kids Club and other play programs for children, and a river, suitable for tube floating, running through a specially created volcanic outcropping. The resort will also include an 18,000-square-foot spa that will provide a tranquil escape for adult guests to enjoy. Also nearby are a golf course and marina. The resort, built adjacent to a crystal blue lagoon and a white-sand beach, will also have two restaurants and generous ballroom, meeting space and event lawns.
“Disney is known for providing clients with immersive and transformational vacation experiences, and soon we can offer those experiences with the combined beauty and culture of Hawaii.”
For more information on the new Disney resort in Hawaii or any other Hawaiian vacation, please contact mindy@myvacationlady.com
Disney Names New Hawaiian Resort
Walt Disney Parks & Resorts announced the name of its new Hawaii resort, along with a new website for travel agents to visit to stay connected to the resort’s development. Reflecting the discovery, understanding and belonging of the culture, the resort will be called Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, Ko Olina, Hawaii. It is Disney’s first stand-alone family destination resort and it is scheduled to open in 2011.
“Once completed, the beautiful Aulani (pronounced “ow-lonee”) resort will be another unique Disney experience and one which surrounds clients in the lore of Hawaii and its rich stories,” said Randy A. Garfield, executive vice president of worldwide sales and travel operations for Walt Disney Parks & Resorts. “We anticipate opening sales for the resort in summer 2010, and we are kicking off our trade education program concurrent with this naming announcement. This promises to be an outstanding family experience, and one only Disney can deliver.”
“We want this resort destination to reflect the vibrant culture that surrounds it. The name ‘Aulani’ expresses a connection to tradition and deep story-telling -- and its roots are in this land right here,” said Joe Rohde, senior vice president, creative for Walt Disney Imagineering. “We’re so grateful to the local Hawaiians who led us to the discovery of this name, and our goal is to live up to its meaning.” Rohde noted that Aulani means “the place that speaks for the great ones” or “the place that speaks with deep messages.”
Near historical sites on the western side of Oahu, Aulani will be located on 21 acres of oceanfront property in the Ko Olina Resort & Marina development. The resort is planned to have 360 hotel rooms and 481 two-bedroom equivalent Disney Vacation Club villas. Design plans call for amenities to engage every member of the family, a hallmark of a Disney vacation. Among the recreational highlights planned for the resort are pools and sunset-facing hot tubs, a snorkeling lagoon, a variety of Kids Club and other play programs for children, and a river, suitable for tube floating, running through a specially created volcanic outcropping. The resort will also include an 18,000-square-foot spa that will provide a tranquil escape for adult guests to enjoy. Also nearby are a golf course and marina. The resort, built adjacent to a crystal blue lagoon and a white-sand beach, will also have two restaurants and generous ballroom, meeting space and event lawns.
“Disney is known for providing clients with immersive and transformational vacation experiences, and soon we can offer those experiences with the combined beauty and culture of Hawaii.”
For more information on the new Disney resort in Hawaii or any other Hawaiian vacation, please contact mindy@myvacationlady.com
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