Visiting Hawaii– Many travelers, I believe, have Hawaii on their bucket list.
As a result, I believe it is appropriate to provide you with some general and important information about a trip to Hawaii before I provide you with my personal travel reports on the various Hawaiian islands.
If You’re Visiting Hawaii, You Need to Know These 10 Things
If you’re looking to escape to the sun and sand, consider planning a trip to Hawaii. This tropical paradise has something for everyone, from stunning beaches to lush rainforests. Here are 10 tips to help you plan the perfect Hawaii vacation.
1. Admission to Hawaii With a Valid ESTA
Visiting Hawaii
An international passport and a valid Esta for a stay of up to 90 days are required to enter Hawaii. You must apply for this online at least three to four days prior to your departure date.
It costs around $15 and has a two-year validity period. You’ll need a valid visa if you’re staying in Hawaii for more than 90 days. All immigration checks take place at the first “intended” United States airport on your flight route.
This was our first time in Los Angeles. This means that the flight to Hawaii is now classed as a domestic flight, and no more control is given to it.
2. Travel times and arrival in Hawaii from Germany
Travel times and arrival in Hawaii
The journey from Germany is similar to a small round-the-world trip. We were on the road for a total of 42 hours (door to door).
We flew from Munich to Frankfurt, Los Angeles to Los Angeles, and Honolulu to Honolulu. We stayed in an airport hotel for one night before flying to Maui the next morning. We didn’t stay in Honolulu for long.
A few words about the hotel at the airport: The airport was only a short distance away. It was only important to us that we stay in a hotel close to the airport for this one night.
The next morning, at 7:00 a.m., we boarded our flight to Maui. The airport hotel provided excellent value.
Our room with two double beds (four of us slept in one room) cost around $300 per night and had a low standard, but at least basic cleanliness. very athletic.
To be honest, getting to Hawaii was by far the most difficult part of our trip so far. But, well, Hawaii feels like it’s on the other side of the globe, and since we’d booked three weeks, I couldn’t stop thinking about how much fun we’d have:)
3. Inter island flights between Hawaii Island and Hawaii Island
flights between Hawaii Island
When you arrive in Hawaii, you must decide whether to stay on a single island or go island hopping. Because of the variety, I would strongly advise island hopping.
This is where island flights come in handy. Aloha Airlines, Go! Airlines, Island Air, and Hawaiian Airlines are the most well-known airlines. We booked our three island flights with the latter.
Planes leave Honolulu almost every hour for the various islands. Flight tickets range in price from super cheap (from $20) to more expensive (around $150) depending on the time, booking period, and day of the week.
Simply determine which route makes the most sense for you, whether you fly directly from island to island or return to the Honolulu hub and continue from there.
4. Car Rental in Hawaii
Car Rental in Hawaii Visiting Hawaii
No matter which island you visit in Hawaii, you’ll need a car! Prior to our trip to Hawaii, we all reserved our cars online.
I would recommend this in general because, for example, in January, some islands had very few cars available, and you may not be able to get the car you want locally.
The best way to find a car rental in Hawaii is to use Google and compare prices. These can differ significantly not only from one island to the next, but also from one travel time to the next.
Finally, it is determined by the type of vehicle desired. On Maui and the Big Island, we had a Jeep Wrangler, and on Kauai, we had a van.
The Jeep was unquestionably superior, but it usually comes at a higher price. However, in general, one can say that renting a car in Hawaii is reasonably priced.
For instance, we paid €60 per day for our Jeep Wrangler, which included unlimited kilometers, insurance, and an extra driver. Of course, there’s also gasoline.
5. Purchase an international SIM card for your cell phone
Purchase an international SIM card
We recommend purchasing an international SIM card if you plan on staying in Hawaii for more than a week. We paid about $68 at AT & T for three weeks of unlimited internet, text, and phone service that covered the entire island.
Although not cheap, it is unquestionably necessary and money well spent. Even if you just want to use Google Maps or do some research on your phone. Of course, smaller data packages, ranging from $40 to $55, are also available.
6. Hawaii Weather and the Best Time to Visit
Hawaii Weather and the Best Time to Visit
Hawaii is in the so-called trade wind zone, which means there are no true seasons like there are in Germany. The months of November to March see the most precipitation, but temperatures remain fairly consistent throughout the year.
These temperatures range from 23 to 28 degrees Fahrenheit. The weather is more dependent on where you are on the island.
On the south and west coasts, it is usually sunnier and drier, whereas rain and clouds tend to linger on the north coast and in the mountains.
As a result of the climate, it is greener and wetter here. Hawaii’s high season, also known as summer, runs from May to October, and winter runs from November to April, similar to ours.
It was winter in Hawaii at the time of our travel (January). But it didn’t feel that way at all! Part of us had reached a temperature of 30 degrees.
As a result, we can’t talk about winter in a repulsive manner. Even so, it gets quite chilly in the evenings, necessitating the use of a thick sweater. Hawaii’s average temperature is around 26 degrees Fahrenheit.
It’s also worth noting that Hawaii has a number of volcanoes, some of which are very active. On the Big Island, another large lava eruption occurred in 2018.
The damage to the island is still visible across the board. This volcano is also the world’s most active, erupting on a regular basis.
As a result, Hawaiians are constantly in danger, and visitors should be aware of the possibility of a natural disaster. Even if, due to the frequency, the locals are probably “experts” by now and know exactly what to do in the event of an emergency.
7. Hawaii offers 11 out of 13 climate zones.
Hawaii offers 11 out of 13 climate zones
In the world, there are 13 climate zones, and Hawaii has 11 of them! Yes, you read that correctly.
In Hawaii, you’ll find an incredible variety of tides and nature, from cactus steppes to lush, green meadows, beaches and rainforests, glaciers and lava landscapes.
Each of the eight Hawaiian Islands, by the way, has four distinct climate zones: tropical rainforest, moderate climate, tundra, and desert. One of the many reasons I recommend Hawaii as a must-visit destination is because
8. Hawaii is expensive
Hawaii is expensive
Hawaii, as lovely as it is, is prohibitively expensive! Accommodation, flights, activities, and food are all very expensive in this city. This is something you should keep in mind when planning your trip.
Hawaii, like any other popular vacation destination, has one or two tourist prices. In general, the cost of living in Hawaii is extremely high. Although it is comparable to Los Angeles, it is still slightly more expensive.
9. Leave a tip of 15 to 20% on average
Leave a tip of 15 to 20%
Also “good to know” in this context, but also a little uniquely American: the sporty tip rates. Service or tips are not automatically included in a restaurant’s bill.
The average tip here is 15% of the bill (although some bills have a “suggested” 20% tip). In addition, taxes are included in the menu prices.
10. Shop opening hours
Shop opening hours
The Hawaiians have their own set of business hours. You shouldn’t expect to be able to go shopping after 5 p.m., especially in smaller towns.
The shops are usually open from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. As I previously stated, this is usually the case. However, in large cities like Honolulu, the “opening hours problem” is less of an issue.
The malls here, for example, are open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and even from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays.
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