Departure City - Toronto
Arrival City - Honolulu, Hawaii
Cost of Flight - $1120.20 (CAD) Round Trip
Date of Departure - June 29th (FRI)
Time of Departure - 1:50 PM
Airline Carrier - Westjet
Flight Number - 681
Plane Change - Arrive Vancouver @ 3:48 PM (2 h. 12 min.)
Website Used - http://www.flightcentre.ca/
Friday, January 20, 2012
Daily Budget
Hawaii uses United States money, so all major international credit cards are accepted, including American Express, MasterCard and Visa at most locations. There are ATM machines all over the islands, at banks, in hotels and in convenience stores. Tipping in Hawaii is followed by the same basic rule as here in Canada. A 15-20% tip is standard for restaurants. All of this taken into consideration, the average American spends $100 per day. Seeing as Hawaii uses U.S. dollars, this is about how much you will need for each day in Hawaii. Of course this will vary depending on the following things…
- Are you planning on shopping?
- Are you planning on taking part in extra activities?
- Are you paying for meals, or is it all inclusive?
No matter what, bring more money than you will think you will use. If it were me I would plan to bring $150 for each day.
5 ‘ A ‘ Approach to Travel and Tourism
Attractions (Cultural & Biophysical) – One of the most visited sites in all of Hawaii are the Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park with about 3 million visitors per year! At this sight you will see Mauna Loa, the world’s largest volcano. This park also offers hiking and camping experiences. Also, be sure to visit USS Arizona Memorial in Oahu. This is the middle section of a sunken battleship and includes a 30 minute film and a short boat trip. There are also tons of adventurous activities are hiking, swimming, surfing, swimming with dolphins/sharks, snorkeling, diving, laying on the beach and more!
Amenities - Some things that I will miss about Canada are public bathrooms, and my normal food options. In Hawaii it is well known that there are a limited amount of public bathrooms. Certain foods will be different and something I have never tried before. However, I will keep an open mind to trying new things. The last thing that I will miss in Hawaii is my own bed. This is how I feel about most places I travel. I am really picky about where I sleep and I have to be comfortable.
Access – You can explore Hawaii by air, water and even car! To drive around the islands, rent a car from a local company. Some islands also have public transportation so you can take the bus. You can also get around by walking, hiking, or even a helicopter to see some of the out-of-the-way sites. Another option for people who do not like moving around a lot is taking a Hawaiian cruise.
Accommodation – There are not very many accommodation options in Hawaii which will hold 4 people for $99 per/night. However, travelling in groups will help you save money on accommodations. The average cost per person can average as low as $25 per night! There are high end hotels (five star) and as low as 1 star hotels for budget travelers.
Activities – There are tons of activities to do in Hawaii. If you enjoy the outdoors and warm, sunny weather, this is the destination of your dreams. Take part in activities such as…
- Biking along the volcano’s
- Zip lining
- Snorkeling
- Rafting
- Swimming with dolphins
- Helicopter tours
- Boating
- Fishing
- Luaus
- Horseback riding
- Parasailing
- Bird watching
Travel Motivators and Barriers
The biggest travel motivator is obviously the weather. The average weather in Hawaii is about 26 degrees Celsius! This is perfect for people looking to soak up some rays! There are also tons of exciting activities for tourists, beautiful beaches and cheap accommodations for budget travelers. I hate winter, and as a Canadian, that’s kind of a problem. Hawaii is the perfect getaway opportunity for people who like summer, however, for the people who cannot deal with hot weather (like my mom) this may be a barrier, and those people may chose to go somewhere cooler. As for activities, well, your options never end! You can participate in tons of recreational water activities such as scuba lessons, swimming with the sharks/dolphins and even reef diving! For the less adventurous people, this may not be something they are interested in and they may choose to go somewhere with activities that are less exciting (maybe go to a museum…). Another travel motivator is that it is cheap to stay in Hawaii. If you are a budget traveler, there are many options for you as far as cheap accommodation and activities. If you are going to Hawaii just for a relaxing getaway, you don’t need to participate in extra tours and things like that; you can just lie on the beach and go swimming! If you are looking for a high class vacation and something very high end as far as accommodations and activities, not to worry! There are tons of options for you too!
Culture Shock & Climate During Visit
There isn’t very much about Hawaii that Hollywood hasn’t already covered – it’s paradise! Since Hawaii is part of the U.S., you should expect a lot of typical American food and some Asian cuisine. The official language in Hawaii is, of course, Hawaiian. However, the number of people who actually speak this language is decreasing as the years go on. The majority of the people in Hawaii speak English, so there isn’t too much to worry about as far as communicating with people.
Summer highs average about 85°F (29.4°C) and winter highs about 78°F (25.5°C). June and July are the driest months for all islands.
Kau = Summer
Ho'olio = Winter
Accommodations
Hawaiian Monarch Hotel
444 Niu Street Honolulu, 96815 United States of America
This hotel is a very simple 2 start rating, and you can get a cheap room from 76 Canadian dollars per night! It is located within a mile of Waikiki Beach! To get to the hotel, take the airport shuttle for only US$ 9. Guests have access to an outdoor pool and laundry facilities. This hotel is only a 20 minute drive from the international airport.
Heath and Safety
Seeing as Hawaii is one of the safest tropical destinations in the world, no immunizations are needed. Some things you need to be aware of are as follows:
1) The oceans in Hawaii are often unpredictable. On average, lifeguards perform about 1100 “rescues” per year, and on average, about 50 people drown annually. Keep in mind that these deaths usually happen on unguarded beaches, and in high tourist destinations you won’t have to worry. Just be aware of your surroundings when swimming.
2) Shark attacks are something to be aware of when in Hawaii. From 1828 to 2005 there were 119 shark attacks in Hawaii, 21 of which were fatal. The modern day average is about 3 attacks per year. Take necessary precautions. Avoid swimming in murky waters and at dawn or dusk.
3) Jellyfish stings are common in Hawaii. On a single day in July 2004, over 350 stings were recorded on the beaches of Oahu. If stung, carefully remove the tentacle using an object such as a stick, and rinse thoroughly with water.
4) Leptospirosis is a tropical bacterial disease. Hawaii reports about 44 cases per year. Many cases will go unreported because it can be commonly confused as being the flu. This disease is spread from an animal to a human from their urine. Avoid swimming in fresh water and avoid muddy soil and ponds while hiking.
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