A half-dozen ways to say aloha to savings on Hawaii trips

Photo by Richard P. Carpenter

Yes, Hawaii is far from almost anywhere else, but this enchanting state is well worth the trip, especially now when bargains abound. Some of the places to seek those savings are obvious, while others may surprise you. Here, from the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau, are six places to search. (And what holds true for Hawaii often applies to other destinations as well.) 

Travel wholesalers. Among them are All About Hawaii, American Airlines Vacations, American Express Vacations, Apple Vacations, Classic Vacations, Liberty Travel/GOGO Worldwide Vacations, Pleasant Holidays and United Vacations. For a list of wholesalers offering travel bargains, click here. 

Travel agents. Let us not forget these professionals, who continue to be one of the most reliable resources for planning a Hawaii vacation, especially when visiting more than one island.

Online agencies.  Expedia, Orbitz, Travelocity and others have an ever-growing number of offers and packages, as well as a variety of tools  that help you decide what to see and do on the six major Hawaiian islands. 

Airline, hotel and activity Web sites.  You often get good deals right at the source. “best rates” for customers wanting to book their own vacations. And customer reward programs offer such perks as Internet access and reduced baggage check-in fees. 
 
Social media. Sites like Twitter are good for more than asking what someone had for breakfast.  Suppliers are posting offers daily and consumers are helping each other to find the best values. For Hawaii-specific deals on Twitter, use the hashtag – #hideals.  

Newspapers and magazines. These old standbys continue to be useful resources. With the majority of those periodicals now online, consumers can find destination deals and news 24/7.

For information about Hawaii and vacation planning, visit www.gohawaii.com.

Worth quoting

"Throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          -- Mark Twain

Phooey on frequent-flier miles

There was a time when, if you looked early enough and were flexible enough, using frequent-flier miles to get a free flight was no problem. But, as those who have tried lately will tell you, nowadays the search yields more frustration than results. Seats just don't seem to be available, especially at the level requiring the fewest miles. A whole new middle tier of necessary miles has been added to some award charts, eating up almost double the miles you once needed -- and you still can't always find seats. I no longer base my choice of airline on getting enough miles for a trip award. I don't know why anyone would these days. 

Norfolk, Va., wants you to Sail into Savings

Norfolk, Va., is a 400-year-old city with a popular waterfront, walkable downtown district, many dining options, a growing arts scene, high-end shopping, and year-round special events. With the city's Sail into Savings promotion, running to Aug. 3, guests who book a room at one of 10 participating hotels can get discounts on admissions to the Norfolk Botanical Garden, Chrysler Museum of Art and one sailing expeditions such as the American Rover, Victory Rover and Spirit of Norfolk. Hotel rates start at $99 per night (for the Tazewell Hotel & Suites in downtown Norfolk).  
For more about the program, click here or call 800-368-3097. To learn all about the city, go to www.visitnorfolktoday.com.

Trivial question

Which of these African nations is not landlocked: Niger,  Chad, Congo, or Burkina Faso? Answer Friday.

A Florida sunset, romance and dinner, too

The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club in Naples, Fla., is promoting a Sunset Romantic Getaway, with accommodations for three nights, a  breakfast buffet daily for two,  dinner for two daily at the beachfront HB’s on the Gulf (which includes appetizer, entrée, dessert, coffee and gratuity), reserved beach chairs and cabana daily for two,  one hour of tennis,  afternoon tea and cookies at 4 p.m. daily; a bottle of champagne in the room on arrival, nightly turndown service and complimentary access to The Spa and Fitness Center. The package is from $650 per couple through Oct. 31.

Click here or call 800-237-7600 or 239-261-2222. To learn about the resort, visit www.naplesbeachhotel.com.

Fascinating fact

Tasmania ranks near or at the top of places having the cleanest air  on earth. “The air in Tasmania is as clean as it is in Antarctica,” says Paul Fraser, an authority on ozone and climate change.