Hawaii Air/Hotel Packages - Money Saver

[Lily]

Not a bad system - first they charge you for the drink then they charge you to get rid of the drink - now that is marketing!

Lily

[12 hr flight]

My Daughter flew on US Air Saturday, She said they wanted $2 for a soda, $1 for a coffee so she had a carafe of wine for $7.

She didn't say anything about pay toilets though.

[HIBound]

I love to fly, but I've gotten so air travel itself is just a pain. I can get past the extra cost, I just consider it part of the price, but what really annoys me is the dog and pony show at the security gates. Until they start screening backsides of airports and cargo, it is just that--a show.

Okay, got that off my chest (sorry), but I do want to say that the best thing you can do is check your flight and your air carrier's website OFTEN. You cannot depend on any of the air carriers to advise you of flight changes or rule changes anymore.

I flew last month, and even though I know the rules and had all my stuff in the bin, etc., for security, they bark so much at Chicago O'Hare, you feel guilty without being so. Kind of like when you are driving and see a cop car.

(I see I'm still complaining--sorry again), American Airlines canceled my last flight and my only choices were to wait 24 hours (my expense), take a bus to the town my vehicle was at, but it would drop me off 10 miles from the airport with no way to get to it, or fly to another town. So I had to fly to another town and have my husband taxi me over to get my vehicle. All my expense. No sorries, no anything.

[MarcW]

One way to get notice of packages is to sign up at frequent-traveler sites. I get bulletins from smartertravel.com and travelzoo.com. Travelzoo often has really amazing air/hotel/car deals. I expect that expedia.com, hotwire.com, etc have similar things. The downside to this is that these are usually short-term deals and even three months out can be not enough time to book for many people.

If you sign up for the Frequent Flyer packages on airlines that serve your nearest hub (and you might as well sign up for Hawaiian Air's program just to get the bulletins even if you don't fly Hawaiian) they'll email you when there are good fares and/or travel packs available from that origin.

M

[Lily]

Travel Zoo just had a Waikiki deal offered this month at one of the Sun Quest resorts. And I also saw an airline deal from the east coast to the west coast - did not look at the details for it though.

Lily

[NoKaOiDude]

I already have my airline tickets for my trip and my room for Kauai. The only things I need are rooms on Oahu and Maui and car rentals. Then I will be booked for Hawaii!!!!!

[Todd]

Hey Dude,
You should have had all of that booked by now. Have you tried bidding for all of that on Priceline?

[NoKaOiDude]

Did you read my mind Todd? I was on priceline today! I don't want to do the bid thing though because I want a specific location. I will probably line up the rest of my stuff next week. I have seen some places that I would like to stay at and they are open due to the fact that travel is down everywhere. The place I like to stay at on Waikiki looks like it does not fit in with the entire group traveling with me.

[Lily]

Dude - you said "Group of People". Another option would be to look into a large house outside of Waikiki - they have some real beauties right on the beach and when you split the price up they can become quite affordable and even cheaper than standard hotel rooms and you also would not have to pay that extra $12 a day to park the car either. Take a look at www.vrbo.com and then there is another site that specializes in homes but I don't remember that web address. Perhaps someone else knows of other sites.

Lily

[NoKaOiDude]

Lily, I appreciate any help you or anyone else has to offer in this forum. My other option that I have been researching rooms was on VRBO. They have several units that I like. I still have not made my final decision yet. I will probably make my decision by next weekend. Thanks for trying to help me out......I need all the help I can get!!!!

[Kathi]

VRBO is amazing - we used them when we went to Big Island and loved the place we got - very reasonably priced as well.

[anne]

VBRO HAS REALLY CHANGED THEIR FORMAT!

anne

[Todd]

Yeah Anne,
VRBO changed their site some time ago. I check their site often for good deals on vacation rentals. I think I will go there now.

[anne]

GOOD GRIEF!


what do we get for them nickle and dimeing us to death? they loose our luggage..make us stand in lines for hours...stand on our heads!


almost makes me not want to go to Hawaii!

GRRR!



anne

[Todd]

Yes Anne and now they raising the checked baggage fees again on some of the airlines too.

[mauibeachbum]

Then when you see the airfares from our part of the country at $1100 pp, you won't mind paying $25 for them to haul your bag
Rich

[Todd]

I was looking at the baggage fees for Hawaiian and the first two check bags at free if you travel to and from Manila,Pago Pago and Sydney but all US residents have to pay? Boy,that doesn't sound fair at all. What we all have money trees in our backyards here in America?

[enid brewster]

I stopped traveling with checked baggage several years ago. I only take a carry-on now and can take trips up to two weeks without checked baggage just by being careful to pack mix and match outfits that will do double duty, and then I find a laundry location where I can do a quick load to wash before I go home. It's amazing hows little I can get by on now.