Prepare your trip to Hawaii: itinerary, budget, hotels...
Hawaii is a dream destination, but surprisingly still not very well publicized in France. So when we started our research, we spent many hours on Internet to gather all the information we needed to plan our trip. We also had some problems when booking our accommodations or calculating our budget because of information we didn't have.
We have therefore gathered in this article all the tips we can give you to help you prepare your trip to the Hawaiian Islands.
Estimate the duration of his trip to Hawaii
Understanding the Geography and Interest of a trip to Hawaii
Contrary to popular belief, Hawaii is not just a holiday destination in the sun. Although the heavenly side of its beaches is widely highlighted, Hawaii is also an archipelago of volcanic islands with sumptuous tropical landscapes and impressive volcanoes. In fact, on Big Island, there are 13 of the 15 types of climates in the world!
So, it is impossible to go to Hawaii without taking the time to discover the interior and the exceptional attractions of each island. Yes, because Hawaii is an archipelago composed of 19 islands and atolls! The north-western part of the archipelago called "Islands to the wind" consists of protected and uninhabited islets, which are rarely visited. The main part of Hawaii, the "Windward Islands", is composed of 8 "large" islands located southeast of the archipelago. These are the ones we will focus on.
Of these 8 islands, Ni'ihau (located southwest of Kauai) is private with controlled access and Kahoolawe, a small island located south of Maui, has been the victim of intensive bombardment since the Second World War, limiting its access to facilitate its ecological restoration.
There are still 6 main islands to discover, each with its own particularities and interests.
Finally, we are often asked what map we used to plan our itinerary (the one we show you from time to time in our vlogs). This is the Hawaii National Geographic 1/220,000 map that we find very well made and practical.
Plan enough time to enjoy each island
Considering the diversity of landscapes to discover during a trip to Hawaii and the geographical remoteness, it is important to properly size your trip so as not to come back disappointed. It is generally recommended to spend 1 week per island, but to avoid the generalities, we will take a closer look at each of them.
It should be noted that the recommended durations were estimated on the basis of our experience of 3 weeks in the Hawaiian Islands in April 2017 and one week in November 2018.
O'ahu
O'ahu is the most famous island because it is the most populated. It is also highly publicized in TV series, which means that many people still think wrongly that Hawaii is only the island of O'ahu!
O'ahu is an essential stopover during a trip to Hawaii for all those who want to discover the lively atmosphere of Honolulu and its famous Waikiki beach, or to immerse themselves in history by visiting the Pearl Harbor military base. The island is not very large, but its relief offers a beautiful diversity. You will therefore find on O'ahu a large number of points of interest including impressive hikes (breathtaking!), very pretty beaches but also interesting cultural places. It is a pleasant island, but it is by far the most touristy island! The attractions located near Honolulu are mostly for a fee and often very popular.
If you wish to discover the island as a whole, a minimum of 5 days seems essential to us to have time to enjoy its various attractions and make some hikes. If, on the other hand, you only want to make a quick stop to get an idea of life in Honolulu and only do the must-see things in Oahu, 3 days may be enough.
Big Island
Big Island, also known as Hawaii Island, is the largest island in the archipelago with 120 km wide and 150 km long. It is therefore logical to plan the most time on Big Island because the distances are longer. Big Island has a number of attractions, including exceptional climatic diversity. On the island's 10,000 km2,13 of the 15 climates exist on Earth! But that's not all, because Big Island has many attractions, including an exceptional climatic diversity. On the 10,000 km2 of the island, there are 13 of the 15 climates on Earth! Indeed, Big Island is home to two huge volcanoes, Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, both of which reach an altitude of more than 4100 meters!
Discovering Big Island is also about admiring the almost daily lava flows of Kīlauea, when the lava is visible at Volcanoes National Park (but unfortunately this is no longer the case since the May 2018 restart of activity). Big Island also has pretty beaches with shades from black to yellow and green and famous snorkeling spots where you can swim among many fish, turtles and dolphins, and especially go to meet the impressive Manta rays that can be seen around Kona.
To discover Big Island as a whole, we recommend a stay of 10 to 12 days to have time to explore the island at your own rhythm. On average, you can expect 3 days in the Kona region, 2 days around the Volcanoes National Park, 1 day if you want to go up to Mauna Kea, 1 day for the north of the island and 2 days around Hilo, without including traveling time.
Kauai
Kauai is a relatively small island, almost 40 by 50 km round, located northwest of the Hawaiian archipelago. Kauai is a wild paradise where nature lovers will be delighted. Although the island is small, it is full of incredible landscapes such as the superb Nā Pali Coast or the majestic Waimea canyon, not to mention dozens of waterfalls, pretty hidden beaches and a very luxuriant nature.
Also known as the garden island, Kauai is considered to be the most beautiful of the Hawaiian islands and its reputation is the same as what awaits you on the island! Kauai is also a quiet island, where it is possible to find yourself alone on a beach even in the middle of summer. A real change of scenery!
The best way to discover Kauai is by walking because the rugged and steep relief does not allow roads to go there. The landscapes of Kauai have been made famous by being used for the shooting of many films, including the Jurassic Park saga. If you are a hiking, nature or solitude lover, Kauai is the island not to be missed under any circumstances!
With so many trails and places to discover, we recommend staying at least 7 days on the island, or even longer if you want to hike and discover it from every aspect. As the island is small, we recommend that you take only one central accommodation place and travel around the island according to your desires and weather conditions.
Maui
Maui is the second largest island in the Hawaiian Islands after Big Island. It is famous for its beautiful sandy beaches, its great volcano, Haleakalā, which rises to 3000 meters and offers an exceptional lunar landscape, as well as the Hāna Highway, a superb 100 km road across the island that crosses a wet jungle dotted with waterfalls. Maui also offers the opportunity to take an excursion to the famous small islet of Molokini, renowned for its seabed and thousands of fish, or simply to relax on the Pacific coast, admiring the most beautiful sunsets in the world!
As you will have understood, Maui offers a wide variety of landscapes and will satisfy travellers looking for a destination that combines relaxation and adventure! Nevertheless Maui is also the most expensive island in the archipelago and is relatively touristic.
A stay of at least 5 to 6 days will allow you to discover all the main points of interest of Maui, which you can extend for a few days to fully enjoy the multitude of fine sandy beaches along the west coast of the island.
Molokai
Molokai is located west of Maui. This still wild island is not very popular because its inhabitants defend it against mass tourism which they accuse of distorting the other islands of the archipelago. As a result, you will not find much accommodation in Molokai (and therefore expensive) and expect not to be welcome on the island. But past these obstacles, you will discover a peaceful and wild island, bordered by a beautiful coral reef to the south, paradise for snorkeling and huge impressive cliffs to the north.
It can be interesting to spend 2 to 3 days on Molokai to discover this other facet of the Hawaiian archipelago. You can reach it from Maui by plane or ferry.
Lanai
Lanai is a relatively little touristic island with only one city: Lanai city. The island was bought by an American billionaire at 98%. Lanai still has a very wild side and almost all the roads are trails accessible only by 4x4, which makes it obligatory to rent a 4x4 to discover the island.
If you want to venture into Lanai, you will have to either take a round trip from Maui during the day, or stay with the locals or in one of the 3 hotels on the island, but be careful, prices are very high.
Distribute your trip wisely between the different islands
All in all, if you want to discover the Hawaii archipelago as a whole, you will have to leave for at least 1 month because there are so many sights to see on each island, knowing that the inter-island transfers will take you a small half-day each time. On a shorter stay, you will unfortunately have to make concessions. There is still the choice of eliminating one or more islands to take full advantage of the ones you discover, or devoting less time to each island but in return you will concentrate only on the main tourist sites. Again, don't forget the time needed for transfers because with short stays on each island, you may not spend much time on the spot to really enjoy it.
Fly to Hawaii: book your plane ticket
How much for my plane ticket to Hawaii and when should I book?
When you think of Hawaii, you can imagine the cost of huge flights. But rest assured, if you look carefully, it is possible to go to Hawaii without breaking your piggy bank completely.
On rare occasions, a few times a year, companies can break prices. At the end of 2016, we saw an exceptional offer at 550€ from France, but beware, such offers never last very long. In 2017 we have observed several times tickets at 400€ from Amsterdam, Canada or USA.
To help you find the best prices for your flights, we recommend that you use alerts from sites such as Skyscanner or Algofly when choosing your selection criteria. This method also works for domestic flights.
In summary, look at prices a little more than 6 months in advance to benefit from advantageous fares especially if you travel during school holidays. Be on the lookout for exceptional offers that may fall at any time.
Tip: Think about multi-destination flights
You will most likely have to take one or more domestic flights during your stay in Hawaii. The first thing to know is that you can count on multi-destination flights to save a domestic flight such as arriving in Honolulu on Oahu and leaving from Kona on Big Island.
Don't do like us and think about it when booking your long distance trips (we always regret not having thought about it before). And in addition, in the vast majority of cases, multi-destination flights are no more expensive than a conventional round trip. And so, a 4-hour connection avoided and more than $100 saved!
Optimize domestic flights
To discover the different islands of the Hawaii archipelago, you will have to travel by air. In recent years, the ferries that operated inter-island connections have stopped their daily rotations. From now on, the only way to travel from island to island is by plane, with one exception: there is still a ferry between Maui and Molokai, and Maui and Lanai.. But the plane will also allow you to make these connections.
When to buy your ticket?
Domestic flight prices are unlikely to drop at the last minute, especially since Hawaiian Airlines has a quasi-monopoly over the archipelago's domestic flights. Generally, flights have a starting price and increase according to the aircraft's occupancy rate. We therefore advise you to book your tickets in advance, especially if you have a specific time slot during a busy period (weekend, morning and end of the day).
In our case, on our first trip, we booked our domestic flights a few days after our long-haul flights, 7 months before our departure. Almost a month before we flew away, we checked the prices. Those on our flights had risen significantly and were sometimes double what we had paid. During our last stay in November 2018, we booked the return flight Kauai - Oahu in advance as the price was at its lowest but we only bought our return flight ticket the day before, knowing that the price had not changed in 3 months (the plane was almost empty for a slot in the middle of the afternoon during the week).
In a nutshell, we advise you to book your domestic flights as soon as you know your travel dates, unless you are travelling during off-peak periods and on a rarely requested schedule for which you can book until the very last minute.
Which company to choose?
2 airlines operate inter-island flights in Hawaii: Hawaiian Airlines and Mokulele Airlines . Island Air stopped its flights in November 2017. Hawaiian Airlines is a classic regular airlines, while Mokulele Airlines offers flights on small propeller aircraft boarding a small dedicated terminal, often on the tarmac, in a "free style"mode for which bookings are only open 3 months before departure.
The advantage of the latter, Mokulele Airlines, is that the time spent on the transfer is reduced, with the requirement to arrive only 1 hour before the flight, while for Hawaiian Airlines, it is advisable on their website to arrive 2 hours before departure (1h30 for Honolulu). Nevertheless, it is more likely that a flight will be delayed or cancelled with Mokulele Airlines and quite honestly, Hawaii's airports are small, especially in Big Island and Kauai, where sometimes only 10-20 minutes are enough in off-peak periods between the passage of security and boarding the plane with Hawaiian Airlines (remember to check the deadline for checking in checked baggage).
How much does it cost to travel between islands?
Be careful, don't neglect this expense item which can be very heavy if you plan to discover several islands. Domestic fares vary according to the type of journey. Here are the prices (taxes included) that we have obtained for our flights, knowing that they are in the low average (price for 1 adult):
- Honolulu (Oahu) - Lihue (Kauai): 65$
- Lihue (Kauai) - Kona (Big Island): 110$
- Kona (Big Island) - Kahului (Maui): 115$
- Kahului (Maui) - Honolulu (Oahu): 63$
Count between $60 and $150 for each domestic flight, knowing that at this price, you will have to add the cost of your checked baggage if you have some (see below).
To obtain the best prices, we advise you to book your flights directly on the airline's website.
Attention to the billing of checked luggage
You will always have to pay a surcharge if you check in checked baggage on your domestic flights, regardless of which airline you choose (which is usually the case in the United States).
The fees will be payable at the time of registration (you will not be able to pay them online, at the same time as your tickets). However, you will be allowed to take a carry-on baggage with you on the plane.
Lastly, Hawaiian Airlines allows 2 bags per person in the cabin: a carry-on bag to be placed in the luggage compartments, as well as a "personal bag" whose size must be smaller than the carry-on bag's. So you can board the plane with a trolley suitcase and a backpack for free .
If you choose to travel with Hawaiian Airlines, you will be able to benefit from a discount on your checked baggage if you consider purchasing the airline's loyalty card before your departure. The card is free.
Here is the list of prices for checked baggage:
Hawaiian Airlines:
- With the loyalty card: $ 15 if a bag, $ 20 for the second bag.
- Without the loyalty card: $ 25 if a bag, $ 35 for the second bag.
- $ 20 if a bag, $ 25 for the 2nd bag. No reduction possible.
Lodging in Hawaiian islands
How much to pay for lodging in Hawaii?
On the lodging side, expect relatively high prices compared to the rest of the USA. Your accommodations expenses will be more or less substantial depending on the comfort you are looking for. To get the details of the average prices of the different types of accommodation for each island, we recommend that you read our detailed article: How much does a trip to Hawaii cost? Price and estimated budget.
Where to stay on each island?
Where to stay on each island?
The Hawaiian islands do not have a large area except for Big Island, the largest of the islands in the archipelago. So it is wise to ask yourself the question of choosing the location of each of your accommodations in order to take advantage of either a central location to radiate on each island, or to opt for 2 different places generally opposite in order to minimize your distances.
To help you make the best decisions, we have written a full article on this subject: Where to stay in Hawaii? The best places to sleep on each island
Which accommodation to choose in Hawaii?
For hotel enthusiasts, there are many accommodation options in one of the many resorts. From the large complex with swimming pool and beach by the sea to the small family hotel, there is something for every taste and every budget!
If you travel alone or have a reduced budget, you can push the door open to youth hostels that are rather welcoming, but whose price remains high. It should be noted that there are relatively few on each island. Some hostels also organise excursions in small groups, which can be very nice for solo travelers. Here are some of the youth hostels in Hawaii.
You can also find good accommodation on the Airbnb side even if the prices in the archipelago remain rather expensive (you must always pay the cleaning costs). However, this may be economical for stays of several days (3 days or more).
Finally, for very tight budgets or lovers of nature, you can opt for camping, but beware, there are not many! Wilderness camping is not allowed in Hawaii and to be allowed to camp, you will need a permit, knowing that each island has its own regulations. Permit applications must be made in advance via forms depending on the area where the campsite is located. There are private campsites located outside the parks, but there are relatively few.
Tip: Thinking about renting a condo
A condo or condominium is a condominium apartment. In Hawaii, many Americans have bought small apartments to spend a few weeks of vacation in Hawaii during the year or in anticipation of retirement. The rest of the time, they usually rent their apartments on a weekly basis, or sometimes for shorter periods.
A large part of the condos in Hawaii are managed by rental agencies or are directly integrated into large rental resorts, but some of them remain under the management of their owners. It is often on the latter that it will be possible to obtain the best prices.
For example, we paid less for the rental of a condo in Maui just 50 meters from the Pacific Ocean, than a 2-star hotel room in the middle of town!
Condos are an excellent alternative to hotels or AirBnB. Renting a condo can be very interesting from 3 days and even more if you stay longer or with your family. Below 3 nights, it is quite unlikely that you will be rented and the end of stay cleaning fees will not be advantageous. You will be able to find many rentals on booking sites, such as, VRBO, HomeAway or Booking.com.
You should find your happiness in the wide variety of condos on offer, from a small studio apartment with a garden view to a superb luxury apartment facing the ocean. Most condos have a lanai, a kind of small balcony equipped with a table and generally 2 chairs.
The advantage of a condo is that you will almost always have a small kitchen, or at least a fridge and microwave. This way you can cook at home and lower your budget. Most condominiums also have a swimming pool and a small Jacuzzi, as well as barbecues to cook fish and meat outside (this is very common in Hawaii). In most cases, a parking space is allocated with the rental.
On the equipment side, some owners sometimes leave beach equipment available! Finally, the vast majority of apartments/condos are quite comfortable, often more than just a hotel room.
A deposit will be systematically requested upon arrival, see a few days in advance. It will be returned at the end of the rental period if nothing has been damaged. Housekeeping charges will also apply, even for short stays. In spite of this, renting a condo is often much more advantageous than renting a hotel of the same category.
Attention: Do not forget to add taxes and other fees
In France, we are not used to taxes, tips and other additional costs. Please be very careful before giving your credit card number, as there may be additional charges that you have not seen.
Taxes not always very visible
If you make your reservations or research on American sites, it is important to know that all the advertised prices are exclusive of tax. And often the taxes are calculated only at the end of the transaction or indicated in small numbers at the bottom of the page, even accessible only by clicking on a link!
All state taxes for hotels are composed of the GET (General Excise Tax for non-Hawaiian owners) and the TAT (Transient Accommodation Tax). Look for these famous taxes whose rates vary according to the island. In 2018, it was globally (GET + TAT) of the order of 14.416% on Maui, Kauai and Big Island and 14.962% on Oahu, with an increase of 1% effective January 1,2018.
Beware of resort fees
In addition to taxes, the price of your accommodation could be inflated by resort fees, which are set at the discretion of each establishment, often claiming fees for the use of common areas (computers, swimming pools, gym, etc.). Some hotels do not have one, others do, and they usually accumulate according to the number of days spent there. In some establishments, resort fees can rise up to 20% of the overall rating! And often, they are only indicated in very small or at the end of the reservation. Please note that these fees are to be paid directly to the hotel. For example it is indicated for a hotel at $126 per night:"This hotel charges guests a resort fee of $18.75 per room per night" (this hotel charges guests a tax of $18.75 per room and per night).
Practical case
We take the case of 3 hotels located on Hotwire for a stay of 7 nights. The first is shown at $101 per night, the second at $103 and the third at $126 per night. Logic would have it that the cheapest hotel would be the first. For each one we push the reservation to the end.
Hotel 1 :
- $ 101.00 per night x 7 nights: $ 707.00
- Tax recovery charges + fees: $ 171.71
- Resort fee due at hotel: $ 77.00
- Total: $955.71 or $ 136 /night
Hotel 2 :
- $ 103.00 per night x 7 nights: $ 721.00
- Tax recovery charges + fees: $ 180.95
- Total: $901.95 or $ 128 /night
Hotel 3 :
- $ 126.00 per night x 7 nights : $882.00
- Tax recovery charges + fees: $215.62
- Resort fee due at hotel: $131.25
- Total: $1,228.87 or $ 175 /night!
Hotel number 2 is finally the cheapest 8$ per night whereas at the base it cost 2$ more. As for the third hotel, the bill explodes, going from $126 a night to $175! That's almost 40% more than the price indicated!!
Do not forget parking fees
If you have a vehicle, don't forget the parking fees! Indeed, if you have to stay in the big cities or in large resorts, there is a good chance that the parking lot will not be included in the service.
To save you the trouble of turning around to find a place, you will have to pay parking fees that are usually in the order of $20 to $30 per day excluding taxes! Sometimes service by valet will even be mandatory to park your vehicle (and therefore more expensive!). During a long stay, the extra cost of parking is not to be taken lightly.
Follow the links below to find out the prices of car parks in hotels located in Honolulu and resorts on other islands.
Tip: book hotels in advance with free cancellation
Hawaii is a popular destination, especially for Americans and Japanese. It is therefore advisable to book your accommodation as soon as possible in order to obtain better prices. Early bookings are often advantageous and offer good prices. But booking well in advance also means depriving yourself of a good opportunity that could appear along the way. That's why we recommend that you book your reservations with free cancellation in case good news arrives before D-day.
For example, we noticed a drop in our hotel rates on Kauai 3 months after we made our reservation. Neither one nor two, we cancelled our 7 nights free of charge and then made a new reservation. In the end, 150€ more in our pocket!
As you approach your departure, don't hesitate to scan the offers for possible last-minute promotions. Even if this practice is not very frequent in the archipelago, it is better to try your luck!
Car Rentals in Hawaii: find the best deals
Select a local broker
In the vast majority of cases, it will be much cheaper to book a car through a broker than directly with the rental company. Thus, after much research, we did not find cheaper than Discount USA Car Rental, which was originally "Discount Hawaii Car Rental", one of the first Hawaiian broker founded 17 years ago, and therefore with a strong network in the archipelago. The company then expanded throughout the country.
Discount USA Car Rental has the advantage of offering very advantageous rates in Hawaii and allows you to book without a deposit. It is this last advantage that seduced us, because it gave us the possibility to cancel one of our reservations in order to realize a new one, following a price decrease (as for the airplanes, the prices of the cars fluctuate also). As an intermediary, the rental company is known in advance, from the search page, which also makes it possible to know who we will go to.
In the end, we made all our reservations at Discount USA Car Rental (7 times during our 2 trips to Hawaii) and never had any surprises once we arrived at the car rental office. All our cars were waiting for us. We had to contact the customer service department because of an error in the email of one of our reservations and the support was very fast.
Attention to insurance
If you are not an American, please be aware that your insurance may not work completely in Hawaii. Except for the Gold Mastercard and Visa Premier payment cards, which will cover damage to rental vehicles except for accidents on unpaved roads, you will never, in any case, be covered for civil liability in the event of an accident causing injury to a third party.
Indeed, as far as we know, Gold Mastercard or Visa Premier bank cards generally have an exclusion on the liability coverage abroad, mentioned in the general conditions like this: "In addition to the common exclusions, are also excluded: any damage caused by motor vehicles, [...] of which the insured or persons for whom he is civilly liable have ownership, control or custody." Remember to check your general terms and conditions, as some banks have different terms and conditions.
Property and casualty (CDW) and civil liability (LIS) insurance are generally sold together online when booking a rental vehicle, it is quite rare to be able to separate them.
You can decline these insurances (and therefore take the risk), but in most cases, you will be asked very strongly at the counter to subscribe at least to civil liability (it is not uncommon for the amounts requested by lawyers in the event of a personal accident to exceed one million dollars). Allow about $10 to $20/day for liability (liability - LIS) if you want to add it to the counter. It is therefore much cheaper to buy the full insurance package at the time of booking online.
Last but not least, you will NEVER be covered on off-road, even with your Gold or Premier card.
If you want to take a 4x4 and be insured, you will have to rent it from a specialized rental company, (like Harper on Big Island), but the bill is more salty right now! Otherwise, you can take the risk of riding on tracks with your rental car... but keep in mind that you won't be covered in case of a glitch.
Try combos offers "hotel + car rental"
You will find very interesting offers by booking your hotel and vehicle at the same time on a reservation centre. The prices are thus reduced and will allow you to save a little on your stay. The disadvantage of this formula is that to enjoy it, you will have to stay in the same place for the duration of your stay on an island.
Tip: Sometimes, going beyond a few hours does not change the price of the rental
Here is a strange observation we have made. In France, we are used to being increased by one full day for any additional hour, thus limiting rental periods to similar start and end times. But this is not always the case in the USA.
For example, for our reservation in Lihue with a pick-up of our car at 11pm, it was no more expensive for us to return it at 7am in the morning than at 11pm the day before the last day.
Pretty advantageous to avoid the hassle of transfers to the airport! So it's worth trying to make sure of the proposed rate, even if it won't necessarily work in all cases.
Bonjour, j'ai une petite question. Je viens de souscrire au compte fidélité sur Hawaiian Airlines mais comment recevoir la carte ? Ou si pas de carte on dit juste à l'enregistrement qu'on a souscrit à la carte ? Faut-il un compte par voyageur ? Merci beaucoup votre article est JUSTE PARFAIT !
Bonjour Noémie et merci :-). La carte "physique" n'est envoyée que pour les cartes de débit Hawaiian Airlines qui sont payantes. Pour la carte de membre gratuite, elle est complètement dématérialisée. Le mieux est d'associer le numéro de votre carte à votre réservation avant votre voyage. Vous pouvez le faire en ligne en paramétrant votre réservation. L'enregistrement de vos bagages sur les vols intérieurs se fera sur une borne automatique à l'aéroport. A ce moment là le terminal vérifiera si une carte est associée à la réservation et vous proposera de payer le tarif adéquat. Il me semble également que l'on peut encore ajouter le numéro de membre à ce moment pour bénéficier de la réduction. On vous souhaite un beau voyage dans les îles!
Bonsoir, Tous d'abord un grand merci pour la richesse de vos articles et vos superbes photos qui donnent tellement envie d'y être !!! Je voulais savoir ce que vous conseillez comme période pour se rendre à Hawaii pour 3 semaines par exemple sans que cela soit trop touristique et pas trop pluvieux (je me doute que ca, c'est la loterie...) ? Et du coup en fonction de ça, à partir de quand commencer à regarder les billets pour espérer avoir le meilleur tarif ? J'a lu que vous conseillez Multi-destinations, vous nous conseillez donc par exemple de faire : Paris (nous sommes en région parisienne) --> Kauai / Big Island --> Paris et ensuite réserver les inter-îles directement sur Hawaiian Airlines par exemple ? Mon autre question, 3 semaines 3 îles ? Lesquelles conseilleriez-vous sachant que nous aimons beaucoup la rando, les plages sauvages, paysages lunaire, volcans et j'aimerai tellement voir des tortues (de mer) et dauphins ... ? D'ailleurs, avec l’éruption de 2018, il n'est plus possible de voir de la lave maintenant ? Je suis vraiment désolée pour toutes mes questions !!! Encore merci pour vos beaux partages qui nous donnent tant envie de voyager :)
Bonjour Adeline, concernant la meilleure période cela dépend de beaucoup de critères. La météo est plus humide durant l'hiver hawaiien, généralement de décembre à mars, mais les années ne se ressemblent pas et les exceptions sont de plus en plus fréquentes. Quant à la fréquentation, les périodes les plus touristiques sont les mois d'été (juillet et août) ainsi que la période du nouvel an. Les périodes de vacances scolaires américaines sont aussi prisées, tout comme la Golden Week japonaise où de nombreux japonais viennent y passer quelques jours. Les moins d'hiver sont les moins fréquentés même si l'affluence n'est pas vraiment un problème à Hawaii. Au printemps nous n'avons jamais été embêté par le monde. Pour les billets c'est très difficiles à dire. Surveillez les promos et mettez-vous une alerte. Généralement c'est 4-5 mois avant, parfois plus... sauf vacances scolaires et vous avez tout compris pour les vols multi-destinations.
Pour les îles, je vous conseillerai Kauai pour la rando et les plages sauvages, Maui pour les paysages lunaires du Hakeakala et Big Island pour les volcans, les tortues et les dauphins. D'ailleurs pour voir ces derniers je vous recommande chaudement l'excursion de Kona Ocean Adventures. Nos parents l'ont testée en octobre dernier et ont adoré! Ils ont pu non seulement nager avec les dauphins mais aussi les voir sauter et faire des figures acrobatiques! Nous n'avons pas encore eu le temps de rédiger un article dessus mais cela viendra dans les prochaines semaines.
Enfin je vous confirme qu'il n'y a plus de lave visible au Volcanoes National Park. Elle reviendra mais on ne sait pas quand...
Bonjour, Bonne année à tous, en esperant que chacun puisse réaliser son rêve de découvrir hawaii. En ce qui me concerne ça sera pour cette année. Je m'envole bientôt pour 2 mois et demi de decouverte. Voyageant seule et n'ayant pas le budget pour m'offrir des hotels toutes les nuits je pensais au couchsurfing. Auriez-vous des conseils à ce sujet ? Je vais également regarder les airbnb,.et les auberges de jeunesse comme vous l'expliquez car le but de mon voyage est d'améliorer mon anglais et donc de rester le plus possible au contact des gens. Je compte egalement visiter toutes les îles. Un grand merci à vous pour votre blog et vos conseils. Mahalo :)
Bonjour Alex, c'est un beau projet que d'aller en immersion à Hawaii :-) Effectivement le plus difficile sera de rester sur un budget raisonnable. Nous n'avons hélas pas de retour d'expérience de personnes ayant tentées le couchsurfing à Hawaii. Du côté des AirB&B il y a pas mal d'offres qui peuvent être intéressantes pour une chambre mais sans garantie de pouvoir échanger avec les propriétaires. De notre expérience, nous avons eu quelques échanges mais pas autant qu'on l'aurait espéré. Du côté des auberges de jeunesse, une amie est partie seule deux années de suite sur les 4 îles et a beaucoup apprécié ses séjours. Elle a été satisfaite de toutes les auberges et y avait fait de sympathiques rencontres. On te souhaite un super long séjour à Hawaii !
Bonjour, Merci pour tous ces partages, ça aide pour construire son voyage. J'ai essayé de faire une carte de fidélité gratuite sur Hawaiianairlines mais en fin d'inscription, ils demandent 99$ pour l'année. Existe-il toujours une carte gratuite pour avoir une réduction sur les bagages?
Bonjour Estelle, il y a en fait 2 cartes différentes. La fameuse carte de fidélité gratuite du programme HawaiianMiles qui vous donnera la réduction pour les bagages, à souscrire à ce lien: https://www.hawaiianairlines.com/my-account/join-hawaiianmiles et la carte de crédit payante (les américains fonctionnent beaucoup avec ce type de carte) qui est largement mis en visibilité sur leur site au détriment de l’autre. Je modifierai l’article à notre retour pour donner directement le lien et éviter toute confusion :-)
Bonjour Sandrine, oui c'est bien à ce programme là que je me suis inscrite et qui semble gratuit jusqu'à la dernière étape où ils annoncent 99$ de fee annuel (les ptits coquins!).
Normalement le programme HawaiianMiles est bien gratuit, mon père a pu y souscrire gratuitement il y a 3 semaines et dans les conditions générales du programme HawaiianMiles il n’y a aucune mention de tarif. La carte Barclay est quant à elle bien à 99$. Ne serait-ce pas juste l’option pour acheter la carte Barclay en supplément qu’ils proposent à la fin de la souscription et dans ce cas juste la décliner?
Effectivement Sandrine, je vois que j'ai quand même reçu un email avec un numéro de membre bien que j'ai décliné l'offre à 99$. Top! Merci pour tes réponses et ta réactivité :)
Une dernière question Sandrine, je vais réserver mes vols sur Hawaiian airlines avec la carte de fidélité. Les 2 bagages doivent être déclarés lors de l'achat du billet ou sur place?
Désolée du retard, nous sommes justement à Hawaii! ;-)
Avec Hawaiian Airlines il n’est pas possible d’indiquer et de payer les bagages en soute au moment du départ. Vous pourrez donc uniquement les déclarer à l’aéroport lors du Check-in. Vous les payerez directement à la borne d’enregistrement qui vous delivrera l’autocollant à mettre sur vos valises. C’est à ce moment là qu’il faudra vous assurer que vous avez bien associé votre carte de fidélité à votre billet.
Bonjour, merci beaucoup pour tout votre travail, cela m'aide énormément à préparer mon voyage. Avez vous rencontré des problèmes lors de vos paiements de locations de voiture une fois sur place ? Je possède une Visa Premier Débit, il semblerait que beaucoup d'agence de location n'acceptent que les Crédit. Difficile de trouver une réponse claire sur internet... Merci par avance
Bonjour Jean, content de pouvoir vous aider pour votre préparation ! Nous n’avons pas eu de problèmes par rapport aux locations de voitures, nous possédons une gold mastercard débit. Généralement les loueurs nous demandent « credit or debit ? » lors du paiement de la caution, et on se trompe des fois (on a pas l’habitude en France) en disant credit alors qu’il s’agit de debit, et ça passe à chaque fois, ce qui me laisse penser qu’ils prennent les deux. Parfois, il nous est arrivé que ça ne marche pas en "débit" et nous avons dû choisir le mode "crédit" avec une carte pourtant indiqué "débit". Je vous rassure, quelque soit l'option choisie, ça ne change rien pour nous niveau facturation, le montant est bien prélevé immédiatement. Les cartes de crédit sont un peu spéciales aux USA, elles servent à véritablement payer à crédit via des organismes avec un système de bonus… bref, une toute autre idée de la gestion de l’argent de celle que nous avons en Europe ! Bons préparatifs !
Je crois que vous avez raison, il y a très peu d'articles sur la destination, c'est dommage. Mais vos articles sont une mine d'or :) Ça permet aussi de mettre un pied à Hawaï et de voir ces paysages de dingue ! MERCI pour ce joli partage
Merci beaucoup pour ce gentil commentaire, ça nous motive à continuer à partager les lieux découverts là-bas :) Il y a tellement de belles choses à voir dans l’archipel!
Bonjour, Mon rêve est d’aller à Hawaï et votre blog me donne encore plus envie. Votre budget final a été de combien ? Pour que je le rende compte. Merci de votre réponse. Cordialement
Bonjour Vanessa. Tu trouveras notre budget complet après nos 3 semaines à Hawaï à la fin de cet article: Hawaï en 2017: itinéraire et budget pour 3 semaines. Il est clair qu'Hawaï est une destination assez coûteuse, mais tellement intéressante! :-)
Bonjour les Smartrippers! Un petit message juste pour vous remercier du formidable travail effectué sur ce blog. Les articles sont très bien écrits, agréables à lire, les informations sont très compètes, sans parler des belles photos et du travail incroyable sur les vidéos! Nous partons dans 3 jours à Hawaii pour 3 semaines, et votre site a été notre prinicipale source d'information pour tout préparer. Je dirais même qu'il est devenu une référence pour la prépration d' un voyage à Hawaii en absence d'un bon guide en français ;) Bref encore bravo pour votre travail, j'ai maintenant hate de découvrir ces merveilleuses iles en vrai dans quelques jours ^^
Mille mercis pour ce gentil commentaire, ça fait chaud au cœur et nous donne envie de donner toujours plus de conseils aux voyageurs!
On vous souhaite un magnifique voyage dans l’archipel, vous allez vous régaler! En texte et photos c'est déjà impressionnant, alors en vrai c'est juste magique, vous verrez :)
Bonjour, Auriez-vous le nom des hôtels, condos ou autres où vous avez logé lors de votre visite sur BIG ISLAND et KAUAI ? Merci et bravo pour votre blog qui est vraiment très beau ! Nous partons le 06.04.2018 pour Oahu Big Island et Kauai ...
Bonjour Delphine et merci. Concernant Kauai, nous avons séjourné 7 nuits au Kauai Palm Hotel situé à Lihue. Il s'agit d'un petit hôtel modeste et bon marché. Nous avons pris une chambre sans climatisation et équipée d'un ventilateur au plafond. La literie est confortable mais la chambre est petite et peu isolée (mais nous n'avons pas été dérangés hormis par les coqs mais c'est le cas dans toute l'île). C'était suffisant pour n'y passer que la nuit.
A Big Island, nous avons séjourné 3 nuits chez Aarons' Cottage à Hilo. Chambres spacieuses, cuisine commune toute équipée et très pratique, et fruits apportés par le proprio pour le petit déjeuner. On recommande même si le ménage n'avait pas été fait de fond en comble, mais le proprio est à nos petits soins et le prix est très abordable. Nous avons ensuite dormi une nuit au Kilauea Hospitality Group dans le bâtiment commun situé près du Vocanoes NP. Pas cher mais chambres très petites. Par contre l'espace commun et la cuisine sont bien. Enfin, nous avons passé nos 3 dernières nuits à Kona où nous avons loué un petit studio via AirB&B "Cozy Sunset Studio" chez Cori. Nous le recommandons car très bien équipé, situé sur les hauteurs dans un cadre charmant et avec des propriétaires discrets et adorables.
Voilà en ce qui nous concerne. Il n'y a plus qu'à vous souhaiter un excellent séjour dans l'archipel :)
Bonjour à vous deux, Voilà 2 mois que nous sommes rentrés de Hawaii et nous tenions absolument à vous remercier pour ce blog qui a été notre bible durant la préparation et le voyage. Les articles sont ultras complets, et ils sont en plus très agréables à lire. Chapeau pour ce beau travail et un grand MERCI pour nous avoir aidé dans la préparation et le déroulement de ce merveilleux voyage!! Longue vie aux smartrippers ☺️ Axel et Angélique
Oh merci pour ce si gentil commentaire!! :) Quel plaisir de vous lire et de savoir que nous avons été utiles pour la préparation de votre voyage. Cela nous fait chaud au coeur et bien sûr que nous allons continuer! Nous sommes d'ailleurs en plein road trip dans l'ouest américain depuis déjà plus de 15 jours, de quoi alimenter de nouvelles destinations dès notre retour. En tout cas, merci encore et j'espère à bientôt pour un prochain voyage :D
Bonjour, Et merci pour cet article complet sur Hawaii, qui m'a bien aidé dans ma préparation :) Je vais sur l'ile de Maui en septembre, et j'aurai voulu circuler en scooter, sais-tu si c'est possible et courant? Je te remercie, bonne journée! Marine
Bonjour Marine,
On est heureux que nos articles te soient utiles :) Il ne nous a pas semblé avoir vu beaucoup de scooters à Hawaii, même à Maui et O'ahu où l'ambiance est plus "cool'. Par contre on se souvient d'avoir croisé quelques motos (les américains sont des grands fans de Harley Davidson). Après, il y a des loueurs de scooters à Maui, donc c'est que c'est possible. Il faudra juste prévoir de quoi bien l'attacher et un caisson pour tes affaires. Peut-être que tu peux envoyer un email à une agence de location, ils pourront mieux te renseigner ;-)
Bonjour, Nous partons 2 semaines a Hawaii en aout. Nous sommes un couple avec un enfant de 5 ans. Nous envisageons de faire 10 jours a Big island et 5 jours à Maui. Qu'en pensez-vous? Nous ne voulons pas trop changer d'hebergements et donc faire 2 hebergements à Big island et un a Maui. Pour Big island nous souhaitons à loger à Kona puis pour le second hébergement mais là nous hesitons (l'ideal serait de trouver un lieu qui nous permette de visiter d'autres parties de l'ile volcano park, Punaluu, greensand beach), avez-vous des idées? Pour Maui, nous envisageons de loger a Kapalua; Si vous avez-vous des recommandations pour les hébergements, lieux a visiter o autre, n'hesitez pas. Merci
Bonjour Fabrice, oui c'est une bonne option que de ne faire que 2 îles en 15 jours, vous en profiterez mieux et les durées sont adaptées.
Pour Big Island, vous pouvez soit dormir à Hilo, soit au Volcano Village. Il y a pas mal de choses à voir autour de ces deux points qui sont à 45 minutes en voiture, donc que ce soit l'un ou l'autre, vous aurez un peu de route sur place, mais elle se fait bien. Hilo sera plus avantageuse financièrement et le Volcano Village sera plus pratique pour voir la lave après le coucher du soleil. Pour Punaluu et Green Sand Beach, vous pourrez les faire dans la journée en ralliant Kona et votre 2nd destination, ça tient sur une journée. Pour Maui, je vous recommande de loger vers Kihei qui est centrale et bien desservie, par contre, nous n'avons pas de recommandation particulière côté logement.
Pour le reste, la suite de nos articles va bientôt arriver :) On a encore tant de choses à dire, mais le tout est de les écrire ^^
Bonjour, je parts avec mon épouse à Hawai du du 18 au 27 novembre, hélas je ne peux pas faire plus....Obligations professionelle oblige!Nous arrivons le 18 à Honolulu à 22h55 et repartons du même endroit le 27 à 8h13 am. Je pensais rester sur Honolulu 2 jours puis partir sur Hawai jusqu'au 26 veille du retour. Qu'en pensez-vous que faut-il visiter en priorité, sachez que nous cherchons pas la performance touristique!! nous voulons faire ce court séjour à "la cool"! C'est pour cela que nous voudrions trouver des logements ( hotel, appart, motel ....) au bord de l'eau Nous louerons une voiture à Hawai et nous voudrions aller à wakipi à Honolulu Avec votre connaissance de l'archipel, et en fonction de nos critères , que pouvez-vous nous conseiller sur les visites et logements au bord de l'eau, nous pouvons aller jusquà 200$ par nuit. Merci pour votre réponse
Bonjour, nous ne sommes pas non plus restés très longtemps sur O'ahu, donc nous ne pouvons vu conseiller que sur ce que nous avons vu. Les principaux points d'intérêts étant situés dans la partie sud de l'île je vous recommanderai un hôtel au sud. Si vous souhaitez un hôtel les pieds dans l'eau, vous avez quelques resorts au bord de l'eau du côté de Honokai Hale mais vous serez assez loin des sites touristiques. Sinon, la ville de Kailua est très sympa, surtout la jolie plage de Lanikai => Voir la photo En deux jours, vous pouvez aller faire un peu de snorkeling à Hanauma Bay (payant) ou à Lanikai, flâner le long de la côte du sud-est qui est très jolie, monter à Diamond Head, monter au point de de vue du Nuʻuanu Pali State Wayside, vous balader au bord de Waikiki la journée et y revenir à la tombée de la nuit, et si vous avez un peu de temps, vous pouvez consacrer une journée pour découvrir le nord et l'est (routes 99 et 83).
Pour l'île d'Hawaii (Big Island), je comprends que vous y resterez 6 jours. Côté hôtels, vous avez de nombreux resorts du côté de Kona. Vous pourrez prendre 2 jours pour découvrir la côte et les quelques plages et faire une sortie snorkeling à la tombée de la nuit pour nager avec les raies Manta. Vous pourrez aussi louer un kayak vers Kealakekua Bay pour voir les dauphins. Ensuite prenez 2 jours et 2 nuits pour découvrir le Volcanoes NP et voir les coulées de lave (dormez au Volcano Village). Ensuite, comptez 1 journée pour parcourir la pointe sud-est, arrêtez vous à Kapoho Tide Pools pour une superbe session de snorkeling. Je terminerai par Hilo pour découvrir la jungle de la côte Nord-Est (2 nuits vers Hilo).