Best Time to Travel to Hawaii

bird of paradise, kauai, kauai flowers The best time to travel to Hawaii, believe it or not, is not during the summer months when the islands are crowded with families off for summer break – once you arrive it will seem like everyone decided on a Hawaiian vacation. Instead, look at traveling between mid-April to mid-June as well as in the fall from September to early December. There often package deals and significant hotel savings to be had. Even if you find some great deals for the summer keep in mind that it being busier will mean that prices are higher on other things, it often won’t be worth the savings in the end because you will have to deal with the heat and too many crowds.

Although hurricanes are rare, if you want to avoid them you should know that they can occur between June through November. The dry season is April through October, the rainy season is November through March, although ‘rain’ in Hawaii is not your typical rain and it often is raining on one side of the island and dry on the other and it usually is quite pleasant anyway, one shouldn’t avoid any season in Hawaii due to rain.

The locals will tell you the perfect weather months are April, May, September and October. From experience I can say that November was very pleasant. Some events to avoid include the Honolulu Marathon (2nd Sunday in December), the National Football League (check for dates), Merrie Monarch Hula Festival (located on the Big Island one week after Easter) and PGA Tour events in January.

Once you pick your month the next step is to find a great deal on air/hotel and car rental deals. While traveling on a whim can be fun, it is best to plan and book in advance for the best deals, at least 21 days prior to leaving. For some great information on where to stay in Hawaii visit my other articles:

Best Hotel in Hawaii

Best Resort in Hawaii

Kaha Lani Resort

Hawaii Island Retreat at Ahu Pohaku Hoomaluhia

Best Honolulu Hotel Deals

So aim for April, May, September and October (respectfully November through January also great months from experience), and pick which island you want to stay on. Island hopping is easy and highly recommended as well if you wish to explore more than one location. Consider leaving from a West Coast city for great airfare deals, be flexible and keep your eyes open for deals during these months especially.


Tropical Destinations – 3 Places Worth Visiting

While there are many top tropical destinations, these three make the list easily due to their beauty, uniqueness, location and impeccable accommodations/activities. If you haven’t visited them yet, you definitely will want to.

The Lodge at Chichen ItzaChichen Itza: One of the Seven Wonders of the world is a perfect tropical destination you should add to your list. Meaning “at the mouth of the well of Itza “, Chichen Itza is the 2nd most visited archeological site of Mexico. The Kukulkan Pyramid which is known as “El Castillo” (the castle), is one of the new seven wonders of the world elected in 07.07.2007. In addition to El Castillo there are many other archaeological sites to visit in this paradise that is located in the Peninsula of Yucatan in Mexico. It is located near the small town of Piste and you can get there using a bus service which connects to the international airports at Merida and Cancun. The site is open daily, if you travel during the Spring and Autumn equinoxes you will get the chance to see the amazing shadow serpent of El Castillo, but be warned the site is usually very crowded at these times. If you stay near the area you will be able to come early in the morning and stay out of the hot sun and avoid many tourists who typically arrive on day trip tours from Merida and Cancun. You can also witness a spectacular light show on the site at night.

The top place to stay is The Lodge at Chichen Itza located in Piste and very close to Chichen Itza. The hotel has 4 restaurants as well as a bar/lounge. It offers complimentary wireless internet access in public areas and an internet point is located on site. The friendly staff is there to assist you with concierge services, tour/ticket assistance as well as wedding services. Enjoy the spa services, a lovely terrace and laundry facilities as well as air conditioning, satellite TV and jetted bathtubs.

The Ritz-Carlton, Grand CaymanSeven Mile Beach: This gorgeous tropical destination is a long crescent of coral sand beach on the western shore of Grand Cayman island. Even though it is called “Seven Mile” beach it actually is only 5.5 miles long. It is one of the most popular beaches and has many luxury resorts and hotels to choose from. The beach is public property so you can walk the entirety of it past many hotels and villas. Many restaurants are open to the public at most of the resorts as well and there are several public beach bars. For some great snorkeling visit some of the small reefs that are located just off shore, specifically reefs located by the Marriott hotel and Government House. Pets are welcome to roam the beaches off leash and open grilling is also allowed.

For excursions, visit George Town, the capital city of the Cayman Islands, located south of Seven Mile Beach. To the north you can visit West Bay, which has a really cool turtle farm as well as the limestone formations of Hell. Although there are turtle shell-based items sold throughout, they are illegal in the US and many other Western countries, so resist temptation.

For where to stay, check out The Ritz-Carlton located on a stretch of beach in Seven Mile Beach, within close distance to Governors Square, Galleria Plaza, North Sound Golf Course as well as Dolphin Cove. Relax on the beach with cabanas, umbrellas and sun loungers. Go golfing or be pampered at the full service spa, then enjoy a great meal at one of the restaurants onsite. Wireless internet access is complimentary in public areas and there is also a children’s club, and outdoor pool, children’s pool and complimentary parking.

The guestrooms open to balconies, are air conditioned, include CD players and laptop compatible safes. TV’s are equipped with cable/satellite channels, DVD players and VCRs. Bathrooms have separate bathtubs and showers, as well as scales (really?), bathrobes and designer toiletries. Every room comes with a minibar and complimentary bottled water. There are even slippers.

Sunshine Suites ResortIf you need a little less expensive accommodations, try the Sunshine Suites Resort, it is a beautiful family friendly place located next to the Ritz-Carlton that is about half the cost.

Freeport: This beautiful city is located on the Bahamas’ northernmost island and is 70 miles east of Palm Beach, making it a regular stop on the short-cruise circuit from South Florida. It is known for its beautiful beaches with gorgeous smooth white sand as well as water sports, from snorkeling to deep sea fishing. For anyone that is anxious to take a vacation, this is a great spot because it is so close to the U.S. requiring little travel to get to a beautiful place.

Pelican Bay Resort at LucayaThe Pelican Bay Resort at Lucaya is a great option for where to stay, it is located close to Port Lucaya Marketplace, Lucaya Beach as well as Reef Golf Course. It features 3 outdoor swimming pools and a spa tub, offers business amenities and services and has wireless internet access in public areas (but with a surcharge). Guestrooms open to beautiful furnished balconies and offer kitchenettes with coffee/tea makers, and available on request you can enjoy an in-room massage. Bathrooms have shower/tub combinations, hair dryers and complimentary toiletries.

These top tropical destinations are wonderful places for couples, families, singles…they have everything for everyone.

Book through any of the above links for great deals or choose from these:

Choose All-Inclusive and Save: Mexico and the Caribbean From $123

Visit Travelocity for Mexico Deals