SUNDAY, AUGUST 22, 2010
KLMNO GOINGOURWAY A week in Oahu for a family of four? Book it, Danno! BY K.C. SUMMERS Oahu is the Rodney Danger-
field of Hawaiian islands. People rave about the whales and water- falls ofMaui, the primeval energy of the Big Island, the lush green- ery of Kauai — but Oahu? All too often, it’s dismissed as a mere jumping-off point for trendier Hawaiian hot spots — an over- touristed landscape of high-rises, crowded beaches and Don Ho impersonators. And that’s a shame, because
Oahu is special. Honolulu, the state capital, is an irresistible mix of laid-back and big-city charms — all those bureaucrats striding along next to swimsuit-clad tour- ists on their way to the beach. Drive an hour from Waikiki and you’ll find giant waves and jungly terrain to rival anything inMaui. Add the island’s funky small towns, the many cultural and historic attractions, the trove of ethnic eateries and the pathos of Pearl Harbor, and it’s clear that this is a world-class destination. For the Buziak family of Freder- ick, returning to Oahu will be a homecoming of sorts: Chris Buz- iak was stationed at PearlHarbor when he and Patti got married, and now they want to introduce their 7-year-old daughters, Ame- liaandMarina, to the island.They asked for our help in planning a visit nextsummer, hoping to keep expenses under $6,000.
Getting there. It’s not something airline ads and travel agents tend to emphasize, butHawaii is a long way from the East Coast — we’re talking five time zones and an average of 13 hours’ travel time, with airfares to match. But with their trip a year off, the Buziaks have time to track airfares at sites such as Bing (
www.bing.com/ travel), Smarter Travel (www.
smartertravel.com) and Fare- Compare (www.farecompare. com). A recent online search showed round-trip fares from Washington starting at about $900, or $745 on Alaska Air (with some truly horrendous layovers). But sale fares can go as low as $600 or $650, so sign up for fare alerts and be ready to pounce when you see a price you like. Also, keep an eye on sales from theWest Coast and put your own
COMING&GOING
Good seats will cost you; mark your calendars for Smithsonian Museum Day
Paying up for front-row seats
Newfee alert: American
Airlines last week announced the launch of its “Express Seats” program, which lets travelers pay extra for the first fewrows of coach, including bulkhead seats. If you pay the fee, which ranges from $19 to $39 depending on the length of the flight, you’ll also have the privilege of boarding in Group 1. You can buy the seats through
the airport’s self-service check-in machines anywhere from 24 hours to 50 minutes before your scheduled flight for travel within theUnited States, including Puerto Rico and theU.S. Virgin Islands. Passengers with full-fare tickets and those with elite frequent flier status can still snag those front-row seats for free. The number of seats up for
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FAMILY PHOTO
Who: Patti and Chris Buziak and their 7-year-old twins, Amelia and Marina, of Frederick Where: Oahu, Hawaii Why: Family vacation When: Summer 2011 for seven to 10 days Budget: $6,000
“This is a trip down memory lane for us, and an adventure for our 7-year-old twins.”
CHAD EHLERS/ALAMY Waikiki Beach is one of the landmarks of Oahu, but the island has other attractions, including whale-watching trips, museums and hiking.
deal together. For example, at press time,Hawaiian Airlineswas offering late-August fares of $360 round trip from Los Angeles to Honolulu. (The deal expired Aug. 20.) Combine that with a $259 round-trip sale fare on Virgin America fromWashington Dulles to LAX and you’re looking at a total cost of $619. Just be sure you allow plenty of time to make your connections.
Timing. While winter is high sea- son in Hawaii, with the biggest crowds and the highest prices, summer is a close second, espe- cially for families with school-age children. If you can swing it, consider traveling in spring or fall for smaller crowds and the best rates.
Lodging. Whether you want to base yourself near Waikiki, for optimumoptions, oronthe quiet- er windward (east) coast orNorth
grabs will depend on the size of the plane. “This is another great product
under the Your Choice program that puts more travel choices in customers’ hands,” said Virasb Vahidi, chief commercial officer for American, in a written statement. Under the Your Choice
program, passengers can already pay $10 per flight for Group 1 boarding. Jami Counter, senior director
of TripAdvisor Flights, said that was a better strategy than paying for an Express Seat. “You might be sitting toward
the back of the plane, but I don’t see paying to sit a little further forward, once you strip out the Group 1 boarding, as anything of real value,” Counter said. “Chalk this up as one more optional fee, but one that really isn’t that good of a value, unless you are able to get a good bulkhead seat.” Airlines are increasingly
charging for optional services such as seats with more legroom or priority boarding. “Overall, the fee to sit closer
Shore, a search on Expedia (www.
expedia.com), Travelocity (www.
travelocity.com) or other booking site will turn up a wide range of hotels and resorts in all price ranges. Don’t let the $500-a-day tariffs scare you: You should be able to find a place that sleeps four, with cooking facilities, for less than $100 a night. For exam- ple, the Ohana Waikiki West Ho- tel, a 10-minute walk to the beach, features rooms with kitchenettes and has (in descending order of importance for families) a pool, a Chili’s and a Starbucks; there’s also a grocery store across the street. Rooms start at $95 per night, or $758 for a week includ- ing taxes. For one-of-a-kind options and possible savings, take a look at the offerings on Vacation Rentals by Owner (
www.vrbo.com), a source for short-term rental houses, con- dos, cabins, villasandapartments offered by, you guessed it, proper-
to the front of the plane seems low-value, but passengers who need to ensure that their carry- on baggage gets on board may be forced to pay it as more and more passengers try to avoid the checked-bag fee,” saidMatt Daimler, founder of
SeatGuru.com.
Travel ticker Sept. 25 is Smithsonian
magazine’s sixth annual Museum Day. Download theMuseum Day Ticket from
www.smithsonian. com/museumday and get into participating museums and cultural institutions nationwide for free. . . . The City ofNapa and Arts CouncilNapa Valley have launched the downtown Napa ARTwalk, a collection of 10 sculptures with the theme “Celebrating theNapa River” that will be on viewfor one year. Take a self-guided audio tour and cast a vote for your favorite pieces. Info:
www.napaart
walk.org.
Reporting: Nancy Trejos.
ty owners. A recent search, for example, turned up the darling Kalama Kai Cottage in the small town of Kailua, on Oahu’s east coast. The recently renovated one-bedroom cottage sleeps four and has a full kitchen, a large covered lanai (porch) and a fenced-in yard with tropical land- scaping. It’s a two-block walk to Kailua Beach (a windsurfing hot spot) and 12 to 14 miles toWaikiki and Honolulu. Rate: $95 per night, plus $10 a night extra for third and fourth guests. Info: 808-227-6791,
www.vrbo.com/ 68966. As with any online trans- action, be sure to check referenc- es, scrutinize photos and com- pare prices before you pay.
What to do. Oahu is so much more than ersatz luaus and “Tiny Bubbles” (not that there’s any- thingwrongwith that).PearlHar- bor and theUSS Arizona memori- al are a poignant reminder of the
cost of freedom and should be at the top of anyone’s list. Other possibilities: Hike the 0.7-mile trail to the top of DiamondHead, the island’s iconic extinct volca- no; sign up for surfing lessons and canoe paddling; go whale- watching (December to May — another reason to visit in spring, if you can); explore the wild North Shore; visit such cultural landmarks as the Iolani Palace, the BishopMuseum and the Con- temporary Museum. For details on all: Hawaii Visitors and Con- vention Bureau, 800-GO-HA- WAII,
www.gohawaii.com. The Buziaks wondered wheth-
er a day trip from Oahu to the Big Island was feasible. It is, but be prepared for a long day and a budget-busting price. You can make arrangements on your own to fly to the Big Island (round-trip fares from Honolulu start at about $150 per person) and rent a car (about $60 for the day on
Hotwire.com) for the drive from Hilo airport to Volcanoes Nation- al Park, for a total of about $660. Or, to maximize your time, con- sider going with a tour operator who will handle all the details. Most will pick you up in Waikiki at about 6:30 a.m and return about 7:30 p.m.Hawaii Activities, for example, has a Volcano Ad- ventureTourthat includes pickup in Waikiki, round-trip air from Honolulu to Hilo, stops at Rain- bow Falls and a macadamia nut factory, and a visit to Kilauea Volcano. Prices start at $282 for adults and $255 for kids 3 to 11, plus 4.7 percent tax. Total for a family of four: $1,128. Info: 877- 877-1222, www.hawaiiactivities. com.
Cost. Assuming a week’s stay, plan on anywhere from $2,600 to $3,600 for airfare, $800 for lodg- ing and $255 for a rental car. Total: $3,655 to $4,655, leaving $2,345 to $1,345 for food, admis- sions and incidentals. If you watch the food budget (thank goodness for shrimp trucks and plate lunches), the trip is doable on a $6,000 budget.
Interested in having us help plan your trip? Go to www.washingtonpost. com/goingourway.
Extend your stay! FREE!
Buy 3 nights, get 2 nights
*Valid through December 19, 2010. Restrictions apply.
Call 800.266.2444 to plan your vacation.
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