New security regulations for your flight

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A new security regulation just went into effect this week where part of the security screening process involves making sure that the name on your airline ticket matches EXACTLY to that on your government issued photo id (drivers license/state ID).  This is to compare the info to their no fly list.  While they say that the use of a middle initial/name that appears on your ID but not on your ticket won’t effect the process, I would suggest in any future reservations you make the reservation under the name as it appears on your drivers license, middle initial/name and all to avoid any confusion and possible delays.  In August, the 2nd part of this new security measure will go into effect where you will need to enter your birthday and gender when booking your flight.

To read more about this in detail, click here.

Prepare for the unexpected

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No one likes to think that something bad will happen on vacation but unfortunately it can happen.  Do yourself a favor and keep an emergency number list with your travel papers and a copy in your rental glove compartment so if something comes up you know exactly who to contact.  Some numbers I always make sure I have on hand are travel related like the 800 numbers to the airlines I’m using (including interisland) with my flight numbers as well as the rental car company and the rental/condo agencies for where we’re staying.  If your flight gets delayed, you want to make sure you call ahead to the hotel and rental car company so they don’t give away your room or car to someone else.  I’ve heard horror stories! 

Also make sure you look up the number and addresses to the local police department and hospitals in any towns you are planning to visit.  You never know if you may need them.

Finally, make sure you have the 800 numbers to your credit card companies of any cards you may take with you as well as the numbers to your travelers check companies.  Make sure you have copies of your receipts with you in case your travelers checks are stolen and keep them separate from the checks.  This will expedite the process should you need to replace them.

A little preparation can go a long way to make a not-so-ideal situation a little less stressful!

Wai’anapanapa State Park under renovations

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If you’ve got plans to visit Maui’s Waianapanapa State Park between now and the end of March, expect delays getting in to and leaving the park.  The water system is being upgraded to the day use, camping and rental cabin area.  This improvement is long overdue so hopefully visitors will drive with aloha in the area while things are in a bit of disarray.  The construction is due to be completed by March 31st but knowing Hawaiian time, be prepared for it to run over a few days just in case.

To read more about details on this project, click here.

Polihale Beach on Kauai closed indefinitely

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According to the Garden Island News heavy flooding has damaged a bridge and road that leads back to the remote Polihale State Park Beach.  This road is rarely in good condition anyway but the damage is pretty significant.  The DLNR says the park is cloased “indefinitely until significant repairs are made to areas of the park that were damaged by recent heavy rains.”  This was close to the same statement made when the road going to the beautiful Pu’u O Kila lookout over Kalalau Valley was closed…back in 2003.  So if their snappy timeline on that project is any indicator, visitors should probably cross Polihale off of their to do list on their Kauai vacation.  If I seem a little cranky about the Pu’u O Kila lookout, you can see why in this post.

Making airport security a breeze…

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Security Screening Tips

New passenger checkpoint screening procedures have been introduced to increase the ability to identify explosives and potential threats to aviation security. These include increased use of explosives trace detection machines, expanded pat-down searches and greater discretion for screeners to refer individuals for additional screening.

• You will be asked to show the agent your boarding pass and identification card prior to divesting to the security screening process. Please remember that you are only allowed 1 carry on bag plus 1 personal item.

• Place all carry-on baggage and any items you are carrying with you either on the belt of the x-ray machine or in the bin provided.

• Put all metal objects IN your carry-on bag or in the bin provided at the security checkpoint. Metal objects includes; jewelry, loose change, keys, mobile phones, pagers, and personal data assistants (PDAs).

• Always follow the 311 rule or you will be forced to throw away any liquids that are over 3 oz.  You can use one 1 quart sized ziptop bag per passenger with liquids no more than 3 oz.  Things like lip gloss or gel based products count.  For more information and a list of restrictions, go here.

• Take your laptop computer OUT of its’ carrying case. Place it in a bin, separate from its carrying case.

• Remove ALL coats and place them in the X-ray. This includes suit and sport coats, athletic warm-up jackets, and blazers. If the coat or jacket is used as the innermost layer of clothing, you do not need to remove it. TIP: To help speed the security process, remove all coats prior to reaching the checkpoint. You will save time by consolidating your belongings – divested clothing can now be placed on top of laptops, shoes or other articles in bins submitted for X-ray.

• If your bag is selected for secondary screening, it may be opened and examined on a table in your presence. Do not interfere with the secondary screening of your carry on bag. The screener will advise you when the secondary screening is complete and you may collect your bag.

• Passengers are not required to take off their shoes before going through metal detectors, however if your shoes set off the metal detector, you will have to go through a secondary screening. You may want to voluntarily remove your shoes and place them in a bin provided for the x-ray machine and proceed through the metal detector barefoot.

• Travelers are required to walk through a metal detector unless you require a pat-down inspection for medical reasons.

• If traveler sets off the alarm on the metal detector they will undergo a secondary screening, which requires extra time. To avoid secondary screening remove all metal objects (including belts, sunglasses, objects in your pockets including change, money clips, cell phones etc.) and place them in the x-ray bins before walking through the metal detectors.

• If you require secondary screening the process includes a hand-wand inspection in conjunction with a pat-down inspection.

During the secondary screening process you will be asked to stand with your feet apart and the screener will pass the wand over your entire body without actually touching you with the wand. A pat-down inspection may follow the wand inspection.

Tips courtesy of TravelSmartHawaii.com

Snap up cheap interisland fare by tomorrow!

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If you’re looking to fly to the Big Island or Kauai from Oahu by the end of the year you’d better hurry to grab a great deal.  The three major interisland airlines are offering $39 one-way fares from Honolulu to Kona and Lihu’e for travel through Dec. 31 and tickets must be purchased by tomorrow (Wednesday).  Some restrictions apply so check with each airline.

Hawaiian Airlines website
Go! Airlines website
Mokulele Airlines website

What you should know about Hawaii’s agriculture policy

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Many people are unaware that Hawaii has an agriculture policy before they come to the islands.  Here are some things you need to know before arriving so you’re not taken by surprise.

What Can I Bring
Flying to Hawaii is different than flying to many other destinations. Many plants and animals from elsewhere in the world can be harmful to Hawaii’s unique environment, agriculture, and communities. Aboard your flight to Hawaii, you will be required by state law to fill out an agriculture declaration form.

• Passengers arriving with fresh fruits & vegetables; cut flowers & foliage; rooted plants & plant cuttings, or algae; raw or propagative seeds or bulbs; soil, growing media, sand; live seafood (lobsters, clams, oysters); cultures of bacteria, fungi, viruses or protozoa; or insects, live fish, amphibians, etc., must declare them and submit them for inspection to a Hawaii Plant Quarantine Inspector in the baggage claim area.

• If you are traveling with live animals, you must declare them and notify a cabin attendant on your flight prior to deplaning.

• All live animals must be turned in to the airport’s Animal Quarantine Holding Facility by the airline, not the passenger, upon arrival.

For further information on importing plants and animals into the state, please visit the Hawaii State Department of Agriculture’s Quarantine Office website.

Tips courtesy http://www.travelsmarthawaii.com

Coming to the islands? What should you expect?

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The following are good tips from TravelSmartHawaii.com pre-arrival to Hawaii.

How to Dress
When deciding your wardrobe for Hawaii, plan on packing clothes that suit your lifestyle and travel plans. Start with clothes that are light, loose, and comfortable.

Daytime
• Shorts, sandals or some good walking shoes
• Short sleeve shirts or tops
• Hat and sunglasses
• Swim trunks or swimsuit for the beach

Evenings
• Casual pants and shirts for both men and women
• Dress or skirt and top for women
• Sport coat (if you plan to visit Hawaii’s finest restaurants)
• Light jacket or sweater

Special situations
You’ll need warm clothes if your trip will take you to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park or the summit of Mauna Kea on the Big Island, or to Maui’s Haleakala National Park. That also applies if you’ll be hiking at higher elevations or spending time on the ocean. It does get cool on occasion, particularly if you’ll be spending time up-country on one of the islands, so it’s probably smart to bring a coat or sweater if that’s where you’re headed. Consider bringing:
• Light coat or windbreaker
• Sweater or sweatshirt
• Long pants
• Hiking shoes

It’s also a good idea to check what your weather averages are.  We’re heading into rainy season so you may want to consider whether that’s an issue for you or not.  Also note when low and high seasons are.  You will pay more around the holidays and many accommodations will require a minimum stay that is longer than their typical requirements.  If you’re planning a trip to the Big Island, accommodations fill up well in advance around the time of the Ironman Triathlon (October 10, 2009) and Merrie Monarch Festival (April 12-18, 2009.)  The Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo tends to fill up the rentals in Volcano, Hawaii 30 miles away where rentals are limited so book way ahead around this time of year.

Poll: Travel packages charging for a symbol of aloha

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After our last trip with Pleasant Holidays, we were sent a survey about how our trip went and it included a comments section.  I commented on how disappointed we were that we did not get our traditional lei greeting upon landing and when we called them we were told this was now an “option” and we had to pay for it if we wanted it.  I got a note back from the company saying the following:

A short while ago, we changed one of the features of the on-line booking engine to have the flower lei greeting an optional selection rather than having it automatically included with each booking. Management felt that our passengers (many of whom are repeat travelers) should have the choice of choosing the flower lei greeting. Where as, before it was not an option and was part of the total cost.

We regret to inform you that when your booking was made, the flower lei greeting was not selected. We are truly sorry for the disappointment you experienced when you discovered the flower lei greeting was not part of your package.

Sure it was our fault that we didn’t check the lei greeting under the “extras” section since it’s a section we’ve never had to use before so I’ve always skipped over it.  I’ve booked with them and priced out so many trips for clients that I never had to.  The letter went on to basically say thanks for responding about your “disenchantment” but sorry about your luck.  I’m sorry but even if you were charging me for the lei greeting in the cost before, by not listing it out on my itinerary I never knew I was paying for it.  Therefore, in my eyes, when you make it an “option” it seems like you are now charging me for something I didn’t pay for and it feels like one more fee I’m getting charged on top of everything else I’m being nickeled and dimed on.  (Especially when I’m paying them thousands of dollars and they can’t throw in $20 for 2 leis??)

So what do you think?  In this economy where we are paying for fuel surcharges, luggage, overweight luggage and meals on the plane…all things that were “all inclusive” not even 5 years ago…does making a lei greeting an option make you feel like you’re being nickeled and dimed or would you rather have it included and get lei’d off the plane just like the old PanAm Clipper plane days?  Please comment below.

Take out Hawaii

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One question I always get asked is “how can I save money on dining out in Hawaii?”  Well you can always do the Entertainment Book or Aloha Diners Club thing as I have blogged about in the past but what if the places you want to go aren’t in those books? 

If you are staying in a condo, this is a no-brainer.  Get your meals to go.  I’m not just talking about the local burger joint or fast food, I’m talking we have gotten prime rib and teriyaki steak from down the street and ate it back at the condo.  Our view was better, we didn’t have to listen to other people or wait in line and the main reason…sorry servers but we didn’t have to pay an additional 10-20% for a tip.  That dinner that we took to the condo saved us $10.00 in tips.  I know, I’m not going to be a servers friend by saying skip out on a dine in meal but sorry, with gas, groceries and every other basic necessity in life skyrocketing, I’ve gotta look out for our bottom line.  There’s no shortage of visitors willing to stick around and pay for the view.  But if you’re scraping for that dream vacation to the islands, or anywhere for that matter, and are looking to cut corners anywhere you can, this is one way you can do that.  We estimated we saved over $100 by doing this and that $100 is back in our savings account earning us menial interest. 

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