A little aloha...

Happy day and happy spring! I hope you’re having a fantastic week and excited it’s almost Friday! I know I am!

I’ve been struggling with my return back to Pacific Time after my vacation in Hawaii.  My sleeping schedule is completely screwed up (for some reason) and I’ve been up super duper late.  As I adjust, I’m doing some fun behind the scenes business stuff. I’ll share with you soon! But, I did manage to have a lovely belated b-day dinner with Bob and some pals this past weekend.  It was certainly great to get out!

This week I’m reminiscing about Hawaii and giving you a short review.  Ready?

Flights - On the flight out, we decided to go with a red eye, nonstop to Honolulu via Hawaiian Air. I can’t speak to much to the service (I was sleeping) and offerings (beverage, snacks) were limited since it was a late flight.  But on my afternoon return they did serve free snacks, sandwiches, beverages, and cocktail, all with a smile. Lovely crew. Our seats were in economy and I didn’t have an issue with space. Tall people on the other hand (Bob) might be uncomfortable.

Hotels - Our first stop was our usual - Aulani, A Disney Resort and Spa. It is NOT in your face Disney, and suitable for adults without kids!  It tells the story of Hawaii with a touch of magic - and, as I always say, Disney is in the business of storytelling. The grounds are gorgeous (and part of the story) with multiple pools (for families and adults), lazy river and gentle lagoon.  

Besides the usual dining, spa and shopping there are a ton of activities available (and are listed in your daily program). Yoga classes, boot camp, paddle board rentals, snorkeling, property tours, and of course a kids club.  As always the kids clubs with Disney are top notch - so good there might be a line and the kids won’t want to leave. Relaxation time for mom and dad!

On this visit we opted for a one-bedroom villa at 750 square feet. Plenty enough room for two people, full kitchen (we stocked with snacks and drinks), enormous bath and generous balcony overlooking the luau space.  So…..one night we had some drinks and dinner while watching the luau (free) from the comfort of our own room.

Our second stop was The Royal Hawaiian in Waikiki.  Bob and I are fans of Starwood properties and I’ve been wanting to stay here, so we pulled the trigger with some points.  The history-rich Pink Palace is truly an oasis from the Waikiki chaos, is right on the beach and perfect for the whole family!

The room was not 750 square feet, but it was comfy, chock full of Hawaiian touches and totally gorgeous (I have a thing for wallpaper like the one on the rooms accent wall).  The bath was on the small side, but that sometimes isn’t unusual in more historic properties.

We’ve explored Oahu in depth before, so we used this visit to just CHILL.  Since real estate on the beach itself is a hot ticket and I REFUSE to wake up at 5am to secure a spot, we decided to rent an umbrella and chair set, in a section just for resort guests.  A must do and I will recommend if/when you plan a trip here.

Because there are so many awesome restaurants in Honolulu/Waikiki, we didn’t really eat on site. We did, however, indulge in some snacks and drinks at the Mai Tai Bar around lunchtime.  It’s a legendary bar on the beach with a decent selection of grub, seven types of Mai Tais and friendly staff. Another must do.

In closing, I can’t wait to help you plan your trip to Hawaii and either of these hotels.  I look forward to sharing my secret tips and tricks at Aulani - whether it’s a family trip or just the adults.  I also look forward to sharing the special offers available to my clients when booking The Royal Hawaiian. The special offers CANNOT be found online and aren’t available to everyone - we didn’t even get them because we booked with points!

Until next time!