In 1996 my dad sat our family down and told us we’d be moving to Texas. My parents were ecstatic as they are both from there. For me, the only life I had known was the Army Brat life, and while it started in Texas I was too young to remember it. So when my dad told us we were moving to Texas I cried. I did NOT want to be a cowgirl. I did NOT want to ride a horse. I totally get it when people think everyone in Texas wears a cowboy hat and owns cows because I thought the same thing.
I love living out in the country on my own chunk of beautiful Texas land, but I don’t blame my ten-year-old self for being upset. At the time, I was living in Hawaii. The Texas skies are beautiful and we’ve got beaches, but nothing, and I mean nothing, compares to the paradise that is the Hawaiian islands.
Pretty much from the time I met my husband I started talking about my love for Hawaii. Somewhere along the way I got him to agree to take a trip to Hawaii for our 10-year wedding anniversary. This brings us to the summer of 2018, a few months before our 9th anniversary, when I began to plan.
There is so much to cover from our week-long stay on Oahu, so over the next month I’ll be sharing a series of posts with specific information. For now, we will start with the first questions you ask yourself when planning a trip to Hawaii – how can I afford it and which island should I go to.
How can I afford a trip to Hawaii?
Visiting Hawaii is expensive. I’ll cover more specific budget tips later but for now the best tip I can share is to book through a travel agent. I booked our trip through a travel agent (myself) and this allowed me to pay a deposit and then make payments along the way. If I have to save up thousands of dollars in my own account I will always find a reason to take a little from it or just add to it later. Paying a deposit and making payments over a few months helped me to cash flow my family’s trip to Hawaii.
Some travel agents may charge a fee, but I do not. I get paid by the suppliers that I book trips through, so I don’t add any fees or charges to my clients. My goal is to find the best deal possible and make your dream vacation a reality.
Which island should I go to?
Let me just start by saying this – it DOES NOT matter. You’re going to fall in love with Hawaii regardless of the island you go to.
There are 8 main Hawaiian islands and 4 that you can actually visit – Oahu (where Honolulu and Waikiki are), Hawaii (yes it’s the name of the state AND the name of one of the islands), Kauai, and Maui.
I have been to 3 out of the 4 islands in my lifetime (Maui is on my bucket list). This trip we went to Oahu because that’s where I grew up and it was important to me. All of these islands are beautiful and have something unique to offer.
Go to Maui if you’re wanting something quieter and more romantic.
Go to Kauai if you like simplicity and nature.
Go to Hawaii (the island) if you want to see a volcano.
Go to Oahu if you want a little more action.
Do you have any questions about a Hawaiian vacation? Post them in the comments below!
If you’re looking to plan your dream vacation I would love the opportunity to assist you. Contact me at Dreams By Design Travel with Sarah or sarah@dreamsbydesigntravel.com.
~S
DTTravel Blog 