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Run by an ANA at 384 2076? Offering tours and tourist services? I posted an ad on craigslist looking for lodging and she responded but I'm hesitant to give out my CC # to someone who may be a wonderful independent or ????
Nope, haven't heard of them. I tried Google-ing them and searching different key words with the information you gave but nothing came up. So I would keep your distance if I were you. Are you just looking for tours and whatnot? If so, my cousin owns his own tour bus company and I could message you his information or something. Thanks!
Sure send me any info on your bothers tour company. What I had done was posted a Wanted; Vacation rental 2/9-2/15 for $500 on Craigslist that this person called me and offered to find a place and pick us up from the airport. She seems legit, but when someone with no website wants a Credit Card # to make reservations for us, it gets a little dicey. I'm hoping to find someone who can validate her.
Instead of posting a "wanted" ad, why not google "Tour companies" Hawaii and see what companies show up with legitimate websites and contact information? Might be a better option.
Beware. She may be legit, but there are a LOT of scammers operating in this field, and especially in the vacation rentals and apartment rentals areas. So many people lose their deposits this way that the newspapers no longer report the stories... it's just too common to be considered news.
Even if she is legit, small operators can be problematic in other ways. I suggest you stick with people who have a long, verifiable track record, and who have a clean record with the Better business Bureau.
You didn't mention what island/area you are talking about. Being specific here will get you better information.
So far, we are arriving a 9:30 p.m on 2/8 and I booked a hotel close to the airport for one night only. They have free shuttles and are close.
The next thing is to figure out how to get to Big Island and go snorkeling. Looks like Body Glove is a good provider, but need to figure out were to stay around there and how to get there.
Likely we will then head back and spend a day or two in Wiakiki and visit the P/H memorial some time.
we need to fly back home on 2/15 at 10 p.m.
Not sure what other tours to try and take, heard we should skip the volcano's and spend more time snorkeling and on the water. What do you'all think?
So far, we are arriving a 9:30 p.m on 2/8 and I booked a hotel close to the airport for one night only. They have free shuttles and are close.
Where? Honolulu? Makes a difference.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bassville
The next thing is to figure out how to get to Big Island and go snorkeling. Looks like Body Glove is a good provider, but need to figure out were to stay around there and how to get there.
Hawai'ian Air to Kona, stay at Uncle Billy's, s/b under $100. It's old school, clean but not luxurious, where a lot of locals stay because it is inexpensive ($54 the last time I was there, with local ID) close to the beach, and all the shops and restaurants along Ali'i are within walking distance. You'll need to take a taxi from the airport no matter where you stay.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bassville
Not sure what other tours to try and take, heard we should skip the volcano's and spend more time snorkeling and on the water. What do you'all think?
Depends on what you like. Different strokes for different folks. Personally, I find that my guests rate the trip to the volcano as the highlight of their visit. Think... you can go snorkeling a million places, but how often do you have a chance to see the largest active volcano in the world? The trick is to do it right... right now the lava lake at Kiluea is going up and down like water in a bathtub, and shooting lava fountains in the air. Best time to see that is at night, when it is dark, from the Jagger Museum inside Volcano National Park, although the daytime view shows you the immensity of it all. And the lava flow into the ocean about 12 miles away is arguably the #1 thing to see on the island, where the glowing hot lava plunges into the ocean, sending up huge plumes of steam and slowly slowly increasing the size of the island. Just a couple of days ago there was a breakout of one of the lava tubes that burned a house up completely. Same same back at Thanksgiving, when a 5 acre noni orchard and house were destroyed. And you might even see some passing whales offshore at the same time.
The trick is to do your homework, and it's easy online. The park guide has daily postings about current viewing conditions. It varies day by day. A lot about how much you experience depends on the exact day you go. Pick a rainy cold time when mists and fog obscure the view and you'll probably wish you had gone snorkeling.
All in all, I'd say the biggest mistake tourists make is not staying on top of the current weather for their destination, because it is highly variable here. Mornings and afternoons can be wildly different. Fortunately smartphones make it easy to stay connected to weather info.
The King Kamehameha Hotel, or the Kona Seaside are nice hotels right in town.
I was curious about rates, so I checked... Kona Seaside has no rooms available for the dates in question, King Kamehameha's reservation site wouldn't work for me in three tries, and Uncle Billy's has rooms available, including their great internet special of $79 for a standard room.
I love being able to walk across the street from Uncle Billy's to the historic Kona Inn for dinner.
OpenD makes some very valid points as well. I would just be very cautious. Good luck!
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