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How to Travel to Hawaii

By Joanne Lewis
How to Travel to Hawaii
Because Hawaii has a long established and well developed tourism industry with many competitors in the markets for flying, accommodations and other tourist provisions, it is relatively easy to find and book travel to Hawaii from almost anywhere. There are seven major airlines offering flights from the U.S. mainland to Honolulu International Airport and also to airports on Maui, Kauai and Kona on the Big Island. The main considerations when planning travel to Hawaii are cost, convenience and your personal preferences regarding which islands to visit, which golf courses you most want to play and what other activities to intend to pursue.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate
Step 1
Decide how long your trip to Hawaii will be, which island or islands you want to visit, and what golf courses you most want to play. Start thinking about these decisions well in advance of your intended travel time. You could choose the golf courses first and plan your flights and accommodations around this, or book those first then choose some golf courses close to your accommodations.
Step 2
Search for flights to the island you will visit first. Visit the websites of American Airlines, US Airways, Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Northwest Airlines and United Airlines, and compare the prices and itineraries available. Visitors from the East Coast and outside of major cities may need to find additional flights to the major West Coast airports and fly to Hawaii from there.
Step 3
Research the baggage checking policies of the airlines you are considering. Add the fees for checking the number of bags you are likely to take per person, per flight to the cost of the flight. This gives you a more accurate idea of the total travel costs involved.
Step 4
Research hotel and other accommodation options, and look for golf packages. These often include hotel rooms, daily greens fees, cart rental and travel to and from a specific golf course. Compare these prices to the price of the room and greens fees separately to help you choose the best deal.
Step 5
Study a map and determine how you will get to your hotel from the airport and to the golf courses and other attractions from the hotel. If you decide you need to rent a car, look into package deals offered by the airlines you are considering and compare this to the cost of purchasing flights and a car rental individually.
Step 6
Purchase flights, accommodation and car rental if necessary online. Pay your baggage fees online in advance-many airlines offer lower fees if you pay this way rather than at the airport.
Step 7
Pack your golf bag into a protective cover. Most airlines will allow up to 14 clubs, 12 golf balls and one pair of golf shoes, and recommend hard cases. Do not pack other items into your golf bag. Weigh the bag to make sure it is under the baggage weight requirement for your airline, otherwise you may have to pay hefty overweight baggage fees when you check in.

Tips & Warnings

Remember that baggage fees apply to every individual flight. If you are island-hopping and taking multiple flights, remember to add up the fees for each flight when comparing prices. A cruise departing from the West Coast is an alternative to flying and hotel accommodations. These are a good option if you dislike flying or if you want a package that includes all your travel and accommodation. If you will only be golfing once or twice while in Hawaii, consider renting clubs from the golf course instead of bringing your own. If you really want to play specific golf courses, make tee times before you leave to avoid disappointment. If you are flexible and want to save money on greens fees, check golf courses' websites for special deals. When you arrive in Hawaii pick up free newspapers and brochures and look in the telephone directory in your hotel-coupons and special rates are often advertised in these local publications.
Remember that baggage fees apply to every individual flight. If you are island-hopping and taking multiple flights, remember to add up the fees for each flight when comparing prices.
A cruise departing from the West Coast is an alternative to flying and hotel accommodations. These are a good option if you dislike flying or if you want a package that includes all your travel and accommodation.
If you will only be golfing once or twice while in Hawaii, consider renting clubs from the golf course instead of bringing your own.
If you really want to play specific golf courses, make tee times before you leave to avoid disappointment. If you are flexible and want to save money on greens fees, check golf courses' websites for special deals. When you arrive in Hawaii pick up free newspapers and brochures and look in the telephone directory in your hotel-coupons and special rates are often advertised in these local publications.

About The Author

Joanne Lewis is a freelance writer who has written for newspapers since 2005. She is currently the editor of a weekly community newspaper in Los Angeles, Calif. Lewis holds a Bachelor of Science in politics from the University of Bristol, England.
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