Is traveling to Hawaii on your bucket list? If you do go, of course, you’ll be busy checking out things to do, places to go, sights to see. You’ll probably even have an itinerary of activities along with the best possible hotels to stay and even luaus to enjoy. However, if you’ve never been to Hawaii or are hoping to go “someday” soon, why not take your travel planning to the next level. There are pitfalls in traveling anywhere, but knowing them ahead of time is worth their weight in gold.
Here are 7 Pitfalls to Avoid before Traveling to Hawaii
Not Investigating Hurricane Season
If you’ve waited forever to go to Hawaii, saved and planned for what seems like a lifetime, don’t forget to look into when it’s prime hurricane season in Hawaii. You’ll probably be so busy thinking of how beautiful it is once you get to paradise, you may overlook its hurricane season – excitement can do that. Forgetting to look into the seasonal changes during Hawaii’s hurricane season, could be a damper on your dream vacation.
Typically, Hurricane season runs from June 1 through until November 30. That’s not to say that Mother Nature could change her mind at any given time, though. If you do plan any traveling during those times, you may want to explore the past weather history of the islands you intend to visit.
If you do book your visit during these times, ask your hotel questions, get tips and advice, do your research beforehand, check in with your airline carrier, and stay up-to-date. With so many mobile apps, you can easily stay ahead of the game.
Traveling when it’s Prime Tourist Time
If you want to make the most out of your Hawaiian vacation, don’t travel during peak tourist times; especially if it’s your first time. Peak tourist times are typically during Christmas time in late December through New Year’s, during snowbird season from January to middle of February, and during spring break season usually in the months of March and April.
Not Planning Ahead With Apps
We live in the most advantageous time to do everything with the ease and use of technology – especially mobile technology like apps. There are some useful apps you could use to plan ahead for your Hawaii vacation:
- Maps.Me – if you need an offline map, this is a great app, especially for those isolated hikes you might take through the hills and mountains of Hawaii.
- Surfing apps – if you want to stay abreast of the latest surfing conditions, make sure to download your favorite surfing app, which will keep you ahead of the game.
- Hawaii News Now – from weather to world reports, you can get all your important info with this app.
- Weather apps – a good weather app can go a long way, especially when traveling to Hawaii. You can keep abreast of tropical storm warnings and weather watches as well as get surf updates.
Not Doing Your Research
So many visitors get excited about their trip to paradise, they forget to do extra research or to do their homework beforehand. Do your research.
- Find the best time to travel
- Look for the best deals
- Discover package deals
- Research airline/hotel/tourist deals
- Watch out for updates
Not Checking Reviews for Accuracy
It’s nice to ask friends and family their opinions, but remember this is only their experience and not necessarily yours. Check out the forums, read up on readers’ choice awards, and check out reviews too. If they all match up with a negative experience on one particular adventure, then you can feel a little more secure to stay away, as well.
Not Comparing and Contrasting Your Prices
If you are visiting Hawaii, chances are you’re looking to get away from all that stress. You don’t want to do the work of comparing and contrasting prices because it feels like work. However, once you do the work, you’ll be glad you did. Getting the best deal and the most value is rewarding and will give you the best Hawaiian experience too.
Not Keeping an Eye on Fuel Prices
Keep an eye out for fuel prices. The lower the prices, the lower the air fare and the more the competition. If you don’t keep an eye out for fuel prices, how will you get the best deal? The more competition, the better it is for you.
