Recommend April 2012 - (Page 88)

escaping to THE continued from page 84 ISLANDS To commemorate this re-branding, the resort is offering a Live the Life package for two to introduce visitors to the North Shore. Priced at $16,954, the offer is packed with enticing perks: customized Turtle Bay Resort surfboards for two, plus carry cases; a 7-night stay at the huge Alii Presidential Suite and daily en-suite breakfast; a $1,000 gift card from Quicksilver to buy surﬁng and beach attire prior to arrival; daily surﬁng and stand-up paddling lessons; private canoe paddling and canoe surﬁng session; a helicopter tour of the North Shore; and spear-ﬁshing lessons with one’s catch prepared by the resort’s culinary staff. There’s also a private lunch with a local surﬁng legend, an exclusive farm tour and cooking lesson and a private photographer capturing clients’ best vacation moments, plus three spa treatments for two, daily ﬁtness sessions and tons more. For non-surfers who like exploring beyond the shore, the ﬁrst Hyatt Place property in Hawaii debuted a few months ago in Honolulu with plenty of extras. Besides the pool and proximity to the ocean that is so important to a stay in Hawaii, Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach features self-service check-in/check-out kiosks and the complimentary Kitchen Skillet, with a wide array of freshly made breakfast offerings. Another perk: its location. Hyatt Place is within walking distance of the Honolulu Zoo and Waikiki Beach. It’s also minutes away from Kapiolani Park and Diamond Head State Monument, one of the state’s most renowned landmarks, which features dazzling ocean views and a challenging hiking trail that reveal the natural magic of the volcanic crater. Rates start at $180 per night. touring the islands For a sampling of some of Hawaii’s most tantalizing landscapes, there’s Insight Vacations’ value-ﬁlled Hawaiian Dreams tour, a 10- or 12-day escape to the islands that “…feature luxury hotels, ﬁne dining, fascinating guided tours and, I am pleased to announce, all have deﬁnite guaranteed departures,” says Marc Kazlauskas, Insight’s president. “Guests can make their arrangements knowing their plans are solidly in place.” In Oahu, clients stay at the Moana Surfrider, a Westin Resort & Spa in Honolulu and take a guided tour of Iolani Palace, visit the USS Arizona Memorial and engage in a “talk story” session with a local surfer, with plenty of time for shopping or a surﬁng session. In Maui, they’ll tour some of the area’s most famous boutique farms—the aromatic Alii Kula Lavender Farm for lavender tea and scones, the Surﬁng Goat Dairy for award-winning cheeses and Kula Country Farms for a bite into the island’s renowned sweet onions—and stay at the Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas. Once on the Big Island, they’ll visit Volcanoes National Park, home to Mauna Loa, the world’s largest volcano, and Kilauea, one of the most active; they might even get the chance to look down on the Kilauea Caldera. They’ll also stop at Jaggar Museum to learn about the beginnings of the Hawaiian islands, go on a guided walk through coffee and macadamia nut orchards and a cacao farm, explore the town of Kailua and learn about ranching in historic Anna Ranch, while retreating in the evenings to the Fairmont Orchid. The tour also offers an optional extension to Kauai for a lesson in lei making, a drive under the island’s “Tunnel of Trees” and visits to Opaekaa Falls, Waimea Canyon and Hanalei Bay, spending the night at the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa. Hawaiian Dreams starts at $3,750 land only, dbl for the 10-day tour and $4,595 when including Kauai. family fun on maui Why here: No matter the age, kids and adults seem to always have a non-stop roster of activities to enjoy in Maui. There are the miles of beaches, of course, but also a ride on the Sugar Cane Train, which travels between Lahaina and Kaanapali; horseback rides on the island’s highest peak, Haleakala; underwater exploration while staying dry at Maui Ocean Center; and even the sight of thousands of humpback whales migrating to its waters from December through May. With loads of complimentary extras such as 18-hole putting greens, a seasonal kids’ program, daily activities, barbecue areas and ﬁtness room access, Napili Kai Beach Resort and its swimmer-friendly beach is a favorite in Maui. The philosophy of “no nickel-and-diming our guests” at Napili Kai Beach Resort continues through the year with its Value Season—April 14 through June 15 and Aug. 18 through Dec. 13—when the resort offers a ﬁfth night free with four consecutive paid nights. There is also a 7th Heaven Special with a sixth and seventh night free when booking ﬁve paid nights in select categories. In addition, if they stay at least ﬁve nights the resort will deduct the cost of clients’ airline baggage fees off the total cost of their stay for up to $125 per reservation if they show their checked-baggage receipt once they check-in. Kids 12 and under staying through Dec. 13 get a free children’s entree with the Keiki Eat Free menu. Rates during Value Season start at $260 per night. getting there American Airlines offers nonstops from Dallas and LAX to Honolulu and Maui, as well as ﬂights from Honolulu to the Big Island, Maui and Oahu. From the east coast, United Airlines offers a nonstop from Newark to Honolulu. Other major carriers that ﬂy to Hawaii from the U.S. mainland include Delta Air Lines and Hawaiian Airlines, while Island Air offers inter-island ﬂights. n Archived related articles (available on recommend.com): Aloha to Families in Hawaii’s Resorts (September 2011) contact information Aloha Music Camp: alohamusiccamp.com Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach: (808) 922-3861; hyattplacewaikikibeach.com Insight Vacations: (800) 582-8380; insightvacations.com or insightvacations.com/user/log-in Keauhou Beach Resort: (808) 324-2515; keauhoubeachresort.com Napili Kai Beach Resort: (800) 367-5030; napilikai.com Turtle Bay Resort: (808) 293-6000; turtlebayresort.com 86 april 2012 recommend.com http://www.recommend.com http://www.alohamusiccamp.com http://www.hyattplacewaikikibeach.com http://www.insightvacations.com http://www.insightvacations.com/user/log-in http://www.keauhoubeachresort.com http://www.napilikai.com http://www.turtlebayresort.com http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend April 2012

Editor's Notes/Agent Speak
Hotel Desk: Provenance Hotels
Tour Talk: Trafalgar
Sailing the Galapagos Islands
Now Sapphire
Paradisus Playa del Carmen
Treat Yourself to Brussels
Panama Specialist Program
New Zealand
Turkish Delights
Women Wellness Retreats
The Still-Single Mingle in Vegas
Club Med Sandpiper, Florida
Hawaii: Escaping to the Islands

Recommend April 2012