Recommend April 2013 - (Page 78)

HAWAII VISITORS & CONVENTION BUREAU at Poipu Shopping Center. And just beyond on the beach at Lawai, the iconic Beach House Restaurant recently completed a half-million dollar renovation that further enhances its epic sunset-view setting. recreational springboard While never light on diversions, Poipu has ramped up its recreational roster as well. “I recommend Poipu because of the location,” says Mindy Gilbert with New Jersey-based My Vacation Lady. “It has great beaches and activities, and easy access to Waimea Canyon and Port Allen for the Napali Coast cruises.” Closer to the resort, Koloa Zipline has debuted an 8-line course that thrills with Kauai’s longest coming in at 2,500 ft. And Outﬁtters Kauai boosted its existing lines with three tandems soaring above three separate waterfalls. For grounded adventure, Kauai ATV and CJM Stables have linked for a guided Horse & Buggy trek. Guests rip into hidden valleys on ATVs or Mudbugs, and then change the pace with horseback riding to sheltered beaches and movie set sites. And to help shutterbugs hone their skills, Photo Safari Hawaii’s new eco-excursion catches all the photo ops at Allerton and McBryde National Tropical Botanical Gardens in Lawai Valley. getting there & getting around Kauai’s Lihue Airport (LIH) welcomes nonstop service from the U.S. mainland via United from Los Angeles and San Francisco; American Airlines and Delta Air Lines from Los Angeles; US Airways from Phoenix; and Alaska Airlines from Seattle, San Jose and San Diego. Visitors can also ﬂy into Honolulu International Airport (HNL) and connect on Hawaiian Airlines, Go! or Island Air. As a rental car alternative, the reservation-based Sunny Poipu Express Shuttle transports passengers from Lihue Airport to Koa Kea and Grand Hyatt Kauai. Once in Poipu, Green Car Hawaii rents hybrid or electric cars on a daily or hourly basis. Traditional rentals are available through Avis at the Grand Hyatt Kauai. ● Archived related articles (available on recommend.com/magazine/issue-archive): The Lure of Hawaii (November 2012) contact information CJM Stables: cjmstables.com Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa: (808) 742-1234; grandhyattkauai.com or hyatttravelagents.com Green Car Hawaii: greencarhawaii.com Kauai ATV: kauaiatv.com Koa Kea Hotel & Resort: (888) 898-8958; koakea.com Koloa Zipline: koloazipline.com Outﬁtters Kauai: outﬁtterskauai.com The Parrish Collection: (800) 325-5701; parrishkauai.com Photo Safari Hawaii: photosafarihawaii.com Poipu Beach Resort Association: (888) 744-0888; poipubeach.org Sheraton Kauai Resort: (866) 716-8109; sheraton-kauai.com or starwoodhotels.com/pro/index.html (travel agent login) Sunny Poipu Express Shuttle: robertshawaii.com/pbra 78 april 2013 76-79 NA Hawaii.indd 78 Kauai the Pleasant Way “Kauai provides the perfect setting to unplug from the hectic pace of home and reconnect with nature and each other,” says Jack E. Richards, president and CEO of Pleasant Holidays. “The moment you step off the plane and breathe in the sweet perfume of tropical ﬂowers, your stress level melts away.” While Pleasant books all of Hawaii’s major islands, Richards ﬁnds that the aloha spirit seems more prevalent on Kauai. “It’s easy to see why ﬁlms like ‘The Descendants’ chose to shoot here,” Richards says. “Through that, Kauai has received some very positive exposure over the past few years.” That exposure likely contributed to Pleasant’s 2013 boost in bookings to the “Island of Discovery.” Richards notes that through the end of February, Kauai year-overyear sales ﬁgures were up 20 percent and room nights were up 17 percent. “We expect it to increase even more with the new Alaska Airlines nonstop service from San Diego beginning this summer.” Richards deﬁnes Kauai’s top markets as honeymooners and travelers into soft adventure—especially among visitors from the West Coast. “The island is really geared to those who want to do it all or nothing at all.” In Poipu, Pleasant partners with Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa, Sheraton Kauai Resort and Castle Kiahuna Plantation Bungalows. “What agents ﬁnd with Poipu is an ideal combination of luxurious resorts, challenging championship golf, pampering world-class spas and one of the best beaches in America,” says Richards. Rather than etched-in-stone itineraries, Pleasant reservation sales agents customize air, accommodations and activities packages suited for a travel agent’s client. “Our sales agents can craft a romantic getaway for two, an active vacation that accommodates the whole family, the perfect destination wedding or a corporate team-building event that keeps an industry leader in top position,” Richards says. To help travel agents sell Kauai, pleasantagent.com provides access to special offers, promotional materials and training programs. Agents should visit the site to ﬁnd Hawaii “Hot Deals” value-added promotions that tack on extras like special amenities, upgrades and free Hertz rental car use. Richards adds that Pleasant also hosts quarterly webinars on Hawaii. For more information, call (800) 742-9244 or visit pleasantholidays.com. recommend.com 3/21/13 7:04 AM http://www.recommend.com/magazine/issue-archive http://www.cjmstables.com http://www.grandhyattkauai.com http://www.hyatttravelagents.com http://www.greencarhawaii.com http://www.pleasantagent.com http://www.kauaiatv.com http://www.koakea.com http://www.koloazipline.com http://www.outfitterskauai.com http://www.parrishkauai.com http://www.photosafarihawaii.com http://www.poipubeach.org http://www.sheraton-kauai.com http://www.starwoodhotels.com/pro/index.html http://www.pleasantholidays.com http://www.robertshawaii.com/pbra http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend April 2013

Editor's Notes
The Islands of Tahiti
Hotel Desk: Song Saa Private Island, Cambodia
Tour Talk: Islands in the Sun
A Med Escape: Greek Isles & Cyprus
Set Sail
The Seychelles' Private Island Resorts
Portrait of Israel
Booking 2 on the Isles: Easter Island & Galapagos
Island-Hopping in Mexico: Cozumel, Isla Holbox & Isla Mujeres
The Pulse of Poipu, Hawaii
Florida's Islands: Amelia, Captiva & Sanibel
The Real Caribbean: Grenada & Martinique

Recommend April 2013