Travel Recap: Honolulu

Hello there! I apologize I haven't had as much time as I would like to write new posts here, with traveling and thrifting my time has just been tight! But I am excited to share all about our last minute getaway to Honolulu and my travel guide!

Hawaii is a place I've always wanted to visit, but we were totally caught off guard when hubs got a last minute job in Honolulu! This is how we do a lot of traveling because many expenses are covered due to being work related. This didn't stop us from having quite the adventure!

How We Got There

We booked our flights with Hawaiian Airlines, which really has a majority of the Hawaii market, and were the only airline to offer nonstop flights between LAX. We paid $680 for my ticket, which included one way having an "extra comfort" seat, which was pretty much economy with much more leg room (because we booked so last minute, on the flight there they no longer had two seats together).

Overall, we were really happy with this airline! Even though the flight is technically domestic, there were entertainment systems (with free movies and TV for those in extra comfort seats), TWO free food services, and comfortable seating. They even offered welcome rum punch on the descent! The only downside was that both planes were on the older side. They still had built in ash trays! :0

Where We Stayed

We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Honolulu, which was only a 10 minute walk away from Waikiki Beach. The hotel was very new, updated, and had a lot to offer. First, free breakfast! I always love a good Holiday Inn breakfast. They had lots of options plus a large dining area with indoor and outdoor seating. They also had a pool, big gym, arcade area with ping pong, and sunrise roof top yoga every morning!

What We Did

- Coast Drive

We had a convertible during our time in Honolulu, and it was such a blast! From Waikiki, we drove up the coast to Kailua which really got us out of the tourist central and we were able to see some really beautiful cliffs and mountains. 

- Waikiki

Not being far from this iconic beach, we spent a lot of our time exploring, eating, and shopping in this area. There are a lot of interesting restaurants and low to high end shopping areas so you can really find anything you might want or need! The strip right by the beach really reminds me of Vegas. The hotels are vast and you can spend a whole day exploring and eating your way through them1

- Kayaking & Snorkeling

One of my favorite days was when we kayaked and snorkeled around the beaches in Kailua! We went through a place called Kailua Beach Adventures, which we were very happy with! They offered pretty much anything you would want to do at the beach. We actually got two passes for free (because we toured a time share - blah) but we got kayaks, snorkels, bikes, and lunch included for the whole day!

- Beach Bar Hop

Really one of my best memories from our trip to Honolulu was bar hopping with hubby on Waikiki at all the nice hotels right on the beach. Pineapple drinks + sunsents = super romantic. Our favorites were Dukes and The Mai Tai Bar at the Royal Hawaiian!

The Good

- Great Temps

Ok guys, literally any time of day is between 70 and 80 degrees. Perfection!

​- Picturesque Beaches

I have never seen water so blue and clear!

- Everything Is Walking Distance

From our hotel, we were able to walk to the beach, shopping, and fun restaurants. It's an easy city to be in without a car!

The Bad

- Expensive

An isolated island has to import a lot, which makes goods more expensive.

​- Touristy

Of all the islands and cities to visit across Hawaii, we've been told Honolulu is the most touristy, and I believe it. There are many restaurants, hotels, and shopping centers. For a more authentic experience I would recommend another island.

- Rain Everyday = Bad Hair Everyday

Not a total major bummer because hello you are in Hawaii, but literally every day at some point it rained. I had to rock a bun pretty much the whole time.

And that is our trip to Honolulu in a nutshell! If you ever want to reference this recap in the future, you can always find it in the "travel" tab above! :*