Eric
I'm booked on the JY Hawaii trip in October and would be very interested to hear your wife's opinion of the trip when you have a spare moment.
Sally
Good morning Sally,
Will reply later on today when I get home from work.
Eric.
Hello again Sally,
My partner loved the holiday to Hawaii and San Deigo but was not to impressed by Los Angeles.
San Deigo. - Could have done with another day or two. Hotel excellent and tours arranged excellent. Sightseeing tour very good and Bay cruise excellent. Julia wanted to go to San Deigo zoo and when fellow travellers found out a number of them tagged along. An extra day to visit Seaworld and Lego land might be considered for future holidays. She did not eat in the hotel as close by there was a few restaurants. She eat at Dennys for breakfast & dinner which were cheap and excellent value.
Early start (0500) to get up to Los Angeles for 10ish flight to Hawaii.
Waikiki, O'ahu. - Hotel large complex situated in heart of Waikiki right next to International market were you can get food etc almost anytime. Tour to Pearl harbour excellent and very moving for Julia. Not to be missed. Evening Hawaiian Lu'ua and buffet dinner cruise is also excellent. Julia says that Jewelery (pearls, gold and silver) matching sets abundent but be careful as they initially ask very high prices and you have to haggle to get the prices down to a realistic level.
One bad point was that the group was picked up very early for transfer to the airport because the coach driver had another tour group to pick up and therefore the wait at Honolulu airport was excessive.
As stated early in the thread each piece of baggage was carged 18USD by Hawaiian Airlines for transfer from O'ahu to Maui. ( 20 minut flight). This charge will not happen hopefully as JY should have sorted this problem out.
Lahaina, Maui. - This was the best part of the holiday according to Julia. Quiet, relaxing place with excellent hotel and facilities. Near empty beaches to wander on and relax.
The excursion to Haleakala creater for sunrise starts at 2am with a pick up from the hotel. Be warned. Take quited items and wrap up with warm clothes as it gets very cold going up and at the top of the creater. ALSO take a torch as it is comletely pitch black and a number of the Travelsphere group tripped and injured themselves.
Julia says that next time she goes to Hawaii she would stay the whole time at Maui instead of all the travelling involved.
Los Angeles - Really after arriving late evening from Hawaii there was only one day to see the sights of Hollywood etc. The hotel is situated by a 5 lane freeway with nothing much around to do.
The tour to Hollywood Bowl, Sunset strip was worth doing but Julia felt very uneasy on part of the tour to Santa Monica. She says that everywere you went into smelt of pot and was constantly offered dope near the beach area. She was very uncomfortable there!
The final day before the early evening flight was a lost morning due to waiting to be picked up at around 2pm for transfer to the airport. Not a lot to do as stated before around the hotel.
A really good book on Hawaii that Julia recommends is DK Eyewitness Travel at £14.99 that was very helpful and informative. I think Waterstones or Smiths stock it.
Bad points of the holiday, lots of waiting around at airports and transfers. Long flights.
Regards
Eric.