Comments (0)

By admin, September 3, 2010 1:31 pm

You’ve finally decided you and your family on going to take that long awaited dream vacation in Hawaii. You’ve decided that you want to go the vacation rental route for numerous reasons: privacy, comfort, location and cost effectiveness. Next, you probably Googled Oahu Vacation Rentals and are faced with the daunting task of choosing among some 175,000 web sites. Where to begin? Here’s two secrets that will help you make the right choice so you can enjoy your stay in Hawaii to its fullest.

Secret One: Use a reservation service. There are several reasons for this. First, a single property vacation rental listing by owner will severely limit you to the dates that you can take your vacation. Vacation rental properties in Hawaii run nearly 90% occupancy, so unless you know your travel dates six months to a year out the odds are high that their property won’t be available for the travel dates you had in mind. Second, the owner is only concerned with booking their own property so they will extol the virtues of their vacation rental and not mention any of the faults.

Secret Two: Make the right choice of reservation service. Make sure it is locally owned and operated. Websites like vrbo and findrentals (for instance) don’t have a clue about geography, weather, attractions, events and the other necessary information required to give you the property that best fills your needs. For instance, let’s say you want to whale watch but also want to vacation on Oahu. Your reservation service should be able to tell you that you need to stay on the windward side of the island if you want to see the whales. Another tip-off of services to avoid are those that do automated, credit card bookings. Steer clear of these services as this implies they aren’t interested in talking to you, they just want your money. Be wary of sites that have more than 100 properties….there aren’t that many decent selections on Oahu, or any of the other Hawaiian islands, on the market. The more a service exceeds 100 properties, the greater the odds you’ll end up in an overpriced, undesirable vacation rental. Here’s another great hint. If a reservation service states that they have hotels or condos available in Kailua, or will have them soon, choose another service. Since, by zoning law, Kailua does not allow hotels or condos, you should realize that once again, this is a service that wants your money, not your piece of mind. Always ask the reservation service person you are talking to where they are located. Someone based in Las Vegas or Los Angeles won’t have a clue about how to give you the best property for the vacation experience you have in mind.

With the standard vacation rental property terms being no refunds after you’ve paid your deposit, you absolutely want to make sure you make the right choice. A good reservation service will ask you questions about what you want to do and see on your vacation and will actually try and talk you out of a property you had in mind if they don’t think it appropriate to what you had in mind. This is not an attempt to upsell you, it’s more a matter of matching your vacation desires and needs with the perfect choice of vacation rental venue. One vacation rental reservation service that meets all these requirements is Pacific Islands Reservations. They are owned and operated by Ingrid Carvalho, who was born and raised in the islands, as were her parents, grandparents and great-grandparents. She has been serving visitors to Hawaii vacation rental needs since 1996. She currently represents ninety vacation rentals on Oahu and another 90 vacation rentals on Maui, Kauai and the Big Island. She has actually been to each and every property she represents–she even took most of the photographs of the vacation rentals you see on her web sites. She doesn’t take credit cards but she’s happy to spend time talking with you to make sure you get the right property to maximize the value and enjoyment of your vacation.

Comments (0)

By admin, July 29, 2010 6:44 am

One of the most challenging aspects of planning a trip to an unfamiliar destination is the booking of your hotels accommodation. When you try to search for the ideal hotel, you may be overwhelmed by the sheer number of hotels that vie for your attention. 

Selecting a hotel that suits your expectations is important to get the most out of your entire trip, as a good hotel can complement your visit with the right amenities and location. Also, expensive hotels may not always be the best choices when it comes to good service and convenience as there have been great improvements in hotel standards all around. Hence, some research is needed to select the hotel that is right for you, with the following helpful tips below to aid your search. 

Setting your hotel budget 

Setting a budget for your trip should involve deciding how much of it would go towards spending on your accommodation. This would help you to shortlist an accommodation type which you would be most comfortable with, whether it is cheap budget hotels or more expensive four and five-star hotels. Thus, it would be much easier to continue your hotel search within this smaller field. 

Besides looking at the room rates of various hotels, you should also bear in mind their inclusions (or lack thereof) in the room rates to get a more accurate picture of what exactly you are paying for. These inclusions can be meals, facility use, in-house movies or parking fees, to name a few. 

Choosing a good location 

Choosing a good location for your hotel is essential for getting the most out of your hotel stay. Before doing so, do consider the purpose of your visit. If your visit comprises mostly of sightseeing or business in a certain area, you can consider choosing a hotel in the vicinity. This would help you to save on potentially expensive commuting costs. Staying near public transport networks is also a good idea if you rely heavily on public transport for travel. 

Another factor that you may like to consider is the noise levels of the hotel’s surroundings. If you would like to relax in a quieter environment, do consider a location further from the main traffic and nightlife areas to enjoy an uninterrupted night’s rest. 

Considering what amenities you need 

When booking your hotel, you should also consider what kinds of amenities you need that would be helpful to your trip and which ones you are willing to forego. This will assist in your hotel selection such that you only choose the one that provides you with the most convenience. 

For example, you might want to consider a hotel with 24-hour room service if you wish to satisfy your hunger at night without purchasing many snacks. If easy accessibility to the airport or downtown areas is what you need, you might wish to consider a hotel with shuttle services to these areas. 

The range of amenities in the hotel should also meet your needs, so be sure to check if it has gyms, spas, swimming pools, conference facilities or other facilities that you need. Lastly, an important consideration when you are bringing your family on your travels is whether the hotel has family-friendly amenities and services such as children’s activity or day care centres and swimming pools for children.

Comments (0)

By admin, April 13, 2010 10:29 pm

Everyone who travels wants their lodging to be comfortable and clean. Choosing the appropriate accommodations can be difficult. If you have never been to a particular hotel, you do not always know what to expect. The following tips can help you narrow down your choices and hopefully choose the best hotel to meet your needs.

Cleanliness: No one enjoys staying at a filthy hotel. When you enter the lobby, scan the area for dirt, garbage, and tidiness. When you meet the staff, check to see if their uniforms are clean and neat. It is important to check the room where you will be sleeping. Look at the floor and bathroom to see if they are clean. Check to see if the floor has been vacuumed. The bathrooms should have new shampoo and soaps. The towels and facecloths should be clean and placed in an orderly manner. Make sure the toilet is clean. Check to see if the bed has fresh sheets and is properly made. The sheets and blankets should be clean and free of bedbugs. Also, smell the room for any unusual odors. There should not be any dust or garbage.

Staff: When arriving, the hotel staff should be smiling and warmly greet you. Someone should take your bags and lead you to the check-in desk. Do they provide a concierge service? The concierge should be able to answer all of your questions and explain the other amenities the hotel offers. Do they offer information packets on activities and events in the area? This can include entertainment and other dining establishments in the area. A staff member should then take you to your room and explain the contents such as toiletries, mini bar, internet services,etc. They should also explain such services as laundry and room service.

Family Oriented Hotels: Many hotels provide activities for children. If you are traveling with children, you should ask a few questions before booking. Ask the staff about any special kids clubs. Does the hotel have a pool or recreational area for children? Are there staff member that monitor these area?

Smoking: Some hotels may be smoke free or have certain smoking floors. If you smoke, ask if they provide smoking rooms. For non-smokers, make sure you get a room that is non-smoking. When examining the room, smell the room to see if it smells like smoke. Look fro ashtrays or reins such ashes or cigarette butts.

Business Accommodations: Make sure the hotel has enough rooms to accommodate everyone attending. If you require a convention room, make sure you ask before booking. You can also ask the following questions: How many occupants per room? Are there discounts for business events? Is there a business discount on meals or catering? Are there events in the area that the business guests could attend?

When choosing a hotel, there are many issues that you should consider. Check websites for discounts and packages that may not be offered over the phone. You should also be aware of the cancellation and refund policies in case you decide to go to another hotel. If you have friends or family who stayed at a particular hotel, ask for their opinions. There are also online sites that post hotel reviews written by former guests. However, you should be aware that there are unsatisfied customers who exaggerate or are difficult to please. Most importantly, make sure you have all your questions answered before making a reservation. By doing your research and asking the right questions, you will be able to relax and enjoy your stay at a quality hotel that meets all of your expectations.