For a truly unforgettable experience, the Turtle Bay Resort allows you to discover a piece of True Hawaii. Set on the North shore of Oahu, you will find miles of unspoiled and truly luxurious beaches. It is a place to forget all of your worries and experience the feeling of total relaxation

The North Coast, known for its beautiful beaches and legendary surf, is relatively untouched leaving the Turtle Bay Resort the only one in the area putting you right in the middle of everything.

With the Pacific Ocean at your front door, lushly landscaped pools, a full-service spa and world class golf and tennis, is there anything more that you could ask from this premier Hawaii vacation resort?

Here are just a few of the resort features and activities:

• Novelty Pool

Find elegantly landscaped swimming pools with a view of the beautiful surf, 2 hot tubs and if you’re travelling with the kids, they’ll love the swimming pool that features a waterfall and an 80ft waterslide!

• Snorkelling

You can snorkel right at the resort in a sheltered bay or if diving is your thing, or something that you’ve wanted to learn, there are courses available right on the resort. You are guaranteed to experience an underwater paradise.

• Horseback Riding

See the natural beauty of Oahu’s North Shore from the saddle of a horse. Go through beachside trails with a guide who shares the local folklore and teaches you about the indigenous plant life.

• Beach Walks and Hiking

Explore the tide pools or walk through a tropical forest and experience true nature. You can find 12 miles of ocean front trails and seaside paths from the resort where you are sure to find peace and tranquility.

• Golfing

Golf the renowned Arnold Palmer and George Fazio Courses. Both have been given legendary status and have been selected by both the PGA and LPGA for prestigious tournaments. In fact, the ‘08 PGA Champion’s Tour, Turtle Bay Championship, will take place on the Arnold Palmer Course.

• Helicopter Tours

Paradise Helicopters is located right on-site at the resort. This is sure to be an unforgettable tour of Oahu. There are 3 different tours available ranging from 20-60 minutes.

• Fine Dining

Enjoy gourmet cuisine prepared by chefs who have a style and skill unique to the islands, you will experience a variety of meals of contemporary island cuisine. From fresh seafood entrees to elaborate buffets, there is something here for everyone to enjoy!

The Turtle Bay Resort is located in a perfect spot on the North Coast putting you close to the beautiful Waimea Falls Park, the Hawaiian Polynesian Cultural Center, beautiful beaches such as, Haleiwa Beach - featuring year round swimming, a quaint town and the 2 mile Sunset Beach. There are fantastic places to surf, the summer months are perfect for everyone, even beginners and in the winter, you can find sheltered areas or you can sit back and watch the pro surfing competitions that take place every year where you can see the surf break at 30 ft! You can even get surfing lessons from the surf school located right on the resort! From December through April, you can watch Humpback Whales from your own veranda! They appear at this time during their annual migration from Alaska. The opportunities found here make for a truly incredible experience.

The one thing to keep in mind when choosing the Turtle Bay Resort is that the location is isolated. You can expect to spend most of your time at the resort unless you are renting a car or want to sign up for outings. At the same time, this aspect is what makes staying here such a unique and wonderful experience. You are away from the hustle and bustle of the typical touristy destinations.

The Turtle Bay Resort offers you unspoiled beaches and a tropical setting to discover the true luxury that Oahu has to offer. For your mind, body and spirit, look no further than this incredible Hawaii vacation resort.

Tropical Beach Destinations (http://www.tropicalbeachdestinations.com)
specializes in giving you an exhilarating tropical vacation for travel destinations around the world. We are experienced travelers who have lived across the globe and our dream is to provide you with everything you need in order to have the ultimate dream vacation. Learn how to travel with Sarah and Jason, your tropical adventure couple!

Released just in time for the busy summer travel season–the Travel-Hawaii.com 2005 Hawaii Family Vacation Cost Index.

Travel-Hawaii.com’s Hawaii Family Vacation Cost Index is projected to increase by nearly 2.5% in 2005. This annual index measures the total dollar amount spent by a typical family of four, for a seven-night Hawaii vacation.

The index is based on the average total expenditures per day, per person, according to the Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism (DBEDT.) The DBEDT calculations include all monies spent on lodging, car rental, fuel and parking, taxis, shopping and souvenirs, meals, drinks, entertainment, inter-island flights, and activities. This number is then added to an airfare price average, which is based on round-trip airfare between various US mainland cities and Hawaii.

The projected cost of the average seven-night Hawaii vacation for a family of four is $6998.20 for 2005. While not quite up to pre 9/11 numbers, this cost increase is consistent with the trend of record setting Hawaii hotel occupancy rates, number of Hawaii visitors, and rising Hawaii hotel and air prices in 2004 and 2005.


Previous years indexes were:

• 
  2004 - $6831.12
  


• 
  2003 - $6591.32
  


• 
  2002 - $6342.04
  


• 
  2001 - $6476.20
  


• 
  2000 - $7259.80
  

The Travel-Hawaii.com Hawaii Family Vacation Cost Index represents the “average” spent on Hawaii vacations based on visitor surveys.

Of course, the actual dollar amount spent on Hawaii vacations could be significantly less. Traveling during off-peak times, staying in moderate accommodations, or purchasing special reduced airfares or hotels could greatly reduce costs.

Vacation costs could also be significantly higher if traveling during peak times such as summer, spring break, or holidays; staying in luxury accommodations, or purchasing higher cost activities such as spas or golf.

Hawaii vacation prices continue to rise, and the major economic forecasts project this trend will continue well into the future.

Brad P. is director of marketing for Travel-Hawaii.com. Based in Honolulu, Travel Hawaii has specialized in Hawaii travel for over 20 years. Travel-Hawaii.com has been on the Internet since 1997 and is the top Hawaii-based Internet travel agency. They can be contacted at Travel-Hawaii.com ,toll-free from the US and Canada at 888-373-2422, or at 808-737-7726.

When you think Hawaii, visions of beautiful flower leis come to mind. Visitors to Hawaii are greeted with flower leis upon their arrival, making for a very warm welcome. This tradition was said to be started during the early 1800’s, when lei vendors welcomed visitors to the islands and their locals back home. Visitors leaving the island would throw their leis back into the sea as they left, hoping that like the lei, they would return to the islands again.

Leis are used for many occasions, even though no special occasion is necessary. Hawaiian leis can be given to mark an important event such as birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, graduations and even funerals.

The lei custom was brought to the Hawaiian Islands by early Polynesian voyagers. The leis were made of flowers, shells, seeds, nuts, feathers and leaves. One of the popular leis is the Maile leaf lei, which is sweetly perfumed and has many variations of leaves. The lei Maile was associated with the worship of the gods of hula. The lei most visitors to the islands have seen is the Plumeria Lei. Plumeria trees flourish on the islands and come in a variety of colors, their flowers peaking between the months of March and November. One of the most exotic leis is the Okika, or Orchid Lei. They are lightly scented and come in a variety of colors too, the most familiar being the purple flower. Orchids are usually available year round.

There are some things you should know when receiving a lei and when giving a lei for the first time. Always accept a lei, as it is in very poor taste to refuse. The correct way to wear a lei is gently draped over the shoulders, hanging down both in the front and in the back. It is considered rude to remove a lei from your neck in the presence of the person who gave it to you, so do it elsewhere! When you receive more than one lei on occasion, it is acceptable to let them overlap each other. When giving the lei, drape it carefully over the person’s shoulders so that it hangs evenly in front and back, give a kiss on one or both cheeks, and wish them well.

Lisa T. writes on various subjects. This article is free to re-print as long as nothing is changed and all links remain intact and the rel=”nofollow” tag is not added to any of the links. Visit HawaiianCraze

Thanks!

Hawaii is a special place to swim with dolphins in the wild. The most common dolphins to swim with are the Hawaiian Spinner Dolphin or Spotted Dolphins. Hawaii is home to about 700-1000 Spinner Dolphins.

The Kona Coast on the Big Island of Hawaii is a favorite destination of people who want to swim with dolphins in the wild.

Although many species of Dolphins live here year round, the Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins are the most playful and curious. They feed offshore during the night and return close to shore each morning to rest and nurture their young. The pods number from a dozen or so up to 200.

One can find the dolphins traveling to one of their many resting areas, playing, leaping and spinning as they go. Once the dolphins reach these rest sites they begin to settle down and spend their day in a sleep state.

The Spotted Dolphins, the Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins and the rough toothed dolphins are usually found along the coast, sometimes intermingling with the Spinners.

You can have some of the best snorkeling on Maui, where, if your are lucky, you can have a good chance to meet up with the magnificent Spinner Dolphins and Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins.

Maui is called the fun capital of the Hawaiian Islands, with more than 100 kinds of activities to be enjoyed by land, sea or air. The Island of Maui begins atop Mauna Haleakala, a dormant volcano whose crater is big enough to hold Manhattan. Mauna Haleakala’s slopes descend to 33 miles of pristine beaches, and then plunge into the waters off Maui’s shores.

Hilton Waikoloa on the Big Island is the only legally registered operator with the United States government that is allowed to organize swim with the dolphin activity in the wild.

Dolphin Swim Info provides detailed information about swimming with dolphins, including profiles of the best places to swim with dolphins: Florida, Hawaii, Cancun, California, Malta, Key Largo, and the Bahamas. Dolphin Swim Info is affiliated with Original Content.

Kauai Hawaii has been a popular tourist and vacation destination for literally decades. Planning a vacation to anywhere in Hawaii will deliver you onto beautiful, clean beaches, natural scenery and a huge number of things to do and see.

When traveling, the thing to remember is that the trip is about a holiday or vacation. From the minute you enter the airplane until getting back home, your vacation should be focused on lowering the stress level in your life and getting balance back in your world. Yes, it will cost more but in the end, the vacation will have done it’s job and you will leave Hawaii refreshed and ready to go back to your career or business.

By lowering the stress level, we’re talking about getting the services necessary to keep from having got concern yourself with any difficulties. Take for example getting around at your destination of Kauai. You “could” rent a car and try to find you way around unfamiliar territory. If getting lost, being late, dealing with traffic and the stress of other motorists is your idea of a vacation, go to New York City.

If however, getting to see the sights and enjoying the island is more like vacation time, consider using the services of a tour company, or even hire out a car and driver for an afternoon. Another potential possibility is public transportation. It runs on a regular schedule and you get to people watch while getting around for almost no cash. The car and driver is more expensive but they can get you around to see the local side of the island while the public transportation route takes you to the more popular areas. Maybe using both on different days can give you the benefit of an enjoyable vacation without the worry of a car rental, gasoline, accidents, parking etc.

If you plan on doing some Kauai island sightseeing and need a car rental, consider one with limited miles and leave it at home whenever possible. A weekly rental can cost a couple of hundred dollars but the you shouldn’t feel a need to use it everytime a short trip is in order.

Another idea to lower the stress level is to consider getting a condominium or rental until with a full kitchen. This is especially good if you’re traveling with kids. A quick trip to the neighborhood food store can take care of the childrens eating issues and take you off the breakfast, lunch and dinner, time schedule. Get food that’s easy to prepare and let the kids fend for themselves at least sometimes. This gives them a sense of independence and allows you to sleep in occasionally during the vacation.

The key to a fun and enjoyable Kauai vacation or any Hawaiian vacation, is to get out of the rut and schedule that’s your life back home. Do different things, experiment, see new sights, enjoy a different culture. In all, a Kauai vacation can recharge your batteries and give a new outlook on your world back home

Abigail Franks writes on a variety of subjects which includes home, family, and Travel. For more information on vacationing in Kauai visit http://www.tsonline.org