Now is the time to start planning for your next winter vacations and we would love to help you book your travel plans!! Our favorite place to go in the winter is Hawaii.

We traveled to Oahu in February for a destination wedding. The direct nonstop Delta flight from Minneapolis to Honolulu was amazing, with free meals and drinks!! We loved the island of Oahu! We stayed on the North Shore at Turtle Bay Resort. We would definitely return to the Turtle Bay Resort, it was our favorite resort we have stayed at because it was such a beautiful and quiet setting on the North Shore. We loved the whole North Shore vibe, all the surfing and food trucks were great! The Turtle Bay Resort property consists of miles of beach shoreline and a beautiful golf course and horse riding trails and hiking trails. We loved the sunset view at the pool bar, it was the perfect spot to watch surfers and the sunset while enjoying a drink.

While enjoying the week on the island we explored the beauty from our convertible Jeep. We hiked to the top of Diamond Head Crater. That was a super fun hike and a great workout too, it is a must do if you travel to Oahu. The Koko Head Crater is another iconic hike on Oahu and it is not for the faint of heart. We had no desire to spend time in Honolulu but we did want to see Waikiki on our way to the airport on the last day. So we enjoyed a maitai at the pool front bar at the Sheraton overlooking Waikiki and Diamond Head, and they validated our parking too. It was great to see Waikiki but it was so crowded and we were so happy that we stayed on the North Shore. We loved the beaches at the Turtle Bay Resort, they were great for snorkeling. 

We explored the Halona Blowhole Lookout and the Hanauma Bay, the island of Oahu has so many beautiful gems to explore!! We stopped at Lanikai Beach to see the crystal clear water. The drive on highway 83 along the East side of the island was so beautiful. We stopped by the Kualoa Ranch, where so many movies were filmed like Jurassic Park! We went all the way to the East Point at Kaena Point Trail and along that road we had a beach all to ourselves. The Historic Town of Haleiwa on the North Shore was a wonderful place to shop and eat. We also enjoyed the farmers market at Waimea Valley in the lush tropical rainforest along the Waimea River. Sharks Cove on the North Shore is a beautiful snorkeling spot, we went after a rain shower so no one was there and we had it all to ourselves. The food trucks across from Sharks Cove were so great for fresh Poke and Foodland is next door if you want to pick up some drinks or groceries and all the prices were decent there too… just sign up for the free Foodland membership for the local prices. If you are in the Northshore Oahu, you need to stop by Banzai Pipeline. The waves were at six feet when we were there but they can get insanely huge durning the swells. We enjoyed watching the surfers for hours!

We have a lot of information and tips for you to enjoy all islands of Hawaii on a budget, call or email us today to start your travel plans to Hawaii!!

~Bethany