Frequently Asked Questions
About Travel to Hawaii
1) How do I book a package with Family Vacations Hawaii?
2) How does Family Vacations Hawaii get such great prices?
3) Can I apply any further discounts to your prices?
4) Can I check hotel and airfare availability?
5) After booking, will I receive vouchers?
6) Do I need a passport to travel to Hawaii?
7) What is the weather like in Hawaii?
8) How do I travel between the islands?
9) How many people will fit in a room?
10) What is the difference between a hotel, resort, suite and a condominium?
11) What is the difference between 5, 4, 3, and 2 star hotels?
12) What do the different views in hotel rooms actually mean?
13) Are special requests guaranteed by the hotels?
14) How much are the taxes on a rental car?
15) What else should I know about car rentals in Hawaii?
16) Which is the best island to visit?
17) Which are the best Hawaii Guidebooks?
18) Where can I get more information about the different islands?

  • How do I book a package with Family Vacations Hawaii? (back to top of page)
    At Family Vacations Hawaii we custom build every package to your exact specifications. You have the freedom to choose the exact hotels that best meet your needs, rather than just accept a pre-set, "one size fits all" package like at some other agencies.
    To find a hotel that best meets your needs, simply use the "Hotel Finder" which is found on our home page, and at the bottom of most other pages. Enter the island that you want to visit and the quality of hotel that you desire (3 star, 4 star, etc.) and you will be shown all of the hotels that meet your criteria.
    There is a "vacation package cost calculator" on every hotel page. You can enter your travel dates, room type, and car type if needed, and you will be given a price. Simply add this price to the airfare price (use our "airfare finder" on any page) and you will have your "package price."

  • How does Family Vacations Hawaii get such great prices? (back to top of page)
    We are the largest internet company of our kind in Hawaii. We book thousands of clients and tens of thousands of room/nights every year. We are able to offer these prices because of the sheer volume of business that we book with these hotels, airlines, and car rental companies.

  • Can I apply any further discounts to your prices? (back to top of page)
    Sorry, no outside discounts such as, coupons, upgrade certificates, etc. can be applied to our already low rates.

  • Can I check hotel and airfare availability? (back to top of page)
    Partially. For most hotels, if the cost calculator gives you a price then the room is either available or "On Request." "On Request" means that the hotel only has a few rooms left. In this case we have to call to check availability. If our web site DOES NOT show a rate then the room is either sold out, or if it is very far into the future, we may not have rates yet.
    For airfare, the prices shown are the lowest that we have in our datebase for your travel dates. This does not indicate that a particular rate is available, however.
    When you send in a booking request we will check availability and attempt to book it for you. If the requested rate, hotel, or airfare is sold out, we will contact you with alternatives before we actually make a booking for you. We will always offer you the best price that it available at the time of booking.

  • After booking, will I receive vouchers? (back to top of page)
    Most of our packages are booked "e-ticket" or "service without voucher." All you have to do is present your valid photo identification to the respective hotel, airline, or car rental company.
    There are some occasions when you will have an actual voucher. These vouchers are very valuable and should be treated like cash. You WILL need to present them to the hotel or car rental company before you can get your room or car.

  • Do I need a passport to travel to Hawaii? (back to top of page)
    Hawaii has been one of the United States since 1959, so if you are traveling from the mainland United States, then of course, you do not need a passport. You will need a valid photo identification to get your flight to Hawaii and to rent a car.
    If you are traveling from a country other than the United States then you most likely do need a passport.

  • What is the weather like in Hawaii? (back to top of page)
    Hawaii has semi-tropical weather. Temperatures range from 75-90 degrees year round in the daytime, and 70-80 degrees at night. Temperatures in the winter months may be a little cooler, where nighttime temperatures sometimes fall to the 60's. At the higher elevations of the islands (such as up country Maui and Big Island) temperatures can fall to the 30's or 40's and snow often falls during the winter months!
    Rain showers can appear at any time of the year, but they most often fall between the months of November-February. Even though the winter months are technically the "rainy season", the rains are generally short lived, and sunshine and blue skies return quickly.
    Hurricane season is technically June to December. We almost never have hurricanes in Hawaii, the last one was "Iniki" which hit Kauai in 1992.

  • How do I travel between the islands? (back to top of page)
    By airplane is the simple answer. Family Vacations Hawaii can book your interisland flights for you. The islands range from approximately 40-250 miles apart. Flights between the islands are generally 30-45 minutes long. From Maui to Lanai and Maui to Molokai there is limited ferry service. Family Vacations Hawaii does not book these ferrys.

  • How many people will fit in a room? (back to top of page)
    Maximum occupancy is set by the state fire marshal according to the square footage of the room. Some hotels impose their own maximum number of people allowed in a room.
    Some general guidelines:
    Hotel rooms and suites can generally sleep 1-4 people, although there are usually extra charges for more than 2 adults (over 17 years old) in a room.
    Most hotels have a family plan where children under 17 stay free with their parents
    Condominiums: A 1 bedroom condo can generally sleep 1-4 people, a 2 bedroom condo can sleep up to 6 maximum.

  • What is the difference between a hotel, resort, suite and a condo? (back to top of page)
    Some general guidelines:
    HOTEL rooms generally have 1 room with the bed(s), and a separate bathroom. They may also have a small sitting area next to the bed. Some hotel rooms have a mini refrigerator or coffee maker, and some hotels offer rooms with "kitchenettes" consisting of a microwave and mini-refrigerator. Hotels may or may not have restaurants, room service, and swimming pools. Hotel rooms can generally sleep 1-4 people.
    RESORT generally refers to a hotel with larger grounds, more extensive pool, and more services.
    Suites are generally a larger hotel room with a separate sitting area. These usually DO NOT have a kitchen. Suites can generally sleep 1-4 people
    CONDOMINIUMS (condos) are something like an apartment, with a living room, full kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom. Most condos do not have restaurants or a fancy pool. They are more like apartment complexes. A 1 bedroom condo can generally sleep 1-4 people, a 2 bedroom condo can sleep up to 6 maximum.

  • What is the difference between 5, 4, 3, and 2 star hotels? (back to top of page)
    5 STAR - A property catering to the most discriminating traveler who expects highly personalized service in luxurious surroundings. Caters to the upscale vacationer who is willing to pay for the very best. $300+/per night
    4 STAR - A luxury hotel or resort in a prime location. Large, public spaces and well appointed rooms. Wide variety of activities available. All services available, including concierge. $180+/per night
    3 STAR - A well located hotel offering easy access to the beach, most services (restaurant, parking, porterage) and amenities. Hotel features contemporary furnishings and well-maintained facilities. $150+/per night
    2 STAR - A good value for budget minded travelers. May be dated; rooms may have limited view. Limited landscaping and minimal public spaces. $80+/per night islands except Maui. Maui $140/night.
    DIFFERENCES IN CONDOMINIUM QUALITY - Most hotels have a consistent decor in all rooms. Condominiums, by definition, are owned by individual people and not by the property. The individual owners are responsible for the decor and furnishings of their unit. For this reason there can be great differences between individual units at the same property.

  • What do the different views in hotel rooms actually mean? (back to top of page)
    There are no legal definitions for view, so it is up to the individual properties to define the view of their rooms. At most hotels, the rooms are the same size and decor. The main difference is what you see out of your window.
    In general, you can expect the following to be true:
    BEACH FRONT - unit faces the beach.
    OCEAN FRONT - unit faces the ocean directly, but does not imply a view of the beach.
    OCEAN VIEW - ocean can be seen from the balcony.
    PARTIAL OCEAN VIEW - some part of the ocean can be seen from the balcony.
    POOL VIEW - unit faces the pool.
    MOUNTAIN VIEW - unit faces the mountains and whatever else is between the room and the mountains.
    GARDEN VIEW - unit overlooks landscaping of some type.
    TERRACE VIEW - one of the least desirable views at a property, often overlooking a parking lot, road, or building.
    STANDARD VIEW - unit generally has no view or a view of another building.
    Less descriptive terms such as "Standard", "Moderate", or "Superior", have very little definite meaning, and are usually based on the property's opinion of itself. "Deluxe" is also rather vague. It often will mean a higher floor as in "deluxe ocean view." In rare cases deluxe rooms are actually larger than a regular room, or more recently renovated.

  • Are special requests guaranteed by the hotels? (back to top of page)
    With few exceptions, special requests are not guaranteed. Special requests, such as specific bedding, location within a hotel or condominium (i.e. specific wing or unit number), smoking/non-smoking, and other requests of this nature are NOT guaranteed by hotels/condominiums.
    We will notify the property of your preferences but few hotels/condominiums have reservation systems that can allocate rooms based on such preferences at the time of booking, so special requests are generally handled on the day of check-in on a "first-come, first-served" basis. The properties, will of course, try to satisfy your request if at all possible.

  • How much are the taxes on a rental car? (back to top of page)
    State Of Hawaii Taxes And Fees Are As Follows:
    A State Highway Surcharge Of $3.00 Per Day, Plus An Airport Concession Fee Of 7.5%-11%, Plus A Registration Tax Of Up To 36 Cents Per Day (Weight Dependent), Plus On Rentals Other Than Hertz and Thrifty, The State's General Excise Tax Of 4.16%.
    You Are Responsible For State Of Hawaii Taxes And Fees On Your Rental Car, Plus All Fuel Charges, Optional Collision Damage Waivers And Other Optional Insurance And Waivers Which You May Select At The Rental Car Counter In Hawaii, And Any Additional Charges For Child Seats, Cell Phones, Etc., Which You May Request At The Rental Car Counter.

  • What else should I know about car rentals in Hawaii? (back to top of page)
    The Minimum age for the driver of the car is 21 years old for all rental companies, no exceptions. The car rental companies do allow drivers 21-24 years old to rent, but they will add an underage surcharge of $10-$35 per day.
    Drivers from countries other than the United States are required to show their home country's drivers license AND an international drivers license.

  • Which is the best island to visit? (back to top of page)
    There is no "best" island to visit, it just depends on what you are looking for in a vacation destination.
    You can find general information about the different islands by following the links below. There are also many good books that will give you more detailed descriptions, if you need them. (See the next FAQ.)
  • Which are the best Hawaii Guidebooks? (back to top of page)
    Here is a list of our current favorite Hawaii guidebooks:
    (Also see the next FAQ "individual island information pages" for more guidebooks.)

  • Where can I get more information about the different islands?
    (back to top of page)
    You can visit the links listed below to find information about each island.
    • For OAHU information click here. For MAUI information click here. For KAUAI information click here. For BIG ISLAND information click here. For LANAI information click here. For MOLOKAI information click here.