Hawaii escorted tours

You will love Hawaii! I have never taken an escorted tour but have been several times if you have any other questions. Do you know when you want to go?

Thanks Debbie. Thinking about going end of May or end of August or anytime in September.

Consider doing your own hotel booking(s) and just buy specific local tours when you are feet on the ground. It seems everyone is selling local tours and activities ranging from the hotel concierges to sidewalk kiosk agents. That would give you the flexibility of taking a guided tour or activity, self-guiding, or just relaxing in the sun and surf.

Definitely consider going with Tauck Tours. If you are not familiar with them, they are a very highly regarded upscale tour company. They thrive through word of mouth and repeat customers. Once you go on a Tauck Tour, you will definitely go on others.

Here is the journey we enjoyed with them last January:

http://www.tauck.com/tours/usa-tours/hawaii-vacations/hawaii-tour-hw-2017.aspx

The hotels are among the Best of the Best, and Tauck picks you up at the airport and also provides drop-off service at the end of the tour (all included). You will find your fellow travelers very pleasant, well educated and well traveled. Their tours are not inexpensive, but you get what you pay for. My two sisters and their families have both been on several Tauck tours, after hearing us rave about our experiences.

One of the hotels in which we stayed was 700+ sq. ft and had a huge bathroom with two balconies....we were wowed. All had lovely sea views, and the meals were incredible, too.

Also, having someone else handle all the flights and moving our luggage (even though we travel only carry-on) was extra nice. The dinner at the Palace at the beginning of the tour was very special. And, definitely take the optional helicopter rides...the views were incredible. Also, their trip insurance is a very good value, too.

Wow! Tauck tours look excellent -- if that's your price and luxury range. We used to travel to Hawai'i (mostly Kauai, but also Maui, Oahu and the Big Island -- only one island per trip) but stayed in rental condominiums on the beach with rental car, shopped for local fruit, lay out on the beach and de-stressed.

Warning -- Hawai'i is addictive!

P. S. In case you are tempted to piece together your own tour, below is the local tour company that handled a lot of the logistics for the Tauck Tour. They handled the airport pick-up/drop-off, as well as the motor coach and driver. From what I saw of their equipment and employees, I would feel comfortable booking day excursions with them, if I were going on my own. What is nice, though, about a group tour, is you get to meet and enjoy your fellow tour members and you don't have to worry about handling all the planning details or selecting hotels.........and if something should go wrong, you have a very capable, experienced tour director to take care of everything and to also provide advice for your free time.

https://www.robertshawaii.com/

Something I wish we had known before we went to Hawaii, is that sometimes the vog (sounds like fog) can be bad. VOG stands for Volcano Output Gas.

If the trade winds are not blowing to take the vog out to sea, it can really cause some respiratory issues (as it did in different ways with my husband and me). Friends who have been to Hawaii for years and years tell me it has gotten worse in the last few years.

Google: VOG Hawaii to learn more.

When we were there, the side of a volcano has collapsed into itself, which meant seeing lava from the helicopter was better. But, it also meant there was more vog in the air. Just a couple of weeks ago, we saw footage on TV with lava flowing so much it was pouring into the ocean. Our two immediate thoughts were: 1) Gosh, can you imagine how neat the helicopter trip would be NOW? and 2) If the trade winds are not blowing, I wonder how the vog is?

I would not let the vog keep me from going, I would just pack some Afrin or other sinus medicine, and also read a big on-line about the vog.t

Thank you to all who have responded. Margaret, I agree that being in a group is nice as we would meet people and being with others at some of the meals would also be nice. Also, the tour handles all the transportation between islands and has some nice hotels. We are not golfers or sunbathers so want to be on the go to see the sights. Perillo does allow a couple of days of free time where we would plan our own day and rent a car. We have looked into "Insight" tours and "Tauck". Tauck, however, has some activities we are not interested in such as a cooking class and Insights does not go to the Polynesian Cultural Center which I think would be a must. The only thing I am worried about is that our travel agent she hasn't handled any escorted tours in Hawaii before as everyone just plans the different islands themselves

On a little bus tour we took in Hawaii, can't remember which island, our driver kindly pointed out the office location of Dog the Bounty Hunter. So thrilling.

Personally I wouldn't ever do a tour for Hawaii.. it just seems counter to the leisurely feel you come to expect when in the islands. But do understand that you are looking for one. So my only suggestion is to ask yourself is that really what you want... Or do you want something where you can control the pace a bit... While I love RS tours in Europe, I can't imagine one in Hawaii (if it existed)

Assuming you can drive it is extremely easy to get around on any of the islands. Generally most people kinda just take it at a leisurely pace and see the sights at their own pace. Also note there are numerous day trips you can book through the hotel or pre-book to see all the sights you want on each island. This is probably the most popular route that folks take.

I've not actually seen any full escorted tours (like Europe) unless those geared to foreign/Asian tourists. Most of the tours I've seen have been just packaged hotel, car and maybe some day tours. I go to the islands about once a year, and have looked at that just to check the economics but rarely have found anything that was a better value or added anything to just spending a few minutes booking the hotel and cars.

Airport transfers sometimes with these things are more trouble than they are worth. Too much waiting around, standing in line at kiosks etc. Sometimes the easiest is just grabbing a taxi which keeps it simple.

Good luck and enjoy..

If you have your heart set on an escorted group tour for your first trip to Hawaii, there are plenty of reputable tour companies to choose from (not just for Asians). Perillo or Collette are both well-established, as are Mayflower Tours from the Chicago area (for example). The main thing is to choose a tour company that fits your travel style and provides the itinerary and attractions that you want to see.

I have visited the Polynesian Cultural Center many times over the years, and agree that it is one of the top attractions to visit on the island of Oahu. Allow at least an afternoon and an evening to experience the site and enjoy the spectacular entertainment. If the tour company includes PCC or offers it as an option, they will provide the transportation from your Waikiki hotel to and from the site. However, if you want to do this excursion on your own, you could book it through the concierge at your hotel and ask to have the bus transportation included. PCC has a kiosk at the Royal Hawaiian Centre (near The Cheesecake Factory) where you can also make reservations directly.

Although we now enjoy frequent independent travel to Hawaii, my first trip to the islands in 1975 was with a tour company and it was a great orientation for first timers! Go and enjoy!

Having lived in Honolulu for two years back in the 80's, I can't imagine taking a tour, even on my first trip, and I'll tell you why. Hawaii is the 50th State. You're not traveling to another country. Would you book a tour to travel to San Francisco? Or Boston? If you're healthy enough to travel, you really don't need to be part of an all-inclusive tour to get to Hawaii, not unless part of your enjoyment hinges on comradery with new tour people you meet. It's so simple and so easy to get around every single island, and every hotel has a tour desk in the lobby where you can book specific outings to places such as the Polynesian Culture Center (if on Oahu), or a helicopter ride (especially nice on Kauai.) Your post doesn't say where you live so I don't know how long you will need to travel to get to Hawaii, or how active you want to be each day. Oahu is an extremely vibrant, active, bustling island, with most hotels located in the touristy area of Waikiki. Unless your vacation lasts at least three weeks, I'd limit your first visit to one, possibly two islands, but not three. Each island is very different in landscape/scenery, personality and what it has to offer. Also, places tourists visit are spread far apart, making a car or tour bus/travel coach necessary. Traffic can be quite congested, especially on Oahu, so visits to places like Pearl Harbor, can wipe out most of a day. The only things you're find near your hotel are other hotels, places to shop, and beaches. You can take a ride on a boat or a catamaran from the beach, which is nice if you like the water and can drink alcohol without getting ill. You'll also get a beautiful view of Diamond Head from your Waikiki hotel. I looked at what you get for a seven day, two island Perillo tour, and it seems just about right because they've probably planned it to go at a leisurely pace. If you're more active, you might be bored by all the waiting in lines and the loading and unloading of buses, etc. If you're more active, going in your own rental car affords you the option of spending more (or less) time at places like Punchbowl (which I lived near for two years). It's a national cemetery and called the Arlington of the Pacific. It has beautiful mosaics depicting specific battles of WWII. It's a great place to just sit and take in the view. The USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor will make you cry. You can actually see the smoke stacks of the U.S.S. Arizona coming out of the ship which is submerged in the harbor, and you stand next to the water and realize that it's a underwater tomb for 1,102 sailors. The downtown Honolulu business district is worth a visit. Iolani Palace was built in the late 1800's and has been beautifully restored. They offer a guided tour and you can hear all about the Hawaiian Monarchy. Chinatown Honolulu has great Chinese Hawaiian food and many businesses are located in vintage buildings that have a great rustic feel. Even the downtown public library is worth a look-see. Good luck on your first trip to Hawaii.

I worked in the tour industry many years ago.

Americans do take tours to places all over America, including Hawaii and San Francisco. I was surprised when I first started doing it but people take tours in the U.S. for the same reason they take tours overseas--they want someone else to do the planning and to tell them what they are seeing.

It's not for everyone.

All of the companyies you mention are good. You could also look at Globus/Cosmos. Pick the itinerary you like best and go with it. These companies have been around for decades and wouldn't still be here if the majority of their customers weren't satisfied.

It's your trip, take it anyway you please and don't worry about what anyone else thinks.

Will just add two minor bits...

1. Like many others here, I can not imagine any reason one would need a tour for Hawaii. It's all in English, it's part of the USA, everything will be familiar and comfortable and easy - more easy than being at home, in fact, as the place is totally wired for tourism and there are services literally at every step where someone is waiting to do pretty much anything for you (for a fee). But if that's what you really want, who am I to argue...
2. You stated off with... > We are both in our 70s and want to take an escorted tour to 3 islands (Oahu, Kanai & Maui)

Unless a new volcanic island has just sprouted from the sea, there's no such place as "Kanai".

There's Lanai, which few tourists go to. It's a small island (was once entirely a pineapple plantation), 98% of it is now owned by a gazillionaire, and while there is a small part that tourists can visit, it's expensive and exclusive. You were probably thinking of Kauai, which is absolutely beautiful, somewhat less touristy than the other major islands (and my favorite). Be sure that your destination (presumably Kauai, not Lanai) is clearly stated unless you're up for surprises!

In my opinion, the hardest thing about a visit to Hawaii (besides getting on the plane to return home) is that a lot of Hawaiian words (including place names) can be tricky, as they seem to have an excess of vowels and a shortage of consonants (mostly using K and N). Don't let any of this stop you, you will enjoy your trip - it's hard to imagine any place in the world that's easier to like.

Aloha - Hawaii is one of the most favorite places I've been. You can't go wrong there.
You will like the people, culture and music or even food... You can rent a car and drive around the islands.
The sceneries are picturesque. Some think Hawaii is overrated and overpriced. I like it more than any islands I've been in Caribbean.
To make it short, you would not need an escort tour but if you'd like to meet/ talk to people and for the convenience of transports, why not? Esp for Road to Hana tour in Maui, as the roads are narrow and winding, it's best to take a tour (which most tours there are pretty good as there are so many competitors in Hawaii, not like other areas). Beautiful scenes !!!

You can also take a look at NCL cruise line. They have a ship the Pride of America which is very good. Most of the crew is American as it is an US flagged ship. You would see the three Islands that you listed in your post.

Ed

bf,

Last time I was in Hawaii, I took several day tours with Roberts Hawaii and was very pleased with them. They're a large firm and offer a wide variety of tours.

August-September has the hottest temperatures of year to in Hawaii.

I had never even hear of the term "vog" until we visited the Big Island of Hawaii this year. Vog only affects the Big Island of Hawaii and really only the regions downwind of the volcano.

Funpig: Re your comment "Vog only affects the Big Island of Hawaii and really only the regions downwind of the volcano." This is not an accurate statement.

Since the Kilauea volcano on the Big Island began erupting in 1983, Kona winds can also bring volcanic fog (Vog) up the island chain (from south to north). This makes visibility poor and causes eye and respiratory irritation. We travel to Hawaii nearly every winter for a few weeks and have experienced Vog on several occasions (for several days) while visiting Oahu or Maui. Vog can occur when the normally lovely trade winds are absent. Vog doesn't keep us from being out and about but it is unpleasant.

Check out these tours
https://www.robertshawaii.com/island/oahu-tours-activities-sightseeing