Travel Plans 2026

Well, DH is being quite insistent that we continue visiting Hawaii, even though the tourist taxes will get bumped up to about 30% of accommodations, car rentals and I want to say on attractions as well. Don't even get me started about the cost of food there!

I on the other hand, DO NOT want to be putting more money into the Politian's pockets, because you know darn well that those monies are not going any farther than that.

I've already reserved a rental car for us in Honolulu Hawaii, so there's that should we agree to go back home in 2026. Our accommodations are still up in the air. DH would like to stay with his older Sister and BIL who still live on Oahu, but I know that is a bit much to ask to stay for a month, which is why all the years past, we've rented a condo in town.
 
karadekoolaid said:
Do a house swap. You go to Honolulu, and they go to Cowboyville. :laugh: :laugh:
Click to expand...
Well, Sister & BIL are both infirm in their own disabilities, they would never be able to fly here and make their way up the mountain to our home, AND then make their way around these parts, they will not drive here.
In the past, we have "house sat" while they went to California to see their two daughters and families. Two weeks on "the Mainland" is all they can handle. We stay in Hawaii for at least a month.
 
SandwichShortOfAPicnic said:
I have to ask because you have mentioned it before.
Why not move back to Hawaii?
Click to expand...
Cost. Plain and simple.
On a fixed income (we are retired and loving life), you basically need to be a millionaire to live there full time.
I believe Hawaii is THE most expensive state in America to live (they tax the 💩 out of you!! We had to work two jobs EACH to get by when we did live there).
 
I booked my hotel in Hawaii using points so no resort fees, no nothing as I often proudly say to my husband. In the past we booked a VRBO on Maui months ahead with penalty for cancellation. Much cheaper using points.
I now just Uber to my hotel, no need for a rental car, they can get expensive.
 
Last edited:
Off to Spain for a quick pre-Christmas break on Wednesday.
Have loads to do and yet here shaking itself awake and fast rearing it’s annoying head is my longing for the Asian food that isn’t available where I’m going in Spain 😂

This time it’s a full two days before I even leave, I’m busy and yet time has been set aside to order fermented black beans to an Amazon locker in Spain.
I am truly hopeless 😆
 
SandwichShortOfAPicnic said:
Off to Spain for a quick pre-Christmas break on Wednesday.
Have loads to do and yet here shaking itself awake and fast rearing it’s annoying head is my longing for the Asian food that isn’t available where I’m going in Spain 😂

This time it’s a full two days before I even leave, I’m busy and yet time has been set aside to order fermented black beans to an Amazon locker in Spain.
I am truly hopeless 😆
Click to expand...
Yes, but you have slushies...
 
Travel Plans 2026:
We got a text last night from our youngest nephew (DH is his Godfather) and we are now invited to a wedding in Hawaii in July!!
(Did you know that "Save The Date" as well as Wedding invitations are now sent via text?!)
Change gears--- got ahold of the property manager of the condo that we stay at in Honolulu and we will be able to rearrange our timeline.
We thought about not going because of the added fees & taxes imposed by the State and County, but ya know, family is family ... LET'S GO!
 
SoCalZone10 nah! We stay at a rental condo, the same one we've been staying at for the past 10 years.
It doesn't matter now in Hawaii what kind of accommodation you stay at you'll pay: TAT at 11%; GET 4.5%; Oahu Transient Accommodation Tax aka Green Tax, named after the Governor of Hawaii , at 3% --- WOW! Points don't cover that- just the base rate. And again, we're going for 6 weeks, usually it's for four weeks. We get around all that and stay with my SIL and her husband, but they have a full house already with all of their kids, their husbands and grandkids.
 
OKAY!!!
✔️ Airline tickets booked
✔️ Accommodations booked
✔️ Rental Car booked

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Excited to go back home to Hawaii in 2026!!!
 
NOW, I gotta find us "Hawaiian formal...which means beach chic. Dress comfortable but handsome." as the bride of the wedding that we're attending back home in Hawaii is calling the "attire for the wedding"...
Neither of us has Aloha Wear any longer :happy: I guess we'll need to go shopping as soon as we get to Hawaii, although, I know already what I want... there's a designer in Honolulu that I've loved for a long time... one of her tops and a pair of maybe white linen slacks, oh and my fancy Hawaii-style slippers aka flip-flops/sandals for Moi.
DH: nice, well pressed Aloha Shirt and a pair of nice Chinos and slippers.
NUFF!
 
kaneohegirlinaz said:
NOW, I gotta find us "Hawaiian formal...which means beach chic. Dress comfortable but handsome." as the bride of the wedding that we're attending back home in Hawaii is calling the "attire for the wedding"...
Neither of us has Aloha Wear any longer :happy: I guess we'll need to go shopping as soon as we get to Hawaii, although, I know already what I want... there's a designer in Honolulu that I've loved for a long time... one of her tops and a pair of maybe white linen slacks, oh and my fancy Hawaii-style slippers aka flip-flops/sandals for Moi.
DH: nice, well pressed Aloha Shirt and a pair of nice Chinos and slippers.
NUFF!
Click to expand...
Everytime I go to Hawaii I pack light because I can get 5 t-shirts for $20, why bother. Before the inflation surge, it was 6 shirts for $20.
I think I get mine from ABC store.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom