There are six islands that make up this wonderful state and each island has its own personality and desired experience. Besides the wonderful year round weather, tropical yumminess, Hawaii is full of wonderful places to visit.

In this post, I want to take you to the Heart of Hawaii –Oahu. There are 5 regions of Oahu which include, Honolulu, Central Oahu, Leeward Coast, North Shore and the Windward Coast. The island is a perfect mix of the ancient and the modern infused with the Hawaiian culture and experiences.

I plan to travel to Hawaii this fall, and Central Oahu has been on my bucket list for years! Pearl Harbor has its draw that any American would be proud to stand foot on. A moment in time that changed the course of history. Walking the harbor, hearing the stories from survivors, and taking it all in would be a moment no one could ever forget. Planning your day there will require reservations and great walking shoes! The Passport to Pearl Harbor will allow you to see it all.

Passport to Pearl Harbor Tours Include:

* Prices are subject to change

If you are more adventurous, the North Shore will transport you into the world of the surfer. You will want to go between November and February for the big waves, but don’t plan on riding those as they should be left for the professionals! During the rest of the year you will see a more calm ocean. Haliewi is a perfect little surfing town where you can shop, eat and enjoy! Not far down the road you can visit the Polynesian Cultural Center and the old plantation town of Kahuku.

Whale watching is another favorite among tourist. December to May you will find these beautiful Humpback Whales, however February is peak season. These whales are considered native to Hawaii as this is where the vast majority are born. For the Hawaiians these animals are treated with great respect.

ONO! A word you will use often. It means delicious. When you look at the culinary journey you will take on a visit to Hawaii you will be in heaven. Not only is Hawaii rich with their own flavors, but it is a melting pot for many of the worlds wonderful culinary treats. Don’t miss out on the local out of the way places and make sure you don’t pass on all of the street foods!

Rounding out a perfect stay on Oahu is to dive into Honolulu. With cultural arts, food and shopping you can explore for hours! Staying on the famous Waikiki Beach where with Luau’s and beautiful views will take you back in time, perhaps staying at the Moana Surfrider, Waikiki’s first hotel will offer the nostagia you might be looking for.

Stay tuned for more on Hawaii. More islands, in depth look at its culture and more!

Next…Kauai!

We all have plans or at least we should. When we are young and finishing High School, we set out our plans for college, and getting the right degree so we can start an awesome career. Then we thinking about getting married, and go through the planning and we think about our lives together with our spouse. We ask questions like, when do we want to purchase a home, start a family, retire? We get awesome jobs and we set goals for success. Then we have children and set goals for their lives – milestones that will help them become independent. Let’s face it – our lives are a series of planning and setting goals then striving to meet them.

So, why not establish a vacation plan? How many times have you turned the corner of another year and said, “I wish I had the budget to take a cruise” or “ I wish I would have thought of this sooner so there was availability where I wanted to go.” A vacation plan can help eliminate the stress of last minute planning. It is even more important these days to plan out your time of disconnecting from the everyday, relaxing, reconnecting with your family or friends, and going to places that will help your accomplish just that.

Here are some steps that you can share with your travel planner that will help you establish your 5 year vacation plan.

1. Share with your travel planner some of your favorite things you and your family like to do on vacation. Do you like to swim, hike, visit historic locations, fish, etc.?
2. Think about the best time for you to travel during the year. Some vacations may require to travel during months you might not think of and may need to do some creative scheduling.
3. Make a list of places that you may consider” Bucket List” travel. Going on a cruise, visiting an island, visit your favorite Disney Destination, or going to another country.
4. Establish a 3 – 5 year vacation budget and share it with your travel planner so they can begin to research the best packages. Many times certain vacations can be planned in advance which will help with the budget.
5. Lay out a Vacation Calendar with your Travel Planner and beginning dreaming of awesome vacations!

Establishing your vacation goals relieves the stress of last minute decisions, not having enough money to go where you want to go, and just settling for another visit to the same old location you go every year.

Must Love Travel Group specializes in planning awesome vacations across the globe! Contact your Travel Planner and start your 5 Year Vacation Plan today!

The hardest part about a trip for me is the packing and the pre planning! Especially for a destination or resort I have never been before. So I wanted to share just a few things with you today to assist you in your packing for your romantic getaway!

Destinations such as All- Inclusive Resorts and Cruises are great for romantic getaways and require a similar packing list. You are headed to warmer climate, will spend a lot of time relaxing and sunning, and then have dining to plan for. Pretty simple right? Well, then there is the question – how dressy?

Below are just a few things to take in consideration when preparing and packing for your trip.

Luggage: Don’t try to cram everything for the both of you in one large suitcase! I have see far too many couples stuck with baggage weight over charges that far exceed the cost of paying for one checked bag per person. Generally this cost is approx. $25.00 per bag each way. I have seen overcharges one way exceed $150- $200. 50lbs is your usual weight limit so invest in luggage scale that you can find just about anywhere to weigh your luggage prior to travel. Never fill it the 50 lbs on your scale just incase it is off a few pounds. Most airlines allow you to bring one personal item and 1 carry on with you on the plane. Make use of this for some extras and especially for the items you will be purchasing at your destination.

Tote Bags: Bring a medium sized tote bag in your luggage to handle items you will be carrying to the pool, beach or on excursions. These totes should be ones that are lightweight and lay flat in your luggage. They also come in handy if you indeed have too many things to carry back home and need just a little more space.

Purses: For women this may be a tough choice. We have cell phones, identification and personal items that you need to bring with you, but not necessarily always carry with you. A cross body purse is your best option. It may not look the best with your dress, but will come in handy when you want to go to dinner and dance afterwards or if you are on an excursion and want your hands free. Clutch purses or satchel styles leave you open to forget them and are cumbersome to carry.

Clothes: Most days you will be in Swimwear during the day. So bring a few bathing suites and a nice cover up for ladies and t-shirt for men when you want to walk around the resort or ship. Cover-ups and t-shirts are required at any dining location as well. A few short outfits for walking, non-water excursions and daytime dining. Evening Dining can range from resort casual to dressy. So for men, always check with your travel agent if any of the locations require a jacket and tie. There are some ships and resorts that do require this. Ladies, simple cocktail dresses or that famous little black dress with great jewelry will be perfect. Long formal gowns are not typical, but always double check with our travel agent to be sure. Appropriate footwear for the outfit is required – but don’t over do it. You don’t need a pair of shoes for every outfit, so consider a nice dress sandal for ladies that will go with everything and nice dress loafer for men. Bring sandals for the daytime and tennis shoes if you want for walking and time at the gym. Don’t over due the variety of clothes you need and bring things such as bottoms that can be worn again with another top/shirt.

Personal care: Most resorts/ships will have blow dryers, shampoo and conditioner so you don’t need to stuff those things in the bag. Ladies, you can limit your cosmetics to a few of the must have items. Remember to bring small sizes 3 oz or under for all liquids. Sunscreen is a must!

Medications: All medications that you bring should be in the original container clearly marked with what it is. It is also good if you are on regularly required medication to get an extra prescription from your doctor to carry just in case.

Lastly, you are on vacation right? Well if you are scheduled to arrive early to your destination through in your bathing suite or a change of clothes as your room may not be ready yet and you will be sure to what to start drenching yourself in all the fabulous sunshine!