Hawaii — balmy days and beautiful sunsets

I love watching sunrises and sunsets which are, to me, the most magical times of the day. I photographed this Hawaii sunset at Four Seasons Manele Bay.

It's no wonder I've gotten lots of inquiries about Hawaii in the past month. The east coast and mid-west are in the midst of a long, cold winter. Even the west coast has been wetter and cooler than usual. Northern California, where I live, has seen lots of rain (much needed to replenish our reservoirs) and temperatures in the 50's. Lots of people want to get away to the sunshine and balmy temperatures of the tropics. But where to go?

I love Hawaii. While Mexico and the Caribbean have dozens of five star resorts to choose from, US citizens can travel to Hawaii, our 50th state, without passports or the need to wait in long immigrations lines. The weather is dependable, and your health insurance will probably cover you. (Traveling to Mexico or the Caribbean? Ask me about how a low-cost travel insurance package can take care of any sudden emergency medical expenses you may face when you're outside the US).

Which island to choose? That will be the subject of my next blog posting — so watch this space! But if you want to get away from this long, cold, and damp winter, Hawaii is my favorite place to go.


Hawaii sunset (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2010 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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dawn at Four Seasons Manele Bay

One of my favorite things is to wake up before dawn and watch the sunrise. During a recent stay at Four Seasons Manele Bay, I did just that. This past Sunday morning at 6 a.m., I walked around the property, looking for the best location from which to photograph the coming of the dawn.

It turns out that the best views were from the lanai of my Ocean View Prime room. I took this photograph while we were having an early room service breakfast on Monday morning (we had to catch the 8 a.m. ferry to Maui).

Four Seasons Manele Bay is a beautiful resort with wonderful views, a perfect beach, and a restful, secluded atmosphere. The quietest of the five major Hawaiian islands, Lana'i is more like what Hawaii used to be before the developers came. With no traffic lights, no traffic jams, no shopping malls or chain stores, Lana'i is where to go to get away and enjoy the sun.

The Lodge at Koele is the other Four Seasons resort on Lana'i. Four Seasons guests can enjoy the facilities of both properties; a shuttle runs back and forth every 30 minutes. The Lodge has the character of a Hawaiian pineapple plantation, and its rooms remind me of a luxurious country inn. The large lobby provides a living room setting with huge fireplaces at either end and a beautiful view of the back lawn and gardens. I especially enjoyed playing the Lodge's challenging 18-hole putting course. The concierge will provide complimentary putters and floating golf balls, and beware the water hazards and sand traps!

Clients of Four Seasons Preferred Partner travel consultants receive the best published rates at Manele Bay and at the Lodge at Koele — along with additional complimentary amenities. Just by booking through a Preferred Partner, you will receive a complimentary daily Full Island Breakfast for two, upgrade upon arrival if available, and one complimentary lunch for two during your stay. The properties on Lana'i are beautiful ... and among the best luxury values for a beach vacation in the world.


Four Seasons Manele Bay (search here on Google)


copyright (c) 2010 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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which crescent at Four Seasons Hualalai?

Four Seasons Hualalai is the most idyllic resort in the Hawaiian Islands. I just arrived home from an all-too-brief stay at Four Seasons Hualalai where we enjoyed a wonderful vacation. From the moment my flight landed, this resort excelled at service. Handing our baggage claim checks to the hosts at the Four Seasons desk just inside the terminal at the Kona airport, we stepped into a taxi and minutes later were greeted at the resort. Checking in while seated in comfortable chairs around a table in the lobby, we were offered cold towels and a cold drink, then driven to our suite in a golf cart. Our bags arrived soon afterwards.

What do I love about Hualalai? It's a low-rise property with a Hawaiian flavor. Guest rooms are in two-story buildings — no mid-rise or high-rise towers here. Rooms and suites are large, comfortable, and casually elegant with a large walk-in closet and a marble bathroom with dual vanities, soaking tubs, and a walk-in shower (or two... but I'm getting ahead of myself).

Which crescent to book? Rooms are located around four crescents pictured on the resort map to the left. From bottom to top (south to north), they are Palm Grove, Beach Tree, Sea Shell, and Kings Pond. Yet another small grouping of guest rooms borders the 18th green of Hualalai's championship golf course. Which crescent should you choose?

Palm Grove (pictured at the top of this column) is my personal favorite. Secluded at the southern end of the property, this tranquil crescent is ideal for couples on romantic getaways and is a favorite of honeymooners. The center of the crescent features a small adult pool with adjacent hot tub. The attractive lawn offers lounge chairs in the shade under the palm trees. Book a lower-level room in the left half of the crescent for direct access to the lawn.

Beach Tree is the largest crescent and a place for lounging and socializing around the pool. When standing in the resort's lobby, one looks out over the beautiful sight of the Beach Tree pool (pictured just above) lined with lounge chairs and cabanas. This is the pool to choose for lap swimming.

Sea Shell is an ideal setting for families with children as it circles a large lawn with the resort's kids pool in the center. Sea Shell is the place where kids (and parents too) can make new friends. Children under 18 can stay in their parents room for free, and Four Seasons Hualalai (like all Four Seasons resorts) offers a complimentary children's program with organized recreational and educational activities for younger guests.

King's Pond offers a completely different environment, featuring a pond carved out of lava rock, stocked with thousands of tropical fish. Do you love snorkeling? This is your opportunity to get up close and personal with colorful tropical fish. King's Pond is aesthetically very distinct without the green lawns that grace the other crescents, but for many guests, it's their favorite place to stay at Hualalai.

Golf Ocean View rooms are the most economical of all the resort's accommodations, yet they feature the same generous size and stylish interiors of all of Hualalai's rooms and suites. The views are extraordinary, looking out over the 18th green with a clear view of the blue ocean over the 18th fairway. Located right next to the golf shop, this could be the perfect place for avid golf spectators to sit on their lanais and watch golfers finishing their rounds. It is, however, the farthest from the beach and swimming pools.

One final question: upstairs or downstairs? Second floor Prime Ocean View rooms offer spectacular views of the blue ocean, yet many guests specifically request a first floor room. Why? Because they enjoy the outdoor lava shower... and because you can step right out of your lanai door into the crescent.

Four Seasons Hualalai offers a lot of choices. Need help sorting out your options? Talk to a Four Seasons Preferred Partner luxury travel consultant for first-hand advice ... as well as for exclusive Preferred Partner amenities that include complimentary Full American Breakfast for two daily, room upgrades upon arrival if available, and an $85 lunch credit once during your stay.

Four Seasons Hualalai (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2010 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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my big advantage over FHR

American Express has just announced the ability to make Platinum Card FHR reservations online. While this is certainly a significant convenience factor if you simply must make that reservation at 3 a.m., this new "feature" actually means even less client service for FHR clients. At least that's my quite biased opinion!

Want advice about your hotel choices? It helps to have a conversation with a travel consultant who has actually been there — and who can consult with colleagues who have traveled all over the globe. A picture on a website can be highly misleading, and booking engines aren't much use if you want advice.

Have any special requests? Want a view of the Eiffel Tower from a suite at the Four Seasons George V? Can't get the concierge to respond to your emails? Really hoping for an upgrade? Celebrating a special anniversary or have other unique requests you'd like to be taken care of? It's not what you know — it's who you know — and I make personal contact every time I make a hotel booking.

Want to save $450? American Express advertises "$450 in complimentary benefits with every stay" (based on double occupancy and depending on length of stay). Interesting ... as this is also the annual fee for an American Express Platinum Card. My clients receive comparable benefits - and don't have to pay $450 annually for a Platinum Card.

Want better amenities? While FHR offers a complimentary continental breakfast for two daily at its member properties, I can often do even better for you. For instance, stay at any Four Seasons hotel or resort in the world at a Preferred Partner rate (including Third Night Free rates, etc). As my Four Seasons client, you will receive a Full American Breakfast for two daily (by room service if you wish), including any breakfast buffet options (the buffet at the Four Seasons Florence is pictured above).

50% more choices. FHR has over 600 participating properties. I have relationships with nearly 900 luxury hotels and resorts around the world, with complimentary daily breakfasts, room upgrades if available upon check-in (and sometimes at time of booking), and extra perks at each one.

No online booking engine can possibly provide the service of a luxury travel consultant.


luxury travel consultant (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2010 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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Mexican vacations | triple values

Traveling to Mexico between Feb. 15 and May 20? Now is the time to take advantage of a special savings opportunity for Mexican vacations booked through March 19, 2010. Participating resorts are offering:

• A free night with a 3-5 day minimum stay.
• Up to a $200 resort credit and/or room upgrade
• Air Discounts on coach, business, and first class

Double-click on the flyer (front page above, back page below) to get the full details from Classic Vacations.




Mexican vacations (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2010 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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the importance of travel insurance

This Christmas saw heavy snowstorms in the midwest and on the east coast with inclement weather causing many flight delays and cancellations. I can imagine magine the frustration of vacationers whose flights to the Caribbean, Mexico, or Hawaii did not happen. Not only did they lose precious hours and even days of their family vacations, in most cases they had to pay for their unused resort rooms.

This is why you should strongly consider trip insurance. While an insurance policy cannot change the weather, it can protect you financially in the event of trip delays, flight cancellations, and unexpected illness. Some policies even allow you to cancel your trip for any reason at any time with a complete refund of hotel deposits and airline penalties. And with "bulk fares," even your airfares are completely refundable.

Some travelers want to pay the absolute lowest upfront prices. This winter's storms demonstrate vividly why that's a false economy. Ask your travel consultant about travel insurance the next time you're planning a vacation. Hopefully you won't need to use it, but travel insurance is one of the best ways to minimize travel stress.


travel consultant (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2010 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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