Hawaii: Aloha from Oahu!

Considering a Hawaii vacation? Don't know what to expect? Then you should read our travel guide. We will give you our tips on where to stay and what to do for a wonderful 6-day/7-night Hawaii getaway.

As you can imagine, Hawaii is one of the most beautiful US States. Hawaii is comprised of hundreds of islands, but there are only eight main islands of which six are large enough for sustainable tourism. Our favorite is Oahu. For anyone who has yet to visit Hawaii, we recommend staying on Oahu because of its natural beauty and conveniences of Honolulu. You can also island-hop, but this can get expensive. For this guide, we will focus mainly on Oahu, but we will list some options for visiting other islands. Honolulu, Hawaii's capital and largest city, is located on Oahu. Since there is so much to do on Oahu, we are going to discuss two areas, Waikiki Beach and the North Shore. Waikiki Beach not only offers beautiful beaches and views of Diamond Head, but you have the attractions and amenities of a large cosmopolitan city. The North Shore, which is about a 1-hour drive from Honolulu, offers a more laid-back vibe with small towns reminiscent of old Hawaii, and large surf. Note to inexperienced surfers: Take a lesson at Waikiki Beach!

So let's get started. Which hotel or resort should we choose? If you want to stay on Waikiki Beach, we recommend The Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach. The Outrigger is in the middle of Waikiki, conveniently located to water sports, shops and restaurants. This property has 3 restaurants (including Duke's Waikiki), 3 bars and nightly entertainment. There is also a spa available for guests to enjoy. If you prefer to stay on the North Shore, we recommend Turtle Bay Resort. This resort is ideal for romance and fun. Located only 5 miles from Waimea Falls Park, you can explore miles of coastline and secluded coves. There are 36-holes of championship golf on-site, designed by Arnold Palmer and George Fazio. This property has 4 restaurants, 3 bars and a Luau every Friday. You can also take a surf lesson or relax and enjoy Spa Luana. I know that you would expect to pay a large price for all of these amenities, but it is actually relatively inexpensive, mainly due to the fact that the resort is located about 1-hour from Honolulu.

We always like to split our time evenly between enjoying all of the resort amenities and touring areas outside of the resort. There are many touring options available on Oahu. We will tell you about some of our favorites and you can book or view all options through our site. Just click activities in the search tool. The Oahu Grand Circle Island Tour is a must, especially if you are staying on Waikiki Beach. This tour will take you on a 120-mile journey around Oahu, where you will see beautiful rainforests and beaches around the island. Another similar tour, The Pearl Harbor and Circle Island Tour, will take you around Oahu by boat. You will also ride a Navy vessel to Pearl Harbor. Well, you can't go to Hawaii without attending a Luau. There are several choices, but we recommend the Paradise Cove Luau. It's been said that this Luau brings out the true Aloha spirit. The duration, including transfers, takes about 6 hours. If you are not staying on the North Shore, you should try the North Shore Activities Tour. You will get to see the huge Hawaiian green sea turtles, shop in Haleiwa, check-out the surf at Sunset Beach and the Bonzai Pipeline and visit Waimea Bay. Of course, you can always try windsurfing, outrigger canoeing, kayaking and surfing. Okay, as we mentioned earlier, you can also island-hop. For around $260 per adult (prices may vary), you can try the Kauai One-Day Tour. Kauai is called the "Garden Isle". The price includes a guided tour, admission fees and roundtrip air from Oahu. The tour takes about 14-15 hours, so you will sleep sound when you get back to your hotel. During the tour, you will see beautiful vistas and landmarks around the island, including Waimea Canyon, a cruise down the Wailua River and stop at the Coco Palms Hotel, featured in the Elvis Presley movie "Blue Hawaii".

We did not forget about the shopping! There are too many options to mention, but I would try the Ala Moana Center or the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center. The best idea will be to try something close to your hotel. There are plenty of shopping opportunities in Waikiki, so just start walking and browsing. Have fun!

These suggestions should keep you busy for a week, but don't forget to relax and enjoy all of your resort amenities.