Kuoni took 10 UK travel agents to Hawaii last October, combining the visit with San Francisco and Los Angeles. In Hawaii, agents stayed three nights at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Honolulu, two nights at the Westin Maui in Maui and one night at the Royal Hawaiian in Honolulu. This is what they thought of the islands.
Before: I expected Hawaii to be expensive. I know it costs a lot to get there, but I also thought it would be expensive to eat and drink. The hotels appeared to be high rise. I had thought it was only for older couples.
After: Once you’re there, it’s not as expensive as you would think. It’s not just for older couples either. Now I would sell it to all age groups. Waikiki Beach is lively and there’s lots going on. It’s good for youngsters, with plenty of nightlife, bars and restaurants. I think the prices of the holidays need to come down as it’s not as affordable as the Caribbean.
Michelle Slater, Acting Manager, Going Places, New Malden, Surrey
Before: I imagined it to be all palm trees and beaches that stretch for miles. I thought it would be expensive and only really for older couples. I didn’t think there would be much to do at night for younger people.
After: It’s so cheap to eat, drink and shop because of the strong exchange rate. It’s got all the palm trees and the beaches, but there’s a lot of excellent entertainment at night. During the day there is something for all age groups, including water sports and day trips around the islands. Maui is a bit quieter, so it would be good to go there on a two-centre holiday. You would have your first stopover in Maui to take it easy and then go to Waikiki. The hotels were gorgeous.
Sarah Merry, Sales Consultant, Lunn Poly, Banbury
Before: I thought it would be paradise – long, golden beaches and glorious sunshine every day. I also thought it would be good for surfers. I also expected to see a lot of British people.”
After: I was quite surprised by Honolulu, which is a lot more commercialised. It’s like a typical working US city. Maui is completely the other side of the coin – it’s like paradise. Although not much to look at on the outside, the hotels are very elegant inside. Also, there was mostly American tourists. I would recommend both islands. It’s a nice mix. The prices are very similar to the US. The only thing I was disappointed with was the weather.
Gary Millward, Sales Consultant, Omega Travel, Oldham