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posted by J M Kim at 11:46 PM
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Saturday, August 02, 2008
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Hawaii - Big Island
Hawaii is one of my favorite spots and the Big Island is my favorite among the Hawaiian islands. (I've been to Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island). I first visited the Big Island in 1999. I wanted to take a vacation to Hawaii and wanted to try a new island. United offered a non-stop flight to Kona and I was able to redeem my Mileage Plus miles for a ticket. Ever since, my first choice for a Hawaiian vacation is to the Big Island.
Travel is very convenient and I've developed a nice little comfortable routine. I take the morning non-stop that arrives around noon. Pick up a rental car, drive into Kona for a grilled fish lunch, go check-in, and go for a swim at the beach. Watch the sunset, grab dinner, and finish with a drink back at the resort. The next day, get up and workout, eat breakfast, grab gear for the beach, get settled and read a little, when it gets too warm, go for a snorkle, take a nap, eat lunch, read some more, nap, go look at fish, nap, check out sunset, shower, dinner, walk around the resort, and call it a day. If I get tired of this routine, I substitue with a half-day or full day activity. Hiking at Waipio, Akaka Falls, or the Volcano National Park. Other activities I enjoy are kayaking near the coast; golfing at one of the many nearby courses (both in the morning when the winds are calm); getting a pampering massage at the spa; or catching a movie in town. I've become a huge fan of the spa experience since Hawaii. If you have the inclination or the resources, you can indulge in a helicopter tour (the aerial perspective is unique), scuba trip (I've been once and thought it was awesome), hire a boat for big-game fishing, or even snow ski on Mauna Kea.
The sunny Kohala coast on the Big Island, where I like to stay, is about 30 mins north of the Kona airport. It's the sunny dry side of the island (Hilo, on the east (windward) side of the island is rainy). The string of resorts between the airport up to Hapuna beach are mostly self-contained luxury properties. Unlike Oahu's Waikiki or Maui's Kaanapali resort areas, Kohala coast properties are far removed from the major highway or road, individually isolated, and located on sprawling grounds. I'm not a fan of the compacted hotel-after-hotel layout along long stretches of beach... places like Kaanapali, Cancun, or Bahamas' Cable Beach. For my beach vacations, I seek secluded and laid back destinations where I can de-compress.
My favorite hotel is the Fairmont Orchid (formerly a Sheraton and before that a Ritz property). The main reason I like this property is for the shuttle access to a small semi-private beach (all beaches in Hawaii are public, I think) just south of the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalow. There are limited sandy beaches on the Kohala coast. There's Anaehoomalu Bay immediately accessible from the Outrigger Waikoloa, the beach at Mauna Kea, and Hapuna beach just south of the Hapuna Beach resort. The beaches are coarse golden-sand beaches. You won't find the sugary fine white-sand beaches like the ones in the Caribbean or the Maldives. (Actually, I find the waters off Hawaii to be much cooler relative to the waters of the Caribbean and the Indian Ocean). Anyway, this small beach has finer sand, palms to provide shade, a convenient snack cafe, watersport equipment rental shack, and a very private feel. The snorkling off-shore is great. Tons of interesting fish. Frequently, I've seen turtles wash up to sun themselves on the beach. You can catch a glimpse of a whale or two (during season) as you lunch at the snack cafe. The chili and tuna sandwich here are good.
The private feel comes from the (purposefully) difficult access to this beach. You can walk down to this beach from the Fairmont, passing the Mauna Lani and its fish ponds - about 20 mins. Do-able, but a bit inconvenient to carry beach gear back and forth. But the public access to this beach is off a parking lot located about 1/2 mile away via a meandering trail on the fringe of the Mauna Lani Bay property. The signage is obscure, again I suspect on purpose.
The Fairmont Orchid has a very good gym. New equipment, spacious, and clean. I think the breakfast buffet is particularly good. Great assortment of fresh fruit, custom order eggs, asian breakfast, bakery, juice & coffee... I don't think I've ever had dinner on property. The large pool is a good alternative to the beach. The resort beach I think is man-made. It's nice but the water access is limited. The small cove doesn't offer a lot of open ocean. The rooms are comfortable. Nothing extraordinary. They all have patios or balconys, which is nice. The spa facility is small for a property this size. Service has always been good.
The Hilton Waikoloa is another good option. This is a huge property (on 62 acres) with loads of restaurants (the teppan-yaki is good), three 'neighborhoods', huge collection of art work, large Kohala spa, large conference center, and more. It takes a good 20-30 mins to walk from one end to the other. I've always thought that the Hilton would be particularly suitable for families. The property offers theme park like attractions - dolphin show, water taxi, train, water slides, miniature golf, man-made lagoon and waterfall...
Other Big Island hotels I've stayed at are the Outrigger Waikoloa (formerly a Marriott property), Mauna Kea, Hapuna Beach, and Sheraton Keauhou.
Other Big Island hotels that I'd like to try are the Four Seasons, Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows, and Kona Village. The Four Seasons costs $600/night for its cheapest room and is often sold out. Crazy. The Mauna Lani is peaceful and located off the same exit as the Fairmont. Kona Village is an old time favorite with old time charm. They don't have TV or telephone in their rooms.
Top 10 things to do:
1. Enjoy the beach. Swim in the ocean. Isn't that why you go?
2. Look at fish. Snorkle. The colorful fish are always amazing and you might even see turtles, eels, or something entirely new. The far north end of Anaehoomalu Bay.
3. Eat grilled fish. Grilled with a twist of lemon, side of rice and mac. I like Quinns in Kona.
4. See fresh lava flows. Where else can you stand so close to sizzling magma. Volcanoes National Park.
5. Get a massage or a spa treatment. Linger and enjoy the experience. I'm a huge fan. The Kohala Spa at the Hilton is nice.
6. Watch the sunset. Very relaxing. Sit out by the water and enjoy a drink.
7. Hike Waipio. Take the Z trail if you're adventurous. At least take a peak from the Pololu lookout. Warning: the climb down to Waipio valley is STEEP. An hour's drive from Kohala coast.
8. Go for an early morning run or walk. The most peaceful time of the day, before the heat or the wind. The Kona coffee or the guava juice will taste a 1000 times better. And it's free.
9. Play golf. The Mauna Kea course is breathtaking. The par-3 on the ocean cliff is a picture postcard.
10. Take a helicopter tour. Or swim with the dolphins at the Hilton Dolphin Quest. Both kind of expensive and probably once in a lifetime deals.
Travel is very convenient and I've developed a nice little comfortable routine. I take the morning non-stop that arrives around noon. Pick up a rental car, drive into Kona for a grilled fish lunch, go check-in, and go for a swim at the beach. Watch the sunset, grab dinner, and finish with a drink back at the resort. The next day, get up and workout, eat breakfast, grab gear for the beach, get settled and read a little, when it gets too warm, go for a snorkle, take a nap, eat lunch, read some more, nap, go look at fish, nap, check out sunset, shower, dinner, walk around the resort, and call it a day. If I get tired of this routine, I substitue with a half-day or full day activity. Hiking at Waipio, Akaka Falls, or the Volcano National Park. Other activities I enjoy are kayaking near the coast; golfing at one of the many nearby courses (both in the morning when the winds are calm); getting a pampering massage at the spa; or catching a movie in town. I've become a huge fan of the spa experience since Hawaii. If you have the inclination or the resources, you can indulge in a helicopter tour (the aerial perspective is unique), scuba trip (I've been once and thought it was awesome), hire a boat for big-game fishing, or even snow ski on Mauna Kea.
The sunny Kohala coast on the Big Island, where I like to stay, is about 30 mins north of the Kona airport. It's the sunny dry side of the island (Hilo, on the east (windward) side of the island is rainy). The string of resorts between the airport up to Hapuna beach are mostly self-contained luxury properties. Unlike Oahu's Waikiki or Maui's Kaanapali resort areas, Kohala coast properties are far removed from the major highway or road, individually isolated, and located on sprawling grounds. I'm not a fan of the compacted hotel-after-hotel layout along long stretches of beach... places like Kaanapali, Cancun, or Bahamas' Cable Beach. For my beach vacations, I seek secluded and laid back destinations where I can de-compress.
My favorite hotel is the Fairmont Orchid (formerly a Sheraton and before that a Ritz property). The main reason I like this property is for the shuttle access to a small semi-private beach (all beaches in Hawaii are public, I think) just south of the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalow. There are limited sandy beaches on the Kohala coast. There's Anaehoomalu Bay immediately accessible from the Outrigger Waikoloa, the beach at Mauna Kea, and Hapuna beach just south of the Hapuna Beach resort. The beaches are coarse golden-sand beaches. You won't find the sugary fine white-sand beaches like the ones in the Caribbean or the Maldives. (Actually, I find the waters off Hawaii to be much cooler relative to the waters of the Caribbean and the Indian Ocean). Anyway, this small beach has finer sand, palms to provide shade, a convenient snack cafe, watersport equipment rental shack, and a very private feel. The snorkling off-shore is great. Tons of interesting fish. Frequently, I've seen turtles wash up to sun themselves on the beach. You can catch a glimpse of a whale or two (during season) as you lunch at the snack cafe. The chili and tuna sandwich here are good.
The private feel comes from the (purposefully) difficult access to this beach. You can walk down to this beach from the Fairmont, passing the Mauna Lani and its fish ponds - about 20 mins. Do-able, but a bit inconvenient to carry beach gear back and forth. But the public access to this beach is off a parking lot located about 1/2 mile away via a meandering trail on the fringe of the Mauna Lani Bay property. The signage is obscure, again I suspect on purpose.
The Fairmont Orchid has a very good gym. New equipment, spacious, and clean. I think the breakfast buffet is particularly good. Great assortment of fresh fruit, custom order eggs, asian breakfast, bakery, juice & coffee... I don't think I've ever had dinner on property. The large pool is a good alternative to the beach. The resort beach I think is man-made. It's nice but the water access is limited. The small cove doesn't offer a lot of open ocean. The rooms are comfortable. Nothing extraordinary. They all have patios or balconys, which is nice. The spa facility is small for a property this size. Service has always been good.
The Hilton Waikoloa is another good option. This is a huge property (on 62 acres) with loads of restaurants (the teppan-yaki is good), three 'neighborhoods', huge collection of art work, large Kohala spa, large conference center, and more. It takes a good 20-30 mins to walk from one end to the other. I've always thought that the Hilton would be particularly suitable for families. The property offers theme park like attractions - dolphin show, water taxi, train, water slides, miniature golf, man-made lagoon and waterfall...
Other Big Island hotels I've stayed at are the Outrigger Waikoloa (formerly a Marriott property), Mauna Kea, Hapuna Beach, and Sheraton Keauhou.
Other Big Island hotels that I'd like to try are the Four Seasons, Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows, and Kona Village. The Four Seasons costs $600/night for its cheapest room and is often sold out. Crazy. The Mauna Lani is peaceful and located off the same exit as the Fairmont. Kona Village is an old time favorite with old time charm. They don't have TV or telephone in their rooms.
Top 10 things to do:
1. Enjoy the beach. Swim in the ocean. Isn't that why you go?
2. Look at fish. Snorkle. The colorful fish are always amazing and you might even see turtles, eels, or something entirely new. The far north end of Anaehoomalu Bay.
3. Eat grilled fish. Grilled with a twist of lemon, side of rice and mac. I like Quinns in Kona.
4. See fresh lava flows. Where else can you stand so close to sizzling magma. Volcanoes National Park.
5. Get a massage or a spa treatment. Linger and enjoy the experience. I'm a huge fan. The Kohala Spa at the Hilton is nice.
6. Watch the sunset. Very relaxing. Sit out by the water and enjoy a drink.
7. Hike Waipio. Take the Z trail if you're adventurous. At least take a peak from the Pololu lookout. Warning: the climb down to Waipio valley is STEEP. An hour's drive from Kohala coast.
8. Go for an early morning run or walk. The most peaceful time of the day, before the heat or the wind. The Kona coffee or the guava juice will taste a 1000 times better. And it's free.
9. Play golf. The Mauna Kea course is breathtaking. The par-3 on the ocean cliff is a picture postcard.
10. Take a helicopter tour. Or swim with the dolphins at the Hilton Dolphin Quest. Both kind of expensive and probably once in a lifetime deals.
posted by J M Kim at 11:14 AM
0 comments
Maldives
The water is crystal clear and bath warm. The sun is HOT. Time stands still. 
The Hilton Maldives occupies a couple of islands (spits of sand) linked by a quarter mile bridge. You fly in on a pontoon plane - 30 min flight from the international airport at Male. It's a trek to get there, but worth it.
You can walk around the whole island in about 15-20 mins.
There are over-water bungalows and beach side bungalows. (They've been renovated in the last couple of years).
This is truly paradise on earth. THE best beach vacation I've ever taken. You can play Robinson Crusoe here... think deserted island. There isn't another island as far as the eye can see.
posted by J M Kim at 9:17 AM
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Phuket
The Chedi at Phuket. They had/have a great seafood buffet. The black bottom pool is great. The beach is a 2 min walk down from the property. It's a golden sand beach... not so much the powdery white sand. The Amanpuri resort is located at the northern end of the beach.
posted by J M Kim at 9:10 AM
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Sunday, March 05, 2006
Places Visited
Asia
- Bangkok, Thailand
- Beijing, China
- Cheju, Korea
- Hong Kong, China
- KL, Malaysia
- Male, Maldives
- Osaka, Japan
- Phuket, Thailand
- Seoul, Korea
- Shanghai, China
- Singapore, Singapore
- Sydney, Australia
- Tokyo, Japan
- Amsterdam, Netherland
- Antwerp, Belgium
- Athens, Greece
- Barcelona, Spain
- Basel, Switzerland
- Berlin, Germany
- Brussels, Belgium
- Cambridge, England
- Cannes, France
- Cinque Terre, Italy
- Dusseldorf, Germany
- Florence, Italy
- Frankfurt, Germany
- Genoa, Italy
- Gotenberg, Sweden
- Heidelberg, Germany
- Istanbul, Turkey
- London, England
- Madrid, Spain
- Manchester, England
- Milan, Italy
- Munich, Germany
- Mykonos, Greece
- Nice, France
- Oslo, Norway
- Oxford, England
- Paris, France
- Portofino, Italy
- Rome, Italy
- Santorini, Greece
- Stockholm, Sweden
- Tallinn, Estonia
- Turin, Italy
- Umea, Sweden
- Venice, Italy
- Vienna, Austria
- Wuppertal, Germany
- Albuquerque, NM
- Ames, IA
- Ann Arbor, MI
- Arkedelphia, AR
- Banff, Alberta
- Berkeley, CA
- Boston, MA
- Boulder, CO
- Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
- Cancun, Mexico
- Carmel, CA
- Chicago, IL
- Cincinnati, OH
- Colorado Springs, CO
- Dallas, TX
- Davis, CA
- Denver, CO
- Des Moines, IA
- Durango, CO
- Edmonton, Alberta
- El Paso, TX
- Havana, Cuba
- Hilo, HI
- Honolulu, HI
- Indianapolis, IN
- Iowa City, IA
- Kaanapali, HI
- Kalamazoo, MI
- Kansas City, KS
- Knoxville, TN
- Kona, HI
- Lahaina, HI
- Lake Powell, AZ/UT
- Lake Tahoe, CA
- Las Cruces, NM
- Las Vegas, NV
- Lihue, HI
- Los Alamos, NM
- Los Angeles, CA
- Manhattan, KS
- Mexico City, Mexico
- Miami, FL
- Minneapolis, MN
- Moab, UT
- Monterey, CA
- Mount Washington, NH
- New Haven, CT
- New York, NY
- Omaha, NE
- Ouray, CO
- Philadelphia, PA
- Phoenix, AZ
- Portland, OR
- Rapid City, SD
- Reno, NV
- Saint John, USVI
- Saint Louis, MO
- Sacramento, CA
- San Diego, CA
- San Juan, Puerto Rico
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Santa Barbara, CA
- Santa Fe, NM
- Seattle, WA
- Telluride, CO
- Tijuana, Mexico
- Tucson, AZ
- Vail, CO
- Vancouver, British Columbia
- Waimea, HI
- Washington DC
- Yosemite, CA
- Arequipa, Peru
- Atacama Desert, Peru
- Cuzco, Peru
- Machu Picchu, Peru
- Santiago, Chile
- Lima, Peru
posted by J M Kim at 7:43 AM
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