Waikiki Vacations

Waikiki is one of those rare travel destinations that lives up to every expectation. You will not be disappointed when you visit this island paradise. Situated on the Hawaiian Island of Oahu, Waikiki is the south shore area of the capital city, Honolulu.
  
With its history as the vacation destination of the Hawaiian royal family, it now welcomes visitors from around the world. Many come for the world-famous surfing, but there is much more to Waikiki than just that.

When to Visit Waikiki

With a constant warm, tropical, climate, Waikiki is a perfect destination at any time of year.  Its rainfall occurs mainly during the months of October through March, and is focused in the higher elevations. Waikiki is situated on the southern side of the island, with the mountains blocking the trade winds that bring the rain during the winter months, ensuring beautiful year-round weather.

What to Expect

Visitors can expect day after day of sunshine, so they should plan to spend plenty of time on the beach, enjoying the variety of activities available. Visitors get a little extra pleasure learning to surf, kayak and paddleboar on one of the most famous beaches for surfing and canoeing in the world. It is also a popular area for fishing and scuba diving. For visitors who choose to book a Waikiki vacation rental between December and May, a whale watching tour is well worth adding to any itinerary.

Of course, there is much more to Waikiki than its wonderful beach area. Visitors can expect a wide choice of restaurants, excellent shopping and plenty of attractions close to their chosen rental property.

Families will find more than enough attractions to fill just one vacation. Attractions such as Honolulu Zoo and Waikiki Aquarium enchant children and adults alike. The history of Waikiki is laid out on the Waikiki Historic Trail, where visitors can enjoy a day walking from site to site, learning more about the local culture.

Certainly one local custom that visitors will want to experience is a traditional luau. Held at sunset, visitors can feast on kalua pig cooked in the time-honored method of an imu or earth oven.

Things You Must Bring to Waikiki

Waikiki vacations are all about being outdoors. Whether you spend your day at the beach, strolling by boutiques or exploring the interior mountains, sunscreen or sunblock is a must. The Hawaiian Islands relative proximity to the equator means exceptionally strong sun.
Another sensible item to bring is at least one hat, particularly for children. Lightweight sweaters or shirts for evenings will come in handy, as cooler evenings occur even in summer.

Vacationing in Waikiki is all about relaxation and fun, so causal clothes and, naturally, swimwear is a must. Jeans or lightweight pants are sensible items to bring, particularly for excursions into the mountains.  Flip flops or sandals will certainly do well for you at the beach, as well many other places on the island, but those who wish to go on walks, hikes or other activities to make the most of the variety of things to do on a Waikiki vacation, good walking or hiking footwear is essential.

One of the many benefits of choosing a Waikiki rental property is that many come with full laundry facilities. This allows vacationers to pack lighter, since they can do a load of laundry, dry wet towels and even iron as necessary.  What a space saver!

Of course, bring a camera! Waikiki is so beautiful, with so many breath-taking views that visitors will find plenty of picture-worthy moments.

Getting There

Conveniently located on the main island of Oahu, Waikiki is just nine miles from Honolulu International Airport. From the airport, visitors can catch the Airport Waikiki Express shuttle service that drops off at various locations around the city. There are also plenty of taxis for those who prefer door-to-door service, and a ride to Waikiki will take around 20 minutes. The fare will vary depending on the location of your chosen Waikiki vacation rental.

Many of the major car rental firms have facilities either at or close to the airport; those with offices off site provide buses. It is worth checking your car rental company's exact location before you book. However, think carefully before booking a rental car as many visitors to Waikiki find it an unnecessary expense.

What to Know About Vacation Rentals in Waikiki

Choosing a Waikiki vacation rental provides visitors the opportunity to enjoy life as an islander. Planning a trip to Waikiki is all about fun, and part of the fun is researching the variety of rental properties available. Visitors can choose between beautiful apartments, condos and homes to find their perfect paradise. Visitors will find that many of the properties come with great extras like beach toys, BBQs, lanais, or pool access. One of the main features of a vacation in Waikiki is, naturally, fabulous long days on the beach, and visitors will find a tremendous number of properties are either right on the beach or within a short walk.