Going on holidays to Hawaii isn’t the most straightforward destination for Irish travellers because of its great distance away, but nonetheless it remains a very famous travel destination!
The only US state outside of mainland America is a true hidden gem in the midst of the Pacific Ocean, very well known for its exotic landscapes and luxury holiday resorts.
If you’re in the mood to spend your next dream holiday in Hawaii, we have a couple smart and useful tips to help you make the most out of your holidays! Read along to find out more.
Tip 1: Choose the best time of the year to travel to Hawaii
This is our first and most important tip about travelling from Ireland to Hawaii: pick the correct time of the year to travel. The reason for this is pretty simple: Hawaii can get pretty warm in the summer, and very busy with tourists in the winter, even more so during Hawaiian festivals. Here is a couple useful pieces of information:
- Hawaii is generally hottest in August, with an average temperature of 27°C, but Hawaii doesn’t get so cold in the Winter, with an average temperature of 23°C in January at its coldest. For this reason, many tourists choose to come to Hawaii in the winter. If you’re travelling from Ireland, this could be the ideal getaway from the Irish weather.
- Bear in mind that the peak tourist season in Hawaii is from mid-December to March. The Winter Holidays can get especially busy in Hawaii, from Christmas to New Year. If you’re looking for a relaxing exotic trip, maybe travelling in the Winter isn’t the best idea.
Tip 2: Have a look at the vibrant events calendar in the Hawaiian Islands
There are many annual events and festivals in the Hawaiian Islands, attracting numerous tourists. Make sure to book your holidays accordingly, whether you’re coming especially for the festivals or trying to avoid the crowds! Amongst others, some of the most important include:
- The Honolulu Marathon, in December
- The Hawaiʻi International Film Festival, in October
- The Oʻahu’s Prince Lot Hula Competition, in July
- The Eō E ʻEmalani I Alaka‘i Festival, in October
- The King Kamehameha Celebration, in June
For more information on Hawaii’s annual events and festivals, be sure to check out the Hawaiian Islands’ webpage.
Tip 3: Book your flights in advance
Booking your flights in advance is one of the most important tips we can give you. Prices for the journey crossing the Atlantic and part of the Pacific can spike pretty quickly, so be sure to book a couple weeks or months in advance. Here are a couple useful information about flights from Ireland to Hawaii:
- There are no direct flights from Ireland (Dublin, Knock or Shanon) to Honolulu, Hawaii. You’ll probably have to transfer flights in either London, San Francisco, or Los Angeles.
- The average flight time from Dublin to Honolulu is 20 hours, make sure you have everything you need for a comfortable flight.
For more useful tips about booking in advance to save time and money on your holidays, read our dedicated article here!
Tip 4: Book smarter, book better
Booking your flights in advance won’t necessarily get you the smartest flight package. To make sure you book efficiently, bear the following tips in mind:
- Travelling to Hawaii during off-peak season can help you save up to 50% on your overall travel costs, which could be particularly interesting if you’re on a budget.
- Think about booking early morning or late evening flights to Hawaii from Ireland. Transfers might be a bit of a hassle, but you end up saving quite a lot on your overall travel costs.
- If your work planning enables you to do so, consider booking midweek flights instead of weekend flights, these are usually quite a bit cheaper because fewer people travel during the week.
For more useful tips about booking your flights to Honolulu, visit our dedicated article here.
Tip 5: Choose your accommodation carefully
Hawaii offers a very wide range of accommodation types, so don’t just go for the first suitable accommodation that you find. Be sure to consider the following:
- Are you budget-constrained? If so, start thinking about whether you would like higher-class accommodation or rather simple stays.
- Do you have any specific accessibility needs or requirements? For example, if you are travelling with elderly, young, pregnant, or disabled people, be sure to take this into account when booking your stay.
- Do you need free Wi-Fi connection, all-included breakfast, daily cleaning, concierge and housekeeping services, etc.? Make a list of all the features you require during your stay to make sure you’ve made the right choice!
Once this is done, you’ll be able to choose from a wide range of accommodations, including hotels, holiday resorts, vacation rentals, or even guesthouses. Thanks to our smart and efficient online booking tool at Trazler, you’ll be able to see all your accommodation options all in one place! Start booking now!
Tip 6: Rent a car and bring your licence
This is probably the most valuable tip we can give you: bringing your driver’s licence and booking a car in Hawaii is a must-do! Indeed, if you limit yourself to public transportation and walking, you won’t get very much further than Honolulu, the biggest city in Hawaii.
Despite being an amazing city to visit, relax, or spend a night out, most of the Hawaiian islands’ hidden gems lay outside of Honolulu, on smaller neighbouring islands in the archipelago.
Your Irish driver’s licence is sufficient for you to drive in the US, so make sure you bring it along with you. However, make sure you’ve subscribed to the appropriate travel insurance!
Luckily for you, booking your car rental is as easy as it gets with Trazler. Select your desired travel dates, your driver’s age, and compare options from a wide range of available cars. Get a reservation now!
Tip 7: Save yourself all the administrative hassle of going abroad
Going abroad may be a stressful moment for some travellers because of the administrative tasks that it demands. To make things easier for you, we’ve compiled the most important tasks for you to make sure you make the most out of your trip in Hawaii:
- Make sure you have an active passport, valid for the entirety of your stay. If you’re an Irish citizen, there is no six-month minimum validity requirement because of a bipartite agreement!
- If you’re an Irish citizen, no need for a travel visa to get to Hawaii! All you need is to get yourself an ESTA, or electronic system for travel authorisation. This is an administrative requirement to visit the US, facilitating procedures for countries with strong diplomatic links. Click here to find out more about the ESTA and how to get yours. For your information, the current ESTA fee is $21.
- There is no longer a need for any proof of Covid-19 vaccination, so there is nothing to worry about in this regard!
- Make sure you check the US Embassy in Dublin’s useful travel FAQ to make sure you have all the appropriate travel documentation when coming from Ireland. Also, make sure to follow the Irish Embassy in Washington’s webpage before you leave, where you can find useful information about your travels.
Tip 8: Go island hopping
Island hopping is amongst the most popular travel activities in Hawaii. As we’ve seen above, Hawaii is an archipelago of eight main islands, all with diverse nature and landscapes. We could only advise you against staying in Honolulu throughout your stay… You would miss out on so much to discover! Here is a short list of the different islands in Hawaii and what there is to see on each:
- Oahu is the most inhabited and vibrant island, where you’ll land in Honolulu. From the heavenly Waikiki Beach or the Diamond Head panoramic views to the infamous Pearl Harbor military zone and the USS Arizona Memorial, there is so much to do on Oahu island!
- Maui is the island most famous for its beautiful landscapes, from its stunning beaches to its breathtaking volcano summits. Hop onto the road to Hana to enjoy a scenic drive through rainforests and waterfalls. Head to Haleakalā National Park early in the morning for a breathtaking sunrise at the top of an extinct volcano, before heading back down to the coastal town of Lahaina.
- Kauai, often called the “Garden Isle” is particularly known for its stunning landscapes, such as the Waimea Canyon, also called the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific”.
- Big Island is home to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, one of the few places where you can see real-life active volcanoes and lava rivers. Be sure to check out Mauna Kea, one of the most renown astronomical observatories across the globe.
- Four more main islands are yours to discover: Molokai, Lanai, Niihau and Kahoolawe. For more information on these islands and what to do in Hawaii, check out the Hawaiian Islands’ webpage.
Tip 9: Enjoy local cuisine and dining
Much of travelling abroad includes experiencing local food and cuisine. If this is one of the reasons why you’re travelling, then Hawaii is definitely the way to go! Hawaiian cuisine can’t disappoint you.
Mostly derived from seafood, beef and tropical food, Hawaiian cuisine boasts the famous Hawaiian plate, Shave ice, Saimin, Coconut dish, Taro Ko chips, Poke bowls, and much more. Get savoury!
Tip 10: Embrace local culture and traditions
Hawaiian traditions will get you far from your home culture, especially coming from Ireland. Stay open to this diversity of customs and traditions and experience some for yourselves.
For instance, be sure to attend a local luaus (a typical Hawaiian street party), watch a hula dance show, and explore local art galleries and food markets! There’s always something culturally interesting going on in Hawaii, so make sure you’re there when it happens!
Conclusion
From booking your flights and accommodation to actually deciding how to spend your time on the picturesque archipelago, we’ve got you covered with some of the most interesting tips you could ask for!
Once you’ve made up your mind about going to Hawaii, head straight to our smart and efficient online booking platform, and start your all-included reservation with Trazler now!
