now that Southwest flies to Hawaii...

... where are you going to stay?

Today, Southwest Airlines launched its long-awaited service to Hawaii with the departure of Flight 6808 from Oakland, California (my home airport) to Honolulu. Passengers were greeted with leis both on boarding and upon their arrival into HNL. Service will continue to expand with a second OAK-HNL flight on March 24th, flights to Maui on April 7th, and service to Kona on May 12th.

These will be no-frills flights with nothing but Coach seats to be had for the long 5 1/2 hour flights. Neither will full meals be available. By adding seats to the Oakland-Hawaii market, the price of coach seats will likely come down. On the other hand, I highly recommend flying First Class on Alaska or Hawaiian. Pricing is surprisingly affordable, and both airlines offer comfortable First Class service and full meals. Some Hawaiian Airlines planes even have lie-flat sleeper seats.

Where to stay in Hawaii? I've listed my favorite hotels, and Ourisman Travel offers you added value by providing free breakfasts, $100 hotel credits, upgrades, and more — all at the same regular prices you're seeing online.

Honolulu
The Kahala Resort
Halekulani
The Royal Hawaiian
Four Seasons Oahu at Ko Olina

Maui
Four Seasons Maui
Andaz Maui
Fairmont Kea Lani
Ritz-Carlton Kapalua Bay
Montage Kapalua

Kona
Four Seasons Hualalai
Mauna Kea Beach Hotel
Fairmont Orchid
Mauna Lani, an Auberge Resort

copyright (c) 2019 by Ourisman Travel LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® Member. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

how to visit Pearl Harbor

Want to visit Pearl Harbor this summer? Here are two top tips:


(1) Stay at the Four Seasons Oahu so that you won't have to drive through the heavy Honolulu rush-hour traffic to get to Pearl Harbor. If you're traveling with your children, I especially recommend the Family Getaway Package. You'll get a second (connecting) room at 50% off. All children aged 5 and under receive complimentary meals (excludes in-room dining and pool/beach dining), and children between 5 and 12 years of age can enjoy complimentary access to the resort's Kids For All Seasons program. A three night minimum stay is required, and the normal deposit and cancel deadlines apply.

Best of all, the Four Seasons Preferred Partner amenities apply to both rooms! Don't know what they are? I'm not permitted to publish them on a public website, but just email for a complete list of FSPP amenities at every Four Seasons worldwide! I can tell you that the free breakfasts alone will save you hundreds of dollars over a typical stay.


(2) Visiting Pearl Harbor. The USS Arizona Memorial is a must-see attraction. Tickets are complimentary on a first come, first serve basis, meaning you need to arrive early to get yours. Does the idea of fighting traffic, finding parking, and queueing up for tickets not appeal to you? Here are some better ways to visit Pearl Harbor.

Pearl Harbor Excursion — a group tour — you'll be picked up at the Four Seasons on Sundays, Tuesday, Wednesdays, and Fridays to visit the USS Arizona Memorial. No logistics to worry about. Pickups are scheduled at 6:30 a.m. with returns at 10:30 a.m. ($38 adults, $30 children + taxes and fees)

Pearl Harbour Remembered — a group tour — includes the USS Arizona and Battleship Missouri and continues with a drive through Historic Downtown Honolulu and the National Memorial of the Pacific. Pick up is at 8:30 a.m. with your return at 3:30 p.m. ($102 adults, $82 children + taxes and fees)

Most highly recommended — a private tour, available seven days a week (3 hour minimum @ $157.07 per hour + individual tickets) for up to 6 guests. This tour can be customized to include the exactly the attractions you're interested in.


I can put this all together for you — your reservation at the Four Seasons, your second room at half-off, Preferred Partner amenities for both rooms, and requesting the Four Seasons Oahu at Ko Olina concierge reach out to you to arrange your visit to Pearl Harbor. No fuss, no muss!

copyright (c) 2017 by Ourisman Travel LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® Member. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

holiday travel | how do you choose your flights?

early morning guest at Andaz Maui (c) 2016 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

It's getting cold out there! Today's forecast high in Chicago is only 20º, while vacationers in Maui will enjoy sun, sand, and 80º highs ... and travelers to Puerto Rico will have it even warmer with a high of 85º. 

You want to go, but how will you get there? A recent survey asked holiday travelers how they made their decision on which flight to book. Their answers were not unexpected. 38% chose the cheapest price. 26% considered the most convenient times to depart and arrive. 17% chose the flight fewest number of stops. 10% booked their favorite airline. 5% were able to use miles for their flights.

Another way of looking at these data — 62% of travelers realized that price is not the most important consideration. The logic of internet shopping is that cheapest is best, but that's frequently not the case. Consider the following scenarios:

What if saving $20 per ticket meant you'd arrive late at night instead of midday? Isn't it worth $20 to spend your first afternoon on the beach ... instead of the plane?

What if you could save $20 per ticket, but that meant connecting in two different cities and changing planes twice? Not only would this introduce the possibility of missed connections due to bad weather, it also increases the chances of lost or delayed luggage. Any of these pitfalls would ruin your first day.

Or, considering the latest trend, what if you booked the very cheapest fare, only to find out that you'd have to pay extra to put your bag in the overhead compartment on the airplane? Yes, I'm talking about you — Spirit Airlines and United "Basic".


Still want to get away this winter to someplace warm and sunny? There are so many beautiful possibilities! And if you've waited this long to plan a vacation between Christmas and New Years ... good news! There's still space available at two of my favorite resorts, Dorado Beach (Puerto Rico) and Four Seasons Oahu (Hawaii) — and we can get you value-added amenities including complimentary breakfast for two daily and a resort credit at either resort!

copyright (c) 2016 by Ourisman Travel LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell Travel. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

exclusive experiences at FS Oahu at Ko Olina

Four Seasons Oahu at Ko Olina will be opening soon. If you enjoy having exclusive experiences to talk about with your friends, consider the following:

Airport transfer by yacht or helicopter (or just a regular 4-wheel vehicle). Arrive in style!

Private yacht journeys for bespoke adventure excursions during the day ... or dining al fresco at night under a starry sky.

Private jet touring opportunities of the Hawaiian Islands. Want to visit the Big Island's active volcano? Play 18 holes on The Challenge at Manele? Make it to Molokai? Four Seasons guests can plan totally unique day tours from their home base on Oahu.

You can sleep under the stars in an open-air bed on the Presidential Suite's Sky Terrace.

Palehua is a sacred historical and cultural site closed to the public, but Four Seasons guests have the exclusive ability to enjoy the experience. Located just three miles from the resort, the five mile trek is led by revered cultural practitioners who will point out the wildlife, fauna, and views you'll encounter along the way.

Adults-only pool and beach. Have you enjoyed the Serenity Pool at FS Maui? Experience the same seclusion from the sunset-facing Adults Pool and adult-only beach. Evian mist spray, anyone?

Ko Olina Golf Club, an 18 hole championship course designed by Ted Robinson and featuring ... views of the sea.


I can make reservations for you beginning May 27, and you'll also receive the exclusive value-added Four Seasons Preferred Partner amenities at FS Oahu. Due to contractural constraints, I can't publish the FSPP amenities on this blog, so for complete details please fill out our travel request form.

copyright (c) 2016 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell Travel. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

Four Seasons Oahu | now taking reservations

Following up on one of my top ten takeaways at #VirtuosoWeek, I'm pleased to announce that Four Seasons Oahu at Ko Olina is now taking reservations for stays beginning June 1, 2015. This is Four Seasons fifth resort in Hawaii.

Here are ten reasons to stay at the FS Oahu, 30 miles west of the airport ... far from the madness of Waikiki Beach.

1. The video above shows the resort's lagoon setting by the Pacific Ocean.
2. 346 spacious guest rooms average 640 square feet, all with balcony
3. Lots of dining options with five restaurants and bars on property.
4. A full spa offers 16 treatment rooms to spoil yourself.
5. Complimentary Kids for All Seasons program for children ages 5 to 12 years.
6. Three distinct pool areas.
7. Enjoy water sports, beach activities, tennis, and golf.
8. Tour Pearl Harbor.
9. Introductory Fourth Night Free offer.
10. Preferred Partner amenities.

While I cannot post the Preferred Partner amenities on a public website, just drop me an email, and I'll get back to you immediately with all of the value-added details I can offer you as a Four Seasons Preferred Partner travel consultant.

copyright (c) 2015 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell Travel. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.