Families Bask in Sunny Savings During Hawaii’s Value Season

When it comes to affordable Hawaii family travel, timing is everything.

That old adage couldn’t ring truer than during value season in the spring and fall when Hawaii visitor counts take a dip. In response, airlines, wholesalers, hotels, activities and attractions do their best to stimulate bookings with attractive packages and special offers that turn the 50th state into an economical option for multigenerational travelers.

Value season in Hawaii spans mid-February through the end of May, excluding spring break, and again from September through early December, excluding the Thanksgiving holiday. Savvy travelers who book a value season trip can end up getting the most out of their vacation dollars, not to mention finding more space on the beach, better seats in restaurants and shorter waiting lines at attractions.

While changes in weather often dictate value season in other destinations, that’s not the case in Hawaii, where the climate is relatively warm and dry year-round. Granted, the islands’ spring and fall temperatures may drop a few degrees and warm rain showers may fall now and then, but that’s more than offset by the alluring decrease in vacation rates.

During value season, carriers such as Hawaiian Airlines usually post reduced airfares to Hawaii on their websites. However, the most attractive deals generally come from packages that bundle air, accommodations, food and activities, said Julie Zadeh, managing director of travel trade marketing for the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB).

“A good travel agent works with a preferred wholesaler to provide a lower cost on the entire trip compared to purchasing each of the components individually,” Zadeh said. “The agent can also demonstrate the added values that are included in the entire package versus looking at just airfare.”

Among Hawaii’s wholesalers, Pleasant Holidays is doing its part to lure families to Hawaii during the off-peak travel months with add-ons such as free nights, meals and rental cars.

“Pleasant is participating in HVCB’s West Coast travel trade sales blitzes to help educate travel agents on the savings available during the slower tourism seasons,” said Pleasant Holidays’ vice president of marketing Amy Terada. “Our 2012-13 family brochure, which will launch in March 2012, features a great selection of family packages and added values.”

Pleasant’s current Sheraton Waikiki club-level initiative provides guests with amenities and services valued at $250 per person, with extras such as breakfast, daytime snacks, pool floats, a four-by-six-inch color photo and free meals for kids.

Travel Impressions is running its own 2012 Hawaii marketing campaigns targeting spring and fall vacation values.

“Free breakfasts, free nights and extra amenities play a much more important role when booking a vacation to Hawaii, since the all-inclusive holiday is not as common there as it is in other sun and sand destinations,” said Travel Impressions’ senior vice president and chief marketing officer John Hanratty.

Blue Sky Tours is following suit with several spring pitches, such as a third night free at certain Aston Hotels and Resorts properties. For Marriott bookings, travelers currently save money with a free fourth night, breakfast, a room upgrade and a rental car. Look for similar Blue Sky incentives in the fall.

All of these benefits and more await families during Hawaii’s value season. With the help of a travel agent who can guide them to the best products at the best price, clients will find that timing is, indeed, everything.

Around the islands, Hawaii hotels are getting into the value season act as well. Following are just a few of the options:

• The Waikiki Wow deal at Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa includes a one-category room upgrade and a 20 percent discount on food and non-alcoholic beverages.
• At Kahala Hotel and Resort on Oahu, families get a connecting room at 50 percent off the cost of the first room.
• On Maui, families who take advantage of Fairmont Kea Lani’s Book Now, Save Later promotion for spring and fall travel get a 30 to 40 percent discount off the cost of an 840-square-foot, one-bedroom suite.
• Napili Kai Beach Resort’s value season perks include free nights, luggage fee reimbursement and lower room rates.
• During specific springtime dates, guests of Four Seasons Resort Hualalai’s suites receive a $1,000 resort credit.
• Each spring and fall, Mauna Kea Beach Resort traditionally runs a free night deal as part of Prince Resorts’ Winter Escape promotion.
• Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows is slashing $1,000 off the nightly cost of its bungalows in April and May.

At the same time, activities and attractions are courting families with their own appealing value-season offers such as these:

• Nancy Emerson School of Surfing is rewarding spring travelers with a 12 percent discount on all of its surfing clinics and excursions.
• At the Polynesian Cultural Center, guests who book reservations 10 days or more in advance get a 10 percent discount off their ticket cost, through the end of April.
• Kipu Ranch Adventures on Kauai is listing a 50 percent passenger discount for each full-paying driver on its ATV tours, through the end of May.