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Guest room, Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel //
(c) Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel |
As Oahu positions itself as a value vacation second to none, wholesalers are following suit with alluring specials for budget-minded clients.
“This year is an exceptionally good time to vacation on Oahu, with all of the competitive deals and specials in the marketplace,” said Oahu Visitors Bureau’s senior director of sales and marketing Noelani Schilling-Wheeler. “Oahu has historically been one of the more affordable Hawaiian islands to visit. Taking into account the wide range of accommodations, activities, attractions, restaurants and retail options for visitors to choose from, the value of an Oahu vacation becomes even greater, as there is something to please every traveler here.”
Doing their part to stimulate Oahu travel, wholesalers have been reducing their summer rates, offering free nights and throwing in daily breakfast at a variety of Oahu properties.
“There are fantastic deals to Oahu this year,” said Tamara Aalto, product manager for the wholesaler All About Hawaii. “It is definitely a buyer’s market. We are seeing rate reductions and package specials that we haven’t seen in years past, at least not on this magnitude.”
All About Hawaii
Among All About Hawaii’s land-only specials to Oahu is a package with Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach, where clients get every third night free. The cost for six nights is $803 per person, including a dolphin encounter at Sea Life Park. For more moderately-priced accommodations one block from the beach, All About lists five nights at the Miramar Waikiki for $381, with a jet-boat adventure as one of the perks. Both offers come with daily breakfast for two, a lei greeting and roundtrip airport transfers.
800-274-8687
www.allabouthawaii.com
Pleasant Holidays
Through August, clients can continue to take advantage of Pleasant Holidays’ $99 companion air special, available on travel from San Francisco to Oahu. For clients looking to book air and hotel together, the firm lists Oahu options from $405 per person, with air and car packages from $359. Depending on the particular package, Pleasant’s hotel partners on Oahu include Aston Waikiki Wave, Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel, Aston Waikiki Sunset, Castle Maile Sky Court, Hilton Hawaiian Village, Hilton Waikiki Prince Kuhio, Hyatt Regency Waikiki, Outrigger Reef on the Beach, Kahala Hotel, Moana Surfrider, Sheraton Princess Kaiulani and Sheraton Waikiki, among others.
800-448-3333
www.pleasantagent.com
Classic Vacations
Classic Vacations is encouraging Oahu travel with a five-night special at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki. Priced from $389 per person, it includes $250 in air credit, daily buffet breakfast and a guaranteed upgrade to mountain view. This particular incentive has a short booking window, ending Aug. 31 for travel through Dec. 20. Classic’s three-night enticement at JW Marriott Ihilani Resort and Spa starts at $329 for oceanview accommodations, while a three-night getaway to the Outrigger Reef starts at $289.
800-221-3949
www.classicvacations.com
Gogo Worldwide Vacations
Even the most luxurious hotels are more affordable these days. With Gogo Worldwide Vacations, the current cost for four nights at the Halekulani starts at $769 per person. Gogo clients who opt for the Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel can stay four nights for $442 and get breakfast on the beach and two-for-one luau admission. Gogo also lists a four-night promotion with the Hilton Hawaiian Village for $477, providing a room upgrade and $100 resort credit.
888-567-0600
www.gogoworldwidevacations.com
Blue Sky Tours
Not to be outdone, Blue Sky Tours is listing three nights at the Courtyard by Marriott Waikiki Beach for $399 for two people, including an upgrade to a superior room and daily continental breakfast. The wholesaler’s Park Shore Waikiki initiative starts at just $93 per night for two people, with a special amenity for seniors and an upgrade for honeymooners, anniversary celebrants and return guests. Blue Sky’s Waikiki Parc Hotel deal consists of four nights, breakfast and airport transfers for $904 per couple.
800-678-2787
www.blueskytours.com
United Vacations
United Vacations just launched a new Hawaii sale with tiered savings for clients. Travelers save $50 on vacations of $1,600-$2,599, $100 on vacations of $2,600-$3,699, $200 on vacations of $3,700-$4,999, and $250 on vacations of $5,000 or more. The program is good on bookings through Sept. 15 for travel through the end of 2009.
888-328-6877
www.unitedvacations.com
