Planning Your Trip to Oahu - Honolulu, Waikiki and Oahu - page 367

ging from daily to weekly; it may or may not be included in your rate), a pool, and an on-
site front desk or a live-in property manager. Condos tend to be clustered in resort areas.
Some are very high-end, but most are quite affordable, especially if you're traveling in a
group.
The advantages of a condo are privacy, space, and conveniences—which usually include
a full kitchen, a washer and dryer, and a private phone. Downsides are the lack of an on-
site restaurant and the density of the units.
BED & BREAKFASTS Hawaii has a wide range of places that call themselves B&Bs: everything
from a traditional B&B—several bedrooms in a home, with breakfast served in the morn-
ing—to what is essentially a vacation rental on an owner's property that comes with fixings
for you to make your own breakfast. Make sure that the B&B you're booking matches your
own mental picture. Note that laundry facilities and private phones are not always avail-
able. We've reviewed lots of wonderful B&Bs in chapter 4 . If you have to share a bathroom,
we've spelled it out in the listings; otherwise, you can assume that you will have your own.
The advantages of a traditional B&B are its individual style and congenial atmosphere,
with a host who's often happy to act as your own private concierge. In addition, they're
usually an affordable way to go. The disadvantages are lack of privacy, usually a set time
for breakfast, few amenities, and generally no maid service. Also, B&B owners usually re-
quire a minimum stay of 2 or 3 nights, and it's often a drive to the beach.
VACATIONRENTALS This is another great choice for families and for long-term stays. “Vacation
rental” usually means that there will be no one on the property where you're staying. The
actual accommodations can range from an apartment to an entire fully equipped house.
Generally, vacation rentals allow you to settle in and make yourself at home for a while.
They have kitchen facilities (at least a kitchenette), on-site laundry facilities, and phone;
some come with such extras as a TV, VCR, and stereo.
The advantages of a vacation rental are complete privacy, your own kitchen (which can
save you money on meals), and lots of conveniences. The disadvantages are a lack of an
on-site property manager and generally no maid service; often, a minimum stay is required
(sometimes as much as a week). If you book a vacation rental, be sure that you have a
24-hour contact to call if the toilet won't flush or you can't figure out how to turn on the
air-conditioning.
Bargaining on Prices
Rates can sometimes be bargained down, but it depends on the place. The best bargaining can
be had at hotels and resorts. If business is slow and you book directly, both places may give
you at least part of the commission they'd normally pay a travel agent. Most hotels and resorts
also have local rates for islanders, which they may extend to visitors during slow periods. It
never hurts to ask about discounted or local rates; a host of special rates are available for the
military, seniors, members of the travel industry, families, corporate travelers, and long-term
stays. Also ask about packagedeals, which might include a car rental or free breakfast for the
same price as a room by itself. Hotels and resorts offer packages for everyone: golfers, tennis
players, families, honeymooners, and more. We've found that it's worth the extra few cents to
make a local call to the hotel; sometimes the local reservations person knows about package