Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Credit Cards
»
Credit cards are widely accepted and even required for car rentals, hotel reservations
etc. Some B&Bs and vacation rentals will refuse them.
»
Visa, MasterCard and American Express are most commonly accepted, followed by Dis-
cover and JTB.
Moneychangers
»
Exchange foreign currency at Honolulu International Airport or the main branches of big-
ger banks, such as the
Bank of Hawaii
(
www.boh.com
) or
First Hawaiian Bank
(
www.fhb.com
)
.
»
Outside of cities and larger towns, exchanging money may be impossible, so make sure
you carry enough cash and/or a credit card.
Tipping
Tipping is
not
optional; only withhold tips in cases of outrageously bad service.
Airport and hotel porters
$2 to $3 per bag, minimum per cart $5 or $10
Bartenders
15% to 20% per round, minimum $1 per drink
Concierges
Nothing for simple information, up to $20 for securing last-minute restaurant
reservations etc
Housekeeping staff
$3 to $5 per night, left under the card provided; more if you're messy
Parking valets
At least $2 when your keys are returned
Restaurant servers and room service
15% to 20%, unless a gratuity is already charged
Taxi drivers
15% of metered fare, rounded up to the next dollar
Traveler's Checks
Traveler's checks are becoming obsolete. That said, traveler's checks in US dollars are
still accepted like cash at many tourist-oriented businesses in Hawaii, such as hotels and
restaurants. Cheaper places like grocery stores and fast-food chains usually refuse them.
Opening Hours
Standard opening hours year-round are as follows:
Banks
8:30am-4pm Mon-Fri; some open to 6pm Fri and 9am-noon or 1pm Sat
Bars
noon-midnight daily; some open to 2am Thu-Sat