View Extended Stay Motels and Hotels in Kauai Hawaii

The oldest Hawaiian Island is "Kauai, it’s best known for historical natural beauty such as the waterfalls and volcanoes. "Blue Hawaii" was filmed at the most famous falls on the Island the Opaekaa Falls and Wailua Falls is where the television drama "Fantasy Island” was filmed. Another popular tourist attraction is "Waimea Canyon” is a huge gorge with the most dense rain forest,  most visitors take helicopter tours to appreciate the colorful rock that is consistently changing throughout the day. Another famous place is the ‘Waialeale Crater’ it’s the rainiest place on earth (460 inches annually). And of course the beautiful beaches, one of them is Poipu Beach, a very popular for swimming as well as water sports but it is highly recommended to use only the beaches that are in guarded areas.

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Lodging accommodations mostly consist of vacation rentals, private home rentals or condos. The "Hale Maama Hou” is a beautiful private beach home, it is located in the city of Poipu, it has five bedrooms that sleep 10, 4 baths, and two half baths. The rates start at $1,000.00 per night.  You will have all of the amenities of home, full kitchen, living space and a dining area, a pool and a hot tub.  This area is very popular for tourism so book reservations in advance and remember to ask about the security deposit.  The "Dolphin House" is one of the most luxurious vacation rentals you and your family will experience on Kauai. The weekly rates are $12,500-$18,000 per week, you and your family will enjoy five bedrooms (three kings, two queens) that sleeps ten, a private Jacuzzi, washer and dryer, full kitchen, a living area and a gas grill. The rentals are in a gated entry area complete with a security system. The Dolphin House requires a $3,000 deposit.

Kauai offers all of typical fast food restaurants such as McDonald’s, Taco Bell, etc. But if your looking for fine dining the "Lighthouse Bistro” is an open air restaurant that features West coast seafood and steaks, European food as well as Pacific-Rim cuisine.

View Extended Stay Motels and Hotels in Hawi Hawaii

View Extended Stay Hotels and Motels in Lihue Hawaii

Hawaii ( The Big Island) is home for the world’s most active volcano "Mount Kilauea,” which is located at Hawaii "Volcanoes National Park". This area welcomes more than two million visitors each year, the popularity is due to the crater rim drive which is a 11-mile road that goes around the volcano’s summit. You can also drive through the "Chain of craters" road, this will take you 3,700 ft. underground to experience hardened lava.

The "Big Island” is also known for outdoor activities such as hiking biking and golf.  You are not going to find the typical white sandy coastlines, what attracts most tourists is the green and black sandy beaches. If you and your family are looking for a less populated area and you don’t mind driving to enjoy the nature, this is the place for you. If you are looking extended stay motels or extended stay hotels, The "Hilton Waikoloa Village" is a great place for a great family vacation or a business trip.  They offer three unique pools, several bars and a full service spa. The restaurants offer authentic Hawaiian cuisine as well as steaks and seafood. The rates are $239.00-$539.00 (sleeps 2) per night and include a full kitchen, and both living and dining areas.

The "Big Island” is the largest and most modernized island that makes up the state of Hawaii, and there are several extended stay lodging facilities as well as condos, lofts, and cabins. Remember to ask about security deposits and to book your reservations in advance.

The Island of "Niihau" (pop 210) is one of the Islands that make up the state of Hawaii, but why don’t we hear more about the Island? Or why isn’t travel available?  "Niihau" is called "the forbidden island". It has been  privately owned by the same family for more than one hundred years. The Island is isolated from the rest of the world and is prohibited. The people of the Island are allowed to leave but only a certain few people are allowed on the island. A representative of health, tax and school authorities are allowed on the Island. Once in a while a Physician or a personal guest can visit for a short time.

The Island is regarded as a very sacred place where the people can follow through with the original customs and rituals of the natural Hawaiian heritage. In order to live like the old Hawaiians, they feel they must  be isolated from the rest of the world.  However, depending who you are and what is on your agenda, you can make arrangements for a short visit through the Niihau Islands helicopters. Prior to dropping you off at the landing point, they will also make arrangements for a pick up time. You also have to agree that you will have no contact with the locals. As far as education, there is one elementary school that is used to teach basic English and Hawaiian languages. The children continue their education at the closest high school,  (in Kauai) and are only allowed to go home on holidays.

Last but not least, we have the uninhibited Island of ‘”Kahoolawe.” This Island is only 44.6 square miles and is very dry due to low elevation. The Island is under Kahoolawe island reserve to restore and oversee the island and surrounding waters. Very few Hawaiian’s visit the island and if they do, it is for ritual purposes only.                             

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Travel Hawaii – Kauai – Poipu – Lihue – Niihau

Now if you are going to Europe, eating out everyday is like paying for a mortgage. IT’S EXPENSIVE. EVERYWHERE! In Europe a whopper cost 5 Euros. That’s about $7.20 USD. So just image what everything else costs. It’s crazy. Unless you are rich, get someplace with a kitchen and go grocery shopping. Shopping is comparable to the States,. A hostel, extended stay motel, hotel, anyplace you can find a kitchen. I can’t stress how important it is. Even get a Dorm. Now if you are going to the Philippines, don’t worry about getting a kitchen. The US Dollar is worth about 60-65 times the Pinoy peso. What you spend on a whopper they spend to feed their entire family for a week. So trading in your USD for Phils Peso is a good thing if you are taking a vacation to anyplace like that. Just a thought. One my last trip to London, I thought I was being smart by just looking for a cheap place to stay for my vacation…Kitchen..who needs it! How wrong I was. I would of been better off getting a more expensive motel with a kitchen and buying my food. When I tallied all my expenses up, just for food, just for myself, and my girlfriend, it came to 700 USD. That’s 2 car payments! Get a kitchen!

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How Important is it to have a Kitchen in your Motel Room?

Hotels On The Beach / Laguna Beach California / Pacific Edge Hotel

A very popular spot for people wanting to enjoy a beach vacation, is Laguna Beach in California. There are perhaps literally hundreds of hotels, motels and Inns to choose from, along Laguna Beach. This enormous competition can certainly mean a good travel deal if you do your homework and shop around before going. The deals that these hotels/motels offer can vary from time to time, so check around for your planned time of arrival to see what type of free accommodations you can grab.

One of the more luxurious hotels we are going to spotlight is the Pacific Edge Hotel. The Hotel is set up very well for Extended Stays and is probably one of the more "Extended Stay Friendly" hotels in the area, and they do offer special discounts to extended stay travelers. Just contact the Reservations manager in advance to discuss options. If you are planning an extended stay vacation, this hotel should certainly be on your list. It is located right on the oceanfront and boasts a full mile of private beach for you to enjoy, or just soak it in from your private balcony. One of the perks they offer at this hotel is a 10% discount good at local businesses and restaurants, as well as various discounts to local Galleries and Shops. The Pacific Edge Hotel also has a partnership with the Athena Spa and all guests of the hotel receive complimentary access to the Laguna health club as well as workouts on the beach, hosted by Code Pink Boot Camp. All of the rooms & suites at the hotel have WiFi service included for your internet connections.

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3 Types of Guest Rooms and Suites Offered at this Hotel: #1) Village Junior Suite These deluxe Suites come with one queen bed. The added value of the Village Junior Suite is that each Suite comes equipped with a kitchenette, living and dining area. The living area includes a sofa sleeper and the kitchenette includes a stove and a microwave. All Suites feature deluxe pillow-top mattresses, refrigerator, coffee maker with complimentary coffee, and iron/board. All Village rooms offer complimentary WiFi service. #2) Village Two Bedroom Suite These deluxe Suites come with two bedrooms, one with a queen bed and the other with a set of twin beds. The added value of the Village Two Bedroom Suite is that each Suite comes equipped with a kitchenette, living and dining area. The living area includes a sofa sleeper and the kitchenette includes a stove and a microwave. All Suites feature deluxe pillow-top mattresses, refrigerator, coffee maker with complimentary coffee, and iron/board. All Village rooms offer complimentary WiFi service. #3) Ocean Front Junior Suite These deluxe Suites come with one king bed. The added value of the Ocean Front Junior Suite is that each Suite comes equipped with a kitchenette, living and dining area. The living area includes a sofa sleeper and the kitchenette includes a stove and a microwave. All Suites feature deluxe pillow-top mattresses, refrigerator, coffee maker with complimentary coffee, and iron/board. All Ocean Front rooms offer complimentary WiFi service. And don’t be fooled by the luxurious nature of this Hotel/Resort. They also offer family accommodations with Suites that cater to families. These suites offer 2 adjoining rooms where parents can enjoy privacy of their own room and the convenience of a kitchen while children relax and watch their favorite TV shows in the comfort of their connecting room. Some Additional Accommodations & Perks Offered By This Hotel *Complimentary lounge chairs, towels and umbrellas. *Beach attendants from June 15th To Labor Day, to assist you with those lounge chairs or fetch you a drink. *Located just 2 blocks away, Pacific Edge Hotel offers easy access to downtown shops, restaurants & local attractions. *The Pacific Edge Villa, a 4,000 square foot private beachfront group rental facility that features a gourmet kitchen, bar, 50” flat screen plasma television, and wireless Internet access throughout. *Plenty of nightlife, fine dining & entertainment * The Beach House Restaurant that sits adjacent to the Hotel & welcomes all guests of the Hotel.

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Hotels on the Beach / Laguna Beach California / Pacific Edge Hotel

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Cheap Extended Stay Motels and Flights

There are numerous beaches in Hawaii, all of which have something unique and exciting to offer the entire family. The beauty of Hawaii is legendary and it does not stop at it’s beaches. If you are planning a vacation to one of Hawaii’s beautiful beaches, the most difficult decision you will have to make, is which one to choose. Every beach has a wide array of lodging options available such as extended stay motels & hotels, Bed & Breakfasts, Condo Rentals, Resorts and Vacation rental homes to name a few. Given the immense natural beauty and the large number of attractions in Hawaii, plan on an extended stay for your vacation here, as it will allow you to see more of this wonderful state created by the hand of Mother Nature. In this article we will focus on Kauai, with it’s dramatic North Shore and it’s enchanting array of rugged mountains, sparkling waterfalls, lush overflowing green fields, blissful beaches, alluring coastlines, and even more spectacular sea cliffs. It is amazing how much is available, for the pleasure of all your senses, in just one little area of Kauai.

In north Kauai you will find Makua Beach. This Hawaiian beach is known for having something to offer every type & age of vacationer, starting with it’s amazing mountain views. The inner reef is a great attraction for children of all ages and the outer reef attracts experienced snorkelers and divers. The beach has been given the nickname "Tunnels" due to the large number of caverns discovered by underwater adventurers. There is typically a lifeguard on duty and you can obtain a permit if you would like to camp here. This beach is not recommended if you want to surf during your vacation, however it is highly recommended for it’s unsurpassed snorkeling and diving opportunities.

Another Beach in North Kauai is Hanalei Bay. It is easily within walking distance of Hanalei Town. This beach is an impressive 2 miles long and also offers an array of fun activities for the entire family to enjoy, such as sailing, swimming, surfing, fishing and body boarding. Because this is a "Sand Beach", the snorkeling is not as impressive as Makua Beach, however it is more suitable for surfing. There are several Lifeguard stations located up and down the beach, and it’s probably a good idea to check with the lifeguards first if you want to go out canoeing. The beach is not always calm enough for paddling around.

If you are looking to enjoy the peace and serenity of the setting sun and you are looking for a little adventure along the way, a Western Kauai Beach might be what you are looking for. One such beach located on the west side coastline of Kauai is called Na Pali. Translated, "Na Pali" means "The Cliffs". There are 15 miles of rugged & steep cliffs with very remote sandy beaches dotted along the way. This area of Hawaiian beaches is certainly more suitable for the adventurous type of vacationer. However caution is urged because there are no lifeguards and no rescue support readily available due to it’s remote location. Although the sandy beaches are good for swimming, most people come here to hike amid the breathtaking scenery and sheer cliffs. Just be very careful. The cliffs can be slippery and the currents and winds can be dangerous. Camping is also very popular in this area. However if you are bringing children or are looking for a family type of vacation, this is probably not the beach for you.

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Kauai Beach in Hawaii

Over the past twenty five years of travel, my companion(s) and I always recite the same words at the first glance of our motel or hotel room “Well this is it, our home for the next several days.” The first area I inspect is the bathroom because it needs to be spotless, fully stocked with things like clean fluffy towels, wash cloths, toilet paper, soap & shampoo. Then I move onto additional amenities such as the hair dryer or to check if the metal air vent is clogged with dust/ hair balls. I check the T.V. and remote, and the view out of our window. In addition I make sure the cooling/ heating unit works, the closets have hangers, ice buckets and plastic cups as well as a microwave and/or refrigerator. Basically all of the amenities that are promised upon booking the room, and besides I’m not staying just one night, I am staying for an extended amount of time. Sound a bit picky? I am, and I want all the comforts of home at a great price.

I decided it was time to look specifically at extended stay motels for my budget and expectations. There are several types of extended stay lodging facilities all over the world, but for now I will focus on the rates for a three-week stay in the USA. In every area of our continent there are extended stay lodging options such as hotels, motels, inns, bed & breakfast, cabins, and vacation rental properties. The cheapest extended stay motel rate that I found…continue to rest of our extended stay motels and hotels travel experiences

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Extended Stay Motels and Hotels

Being a student usually means you’re short on cash. Just comes with the territory. But low funds never went well with traveling. My little niece for her spring break wanted to go London with her friends. They did some searching and came across a site called STA. This company deals exclusively with students and people under the age of 26, offering in some cases up to 30 – 50% off already discounted airline tickets, hotels, motels, hostels. They offer touring discounts to many destinations, as well as meal and shopping, insurance, rail pass, and phone discounts. I didn’t pay much attention to it at first cause I’m neither in school, or under 26, but what got me curious is when she started talking about their "Study and Work Abroad" and their "World Traveler Internship" programs. I went to the site and started comparing prices to other well known motel/hotel reservation sites, checking prices on other sites for tickets as well. The student discounts for traveling this sites gives is pretty substantial. If you’re a student or under 26 no matter what country you are from take a look. She ended up going to London, roundtrip for $220 and that included motel accommodations….not bad!

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Student Discounts on Traveling

A passport is usually a small book almost as detailed as the money we have today. Encoded with varies colors and other patterns, layers, codes that are virtually impossible to forge. In the U.S. once you obtain your passport you will notice about 10 or 11 empty pages, and (in the new passport books) you will also find an electronic sticker. Kind of like you see on the back of a credit cards or drivers licenses to further make it much harder to forge. The purpose of the passport is to show that the country you are from, i.e., The United States has granted you permission to visit any country where all you need is a passport to enter. Such as London, Madrid etc.. the list is vast. Once you arrive in your place of destination you would show your passport to the immigration check desk where they will see that you are approved for travel by your country, and if all checks out, they will stamp your passport signifying you are eligible to "visit" their country. I say visit! If you plan to live there, you will need to obtain a citizenship type visa from the country you wish to stay in. This can not be granted by your home country. Which brings us to what a visa is.

Some countries, i.e., Asian Countries, third world countries…etc, will not allow you to simply come to their country on a passport alone. You will need to obtain a visa. This is for three reasons, and was explained to me by one of the people certified to issue passports and visas at my local court house. She said, one, usually these countries do not have strong ties to the U.S, so the trust issue is not there. Two, these countries are usually communist or socialist in government and carefully monitor all who enter and leave for control. Three…Money. When you sign up for a passport you usually pay your local court house the passport fee. Mine was $79. And your passport is good for the next 10 years. But a visa you have to not only pay a fee to your country, but also to the country you wish to visit. They want a piece of the pie. Now I’m sure there’s a more politically correct way to say all this, but this is how it was explained to me, and it makes sense.

How to obtain a passport or visa. It’s simple. First do not have warrants against you. Do not be a felon, and basically have a clean record. If you do not, your application will most likely be turned down. All you do is go to your local courthouse, ask where you apply for a passport, they will tell you, and at the station you will see a form for new applicants for passports. You grab the form and fill it out. It’s not tough, and takes about 5 minutes. You will need, however, two valid forms of identification and your SS card. Some say you need to bring an extra picture, and they will use that picture for your passport, but if you don’t have one, they will take one for you. That’s about it. You pay the fee and they will tell you that you should expect it within 4-6 weeks. If you are in good standing with the U.S. there’s really no reason you should be denied. The Visa was just as easy. I needed a visa to the Philippines. I told them where I wanted to go, they gave me a form. It took about 5 minutes to fill out, and I paid the fee. $55. I was told I would have to wait 3-6 weeks. Again, though, I just needed 2 forms of id and my SS. And my passport. You definitely need a passport to get a visa. That’s how simple it is for Americans to travel. If you can’t wait the 3-6 weeks to get your passport or visa, there are certain agencies that can get your passport or visa to you within 24-48 hours.

Losing your passport in another country can be a nightmare! I can’t stress this enough. Guard your passport with your life. In other countries, you’ll need to show your passport many times over. I.E. to get into lodging (hotels, extended stay motels, bed and breakfast, inns, vacation rental properties, car rental), trains, places of business. Even if you look suspicious the police have the right to ask for your passport. And you can not get back on your plane to go home without it. You’ll be stuck and forced to pay more fees to get a temporary passport to get back home, that’s of course providing you didn’t lose your identification as well. If you lose that you’re in for a whirlwind. Visiting international destinations can be great, but always keep track of your identification.

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What is a Passport or Visa? How do you obtain them?