Hawaii Vacation on Oahu - Things You Should Know and Travel Advice

Choose where you want to go

The best tourist area on Oahu is Waikiki, where you will find an array of restaurants and shopping opportunities, beach activities, night shows, Hawaiian luaus and a wide selection of hotels ranging from budget to luxurious. If you prefer a quiet and relaxing Hawaii getaway and you want to escape from the hustle and bustle of Waikiki, you will find many vacation rentals on the island.

There are airport shuttles that will take you to your hotel and pick you up on the way back. Also, Oahu has a good public transportation system that covers almost the whole island.

Keep in mind that allot of streets in Waikiki and Honolulu are one-way streets and if you don't have a road map with you, this can cause some confusion. Also, drive slowly and be careful because Oahu is a very busy island and traffic jams are common.

This totally depends on your schedule. The summer months from June to August is travel season, so accommodations, flights and car rentals are significantly more expensive during that period. If you plan to vacation in the winter, keep in mind that it usually rains more during this time. But heavy and long-lasting rains are rare on Oahu (and especially in Waikiki, which is located on the sunny south shore), so even if it starts to rain, it usually doesn't last very long.

Things to bring

• Your passport and visa. If you are vacationing from a foreign country, you will need a passport and maybe also a visa to enter the U.S. If you are a U.S. citizen, you only need your driver's license or other government-issued picture ID.
• Your health insurance (especially if you're from a foreign country and are not familiar with the U.S. medical system). Medical costs in the U.S. are expensive.
• Bring enough money. Hawaii is a very expensive place to visit. A party of two will need at least $50 a day for food (if you don't plan to dine out).