How to Avoid A Bad Hawaii Accommodation

If you’re visiting the Hawaiian Islands, the last thing you need is bad experiences with Hawaii accommodation. Here’s a brief how-to guide to help ensure that you have the best experience possible on your trip to the Pacific.

Research the location of your Hawaii accommodation
Make sure that the accommodation you choose is centrally located for ease of grocery shopping and day to day movement. Unless you’re intentionally seeking a secluded getaway where you plan to spend the majority of you time, this advice stands even if you get a rental car.

Part of the point of visiting a paradise like Hawaii is to be outdoors where you can breathe the fresh island air. There’s nothing that makes you feel more “on vacation” than being able to leisurely wander out of your lodging place down to the local bakery, where you can sip coffee and soak in the locals before heading on to the beach – you want that experience to be conveniently within walking distance.

Research the policies of your Hawaii accommodation
Competition for tourists is fierce among Hawaii businesses offering accommodation, so they intentionally make their “hook ads” as appealing as possible. This means that you need to be extra diligent about checking for any hidden charges that may wait to rear their ugly heads.  Once they turn up you may find yourself “up a creek without a paddle” when trying to back out of a signed contract.

Some places that offer lodging in Hawaii may charge more for extra people, tack on cleaning and re-stocking fees and request additional money for amenities such as towels and transportation. Many accommodators also have a 48-72 hour cancellation policy that means no refund for you if your plans unexpectedly change. Finding out about such policies beforehand will save you a lot of trouble once you land.

Research the reputation of your Hawaii accommodation
Obviously, you don’t want to stay at a place in Hawaii where your belongings could be stolen, where the hosts and customer service people are difficult to deal with or where you risk getting a lung infection from the mold problem.

People are your best resource here. The odds are pretty good that if other people have had a bad experience with a place, you will be able to find mention of it by researching the accommodation in question online. If you can’t find anything on the Internet that gives you a feel for what you’ll be dealing with, ask for opinions from other locals you communicate with while setting up other Hawaii activities.  They will be able to fill you in on the accommodation’s reputation.  The point here is not to “get the dirt” on your potential vacation home, but rather to assure your safety and comfort during the course of your visit.

Hawaii is a land filled with beautiful people, landscapes and real aloha spirit and there is no reason that you shouldn’t have an incredible experience on your visit. That said, being cautious when booking accommodations of any kind is simply a mark of wisdom – so when booking Hawaii accommodation, or anywhere else, be sure to do your research beforehand!