A traveler’s guide to Honolulu, Hawaii

Honolulu, Hawaii is blessed with natural beauty that offers an eclectic mix of cultures. There are beautiful unspoilt beaches, unending vistas of the Blue Ocean and greenery as far as the eye can see. It is the ideal getaway for couples but is surprisingly a great family destination as well. You can get airline tickets to Honolulu on all major airlines and very cheap tickets to Honolulu if you book much in advance. Plan a trip at any time of the year and get cheap tickets on flights for your entire family.

Honolulu is the capital of Hawaii that comprises six beautiful islands. Honolulu is like a tropical paradise with sunny weather all through the year. Here is what to expect when you board flights to Honolulu.

Culture
Hawaii is among the youngest states of the US and has a varied topography dotted with lush tropical forests and active volcanoes. The people are warm and welcoming to all visitors and you can call it the birthplace of surfing and the hula. It is the seat of the only royal palace on US soil, the Iolani Palace built by King David Kalahaua in 1862.

Honolulu is the cultural centre of Hawaii with the presence of numerous theatres and the Hawaiian Opera theatre and a symphony. The Blaisdell Center features many classical and popular music concerts while you can witness Hula performances several times a week in the Hula show area of the Waikiki Shell.

Currency
The US dollar is accepted at all hotels, shops and for booking tours across Honolulu. There are plenty of currency exchanges where you can exchange foreign currency for US dollars.

Getting in and Getting around

There are direct flights to Honolulu from all major cities of the US and you can get cheap tickets to Honolulu, Hawaii if you book well in advance. Since last minute flights are expensive always try for cheap tickets so that you can spend the money on sightseeing in Honolulu and visit as many places as possible. You can easily visit the other six islands by short ferry rides from Oahu as well. If you plan a long stay in Hawaii, it is best to take a car on rent and visit the places of interest in and around Honolulu at your convenience.

Among the popular historical sites that you must visit are the Iolani Palace and the State Capitol designed like a volcano. Other places worth a visit are the Kawaiahoa Church and the Bishop Museum for its collection of Polynesian artifacts and the Honolulu Academy of Arts that has a permanent exhibition of Oriental and Occidental art. Do visit the Mission House museum that comprises the three oldest buildings in Hawaii, including the Frame House built way back in 1821.

If traveling with kids, take them to the Honolulu Zoo and the Waikiki Aquarium housing rare, exotic species of animals and marine life from across the world. At the Sea Life Park, children can watch live shows of dolphins, sea lions and penguins and even swim with dolphins if they want. Visit the Foster Botanical garden and the Queen Kapiolani Hibiscus Garden for some exotic fauna from across the world. A must visit is the Pearl Harbour site comprising the National Historic Landmark and World War II Valour in the Pacific National Monument.

Moreover, Honolulu is a paradise for the beach bum with a plethora of water sports like surfing, sailing, scuba diving and kayaking, and outdoor activities like hiking, cycling and horseback riding. You get equipment on rent and can take diving lessons from trained instructors for a nominal fee.

Travel Tips
You can get cheap tickets to Hawaii especially in the cooler winter months between Decembers to March. Most of the cheap flights to Honolulu / Hawaii come coupled with hotel packages and car rentals so that you can spend more on leisure activities rather than on traveling. Remember that since Hawaii has a fragile ecosystem, you can take local fruits and plants outside Hawaii only after it passes the inspection of the authorities.

Get more such practical information about Honolulu when you visit Fare Buzz to book airline tickets to Hawaii.