Welcome to the first adventure in the Cool Girl Guide series, diving into essential tips for making the most of your Hawaiian getaway.
Undoubtedly the most beautiful place I have ever been to. I genuinely could not comprehend that such a level of saturation exists in real colours without a filter. Having recently spent 6 days in O’ahu, here are my tips to make the most of your trip.
Go past Waikiki
Waikiki is insanely gorgeous. The luxury row reminds me of Monaco in regard to their shops. The architecture is beautiful and clean and almost doesn’t look real. Waikiki’s beauty aside, my best friend and I both agree that it was the more authentic parts of Hawaii at the North shore that we loved that little bit more. I really recommend hiring a car or booking a trip to explore other parts of O’ahu. Even though it is the same island, it is vastly different. I am sure that the exact same will apply to all the different islands, and exploring the rest of them still remains on my bucket list.
Hike Hike Hike
Even if you’re not a pro hiker, you need to do a little in Hawaii. There are a complete range in difficulty and intensity around the island. I know that the heat and height may seem unbearable at moments, but I guarantee that the views are worth it. I completed the Pill Box hike and the Manoa Falls trail and I was so proud of myself (being an unsporty gal after 13 straight weeks working at a summer camp I just couldn’t bring myself to do Koko Head).
Explore different beaches
I know this may seem ironic since I am currently writing a post about Hawaii, but I am not a beach girl. That being said, I was surprised at how different the beaches were to each other, even the local ones. It is definitely worth taking a stroll down different beaches you find, you’ll be amazed at how different and beautiful they all are. And how many times are you going to find yourself in Hawaii, right?
Visit a Super Market
What probably surprised me most in Waikiki was that there was an ABC convenience store every thirty seconds or so. Sometimes, there would be multiple in one building. Picture a more expensive Co-op that sells cool souvenirs but not that many groceries. Just taking an Uber to a local Target and Walmart was probably the most financially conscious decision the girls and I had.
Take a bus to and from the airport
I’m a public transport troop. In the vast majority of cases I will be on a bus or coach. Despite taking longer than an Uber would have, I was happy that I decided to take the bus form the airport to Waikiki. The longer journey allowed me to tour a bit of the island on the way. Costing just a couple of dollars, the price was really reasonable. Just remember to have some cash as they don’t accept card and can’t give you the change. There are plenty of buses around, so it may be worth checking out a bus timetable before the Uber app.
Timetable for the airport shuttle bus can be found here.
Needless to say that Hawaii was an absolute dream. I know that every situation is different, but I personally felt very safe the entire time and the trip lived up to all expectations.
Want Cool Girl Guides to other parts of the world? Here they are.
K x