escape to the royal hawaiian hotel

if you have always wanted to make like a tourist and stay at the royal hawaiian hotel (aka the pink palace), you have 2 days left to take advantage of their sizzling summer sale.

penny pinchers may want to skip over the fine print since, even at $195 a night, your credit card will still take a big hit. deal with it by heading to the abhasa spa and splurging on a pohaku massage with your savings.

the devil's in the details . . .

• click here to book (offer code: tvlz)
• book it: by friday, jul 21st
• stay: aug 16th to oct 15th
• blackout: sep 16th to 30th

how to be a better big island "tour"-ist

i love the tour de france. even though i haven't hopped on a bicycle since the sixth grade, the idea of a bike tour is very alluring once you cast aside the physical demands and the achy body sure to result after a long bike ride. if you have no aspirations to be the next ironman, then check out the folks at kona coast cycling tours where they make such an adventure seem not only possible but lots of fun to boot.

the old mamalahoa hwy tour which meanders through my favorite part of the big island would be my pick, however java addicts would probably savor the kona coffee express tour which includes a stop at a local coffee farm. an added bonus is that if you get bonked or, let's say, are mortified when the grammar school set initiates a breakaway, you can cruise in the team car tour van, and enjoy the four wheeled ride until you're ready to join the group again.

{update | dec 2009: kona coast cycling tours seems to be no more and has handed over the website domain to their friends at orchid isle bicycling. this means, alas, the rides mentioned above are no longer available but circle island bike tours are now offered.}

shark dive maui

the following adventure is for those of you who were not scarred for life by watching jaws as an impressionable youngster. and you also need to be a certified scuba diver (15 years + up). if you meet those requirements and have always wanted to swim with the sharks (by choice, not chance), you will definitely want to add a visit to the maui ocean center to your "to do" list.

$199 gets you into the shark tank so you can check out the sharks up close and personal. the price may sound steep but, on the flip side, you are practically guaranteed to get out of the tank in one piece. a nice bonus, don't you think?

shark dive maui is only available on mondays, wednesdays & fridays and is limited to 4 divers per day. and you can't just walk in with your scuba gear so don't forget to make a reservation before you arrive.

hotel hana-maui

if i had a million dollars, i probably still couldn't buy the hotel hana-maui but at least i could go on holiday there like the few lucky souls who have vacationed at the intimate resort for generations. this is the hawaiian hideaway for travelers who yearn for the bygone era of the early 20th century and its gracious island style.

those who can afford the splurge will unwind in one of the 66 coveted bungalows steps from the sea and savor the privacy that only a property situated on 67 acres of former ranch land can offer. ready to getaway? a $200 resort credit is all yours if you can book by may 31st and vacation during the month of june.

kayaking up the na'pali coast

here's something fun to add to your "things to do before i die" list: a kayak tour up the na'pali coast. of course, fun can be a subjective thing so just make sure you can endure the 17 mile trek before signing up at napali kayak.

the payoff is well worth it since you'll get to explore sea caves and waterfalls while marveling at the magnificent na'pali coastline. guided day tours can be booked from april to october and napali kayak also offers all-inclusive luxury multi-day tours for those who long for a more extended and plush adventure.