If you already live in paradise, where—or why—would you go on vacation? Well, as spectacular as living in Hawaii is, it’s always nice to have a change of scenery. The Islands are situated directly between the mainland United States and Asia, making for some interesting choices of vacation spots without the absurd flight times. If you take the plunge and decide to move to the Big Island, here are some of the fantastic vacation destinations you can look forward to.
The Land Down Under
“Where women glow and men plunder!” That’s right, Australia and New Zealand are two of the most popular travel destinations for Hawaiian residents. By living waaay off the coast of California to begin with, that nasty 24-hour flight from the mainland gets cut to only about nine hours. Check out the Sydney Opera House, scuba dive at the Great Barrier Reef, or walk the trail to Mordor.
The best part of traveling to the southern hemisphere? The seasons are switched! Not that Hawaiian seasons change too drastically, but if you want a break from the slightly elevated temperatures, it’s always cooler in Australia and New Zealand in the winter (May – September).
Asia
If you hop on a plane and ride west for nine hours, you’ll reach the west coast of Asia. Thailand and Japan specifically are two of the most visited locations from the Hawaiian Islands.
Japan offers thousands of years of history for you to enjoy, and you won’t be able to find anything like Tokyo on the Islands. When you live somewhere like the Big Island, big cities become fascinating travel destinations.
Flights to Thailand might not be as cheap as some other destinations, but you’ll more than make up for it once you get there. You’ll be able to rent a penthouse villa in Thailand for the price of a hotel room in Hawaii! Enjoy the “Land of a Thousand Smiles” and its friendly people, unique culture, and spectacular natural landscapes.
Fiji
Even people in Hawaii need a tropical retreat to run off to, and that place is Fiji. There are only about a million residents scattered throughout the 110 inhabited islands, which makes Fiji the perfect place for Hawaiian residents to get away from it all even more!
Alaska
Vacations are all about experiencing places different from where you live. In the natural world, what’s the opposite of palm trees and beaches? Mountains and snow!
It’s a short six-hour flight from Hawaii to experience the freshest salmon you’ve ever tasted while taking in the most spectacular mountain ranges in the country. In the summer, average high temperatures in Alaska only reach the low-to-mid 70s, so it’s the perfect place to beat the heat.
And don’t forget about cruises. There are always cruise ships making the journey between the two outermost U.S. states.
Las Vegas
Speaking of opposites, what’s the opposite of the natural paradise of Hawaii? Massive casinos and buffets! The man-made wonders of The Strip make Las Vegas the number one out-of-state travel destination for Hawaiian residents. Las Vegas is so popular in Hawaii that it earned the nickname the “Ninth Hawaiian Island.”
Hawaii
Of course, when you already live in a tropical paradise, it’s hard to imagine vacationing anywhere else. The most popular travel destination for Hawaiian residents is, in fact, Hawaii. Island-hopping is easy. Rates are low, and you can reach any of the other Hawaiian Islands in less than an hour.
With the wide diversity you can find across the different Islands, why on Earth would you need to go anywhere else? Enjoy the beaches of Maui, the city living in Oahu, the untouched remoteness of Lanai, the culture of Molokai, and the dense rain forests of Kauai, before returning home to your own personal slice of paradise on the Big Island.
Ready to Become a Hawaiian Local?
Ready to open up your vacation options and make the move to Hawaii? There are plenty of properties available to fit any lifestyle and budget. Send me a message if you’re ready to begin your search for the perfect Island dream house. You can always take a vacation back to the States.
Aloha, and welcome to Hawaii.