For California, Hawaii, and Nevada, renting a vehicle is not necessary, but I would recommend it if it's in your budget. It makes your exploration so much easier. California is a very big state and many bucket list places are all over the map. In Hawaii you can drive around the whole island in a couple hours. The Las Vegas Strip is definitely something you can walk. I think it would be much slower to navigate traffic father than simply walking along the strip to your next hotel. So no matter where your staying you can adventure nearly anywhere in no time. Smaller cars are much more manageable in the big busy cities and often less expensive.
The Hawaiian Island of Oahu
Beach Villas at Ko Olina
Truly one of my favourite hotels ever. Absolutely beautiful. It is perfect for family vacations with two or three bedroom villas, plenty of space, as well as a kitchen. Most rooms are able to be bought then individually rented out on VRBO or AirBnb. You can also book right through the site. The rooms are very modern and offer many amenities. The grounds were definitely the most amazing part. Within the beautiful Hawaiian nature, is nestled a wonderful pool. One for lounging and fun, and another for laps. As little kids, we didn't like the big ocean so much and so we spent a lot of time by the pool. There is a rock pool and hot tub to top it off. Pool side bar with fancy drinks and yummy snacks. My siblings and I loved the big koi pond. I will never forget when my little brother reached and touched the giant fish. Now you´re not supposed to do that so I'm not encouraging doing that, but that's my brother.
After a nice dinner or walk on the beach at sunset, our favourite thing was to count all the geckos we saw. With the tiki torches and soft lamps, the little geckos would come out all over the grounds. It was all fun and games until you found one in your room, then as a little kid it was impossible getting to sleep knowing it was crawling around in the dark.
The hotel is steps from the lagoon. A perfect little beach to relax and swim. Wave breakers allow the lagoon to be quite calm and ideal for swimming and snorkeling. We made so many amazing memories here and we miss it so much. This place can be very expensive, so you just have to monitor for great deals and have flexibility. I would 100% recommend even if you just stay for one night.
Aulani Disney Resort
As a kid, and still now, I have always wanted to go here. We would walk by the resort on the beach and it just looks like the magical experience it advertises. Both Disney and Hawaiian atmosphere ties the package together. Dine with the famous characters and explore the maze of themed pools and grounds. Enjoy activities and entertainment - Disney fun for all ages. Bask on the white-sand beach with the lagoon just steps away. There are many outdoor activities available from paddle boarding, snorkeling, and learning about all the beautiful environment around you. This hotel is slightly more expensive than its neighbors, and definitely more busy. But it is all part of the magic within. For some travelers, the experience makes it all worth it. I would absolutely love to go here with my family even just for a night or two; it truly sounds like a magical adventure.
Turtle Bay
The north end of the island is famous for its top notch surfing locations. though, if you're a amateur surfer like myself, there are many other adventures to be had. My family stayed at the Turtle Bay Resort twice now we love it so much. Once in the main hotel, and then in a separate condo on the property. The hotel overlooks the wild ocean and is was the perfect spot to watch the sunset. I remember watching the hotel's luau from our little balcony. One thing to remember if you stay in this area is to bring a light sweater or something warmer. There can often be quite a wind, and especially at night it can be pretty chilly. The condo buildings were amazing and perfect for families. It was very spacious with a kitchen, double bathroom, and two bedrooms. Not only is there a separate pool from the hotel guests, but a tennis court too. We spent many evenings after a long day at the ocean playing some friendly tennis matches.
My favourite thing about the north shore has to be the authentic Hawaiian twist to it. Honolulu is very tourist based and a big bustling city. Whereas in the north, it feels more like the real Hawaiian culture. We went shopping in a local grocery store, sandwiches and salads
from the deli for our sunset dinners. Chickens wandering the streets. More homesteads and less big shopping centers. It is a really nice getaway from the cities so I would recommend adventuring this area for even just a day trip.
Honolulu and Waikiki
These hotels are still beautiful and usually at a much cheaper price than the waterfront resorts. A simple room with one or two beds and a bathroom. The point of these hotels is only to sleep there and spend all day adventuring. We stayed at the Hyatt Place and we really loved the area and the hotel itself. Most of the hotels are a walking distance from the ocean. if you pack light, it is a simple trip back and forth. Most beaches are public accessible to any traveler. There area is very tourist based and you'll find less authentic Hawaiian culture here. I would recommend a hotel with breakfast included. There are lots of places to go eat, but is much easier to start your day with a full stomach. In the city there are many options for dining. International, Hawaiian, or American food chains. With a family of five it is always hard to come to a decision on where to eat.
Las Vegas
As I have mentioned before, Las Vegas has some outstanding hotels on the strip. We have only stayed at Treasure island as a family. It was a lot of fun, however a room geared towards a family of four or less. I remember we made a makeshift bed for my little sister out of extra blankets, pillows and such or like a table or bench. That's what you've gotta do when you have a bigger family but don't need to spend the extra money for a whole other room. Think smarter my friends. I would love to stay in New York New York, Paris or the Venician. Each one has a city replica in the lobbies and I could admire the architecture for way too long. Most often, we would stay at a hotel just off the strip. Just a short walk away, but enough space for all of us to sleep comfortably after a long day.
California
We have stayed at a number of hotels throughout California. We love a nice pool and a great breakfast. We will always try to find a spot in good relativness to everything we want to see and explore. For our family, the hotel is important, but only somewhere we will sleep and then leave the next day. We value our adventure first and the extravagant hotel second.
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