7 Big Island Stays That Fit Every Style and Budget

Above, the Waikoloa Beach Hotel and Spa. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Nine years ago (has it already been that long ago?), I visited the Big Island of Hawaii. I stayed at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Hotel and Spa in Kona. 

While on the Big Island, I took a tour of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park by helicopter with Blue Hawaiian Helicopters. We had to drive about 60 miles from Kona to Hilo to get to the Hilo airport to catch our helicopter flight. 

The Hawaii travel arrangements were provided by the Automobile Club of Southern California. 

AOL has posted an article on "7 Big Island Stays That Fit Every Style and Budget".

They begin it with:

The Big Island of Hawaii, officially named Hawaiʻi Island, is the largest and youngest of the main Hawaiian Islands. Famous for its volcanoes, landscapes, black sand beaches, and its diverse range of accommodations, it’s no surprise many tourists travel here year-round for the experience. Being twice the size of all the other Hawaiian Islands combined, covering 4,028 square miles (10,432 km²), there are quite a few places to stay. Kona or Hilo? Or is Waikoloa a better option? Are you interested in lava fields or waterfalls? This guide breaks down the 7 top places to stay on the Big Island to help you find the best location for your trip., 

To read more, go here.

Old Travel Guides

Back in the 1980s and 1990s, I used to attend the H. Werner Buck Enterprises' Sports, Vacation and RV Shows at the Anaheim Convention Center. H. Werner Buck Enterprises is now defunct.

While at the shows, I accumulated literature on attractions, campgrounds and state travel guides. It was at one of those shows that I discovered the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.

I was digging through a drawer this morning and came across some AAA tour books, maps and books on different places.

The photo above shows two different editions of the Automobile Club of Southern California The Mother Lode books and a map. The one on the left is the 1984 edition and the one on the right is the 1994 edition. Since I joined the Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus, which began in the Mother Lode Country of California, I made several trips to the area.

Above, are some various state travel books from their tourism boards that I obtained at the Sports, Vacation and Travel Shows.

The tour books from the Automobile Club are way outdated, but it is fun to peruse them and see what is no longer around.

Tips To Maximize A Hawaii Trip

Above, a view of Diamond Head from Waikiki Beach. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When we went to Hawaii three years ago, we planned it through an Automobile Club travel agent. That worked out well as we went to two islands (three, if one wants to count the airport in Maui for the return trip to California). And, the price was a good one.

TravelPulse has a pictorial article with ten tips on maximizing a trip to Hawaii, some of which we did.

They begin with:

Planning a trip to Hawaii can be overwhelming. It's far, it can be expensive, and there's a lot to consider, like which island(s) to visit and where to stay. While you figure out the specific details, here are ten big-picture tips to help you get the most from your trip to Hawaii. 

To see what the ten tips are, go here. 

Hawaii: Keeping Costs Down In Oahu

Above, an evening view of Diamond Head from Waikiki Beach. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Los Angeles Times must be in a "Hawaii mode" today as they have posted another money-saving article on Hawaii.

This time it is saving dough in Oahu.

They begin with:

Hawaii has certain allures, but low prices aren’t necessarily among them. With these insider tips to Oahu, though, you can have a Champagne experience at sparkling-cider prices.

The tips they provide are good ones. We spent a week in Hawaii last year (Oahu and the Big Island) and we were able to get a bargain deal though the Automobile Club of Southern California. For seven days, it cost only $1,400 each and the price included airfare (to and from Hawaii), land transportation, accommodations and inter-island airfares.

To read more, go here.

Visit To Auto Club

As planned, I went to the Northridge office of the Automobile Club of Southern California to pick up some maps of Utah, Idaho and Oregon. I also picked up the tour books for each.

I'm not going to bother with a Trip Tik this time. The one I used last year was okay, except for back roads off the interstates.

The clerk who helped me said that many Auto Club members have been coming in for maps, etc. to go see the eclipse.

Here's what I got:

Getting Ready

Above, the refrigerator/freezer. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Preparations for the upcoming trip to Idaho to see the eclipse have started today.

I headed off to Food 4 Less and picked up some groceries. Most of the meats I'll be bringing I already have in the freezer, but I bought some more. Breakfast is definitely taken care of as well as a few snacks. Non-perishables are already loaded in.

Above, the microwave. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The usual routine for loading food in the refrigerator is to level The Beast the night before departure and turn on the refrigerator/freezer. It is ready for loading the next morning.

I also picked up some charcoal and lighter fluid as I generally barbecue every night while on a trip (with the exception of fish).

I will "top off" the propane tank next week.

There's one thing I have to do tomorrow. I don't seem to have maps for Idaho, Oregon and Utah. I have AAA tour books for each state, but no maps. I'll head to the Auto Club tomorrow to pick them up.

I expect this trip will be about a week and a half to two weeks long.

Vehicle Registrations Done

Above, the Mustang and The Beast. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Yesterday, the Mustang finally passed it's bi-annual smog check so it could be registered in The People's Republic of California.

Why "finally"? Well, it took three testings and almost $600 in repairs to get it to pass muster with the smog check gizmo. I anticipated that it may have a rougher time than usual, so I had some extra cash put aside just in case. Although it has left me cash short in my checking account, this is only a temporary inconvenience (maybe about 3 days). I can't really complain as the Mustang has been running good for the past year and it never had to go into the shop, except for an oil change.

So now both The Beast and the Mustang are all up-to-date with their registrations until this time next year.

While I was at the Automobile Club of Southern California office yesterday to pick up the registration and tags (already paid for), I grabbed some tour books for Idaho, Wyoming, Montana and Oregon to plan out my trek this summer to see the total eclipse. The eclipse can be viewed in any of those states. My bank investment counselor wants to come along on the trip, depending how long the total trek will take. 

The Beast Is Up-To-Date

Above, The Beast at the Meteor Crater RV parking lot. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Beast's DMV registration renewal is now done as is its insurance renewal. So, it is all set for 2017.

The only remaining thing to do, vehicle-wise, is to have the Mustang pass its mandatory California smog check. Its registration is also paid for, but as soon as it passes the smog check, I can pick up the tags.

I did all this through the Automobile Club of Southern California. It is a lot easier than going to the Department of Motor Vehicles. The Auto Club's computer system is tied directly to the California DMV.

Making Use of Camping Discounts

Above, the office and store at the KOA Kampground in Beaver, Utah. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

During my recent trip to Metropolis, Illinois, I stayed at several campground. Some of them were KOA Kampgrounds.

The nice thing about KOAs, many of them are great. But most of them are relatively consistent in quality.

I have been a member since I bought The Beast in 2015 and have stayed at many of them over the past two years. As a member, I get a 10% discount in camping fees. What's more, I also get accumulated points per stay that can be used for even further savings.

For example, when I stayed at the Needles (CA) KOA, I used some of my bonus points and had $10 knocked off of my night's stay. I currently have 8,940 points available to use.

Above, the sign of Blackstone North RV Park shows
it's a Good Sam Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the Good Sam logo on display at the Graceland RV Park office. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In other campgrounds/RV parks, most of them were Good Sam campgrounds in which my Good Sam Club membership got me a 10% discount in camping fees. I even received a 10% discount at one campground using my AAA (through the Automobile Club of Southern California).

There are other membership discount programs available to RVers such as the FMCA (Family Motor Coach Association).

With prices rising while seniors are on fixed incomes, these discounts are a great help. Non-seniors can get the KOA Value Kard and join the Good Sam Club.

Trip Planning To Metropolis

Above, at the Auto Club. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Although the trip won't be for almost another month and a half from now, I figured that perhaps I should start planning it.

This will be pretty much a cross-country trip from Los Angeles to Metropolis, Illinois for Noel Neill's celebration of life. Metropolis is the home of the Super Museum, where Jim Hambrick has a big collection of all things Superman. I've always wanted to go there, so now's my chance!

There is a giant statue of Superman and a statue of Noel Neill, as Lois Lane, in town.

Above, planning the route at the Auto Club. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since we've been given plenty of notice of the celebration, I thought that this would be a good opportunity to jump into The Beast for a big road-trip. I was going to take a trip to Memphis next spring, but since I will be only three hours away from Memphis in Metropolis, I may as well go there now.

The states that I would be going through include Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri and then Illinois. The pace of the drive (around 1,900 miles) will be determined by my daily progress and, of course, the weather as the memorial celebration will be held November 5.

The way back will be more leisurely and I will take a more northern route through Tennessee, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Utah and Arizona.

I expect that all this will take about two weeks to complete.

En route to Metropolis, I plan to stop at some attractions, most notably Meteor Crater in Arizona and the library, museum, home and tomb of Abraham Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois.

Above, with the TripTik in the foreground, I also picked
 up maps and tour books today. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

On the way back to L.A., I will take a detour down to Memphis, Tennessee to visit Graceland and other attractions there. Then, I will head up to St. Louis, Missouri and then head west from there. Stops will include Kansas City (I will try to pay a visit to State Sen. Greg Smith in Overland Park, Kansas, if schedules permit), the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library & Museum, Silverton and Durango, Colorado (maybe ride the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad train), Mesa Verde National Park, Monument Valley, Utah (where John Ford and John Wayne filmed all those classic westerns) and the Grand Canyon National Park. Then home from there.

I am beginning to get excited over this trip. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate.

At this time, it is just going to be Sierra and I, but I will see if I can arrange for another traveling companion. But I don't mind solo trips as I've done them before.

Road Trip To Metropolis?

With the announcement that there will be a memorial celebration of the life of actress Noel Neill in Metropolis, Illinois, I am considering attending.

I have always wanted to go to Metropolis to see the Super Museum of Jim Hambrick, that plus the memorial celebration is a good reason to go.

Instead of flying, I am thinking on taking a road-trip there in The Beast. Metropolis is 1,908 miles from Los Angeles (roughly a 28 hour drive). The route would mainly be on Interstates 40 and 44.

This route will take me through Springfield, Illinois, the hometown and where the tomb of President Abraham Lincoln is located. That would also be a good stop to make en route. On the way back, I can head south to Memphis, Tennessee. I was planning a trip to Memphis in the spring, but since I would be in the area...

Above, Noel Neill and yours truly at the TV Land Convention.

Going in The Beast would also solve another thing, I would not have to find a motel room in Metropolis or some town nearby. I can stay in The Beast in town.

I don't relish doing this long a drive solo, but I can take my time with plenty of stops and confine my driving to around 300 miles/day. That would make it a six-day drive at that pace.

Election Day is the following Tuesday, but I can vote absentee before going. That would take care of that problem.

I'll check with the Automobile Club of Southern California and get a TripTik from them.

Hawaii Blowback: Debt Unpaid

Above, at Hilo Airport after a helicopter tour of Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park.

bilk (bɪlk)

v.t. 

1. to defraud; cheat.
2. to evade payment of or to: to bilk a creditor.
3. to frustrate: a career bilked by poor health.
4. to escape from; elude. 

n. 

5. a cheat; swindler.
6. a trick; fraud; deceit.

Back in Febuary, Denise Santos and I began planning the trip to Hawaii to celebrate Denise's birthday. Denise wanted her best friend Jacquese "Jackie" Scott to join us on the trip.

The three of us went to the Northridge office of the Automobile Club of Southern California to talk to Nicki, one of the travel agents.

Fortunately for us, the Auto Club had a sale on Hawaii trips. She provided us with an itinerary and the cost amounts. We then headed to the nearby Coco's restaurant for breakfast and to discuss the trip further.

While at Coco's, Denise asked that I front the cash to lock in the trip for Jackie and she would repay me. Jackie concurred. I agreed to it. As a birthday present to Denise, I paid for her and her son.

I don't mind helping someone out, but I bristled at being put on the spot at that moment.

Later, I told Denise that I was not happy being put on the spot and that she should have discussed it with me first in private. She apologized and promised that things would be discussed first between us.

The cost per person was $1,408.25 for seven days in Hawaii, which included all flights, transfers, taxes, fees and accommodations. It was a very good deal. Our scheduled departure date was May 4.

On March 4, Jackie paid me $300 in cash. Things were looking good.

Then there was a "lull" in payments as Jackie wanted to pay for her activities (para sailing, helicopter tour, luau, etc.). I was annoyed with this as she decided this on her own without asking me if I were okay with it. I really wasn't, but what could I do?

She made another $300 cash payment on April 17. After this, her balance due was $808.25. That is where we stand today.

On May 15, following a blow-up with Denise (which ultimately lead to our break-up), I sent Jackie a friendly text message asking, "How do you want to handle the remaining $808 that you still owe for the Hawaii trip?" I received no response. Her debt to me has nothing to do with the current status of Denise and I.

On June 7, during which time Denise and I were still friendly (hoping that she would light a fire under Jackie's butt to pay me in full), I decided that I've waited enough and sent Jackie this text:

Jackie, since you have not made any good faith effort to repay me the remaining $808 for the Hawaii trip, I am giving you until June 30th to pay me back in full, or we're going to small claims court.

Again, no response.

Additionally, Denise has never mentioned the subject of Jackie's debt to me since we got back. That says a lot.

All Jackie had to do is to pop a check for $808.25 in the mail (she could get my address from Denise).

She has four more days to pay the balance owed or I will go to Small Claims Court to file on June 30. Besides failing morally to fulfill a debt obligation, it is also stupid. Once I win the judgment, this will be included in her future credit reports. I have never lost in Small Claims Court, personally or professionally.

I think I have been fair and nice about this, but one can only take so much in being taken advantage of. I thought that Jackie had more class than what she has displayed so far.

Let justice be done if need be.

UPDATE (6/27/16):  No response yet. She's got two days to pay up or I'm filing on June 30.

UPDATE (6/29/16): No response and no payment. So, unless she brings me the cash tomorrow morning before I go file, we're going to Small Claims Court. How stupid! Classy gal!

Reactions to this post:

You were robbed! 

Did you ever get the ring back? That must have been quite a rock given the price you mentioned. I'm sorry you were treated that way, Armand. 

Ouch I'm so sorry to hear that. damn. 

tawdry
: having a cheap and ugly appearance
: morally low or bad 

truly feel your PAIN bro...!

Hotels Wooing Guests To Book Directly With Discounts

Above, we booked our room at this Tokyo hotel directly with the hotel. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Hotels are looking to book rooms directly with travelers rather than rely on online booking agencies like Expedia and Priceline by offering tempting discounts.

According to Japan Today:

NEW YORK —Hotels are getting more aggressive in their fight to get travelers to book reservations directly with them instead of through online travel agencies such as Expedia and Priceline. 

Hyatt Hotels Corp has become the latest chain to offer guests a discount for booking a room directly on its own website. Members of its Gold Passport loyalty program can save up to 10 percent at hotels in the U.S., Canada and Australia. 

The move follows similar campaigns by Hilton Worldwide, Marriott International and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. 

Hotel companies have a tortured relationship with online travel booking sites. They rely on the sites to bring travelers to their properties and fill rooms. But companies like Expedia and Priceline charge commissions of 15 percent or higher. The hotel chains would rather keep that money themselves.

I have only booked a hotel room through an online travel agency once, with Travelocity, and that was for The Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas last December. The room was bundled with round-trip air fares, so some money was saved.

Above, our room at The Mirage was booked through Travelocity. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Our upcoming Hawaii trip was booked through the Automobile Club of Southern California. It was a great package (lots of money saved) for our flights to and from Hawaii, Oahu and the Big Island and one week's hotel rooms at two different hotels included.

I generally book hotel rooms in Japan directly with the hotels.

To read more, go here.

Westways Magazine Salutes National Park Service Centennial

The January/February 2016 issue of Westways magazine, published by the Automobile Club of Southern California, arrived in the mailbox yesterday and it salutes the centennial of the National Park Service.

I had mentioned in a previous blog post that 2016 marks 100 years since the founding of the National Park Service. It all began when President Theodore Roosevelt and naturalist John Muir paid a joint visit to what is now Yosemite National Park in 1903.

The National Park Service didn't come into being for another thirteen years until the administration of President Woodrow Wilson. But, the Roosevelt-Muir visit to Yosemite was the "springboard" for the National Park Service's creation.

Fittingly, Amber and I will be visiting Yosemite in April.

The issue of Westways is one issue that those who are fans of our national parks should get.

For more on Westways magazine of the Automobile Club of Southern California, go here.

Public Lands Campgrounds Maps

During my recent stop over at the local office of the Automobile Club of Southern California, along with the two Woodall's campground directories, I also picked up some maps of Public Lands Campgrounds, one for Northern California and one for Southern & Central California.

These maps show the location of different campgrounds available for public use administered by the National Park Service, California State Parks, U.S. Forest Service, County Departments, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and City Departments and Special Districts.

The maps contain information such as telephone numbers, elevation, months open, basic nightly camping fee (if any), reservations, designated tent sites, designated RV spaces, the number of tent/RV spaces, hookups (if any) for water, electric & sewer, drinking water availability, toilets (flush or other), showers, barbeques/fire rings, tables and if wheelchair accessible.

Camping in a public lands campground is a great alternative to private/commercial campgrounds. Sometimes, private campgrounds may be full or too pricey, so having a guide to public lands campgrounds would come in handy to see if there are any available in the area you're in.

These maps are offered free of charge to Auto Club members. 

A Visit To The Auto Club

This morning, I went over to the local Automobile Club of Southern California office to take care of a vehicle registration matter thanks to a screw-up by the California Department of Motor Vehicles.

Once that was done (it only took a few minutes), I purchased a couple of campground directories by Woodall's that they had for sale. Since the price was a very reasonable $5.95 each, I bought two different directories. One was for the Far West and the other was for the Frontier West, Great Plains and Mountain States.

The Auto Club has ceased to put out their own campground books and now sell directories and guides by Frommer's, Lonely Planet, Woodall's and others instead. They still put out their TourBooks and I picked up several of them, including Colorado & Utah, Northern California, Southern California and Arizona & New Mexico. The TourBooks are still free.

Along with the books, I also picked up some maps of Northern, Southern and Central California Public Lands Campgrounds and California's Gold Guide Map (featuring the late Huell Howser). The maps, too, were free.