Cabos San Lucas Planning

Hey Subbies,

I'm over due for a Travel Planning Post so here is my post about my 3 night stay in Cabo. Fly to Cabo is like flying to San Francisco or Las Vegas time wise so it's a great little get away for someone like me on the West Coast like Cancun is for the East Coast, which a post is coming soon. Most people book about 5 days/nights stay in Cabo any hotel but for someone like me who just wanted a short stay we opted for an All Inclusive Resort. Also its one of the popular Golfing destinations outside the US and the terrain is pretty much Baja California unironically. 

Things to know...

• December to April is the best time to go
• Fly into Cabo in the Morning
• Prebook Privte Transfer
• Stay on at Inclusive Resort on Medano Beach
• Book an Excursion to the El arco

Budget for Cabo

Visiting

https://www.visitloscabos.travel/

Airport

You will arrive at Los Cabos International Airport, which is about a 45-minute drive from Cabo San Lucas.

Transportation

Pre-booked Shuttle: Most Hotel Resorts will have shuttles to and from the airport that can be requested via their Resort App. Also, recommend to avoid the "timeshare gauntlet" at arrival. Shared shuttles cost ~$18–$25 per person; private transfers for small groups start around $70–$90. 

We mostly utalize the the hotel shuttles which can vary in price but it was about ~$11-$15 (200 pesos) and additonal ~$3 (50 pesos) per person so make sure to have enough Pesos or USD on hand. Becareful not to get scammed at the marina because I did get scammed because we didn't have enough cash for the taxi. We didn't use the water taxi but they are very useful if you're here for a short amount of time especially if you are on a cruise.

Data & Wifi

Since we live in the US and have a Phone provider who support North America and Mexico which allow up to 5G of Data but I usually use it up because I'm the main navigator so I suggest buying extra if needed. If you do decide to buy data through your carrier it will switch you over to the contracted carrier in that country automatically.

eSIMs like Airalo are great options but please make sure your phone is unlocked before leaving the country which most people do not know about.

You can also buy a "Telcel" sim card from a coniveicnce store like OXXO for $5-$10 for more coverage as well.

Stay Accommodations

We stayed at Pueblo Bonito Sunset– Adults Only Golf & Spa Resort which is on rough side of Cabo so the beach is pretty off limits  but very beautiful views has package you can buy before hand  "All Inclusive" which I highly recommend to cover food expensives especially if you are staying a few days. They also have a free shuttle to sister resort called Pueblo Bonita Rosa near the Marina/Downtown Cabo which is more family oriented. Also if you retired or have issues walking they do shuttle you to your rooms golf carts.

I was reading reddit and from my memory my favorite restaurant on porperty was the sunset dinner at LaFrida Restaurant and for a late dinner we ate the Japanese inspired resaurant called TAZUNA and if want somthing sweet after dinner or excursion their Market was favorite place to visit. 

Third-party Booking locations and nearby sight-seeing

Because this was short notice trip I didn't book any excursions but you can easily book one via your hotel. We did a dinner cruise to El Arco and most of the rough seas and circled backed to marina. And on last day I did snorkling a towards the east side of Cabo of which we did get see some Porpoises since it was whale season. There is also a secluded beach that inline/ on east side on the Peninsula called Parque Nacional Cabo Pulmo for snorkling as well.

I was asked if I had time to visit Todos Santos aka "Magic Town" but we didn't have much time but it's seems be great place to go if you want to go on date or love the arts and cultural sites.

AirB&B

It was recommend to stay in Pedregal (exclusive views) or Tezal (better value)

Shopping & Dining

We didn't do much shopping unless we staying more than a couple of days but the Marina has so many shops but if don't like being harassed or the hussle and bustle of the marina than check out Plaza Puerto Paraiso which we pass by plenty of times during our short stay.

If want views of the see dining experience Sunset Monalisa has cliffside views. But if you like the night life atomphere than head downtown to Tacos Guss or La Lupita Taco & Mezcal. Want to on the beach instead check out The Office on the Beach. Coming back from Todo Sanoto or Cabo Pulmo book a dinner Flora Farms.

Other Locations

Todos Santos

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Hawaii O'ahu Planning

 

Hey Subbies,

This was my first trip to Hawaii and I don't know why my mom thought I have ever stepped foot on one of islands is beyond me lol. We went in late October for a week and the weather was great extension to the SoCal beach weather. We had to booked a flight with United which actually cracked and broke my suitcase wheel and it was freezing going and coming. We walked for the most part to go eat but my mom was upset to find out that where we were staying is literal  steps away from the Zoo and Aquarium (I did ask her at the begining of the trip but she wasn't having it). Anyways, I learned a lot about the economy which is mainly tourism, logisitics (pinneaple farming has halfed and has been outsourced to the mainland due to the climate)  and the Universities students.

Things to know...

• O'ahu translates to "The Gathering Place"
• The island has two distinct sides: the dry western (Leeward) side and the lush, tropical eastern (Windward) side.
• Summer (April–November) is warmer and drier, while winter (December–March) is cooler with large surf on the North Shore.
•  Iolani Palace (the former royal residence) 
• And the Pearl Harbor National Memorial
• Make sure to pack Reef Safe Sunscreen/SPF

Budget for Oahu

Visiting

https://www.gohawaii.com/islands/oahu/travel-info

Airport

You'll arrive at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL).

Transportation

You can book a Rideshare or private transfer to and from the Airport which is what we did beause it so hard to find information about their public transportation.

You can buy a Holo card from Foodland or 7-Eleven or ABC Stores (preloaded Adult pass) to use on TheBus but it's daily cap is $7.50.

Beause we are US citizens I didn't book a car rental or bought travel insurance but I recommend you buy a insurance plan or supplment if you are international tourists if needed when you do decide to vacation here.

Data & Wifi

For international travelers, local SIM cards or eSIMs from providers like Airalo are common for reliable 4G/5G data.

Stay Accommodations/AirB&B

I'm not going lie about Coastal/Tropical destinations like Hawaii and Yucatan/Caribbean see's a lot of rain thus you can see a lot water damage to buildings so just be aware that your hotel maybe in construcation all year round. Waikiki/Honolulu is reccomended place to stay on the island on the beachfront resorts of which we stayed at Twin Fin Hotel but if I were to do it again I would have stayed at Hyatt Regency which is more closer the International Market Place. The other is the North Shore which is more relaxed and unique. Airbnb's are another option if you've been to island multiple times and are usually slightly cheaper than the Hotels. And budget stays like hostels or economy rooms can range from $40 to $150 per night while standard hotels stays average around $350 per night.

Get Your Guide/Third-party sight-seeing

You can book activites really easily on the island at different kisoks or you book through TripAdvisor or Get Your Guide. We did go to Pearl Harbor Memorial with the City Tour (National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbow, Hawaii State Capitol Grounds, Iolani Palace, King Kamehameha Statue, Ali’iolani Hale and Honolulu City Hall, and Kawaiahao Church) towards the end of the trip and it's etched into my brain due to linger crude oil smell from the attacked. The day before we did go to Polynesia Cultural Center because it was heavily being advertised which FYI is owned by LDS church (North Shore is dominated by the churches presence) and the staff are local BYU students and I choose to do the Alii Luau package and to make the trip to the North shores worth wild we did the Circle Island Tour add-on. We started the tour by passing by the Diamond Head/Kahala the Beverly Hills of O'ahu, Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, Pass by Koko Crater Stairs (Summit), Halona Blowhole and you can see Maui in the distance, Nuuanu Pali Lookout - Oʻahu, Waimānalo Pit Stop for local Fruit Stands, Pass by the Aloha Stadium and ended our tour at the Dole Plantation before heading the the Center. We didn't do any of well know hikes to Diamond Head State Monument but where we were staying we got great views of it.

Shopping & Dining

We did go Foodland for poke which is in Ala Moana Center is the world's largest open-air shopping mall and they even had a Dior cafe using the Waikiki Trolley Pink line. We mostly picked up food from the ABC Stores but we did treck down to the International Market Place Lanai food court but my favorite meal was from the famous Liliha Bakery and we even got a massage from Shiatsu & Massage Center and we have walked over to Marugame Udon and right next door is Soft serve shop called KONO's that has Pinneaple Cool Whip.

Other Locations

Turtle Beach/ North Shores
Maui

Kaui

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