Taxi availability in port

[ERtraumanurse]

I was just wondering for those of us who would like to save a few dollars rather than do the organized tours - how is the taxi situation at the various ports?

If anyone has by-passed the organized tours I would appreciate your feedback!

Thanks in advance [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

Norwiegan Wind - to Hawaii - ahhhh Paradise
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[SweetEmi]

I know a lot of people here rent cars at each port and do their own excursions, which saves money. Had you thought about that possibility? Much more flexible and less expensive I would think than a cab (well...I guess it depends on where you take the cab).

Emi

NCL Star-08/31/03 in Hawaii!
NCL Star-11/13/04 to Mexico!
Alaska summer 2005!

[Nanner]

Emi is certainly correct about taxi vs. rental. On Maui, we were looking at booking our own helicopter flight, and it would cost more to taxi from Lahaina to the airport than to rent our own vehicle. The chopper services on that island don't run shuttles to Lahaina, or if they do, they are more than a rental as well.

Nancy D.
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[ERtraumanurse]

Thank-you for your input - My hubby would rather have someone else tour us around the islands rather than try to find our way around.

How difficult is it to do the rental care thing? thanks again.

Jen

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[SweetEmi]

Hawaii is pretty easy to get around on, except some parts of Oahu (in my opinion). And actually renting the car is very easy as long as you are old enough [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

I understand about having someone drive you because it is harder to see everything if you are worried about driving. And it can be irritating to us locals if there are tourists in front of us going slow and gawking at everything.

[url="http://www.top-10-hawaii.com/"]http://www.top-10-hawaii.com/[/url]

Try looking at the above link, there looked like some cool stuff on it and you can contact them to see if they will come and pick you up or whatever, maybe that will work.

Emi

NCL Star-08/31/03 in Hawaii!
NCL Star-11/13/04 to Mexico!
Alaska summer 2005!

[oma&opa]

We are on Spirit, 4/30, Honolulu to Vancouver.
The only port I am concerned about is Hilo.
We do not do helicopters -- do not want to see volcano. So this is the place we wanted to walk around in the city/town and just see non-tourist life (if that makes sense!). But it looks like pier is quite far from the residential/downtown. Is there a taxi that will take us from the pier to the downtown area so we can walk around, have lunch, then get back to the ship. (Opa cannot walk great distances.)
thanks emi -- i do enjoy your commentary and have learned so much!!

[SweetEmi]

Oma: I read on here before that there is a shuttle/bus that goes to town.

[url="http://www.downtownhilo.com/hilo/passport.htm"]http://www.downtownhilo.com/hilo/passport.htm[/url]
Wow! The above link is perfect, check it out.

Now...At the pier in Hilo...there were SEVERAL people set up with booths (and our trip had a schedule change at the last minute so maybe not everyone who is usually there was there that time). Lots of local stuff. Plus you can buy a beautiful flower arrangement to take on board for your room. You might find that if you just want to get off and do a little shopping and get back on the ship with little to no hassle, that might work. Also, there are the free shuttles to Hilo Hatties. There is a pretty big mall across the parking lot from Hilo Hatties and across the street is Wal-Mart, but it might be too far for Opa to walk.

If you get back on the ship while everyone is out and about, you have practically the whole ship to yourself and it is kind of neat.

Emi

NCL Star-08/31/03 in Hawaii!
NCL Star-11/13/04 to Mexico!
Alaska summer 2005!

[ERtraumanurse]

Emi,

Thank-you so much for your help - and I can appreciate the annoying,gawking tourists!!!

I will look into it and let you know thanks so much [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

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[SweetEmi]

Nurse: You are very welcome. I do transcription here in Waimea, mostly ER reports and Radiology reports. Our ER is just down the hall from where I work. Thanks for doing the wonderful job you do.... [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

Emi

NCL Star-08/31/03 in Hawaii!
NCL Star-11/13/04 to Mexico!
Alaska summer 2005!

[ERtraumanurse]

Emi - thanks for saying so - I am in scchool currently getting my degree and I miss the hospital greatly!! And oddly enough I would love to someday work in Hawaii - We live near Toronto, Canada now and I have had it with winters!!!

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[SweetEmi]

I just love our little hospital and its philosophy of Blended Medicine. We are North Hawaii Community Hospital. Maybe you could check it out. I'm sure you wouldn't have trouble finding a job - with the critcal shortage of nurses.

Emi

NCL Star-08/31/03 in Hawaii!
NCL Star-11/13/04 to Mexico!
Alaska summer 2005!

[MidtheNight]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> I understand about having someone drive you because it is harder to see everything if you are worried about driving. And it can be irritating to us locals if there are tourists in front of us going slow and gawking at everything. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

SweetEmi....ever been to Florida? Every winter that's all the snowbirds do....except they also point and slow down even further when they're looking. A 50 minute drive to work off season is a 1 hour and 10 minute drive during season...and I don't even live in a big city like Tampa, Miami or even Fort Myers! I promise when we rent our car on the various island we will try not to be one of those irritating tourist drivers. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

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[oma&opa]

Thank you, Emi, for the lead to the Hilo Shuttle. That is exactly what we want to do that day.
When I looked at the photos in that link there were pictures of both cut flowers and plants in the market. Is that what you referred to at the pier? And can we take both plants and flowers back to the mainland?
Thank you!

[SweetEmi]

Oma: Now on our mixed up cruise, there was if I remember right a man there at the pier in the terminal that had cut flower arrangements. We needed to buy some orchids only because a fellow CC the week before us had purchased a beautiful arrangement and they left them for us and it was still looking great except the orchids and we wanted to replace them. He sold us some orchids (or maybe he gave them to us, I can't remember) even though he doesn't usually do that. I didn't see any plants that day.

You can't take home any agricultural things unless they are inspected and cleared, but I'm sure you could find places to send them for you that they get cleared. There are also little "starters" that you can find around at different flea markets or stores that have already been inspected that you can take home with you.

So, basically you can buy the arrangements pretty inexpensively, but they would really be just for your cabin and nothing you could take home.

Mid: I haven't had the opportunity to go to Florida yet, but I'm hoping I can in a couple of years. I felt like one of those tourists in Oahu because we got lost every single day there. Was forever trying to see the signs and figure out where we were. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]


Aloha,
Emi

NCL Star-08/31/03 in Hawaii!
NCL Star-11/13/04 to Mexico!
Alaska summer 2005!

[gardencat]

Sweet Emi,
I noticed you mentioned that there are people selling flowers near the pier in Hilo. We will be staying in the Kailua-Kona area and I am wondering if you could recommend anywhere there to get flowers for our hotel room? One of the things I will miss by going to Hawaii this time of year (early May) are the late spring flowers in my garden at home but,I would love to have some Hawaiian beauties to keep me company instead. I'd appreciate any hints you could give.

[SweetEmi]

Oh...there are 3 farmer's markets type deals where I'm sure you could get good deals on flowers (and a bunch of other stuff, fruits and veggies, souveniers, etc).

One is right in the middle of town near the library and I'm sorry but I don't know exactly the days it is open. There is also one in the "Old Industrial Area" and right near where I gave directions to the fabric store.

Then there is Alii Gardens, which is down south from town on Alii Drive but not too far. I haven't been there since just shortly after they opened it, but I hear it has a lot to offer.

There are also florists scattered around.

Hope that helps,
Emi

NCL Star-08/31/03 in Hawaii!
NCL Star-11/13/04 to Mexico!
Alaska summer 2005!

[spleen93]

Also for those that are going to Oahu, Chinatown (easy wallking distance from Aloha Tower) has some of the cheapest prices for leis and cut flowers anywhere on Oahu. It's where we go for leis when we greet visitors.

Spleen

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[gardencat]

Spleen93,
Thanks, we will be spending most of our time in Kona but will have a couple of days in Oahu first and we definately do intend to check out Chinatown. I've heard there is a restaurant with great (and inexpensive ) Vietnamese Pho in that area.

Sweet Emi,
thanks again for your suggestions. You always are so generous with your information and help, like an unofficial (and unfortunately unpaid) Hawaii tourist consultant.

[spleen93]

gardencat - yes, there is ... I'm blanking on the name right now. It's on River Street and the locals LINE UP to get in for lunch so go early and expect to wait. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

Spleen

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[bambam]

When we were at Hilo, via the Star, we bought a beatuful and very fragrant lei at the pier "straw market" for $8.00. Sad part: it was so fragrant that I started to have an allergy attack and we gave it to the room steward the next day. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif[/img]

Included in the tables was a booth set-up with some nice plants and flower plants (orchids..maybe). The attendant had forms available for shipping your purchase directly home. Something to check out if you are interested... might ask about the agricultural inspection requirements, too.

BAMnJAM
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[gardencat]

Thanks bambam,
I'll check it out when I get to Hilo.
I've posted this already on the sea lice board but- can you enlighten me about your shark sighting in Maui?

[gardencat]

Thanks to you too spleen 93,
I gather that lining up for Pho is sort of traditional, I think most of the places that serve it all over the world tend to be inexpensive and no frills, so no reservations are accepted. Seems to be part of the "pho experience".