The Final Days of Packing, Shopping, Planning

So...we are almost packed (except for those things that you need until the last minute).  So nice to pack only one medium sized suitcase and a small rolling carry-on for each of us.  One of the real benefits of using our timeshare unit  A few last minute chores to do, a last load of laundry, taking Missy to the kennel (we call it camp) where she will be on vacation from us, haircuts, nail salon, you know....those absolutely necessary activities that make me believe that I'm going on vacation.  The weather has been beautiful in Hawaii and I'm so looking forward to warm days on the beach after the unusually cold, rainy and strange Spring in NC this year.  Fortunately, we have had a few days of sun and flowers blooming that remind us what the season usually brings.

Both Oahu and Maui have Costco - in fact, there are 4 on Oahu!  We joined recently so that we could pick up our week's worth of groceries on the way from the airport to check in on both islands AND so that we could buy gas at a discount there.  Gas is very expensive in Hawaii (currently the average price for regular unleaded is $4.36/gallon...down 20 cents from a year ago).  A recent post on Trip Advisor said that the price is 20 cents less/gallon at Costco!  So we should make make more than the cost of our membership by the time we come home.

Thanks to friends who were recently on Maui, I made dinner reservations at Mama's Fish House on Maui.  Also have several Restaurant.com certificates for restaurants on Oahu.  As always, Trip Advisor members have posted excellent reviews of restaurants and attractions that are new to us.  But, truthfully, we don't plan to do much running around...this is truly a time to relax and enjoy the beauty of the islands.

For the first week, we will be staying (for the 3rd time) at the Marriott Ko Olina Beach club on the rural west side of Oahu for the first week.  The pictures below show the interior courtyard and the view from the beach looking back on the property.

                                             

When we are on Maui, we will spend 2 nights near the airport at the Marriott Courtyard and then move to the Westin Ocean Villas resort in Kaanapali.  It's been 15 years since we were in Maui and this property wasn't built yet, so we're looking forward to exploring and seeing new places.

                             

My next post will be when we're in transit!