A quick question. I'm taking a Hawaiian cruise this summer. Does it make sense to purchase the Entertainment Book? I'm thinking that instead of doing some of the ship's excursions it might make sense to go off on our own. Would the Entertainment Book help with that?

Probably not, but what type of things do you want to do? And I will check and see what coupons might pertain to your interest...

I just wanted to post to let others know that the books are on sale for 1/2 price right now (for a limited time, it says). I checked a few days ago and it was priced higher then. I just bought one for Hawaii for $17.50 a moment ago, for what that's worth to anyone.

We were in Honolulu September 04 and found a lot of uses for the Entertainment Book. We paid 1/2 price for the book and used it for many buy one get one free, such as: Paradise Cove Luau for $85 savings; I think the para sailing was about the same;along with numerous dinners and lunches.

Thanks for the tip, Holly -- just ordered my half-price copy for our planned trip in September.

You're welcome. I guess they go on sale from time to time, but I'm just glad I ordered one while they were cheaper. Mine came in the mail yesterday and it looks like it will more than pay for itself, at least for us.

Should we buy one for Maui and one for Oahu for July of this year or will one cover both islands?

Are there any losses if you wait until May to maybe get it at the $10 rate mentioned above? Want to make car reservations. Already have rooms/flights.

Please advise! Belle

One book does cover both islands. Most of the coupons are for Oahu, obviously, but there are some for the other islands as well. I don't know if you'll get the $10 rate by waiting until May, although I see another poster did. At any rate, you'll probably save enough to cover the cost of buying it now. I looked into a rental car for another destination recently and had the rates go up when I waited too book. I don't really know how common that is since I don't rent cars that often.

OSB, the book covers both Islands, so one book is all you need. Just a heads up, the coupons in the book expire November 1, 2005.

Hi iceeu2, You're up playing early. ((a))

I think rental cars thru the entertainment book is a screwy thing. Avis doesn't take the coupons on Hawaii, but after checking and rechecking, I finally got within $5 of the $117 that National is offering with the coupons for a week on Kauai. The rates keep fluxuating -- they've gone back up now.

But, just use one coupon for a dinner at a nice restaurant, or for an event, and the book is paid for. ((b))

Budman, I'm up early because...we are smoking some shoulders...Tonight is the son-in-law's surprise birthday party...and he has whined and whined for the real icee to make him some BBQ..

I agree about the rental car flucuations..really weird..and also, about the one coupon and you have paid for your book...I think on Oahu, we will use the Sunset Dinner Cruise, Nick's Fishmarket, and Hau Tree Lanai for restaurants..and then there are some other great ones..

Plus, my book is being passed onto friends going to Oahu in June, and then on to friends going to Maui in September...

Wow, we leave in 28 more days...

Oh, I just love the pulled pork from a good shoulder. I have an electric Brinkmann, and all you have to do is just add water every 3-4 hours. Your son-in-law is very lucky to have you guys as "out-laws." ((a))

I am also looking into the Sunset Dinner Cruise. Do you have to make a reservation? I understand the Friday night cruise is great because of the Hilton fireworks.

I did call Avis and complained about their fees not being competitive. They even lowered their Oahu price.((b))

Budman, we used to have an electric one, but I think it finally played out. Just asked the real icee and he says ours is a Brinkman that was charcoal, and he has now converted it to propane...I see him add water and thrown some apple wood somewhere in there once in a while.
He is cooking 3 shoulders and 2 butts..and they look mighty fine right now...just a few more degrees until they should be done.

Bman...the bbq was a smashing success..and I heard him tell someone he used hickory wood this time around.

Anyway, back to the entertainment book savings...if we are talking about the same sunset cruise (dream-cruises.com) then I figure for $50 ish bucks (total for 2) plus tip, that even if the food is not good, we can eat later. We won't be there over a Friday night, but wouldn't that be fun to see the fireworks. I would think that night (Friday) that you might possibly need advance reservations.

If you are planning to use the book just for a hotel and car discount in Hawaii, you do not have to buy the "Hawaii" book. You could buy your local book (if you're in an area that offers one). For instance, if you live in Vegas, buy the Vegas book...you would have coupons for shows and restaurants and fast-food all over Las Vegas, and could still use the card at hotels all over the country, or for a car rental anywhere. The deals usually expire end of Oct. and then you need to buy a new membership the following year.

If you are planning to stay at a hotel ANYWHERE, call and check their rate for Entertainment Cardholders. If it is a good savings, book the room, then you can purchase your membership afterwards at entertainment.com and have the card by the time you check-in at the hotel. DON'T FORGET TO BRING YOUR CARD THOUGH!

Note that there are two different kinds of "hotel discounts" now in the book. The one you want to check first is the "HOTELS AT HALF PRICE" offer as that is usually the best deal when it's available.

iceeu2

<I think on Oahu, we will use the Sunset Dinner Cruise, Nick's Fishmarket, and Hau Tree Lanai for restaurants..>

I don't see a Sunset Dinner Cruise coupon in the book -- am I looking in the wrong place? I see the other two. ((b))

Bman...will let you know the coupon # tomorrow, my book is at work. But, if you go to dream-cruises.com..it is The Island Grill Sunset Fun Cruise...I think that's even how it's listed in the book.

Found it!!! I guess you gotta look in the right place. I looked under cruise, sunset cruise, dream cruise, etc. It's under "I" - A113. Thanks. ((b))

I called their 800 number to make a reservation, and guess what??? They don't accept the coupons anymore. It'll cost you $55 a person, + tax.

Scratch that one off the list. I think I'll just watch the fireworks from the Hilton and then go out for a nice dinner. ((b))

Wait a minute....there is a coupon...that they obviously put in the book ...and don't accept it??? What's up with that? I call that bs, don't you?

BS is right! The young lady I talked with said they stopped taking the coupons as of 1 Jan 05 and somehow couldn't stop the ad before the book went to print. I can see how they would be losing money on this 2 for 1.

Nick's does take it, but couldn't find out about Hau Tree Lanai.((b))

When ggrtist posted her recent Oahu trip report, she used the card at Hau Tree Lanai, but I will find out for sure.

iceeu2, Hau Tree Lanai accepts the ET card. An FYI for others who have more than 2 people, if you look in the rules at the front of the book, it says that a maximum of 3 cards will be accepted for up to three 2 for 1 meals in the same party. We had cards from the Hawaii book and LA, so we used both cards. Another place that's pretty good is Don Ho's in the Aloha Tower marketplace.

We also used ET coupon for 2 for 1 Star of Honolulu cruise, but I think it may only be for the day cruise. If anyone wants a fun, but cheap sunset cruise on Oahu, you can go to Waikiki Beach and catch the catamarans for $15 pp and they usually have $2 mai tais and beer. They go out for about an hour. No dinner, but you get the same sunset view.

ggrtist...thanks for the heads up..and where on Waikiki Beach for the catamarans?

Also, to others...car rental rates just blow my mind...thru the entertainment discount using the $20 off a weekly rate coupon, I had gotten a total of $177.13 for an intermediate for 10 days on Kauai....I just now checked, entered the exact same parameters...and got a total rate of $158.20...btw, these are National..Guess you just have to keep on keeping on!

the catamarans are mainly in front of the Royal Hawaiian and Sheraton. I have another TR from last May in which I wrote about the one we took. Here's info on another one http://nahokuii.com/

Keep checking with the car rates..its true, they just get lower and lower. Alamo is good w/ ET book too.

Rental car rates are screwy in Hawaii. Avis doesn't take the Entertainment book coupons in Hawaii. I originally booked for $156 for a week and when I heard about National's rates of $117, I checked again. Rates came down to $127, then later plugged in the dates and got them for $122. It's now back up to $133 as of today. ((b))

The Hawaii Entertainment book is great. I live on Oahu and buy one every year, usually waiting until they go for 1/2 price.
Anyone visiting Hawaii (any islands) should also look at the tourist books (free) that you can get many places including airport baggage areas.
You can also go online and they'll send you copies for any or all islands for a few $$. These have many coupons and also things to see and do on the islands.
www.thisweek.com
www.spotlighthawaii.com
www.101thingstodo.com

dusty, thanks for the websites...just checked out thisweek.com and was very helpful...can't wait to look at the other two.

Guess, I should have put my post here instead!

ALL entertainment books (including Hawaii) are now 9.99 beginning today. Shipping is 5.00 per book!

maybe you need to go through a special link for the 9.99, I went to look one up for a diff city and it was only 1/2 off.

Re: car rentals...if you check with orbitz, they'll give you the rates for all the companies to compare. Then double check w/ the company site directly. Not sure if it was mentioned, but travelzoo.com also posts good deals.

Are there discounts to restaurants in Kauai?

How can I purchase one? (sorry, it's probably in the post somewhere, but I can't find it :) )

MaiTaiMary...this is a pretty long post, so it may be there and it may not be....the only good it might (and I use might strongly) do you any good on Kauai is for the rental car.

Otherwise, you are wasting your money unless you are also spending a few days on another island.

Are you still going to be on Kauai on May 27th? You realize we are having a GTG at The Islander, don't you?

We'll be gone by then, but thanks anyway. :)

I think we already got a good deal on the rental car- 2 weeks/mini van for $400.

Rental cars:

Another good place to check is Costco online. But be sure to compare. It was a better deal on Oahu than Maui for us.
I originally rented a full size at National for $173.01 with an entertainment coupon, but through Budget at Costco it was $149.91!( These are for 5 days.
On Maui for 8 days I used the National $20 off weekly rental coupon and got a full size for $167.75.

Entertainment book: I bought it for the $17.50 + shipping and when it took me back to the home sight it said it was $9.99! I am waiting for a response from them as to whether I get the $9.99 price or not.

More on rental cars:

It seems that booking rental cars in Kauai is like playing the lottery. I tried running the numbers for National for mid July. 12 days in mid July comes out to $200 more than 12 days in mid May($450 vs. $250 for a midsize). I understand July is high season but ouch! I ran the same numbers at Thrifty and came up with $335 price in mid July vs. $255 in mid May. I think I'll go with Thrifty. Though I wonder if I should place my bets and wait... Too bad Thrifty isn't in the Entertainment book.

I just bought my entertainment book for $9.99 plus $5.00 shipping. I used the Lahaina zip code 96761.

I must be missing something? I tried the Lahaina zip code, but still came up with only 1/2 Off (17.50) + shipping. :-o

Any other suggestions on getting the lower price? Thanks! Belle

Belle, I noticed yesterday on the banner ads at biddingfortravel.com that all entertainment books were $9.99. Maybe if you go to their website and link from there you will get it.

OSB Go to
http://www.entertainment.com/save/home

and plug in a Maui zip, should show "All books now $9.99..." etc.

Just ordered it, worth it for Maui at that price.

Got IT! Thanks to both of you! I had already gone to biddingfortravel to get it...I guess as you were typing percy! Thanks so much!! Belle