Barbara

sss, I live in San Diego. My son and his friends body board all summer and all have top quality fins. They all got blisters, some very bad, until they got socks. You were very lucky.

sss

good to know Barb you think I have just been lucky all these years? Will get a sock for the young one. But aren't those boogie board fins different than snorkle fins?

linda

fins masks and snorkels are a bit like shoes,renting cheap ones gives some people blisters, others not, if you are the sort of person with feet that blister easily you might consider buying.
if you live near a dive shop it is worth going in and having a look what they have in your price range.
a good dive shop will often have good special offers.
if you look after your equiptment (ALWAYS rinse in fresh water after using) it will last you for years,
one of our dive club friends has had his mask for twenty years.
hope this helps .

Iza

Sarah, your deal is actually not bad. I am seeing LAX to Lih at $672.00 for August now. But flying from Hartford to LAX is now at $420 or so. How did you manage to find $243 from phila to SFO?

sss

I just feel like it was not that long ago you could fly to Australia on 1050.
243 fare came from Orbitz, my sister lives near Philly so it is actually a better stop for them to fly out of. I have a flight coupon from a trip I cancelled after 911 so I did not pay for my flight out of JFK. I am just a bit worried about you because you are not near a hub. Philadelphia has traditionally been more expensive than NYC. Last year they came up and we flew out of Newark. I think you should do a post on what people paid last year.

Remember the west coast route popping down to 300 and or lower last summer. I did a post recently and people said 400 was high from NYC. $244 was a good price again to NYC they did not know about Philly if memory serves. They also said as a rule it was too early for me to book a flight to CA but if I established what the good fare was and then saw it I should grab it.

Also want to remember sometimes there is a break if you fly into Oakland although than I would also fly to Hawaii out of Oakland. Freguently coast hopers like this airport better, easier to navigate.

Barbara

sss, yes, you're correct. Body board fins are pretty rigid, not at all the same as flexible snorkel fins. We have both and have not had a problem with blistering with the flexible type. I think it may have something to do with the sand in the water. When snorkelling, the water is calm, so not much sand is being stirred up. The opposite is true, of course, when using a body board. One little grain of sand stuck between the fin and your skin can do a world of damage.

sss

lza also found hotelonsale.com has a great bargain shop for hotels Kauai and elsewhere in Hawaii. Hyatt 286 but after I made my reservation looks like some event booked up hotel. Still try maybe you are on that side different dates. also other hotels are on there if you need.

Iza

Sarah, thanks for the tips on hotelsonsale.com. We are all set with accommodations though. I reserved a week in Poipu (Poipu Kai, next door to the Hyatt - Hyatt is completely booked for our dates) and a week in Princeville (Puu Poa). Now need to get those air tickets and a car..
What are you doing about the car, Sarah?

sss

AAA rates through agency that I don't have the name from is who has the best rates. I will post if I get this info off of my sister

Bill

Last trip we rented - for 9 days. We decided that for this year and future trips (to HI and Carribean) we were going to buy everything except fins (because of the bulk), and then just rent the fins.
I don't want to give out free advertising, but I found that if you carefully search and shop the web, masks , snorkels and vests can be had for just a touch more than 2 one week rentals - so by the third trip you are ahead and have stuff that fits. I wear a prescription mask, and found an online source that adds them for $40 installed, already got mine and it works great.

Carol

thing is bill you can't get fit from the web so you do need to go in and try stuff on. I have a petite face and always wear a child's mask would never have known this if I had'nt tried on a few masks with an experienced diver in a dive shop. Regular sales people also won't know the particulars about fit at least this was my experience.

linda

a crafty tip for anyone wanting to buy dive /snorkel gear on the net. go down to your local dive shop,try on a few masks etc find the brand that fits you best,then go home and see if you get a better price on the net.
also if you are buying several things in one go ASK FOR A DISCOUNT most stores will give you mony off or a free gear bag or such like.

Cherylle

Hi Iza, My husband and I are also planning our trip to Hawaii (but in November - 7 nights). My searches were showing lax to koa and koa to lax for 2 people averaging $550 and up per person. www.funjet.com was able to give us a fair deal ($958.50 total) that includes, round trip air fare from LA to koa, alamo rental 4 door economy rental car for the time we are there and standard lei greeting upon arrival. if we didn't include the lei greeting the cost would have been $928.50 - you can customize your trip with this online place. so far these prices have been resonable based on what i am finding. hope this is helpful