FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Aloha and Mahalo for visiting the FAQ page! We understand that you may have additional questions that are not listed below, so please send us a message on our contact page and we will get back to you within 24 hours!
Anyone who wants to visit Hawaii! Whether it’s Surprise Travel or Traditional Travel, Always Aloha Travel specializes in customized Hawaiian vacations! Family vacations, Honeymoons, Reunions, Golf Retreats or anyone who wants to have the best time of their life!
The commonality with our customers is that they have a passion for travel, have a curiosity for Hawaii and the courage to go out of their comfort zone to experience something totally new! If that sounds like you, then fill out the questionnaire and get your Hawaii vacation plans started!
Why not? Surprise works on the dopamine system in our brains, which helps us to focus our attention and inspires us to look at situations in a new way! Traveling automatically inspires wonder, curiosity and connecting with new cultures! So why shouldn’t your travel itinerary be the same?
Allowing Always Aloha Travel to do all the planning and research is priceless! Why should you spend countless hours doing all that? Let Always Aloha Travel take the inconvenience out of it all and customize an amazing vacation that you will remember for the rest of your life! We Know Hawaii!!!
All you have to do is sit back and wait for your travel date! Also having a local contact on Maui is a benefit that other companies cannot offer! And don't forget that if Surprise Travel isn't what you want, Always Aloha Travel can still customize Traditional Travel and you can help plan it!
At Always Aloha Travel our "No Worries" Cancellation gives you confidence and peace of mind that you have someone on your side looking out for you! "No worries" really means you will not have to worry!
New travel rules and restrictions throughout the world have changed the way we travel and have made planning future travel uncertain and stressful. That’s why Always Aloha Travel is here for you! If you are unable to travel and need to cancel your Surprise or Traditional vacation, you have until 30 days prior to your departure date to cancel for a refund, minus the airline ticket cost and our fees. It gets tricky with the airlines because they only offer a 24-hour cancellation policy from the time of booking and under most circumstances will not provide any refund after this time period. Always Aloha Travel will assist you in securing all refunds and/or travel credits you are owed by airlines, hotels, and any other suppliers and vendors. Most hotels and activity and tour suppliers, however, have a more flexible cancellation policy usually between 24-72 hours prior. Please note that the closer you get to your departure date, the harder it becomes to attain refunds.
Where applicable, these travel credits will be retained by Always Aloha Travel to be used to rebook your trip at a later date. Please keep in mind that Always Aloha Travel cannot guarantee any type of refund. You will remain responsible for any cancellation fees imposed by the airlines, hotels, suppliers, and any vendors or providers that we conduct business with since Always Aloha Travel is subject to the rules and regulations set forth by those businesses. In addition, the service fee to Always Aloha Travel for the work done for the research, the planning and reserving your trip is also nonrefundable.
"No Worries" Cancellation is our way of getting everyone excited to travel again– encouraging you to look forward to your vacation, knowing that if things change, you won’t lose out! That’s our promise...Always!
Always Aloha Travel specializes in customized and fully personalized travel to the Hawaiian Islands. We love providing one-of-a-kind experiences to our customers. We are not into over-planning our travel itineraries, so we take the answers you provided in the questionnaire and plan just enough so you still have plenty of free time to do your own thing. This way you can enjoy each day to the fullest! Making memories is what vacation is all about!
Whether it's planned or spontaneous, we want you to get out there and explore...That’s what Hawaii is all about!
When filling out the questionnaire, you’ll be asked to answer some questions and at the end tell us a little about yourself and the style of travel you decided on. Some of the questions might seem unusual but it all paints a picture of the type of traveler you are. We urge you take your time and put some serious thought into the questions. The answers you provide become the foundation for your trip. The more information you can give us about the kind of vacation you are looking for, the better! Too much information is never a bad thing!
Depending on the time of year, we feel that the best time to book your vacation is about 8 months in advance of your travel dates. At that point, flight schedules are published and sometimes hotels and activity suppliers will still have discounted pricing. However, if you’ll be traveling during peak season, it’s best to book even further in advance to avoid hotels, transportation or activities from selling out. Keep in mind that Hawaii is one of those destinations that is visited all year round however the holidays are a more busier time of the year so plan your dates accordingly!
*Please note that we do request a minimum of a 2-week lead time before your departure so we can guarantee all the pieces come together that form an epic vacation!
An Epic Vacation: Forget about all the research and planning because you can push that all aside and focus on having the time of your life! Get an amazing trip customized to your style!
Flights, Car Rentals, Accommodations, Transfers & Activities: Prices are never guaranteed until the reservations have been confirmed or ticketed! Book ahead of time to guarantee you will be able to do all that the islands have to offer. The last thing you want to do is miss out on doing everything that will make your Hawaiian vacation memorable!
Customized Travel: Every vacation is planned with YOU in mind! Because YOU provided all the information in the questionnaire! Always Aloha Travel customizes a unique and one-of-a-kind vacation for every client!
All taxes & fees: No hidden fees or extra charges that will surprise you during your trip. Taxes and fees aren't included in the 20% service fee but will be added into the total budget.
Customer support seven days a week: Always Aloha Travel offers an on-island service that other companies don't because we are based on Maui! We are just a phone call or email away if you need us before, during or after your trip!
Concierge services: We are here for You…Always!
Changes at no extra cost wherever possible: Some fees like the airlines imposed charges cannot be waived, however Always Aloha Travel will do everything possible for our clients!
"No Worries" Cancellation: When we say "No Worries", we mean it! If anything comes up and you need to change or cancel your travel, Always Aloha Travel will take care of everything so you have "No Worries"!
Then Traditional Travel is a better fit for you! While the unknown and suspense of Surprise Travel is what we love, Always Aloha Travel is always happy to assist you in the planning! We will still request that you fill out the questionnaire but instead of the surprise factor all the travel details are available to you 7 days prior to your travel date! Of course, there will still be some surprises along the way…because that's who we are!
YES!! Arrival times may vary from person to person, but Always Aloha Travel will do our best to get everyone together when possible. In some instances, connecting airports could be a possible meet point for the final leg of the trip!
Unfortunately, NO! Hawaii is the only rabies free state, and we plan to keep it that way. Unless you’re willing to pay extra fees for blood tests, vet bills and shipping costs then I would plan on leaving your fur friend at home.
Our 10% fee is built into the total cost of the trip! There are no hidden fees or charges! However, the hotel or resort may charge local taxes or resort fees and can vary by property, number of nights and number of guests. The airlines also have imposed fees that may apply to your trip. Always Aloha Travel will do their best to advise of any of these charges ahead of time, so you know what to expect.
If your budget is $10,000, then that’s what the total will be. Once we receive your questionnaire and payment, we will begin to customize a vacation for you with the goal of utilizing your budget to the fullest. We take a small service fee (10%), but the majority of your budget goes towards your trip. If you'd like to see the receipts for your reservations after your trip, we'll be more than happy to email them over!
What the budget doesn’t include: The budget you provide to us does not include changes, checked baggage fees, food, souvenir shopping and on island charges like resort fees, parking or tips. You will need to account for that spending separately.
Yes…Always Aloha Travel will invoice each traveler the amount due! Please provide an email address for each traveler so the invoice can be sent directly to them. We can invoice up to 4 different payments per vacation.
Since we need to keep the surprise under wraps, we do not process frequent flyer numbers or hotel reward points. If we did, you'd be able to log in to your account to see information about your trip and you would receive email notifications and that would ruin everything! Thankfully most airlines and hotels allow you to add your loyalty number after your trip, so you can still get the points from your trip with us. However, if you are going with the Traditional Travel using miles or points may be an option for an additional fee. Please add that information on the questionnaire.
You’re coming to Hawaii!! Less is better and remember that the temperature is basically 80 degrees all year! Side note, if you plan to visit Haleakala on Maui or Mauna Kea/Mauna Loa on the Big Island then you’ll want to bring warmer clothing to be prepared for the chillier temperatures!
Airlines allow one personal item and one larger carry-on bag for all travelers. Travelers get one smaller bag (purse, laptop bag, backpack) that will fit under the seat in front of you, as well as one carry-on suitcase that will fit in the overhead compartment. The standard size for a carry-on suitcase is (22 inches x 14 inches x 9 inches, including handles and wheels).
If you would like to check a bag, you can do so when you arrive at the airport. You will be responsible for checked bag fees. Most airlines charge between $25-40 per checked bag, each way. Remember that less is better! Bringing just a carry on will save time, money and aggravation at the airport when you arrive. Nothing is worse than losing your luggage and having to wait for the airlines to find your bags, so pack light if you can!
We will check you in for your outbound flight and will email you your boarding pass on the day of your departure. You will be responsible for checking yourself in for your flight home. Your itinerary contains all the flight information (confirmation number, flight number, departure times, etc.) that you need to get your return boarding passes. If you have any questions just give us a call and we’ll be more than happy to help!
For Surprise Travel, your itinerary will be available when you arrive on the island! Due to the Surprise factor, receiving any information too soon would ruin the surprise! For Traditional Travel, you will receive your itinerary 7 days prior to departure.
If there is a specific feature you want in a hotel (pool, spa, gym) or a specific hotel brand preference, please tell us in your questionnaire and we’ll do our best to accommodate the request! All of our hotel partners are non-smoking properties.
There is a maximum of 4 adults (those over the age of 18) per room. If your trip has 5+ travelers, then you will require 2 rooms or a suite. Anything more than a standard room increases the total budget for your trip. If you are traveling with children (those below the age of 18), in most cases you can have up to two adults and two children in one hotel room.
Flight prices fluctuate depending on travel dates and departure location. Your departure airport has a big impact on the cost of your trip. Larger, international airports offer more flight options at lower costs than smaller, regional airports. If you can depart from a large airport with many daily departures, you may be able to fly nonstop but if you are departing from a midsize or small airport, most likely will require a connecting flight.
While we always try to get travelers on a direct flight to Hawaii, there can be limitations on the availability of such flights. Selecting a non-stop flight is more likely to entail a higher ticket cost.
If you have any specific requests for your travel arrangements, please include that information on the questionnaire. We will do our best to accommodate any requests you make and will reach out if there are any questions!
After your trip, if you'd like to see the receipts for your reservations, we'll be more than happy to send them to you!
Sorry, Always Aloha Travel does not offer travel insurance. We recommend checking your credit card benefits, that may be an option that is provided when that card is used.
The islands have so much to offer and we want to give you time to explore, so throughout the day we'll allow for some down time! We'll provide suggestions, so you’ll always find something to do!
We won’t be hurt or upset if you choose to skip something on the itinerary that doesn't sound like you but we encourage you to give it a try. Unfortunately, we do not offer refunds for not liking the activity that was planned. Sometimes stepping out of our comfort zone and allowing yourself to try new things can be so rewarding and so fulfilling! When it comes to planning your itinerary, we make sure to plan all the “must see” places for the island you visit from the information that you provided. We also like to recommend some “off the beaten path” places, because you never know what is around the corner! Like we said, nobody is forcing you to do anything you don't want to but be adventurous and give it a chance! You just might be SURPRISED!
Always Aloha Travel is available 24/7 by phone or email in case you need anything while you're traveling! If you have an emergency or issue with any of the accommodations or plans, feel free to reach out to us immediately and we will work to resolve it. However, please keep in mind we are a travel company, so we have no control over airline delays or a room issue. We will do everything possible to make sure everything is the way you want it to be!
Yes! Always Aloha Travel loves planning family trips! If your children have any specific interests or any dislikes, please be sure to mention that on your questionnaire. We’ll make sure we include family-friendly recommendations so everyone will have a great vacation!
*Please note that if your child is under 2 years old, they can fly for free as a lap child. This means that the child cannot occupy a seat and must stay on the lap of the parent at all times when seated. Please be sure to include their name and date of birth along with the list of all the travelers. Also, if there are any specific needs like a car seat or crib please advise so those requests can be confirmed! If your child is over 2 years old, then they will require a plane ticket and must also be included in the traveler information.
Always Aloha Travel
Phone: 808-446-6274