The Perfect Honolulu Monthly Rental

Hawaii is a wonderful place to rent a vacation property.

If you are in need of a rental property in Honolulu you should know that the area is divided up into four key areas; Downtown, Waikiki, Manoa and Waimanalo/Kaneoho. Before you start to look for a rental here, you should choose the area that best suits you, and come up with a target budget. When you rent a property in Honolulu you will still have to pay for your own food, utilities and other personal living costs. It is vital to work out how much you can spend on rent and other bills while still affording plenty of food. Most of the rental properties in Honolulu will require a full credit history check, security deposit, as well as first and last month’s rent and personal and professional recommendations as well some proof of your current employment. You will need to sign a legally binding lease. Before renting make sure you are fully aware of what utilities, if any, will be included in your monthly rental payments; this often includes heating and water, while the phone and electricity bills tend to be the renter’s responsibility.

If you are renting in down town, prices per month can be quite affordable when choosing an unfurnished studio with its own living area and bathroom. Situated in the west of Oahu, Downtown Honolulu is conveniently located nearby plenty of shopping, dining and business locations as well as a major airport. If you have several thousand dollars to spend each month you can rent a three bedroom bungalow that is immediately across from the beach. The price here is obviously very expensive, but this is because of the beautiful and convenient location. Renting here you can get not only three bedrooms but also two bathrooms in a cottage setting near the area’s major retail district.

Monoa, situated in the south west of Oahu, has several breathtaking beaches. A single bedroom studio rental here will starts in the $700 range per month. Alternatively one can spend a few thousand dollars and reside in a two bedroom apartment with views overlooking the water. For a cheaper price tag, the rental property commonly includes one bedroom which is pre furnished and lacks any spectacular views.

Waikiki, situated in the south end of Oahu, is incredibly popular amongst fans of beaches and surfing. A rental in Honoululu’s Waikiki area easily costs upward of a few thousand dollars a month, and properties available for rent are incredibly difficult to come by. If you are thinking about renting a property in Waikiki you will have to be extremely aggressive when it comes to pursuing an available rental property. An unfurnished single bedroom apartment with one parking spot is one of the more popular options so is the hardest to come by. If you are willing to pay a higher amount per month you can get yourself an unfurnished cottage property in a private gated community. Neither are right on the water, and any waterfront properties in Waikiki are not only almost impossible to find, but are equally difficult to pay for.

The last area you might consider when seeking a rental in Honolulu is the Waimanalo/Kaneohe area. On the east coast of Oahu, properties here are extremely popular amongst renters. A three bedroom home in an executive style will cost a few thousand dollars per month and includes your utility expenses.

When renting a home in Honolulu you may feel overwhelmed at first, especially with such high prices – but so long as you can set a firm budget and stick to it, you will find a place that is perfect for you.

CURAÇAO: Ready for its Close Up

For a long time, Curaçao was content to let its beachier Dutch Caribbean siblings Aruba and St. Maarten steal the holiday spotlight – but no longer. Over the last decade, the island has charted a steady course to cultivate its vacation appeal, and now, as the projects come to fruition, is the ideal time to see Curaçao’s charms for yourself. sophisticated capital city Willemstad has more in common with European hamlets than typical tropical hot spots; there are also quiet, sandy bays tucked into indolent coves, a handful of dive sites that rank among the Caribbean’s best, and a wildly cosmopolitan array of restaurants, museums, shops, and casinos.

ON THE WATERFRONT

Guarding the entrance to Willemstad’s St. Anna Bay, the 183-year-old Rif Fort may never have seen combat, but the site is seeing action nowadays with the addition of a new cruise-ship dock, a resort and a mall. The hub of the development is the Renaissance Curaçao Resort and Casino. A 237-room Marriott hotel with the capital’s first “beach” – a saltwater swimming pool fronting the rock shore, its sandy bottom cleaned by starfish; palm tress and cabanas round out the scene. While many rooms face the ocean, avoid those with a view of the interior atrium unless you want to audit a conference.

Nearing completion on a heretofore undeveloped coastline at the entrance to the natural harbor Spanish Water, the 348 room Hyatt Regency Curaçao Golf Resort, Spa and Marina is the focal point of a new 1500-acre residential community, Santa Barbara Plantation. Surrounded by desert terrain, the resort exterior is draped in marble quarried from Tafelberg, the peak rising above the property. Rooms feature Indonesian teak accents and views overlooking Barbara Beach, now wrapped by a marina and pier. A major draw will be the Pete Dye-designed 7.200-yard golf course, snaking gingerly across the spare landscape. The  $150 million project is slated to open in January.

ALL-ACCESS HOTEL

Curaçao is now home to Caribbean’s first hotel catering specifically to guests with mobility issues. Each of the 19 rooms at Dolphin Suites has oversize doorways, roll in showers, and user-friendly furnishings sporting and inviting, modern black-and-white design. A kitchen or kitchenette fosters a homey environment, and baby-sitting can be arranged. The hotel’s Brucker Biofeedback Center provides therapy designed to improve mobility for people with paralysis, and the Sea Aquarium across the street uses dolphins in programs for children with physical or mental challenges.

The popular Lions Dive & Beach Resort has upgraded its older rooms and added a third restaurant and 25 svelte apartments, each with sliding doors, opening onto broad balconies. The hotel is also now home to what could be the only 50-meter lap pool at a Caribbean resort, an infinity-edged beauty that reaches for the shore.

The historic neighborhood surrounding Avila Hotel continues to spruce up, perhaps spurred on by expansions and improvements at the hotel, now in its 60^th year. The new Octagon wing is sleek and contemporary, its 68 rooms featuring the latest mod cons; the premiere unit is the 1,544-square-foot Bolivar Suite with wraparound balcony. Above the rebuilt main restaurant, there’s a new first-rate gym, featuring a TechnoGym KinesisWall, and the Santai Spa.

CELESTIAL DINING

Perhaps Angelique M.C. Schoop, and island pharmacist, didn’t need a second career, but she found one by opening Angelica’s Kitchen, a cooking school conducted in her childhood home.The 1896 abode has been gently remodeled to accommodate groups that sign up for classes led by Clarita Pieter-Hagenaar. A spoonful of island history and culture goes down nicely with wine and salsa music while the meal is prepared. Across the street, Schoop’s Angelica’s Delight is open all day for pastries (sweet or savory), coffee and champagne; the Sunday brunch has become a fast success.

Although Willemstad lacks a natural beachfront, the sun shines in on the new Moon Beach Club, Lounge & Restaurant. Set in a rejuvenated older neighborhood on the rocky coast, a sandscape surrounds a pool perched next to the sea – 15 guilders ($8.50) buys a cabana or space-age lounge ned for the day. The elegant design eschews tropical embellishments in favor of geometrics – cubes and spheres in white accented with bright yellow pillow. At the restaurant, dig into Black Angus tournedos, Mediterranean vegetable risotto, and oysters with pepper, shallots and red wine vinegar.

GO WEST

New Hempshire-imports David and Sunshine Livingston bought a house in remote Westpunt and quickly realized a Curaçao water bill ran quite a bit more than a New England one. To make ends meet, they opened an informal restaurant. Sol Food, serving grilled meat and fresh fish, salads, burgers and “the best pizza in Banda ‘bou.” The couple happily shares a wealth of insider tips alongside scrumptious brownies.

PADDLE POWER

When Ryan de Jongh became concerned about the financial stability of CARMABI, a local foundation studying and protecting Curaçao’s ecology, the took matters into his own kayak and paddled around the island to help raise funds. His 33-hour, 93-mile voyage raised $67.000. Buoyed by the success, he’ll embark November 1, 2009, on a 22-day solo paddled from St. Maarten to Curaçao, a 977-mile journey hop scotching through the eastern Caribbean. Join de Jongh on his (more leisurely) afternoon Eco Kayak Tours on Wednesdays through the mangroves of Piscadera Bay, next to the Hilton hotel.

Beach Vacations

A true beach vacation is a relaxing getaway to a sandy beach perfect for lounging in the sun, sipping refreshing cocktails, and forgetting about all your worries.  Beach vacations have become one of the most important milestones in some families’ annual plans.  Selecting a hotel-resort can make or break a beach vacation as there are so many elements that contribute to a trip’s success.  Many families choose to rent a vacation rental, usually a beach cottage, that is waterfront and includes all of the amenities travelers would expect from home.  However, the majority typically choose to stay at a hotel or resort.  This latter option provides a seamless experience that includes beach time, nightlife, and overnight accommodation.

The Grand Wailea is located in upcountry Maui and is one of Hawaii’s most renown beach vacation resorts.  Featuring stunning ocean views and surrounded by mesmerizing gardens and lush tropical greenery, the resort not only encompasses a beautiful white sand beach but also includes a renowned arty collection, 780 rooms and suites, a full-service spa, championship golf, a variety of dining venues, eleven tennis courts, and even a children’s camp.  A number of organized on-site activities, including water sports, cultural explorations, and lifestyle classes, can add to an already fabulous time at the beach.