California Dreaming to Hawaiian Breezes. San Diego and Hawaii. 10 Nights, 2 Iconic Coasts, 1 Epic Vacation.

Meet the group at the airport and board our flight to California 

Upon our arrival in San Diego we will transfer to the hotel the 4* Westgate Hotel

Featuring spectacular views of downtown San Diego, this hotel is adjacent to the trolley station. It boasts a rooftop outdoor pool, a full-service spa, a gym and a restaurant. All guest rooms offer free WiFi.

Adorned with hand-crafted European furniture, The Westgate Hotel offers rooms with a 49-inch LED TV and a CD/DVD player. Each room includes a safety deposit box. Guests can print documents from their room to a main printer, then the hotel staff will personally deliver printed documents back to guests.

Bonne Vie Brasserie & Bar serves French-inspired cuisine with fresh, coastal Californian ingredients. Afternoon Tea, with live harp music, is available Wednesday through Sunday. Live entertainment takes place in the Grand Lobby on Friday and Saturday nights.

Hotel Westgate provides a business centre and laundry services. Ticket services are also available. An outdoor heated lap pool, a hot tub and a unique running track are all provided to guests.

Throughout the tour we will be staying in twin rooms but there is an option to have a room to yourself for the trip. If you wish to have a room to yourself for the 10 nights you have 2 options:

For a room without balcony in Hawaii the supplement for the whole trip is £490 

For a room with  balcony in Hawaii the supplement for the whole trip is £590 

The Travel Buddies trips work on the basis that as long as you are having a good time then that is what matters, if you don’t feel like coming on one of the excursions or joining the rest of the group for dinner one evening then that is absolutely fine. This is an adventure for everyone and there is nothing worse than having to go somewhere/do something that you don’t really fancy!

Feel free to do as much or as little research as you like, some members will know what they would like to visit as soon as they book the trip, Others will just turn up at the airport and have not researched at all. Either is absolutely fine. We all have different ideas as to what constitutes a great time away! 

This evening we will head for dinner  in the iconic Gaslamp Quarter, the dynamic heart of downtown San Diego. Spanning 16 blocks, it blends Victorian-era architecture with modern skyscrapers. Once a notorious 19th-century red-light district, it is now a bustling hub for dining, shopping, and nightlife. 

It’s straight out to explore San Diego today on a fully guided highlights tour including city and beach locations. 

Stops along the way include Little Italy, the largest little Italy in America and Balboa Park

Ride over the San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge, Witness spectacular views of the San Diego skyline and Coronado- the crown city. Make a stop at La Jolla Cove, one of the most popular attractions in San Diego where we can see the seals in their natural habitat.

Discover a great view of Downtown skyline from Ferry Landing and the elegant Hotel Del Coronado, a true historic landmark dating back to 1888. Get some lunch on Orange Avenue and take a stroll on the beach. 

Fully guided trip to Tijuana.

This morning we will make our way to the border with Mexico and cross over at one of the busiest  border crossings in the world with our guide (there are around 200,000 crossings daily). First stop is Tijuana’s vibrant main street, Avenida Revolucion.

Stroll along soaking up lively music and seeing locals go about their daily lives. Walk past colorful cantinas, dance clubs, and galleries. Discover a multicultural mosaic that combines Mexican and Californian culture in a unique way.

Visit historical buildings and emblematic places. Stop to capture photos at some murals. Refuel along the way with some tacos that come with some tasty toppings and spicy salsas. 

Return transfers and a Taco lunch are included 

Free afternoon 

Dinner locally 

Today we have a free day to do as we please, we will have lots of information for you as to what you might wish to do. 

Perhaps you will choose to relax at the hotel, take a trolley bus tour or visit the Iconic zoo. There are many options. 

Dinner will be booked locally

This morning after breakfast and check out it’s time to take our private transfer to the airport for our direct flight Oahu home to Honolulu and the famous Waikiki beach where we will be spending 6 glorious nights.

Upon arrival we will take the short private transfer to our gorgeous hotel the Wayfinder Waikiki which has been voted by Conde Nast readers as one of the top 10 hotels in Hawaii. 

This Honolulu hotel is 5 minutes’ walk from Waikiki Beach and overlooks Ala Wai golf course. The hotel offers an outdoor swimming pool and Wi-Fi is included in the price and provided in all rooms.

Guest rooms feature a TV with cable channels, an in-room safety deposit box,  and a refrigerator. An en suite bathroom with bathtub is also provided.

There are three dining outlets onsite including a poolside bar, coffee house, and sit-down restaurant offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Breakfast is not included but there is a wonderful A La Carte menu (expect to pay around $15-$30 each day)

After settling in to the hotel after our flight we will have time to explore and relax at the hotel and then head out for dinner locally

Today we embark on an Ultimate Circle Island Tour of Oahu. 

Sit back and relax as we spend a full day tour experiencing the “real Hawaii”. 

On this Oahu circle island tour, we’ll be transported to see a rural side of Oahu where we’ll learn about its unique culture and history and experience some of the most sacred places on the island.

We’ll discover Hawaii’s history and see waterfalls, sharp cliffs and rain forests as well as stopping off at a macadamia nut farm, shrimp shacks, and the dole pineapple plantation. (just don’t get lost in the pineapple maze)!

We’ll stop at Kualoa Regional Park and see one of Oahu’s most iconic landmarks, “Chinaman’s Hat.”and spot surfers and bodyboarders getting pounded by the massive, monstrous waves. 

Stop off at Leonard’s Bakery, a staple on the island of Oahu for over 60 years. It is known for its malasadas, a Portuguese deep-fried doughnut that is often coated in sugar and cinnamon. Malasadas are a popular snack item in Hawaii, and Leonard’s Bakery is considered to have some of the best on the island. The bakery is also well-known for its pastries, cakes, and other assorted sweet treats! Not to be missed!  

To end the tour we visit the famous  Turtle Beach where we can spot Green Hawaiian Sea Turtles and tropical fish. Swim or relax on the beach during an hour-long stop.

Return transfers are included. There will be many opportunities during the day to enjoy traditional foods and drinks throughout the tour. Just choose as you go, whatever takes your fancy (additional charge)

This evening we will head out for pre dinner Cocktails at Hawaii’s favourite rooftop bar 

Dinner locally

Today it’s time to hit the Beach …..

For those of us who have always wanted to try it…. Why not take a Surf Session? Start by catching the waves at Waikiki Beach Surfing lessons or rent a board for a classic longboard experience where Hawaiian royalty used to ride.

Marine Exploration: Cool off by snorkeling in the crystal-clear waters of Queen’s Beach ( just an 8 minute walk) a designated Marine Life Conservation District

Mid-Day Bites & Culture: Dry off and stroll over to enjoy fresh tropical fruits or an acai bowl, and take in free Hawaiian music or hula performances

This evening we Honour the forgotten heroes of Oahu with an  unforgettable luau experience. 

Celebrate the Polynesian culture, live music, and dancing and journey through the islands of Hawaii, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Tahiti, and Cook Islands

Indulge in a  buffet  of delicious island cuisine including Kalua Pork, Taro Rolls, Okinawan Sweet Potatoes and Grilled pineapple. Witness Polynesia’s history of wars and warriors through the art of hula and fire dancing, embracing the spirit of aloha. 

Taking place on the sacred site of the Battle of Kipapa, you’ll experience mesmerizing music, warm hospitality, and the chance to connect with the heart and soul of the islands.

Mid section seating is booked for the performance and round trip hotel transfers are all included so all you need to do is enjoy!

This morning for those that would like to, we will enjoy a self guided hike to The Manoa Falls. It’s a gorgeous 150 ft waterfall, one of the tallest on the island of Oahu, set in such a beautiful setting that Hollywood keeps coming back to shoot scenes here, The trail and its surrounding lush valleys were used to shoot the dense, rainy jungle sequences in both Lost and Jurassic park 

It  is located on the southeast corner of Honolulu, in the verdant Manoa Valley and next to Lyon Arboretum (one of the most beautiful Botanical gardens on Oahu)

Manoa Falls trail is an out-and-back trail for a total roundtrip distance of 1.6 miles for the entire hike.  It is a short hike, and manageable for even beginning hikers, 

Though short, Manoa Falls trail packs a punch for the observant hiker: lush green canopy and understory of the rainforest jungle, bubbling streams and wooden bridges, pretty Hawaiian forest birds, and the magnificent 150-foot Manoa Falls cascading down a sheer cliff face.

If you like a bit more of a challenge, as the Manoa trail finishes there are additional paths that can be taken although terrain here gets a bit trickier. 

Equally if you would like to visit the nearby botanical gardens before heading back entrance is free but there is a suggested donation of $10 to contribute to the upkeep.

Transfers to the falls are not included and will cost around $30pp. There is no entrance fee to the waterfall. 

Free Afternoon to relax and enjoy. 

Dinner Locally

Free Day to spend exactly how we please, chill at the beach, the hotel pool with a good book,  book an additional tour… the choices are endless……. 

You might like to take a Pearl Harbour tour .Commemorate the events of December 7th, 1941, by paying a visit to the historical Pearl Harbor National Monument. Nearly 2 million visitors per year visit the site of the World War II attacks President FDR famously referred to as “…a date which will live in infamy.” See footage and photos capturing the tragedy of this remarkable and humbling day. ,

Or maybe “The Polynesian Cultural Center” may be the perfect choice and is a real feast for the senses!

A lush retreat into the past, it captures the music, dance, and culture of six Pacific islands: Fiji, Tonga, Tahiti, Aotearoa (New Zealand), and Hawai’i.

A trip along the winding lagoon brings you to native villages from each island. You’ll learn about war canoes, tiki carving, and exotic dances. Husk a coconut, do the hula, and breathe the sea wind. Surrounded by the history and culture of these islands, you will be spirited away into a world unlike any you have ever seen.

This evening lets take the 25 minute walk along the beach to watch the incredible glittering firework display at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Hotel, Popular with local residents and visitors alike, it’s become a beloved tradition in the community, It’s the perfect way to end the week, gathering with new friends on the beach to watch the night sky light up with colours.  

Dinner will be booked locally

Today is our last day on this gorgeous island so we can explore further, do some shopping at the local boutiques, head down to the beach…

This evening we will  board a wonderful sunset cruise starting from below the Aloha Tower, just outside of Waikīkī. 

We start the evening with a greeting by hula dancers and a complimentary Mai Tai (non alcoholic versions are available)

Our sunset dinner cruise includes a buffet-style dinner with everything you love: roast beef, white fish, BBQ chicken, yakisoba noodles, greens, salads, desserts, and more.

The captain will take us on a tour along the coast of Waikīkī, slowly spinning and turning, so throughout the cruise, everyone gets a clear view of the sunset and the coastline. After dinner, explore the upper decks of the Star of Honolulu and take in the panoramic views from the back of the ship.

The perfect way to enjoy our last night in Hawaii.

After enjoying breakfast locally we will check out and take our private transfer to the airport for our flight home.