Travel blog

You’ve set your sights on paradise and now you’re ready to pack your bags—but before you book your trip to the Aloha State, here are some tips for first-time travelers to Hawaii:

Nothing allows you to embrace the open-minded spirit of travel—the willingness to risk and to experience something entirely new, unexpected, and potentially spectacular—like trying local foods. When you step off a long flight, do you seek out burgers and fries? Or do you embrace the culture and take a big bite of adventure?

Many of our tours allow YMT guests to delight in the delicious food offerings of new and exciting destinations. Here are some of the best dishes to try in the places that made them famous:

Hawaii’s crystal-clear but fragile reefs and ocean life are one of the great attractions of the Aloha state, and a resource the state wants to protect for both tourists and locals alike. It’s for this reason governor David Ige signed a sunscreen ban into law on July 3, 2018—a law that doesn’t actually ban all sunscreen, only sunblock products containing certain chemicals.

You’ve finally made it to Hawaii. You’ve got an umbrella drink in one hand, a paperback in the other, and your only shoes are several pairs of brightly colored flip flops. But before you get the idea that a Hawaiian escape is all about the pool deck, we invite you to head a bit further afield to discover the real flavors of the islands. Pull up a seat at the table and enjoy the best of the Aloha State with these 8 beloved Hawaiian foods:

Visitors to Pearl Harbor expect to see the sobering sight of the USS Arizona Memorial. Lying on the floor of the Pacific Ocean, this sunken battleship is the final resting place for many of the 1,177 crewmen who perished in the attack and is the centerpiece of the Pearl Harbor Historic Sites. However, this is only part of what there is to experience during your time at Pearl Harbor.

Back before sun-seeking tourists flocked to Hawaii from the mainland, Tahitian voyagers made the harrowing journey to Hawaii in canoes. These early settlers brought a host of traditions, flavors and customs with them, not the least of which was something called a lei. These natural necklaces were made of flowers, leaves, shells, feathers and even animal bones, and were worn to celebrate and beautify the ancient Hawaiians. They were used as a symbol of friendship, to honor the gods and to seal peace treaties between neighboring chiefs.

Mothers come in all shapes, sizes, and personalities. Some express their love quietly, while others shout it out for everyone to hear. All of them love us, and on Mother’s Day, we get to remind them we love them right back. 

This Mother’s Day, why confine yourself to gifts of flowers and brunch? Show the mom in our life you really care by giving her the trip of a lifetime. Perhaps she’d like a romantic cruise for two, or maybe a land adventure. It all depends on what type of mom you have.

While we can’t say for sure which trip your mom would like best, we do know a little about what certain types of moms like. So, here’s a list of the most common moms we see on our tours, and the type of tours we most often see them on.

So, you’re planning a trip to Hawaii. How will you experience its many different destinations or get from island to island? How will you know where to best spend your time? With YMT Vacations’ Hawaiian Islands Cruise & Tour, you’ll enjoy a 12-day vacation with no hassles and no planning because we take care of it all--—from creating your itinerary, to choosing which sights can’t be missed, to arranging accommodations and providing delectable shipboard meals. And because this journey includes both a cruise and land portion, you’ll enjoy the best of both worlds. Still not convinced? Here are 12 reasons CruiseFever gives for seeing paradise on YMT’s extraordinary tour aboard the Pride of America:

As the temperatures drop and the days grow shorter, we long for the return of the sun. Since ancient times, rituals and merrymaking help us replace the chill of the season with the warmth of family and friends. But have you ever wondered how the holidays are celebrated in tropical climates? While most of us associate Christmas and Hanukkah with a roaring fire and a white blanket of snow, in places like Hawaii, folks manage to find the Christmas spirit as easily on the beach as we do gathered around the hearth. Here are some of the winter traditions celebrated in the Hawaiian Islands:

With the windows rolled down and the breeze rushing through your hair, it’s easy to see why the Road to Hana is one of the world’s most magical drives. Dotted with lush tropical forests and dramatic waterfalls, it bends and curves through the remote countryside rewarding you with spectacular views of the sparkling blue Pacific and its dramatic black-sand beaches. This is proof that the joy is truly in the journey.