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Tips For Getting the Best Rates

Author: Staff
Allow a day or so when you arrive before you plan to fish: Walk the dock and talk the talk; get to know the guys you might be fishing with. Best time to do this is between 4 and 5 p.m. each day when the charter boats return to port. Many charter operators will discount their rates if you book directly with them, saving them a booking agency commission; don't be afraid to bargain with skippers.

Hotel Booking While going directly to skippers may work well for anglers who know exactly what they want (type of fishing, target species, etc.), if you're not sure, you're likely to be much better off checking with a sport-fishing charter booking agent for help selecting the best boat/skipper for your purposes, providing accurate answers about the fishing and arranging everything else you'll need (including ground transportation, lunches, etc.) Charter-boat booths line the docks in Lahaina on Maui and Kewalo Basin on Oahu, and other charter agents are listed in the yellow pages of the phone directory.

While there are some below par travel agents out there, sources such as Tripology are great outlets to go to find reliable specialized travel agents that will match your needs. 10. Travel Agents Can Only Book My Flight and Hotel Travel agents can arrange car service, personalized tours and activities, in addition to all the basic travel services they provide. They are also excellent sources of information concerning good restaurants, good sites to see, and tips on what to pack.

Travel Agency On the other hand, activities desks in the lobbies of major hotels, and those that share space with time-share sales offices should be avoided at all costs. These agencies generally gouge huge commissions of up to 45 percent from the vessel operators, so you pay more than you need to, and they rarely offer much useful information about sport fishing in Hawaii.

The Accor Corporate Contract, available only to businesses, lets you save time by booking hotels at net rates adapted to your volume while optimizing your travel costs.

Cheap Hotel For bargain accommodations, look to bed-and-breakfasts, vacation rentals and budget hotels, unless you have airline frequent flyer miles you can use at major hotels. Buy a fly/drive/room package for the lowest possible rates on those three items. Regular visitors have learned to apply for a Hawaii driver's license or other local i.d., and then ask for special "Kama'aina rates," which are available to local residents and are far lower than published "rack rates."

Research our travel tips and advice before you go. Then book a trip with our premiere travel partners.

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