Connect with us

Destinations

New Hawaiian Law Forces Oahu Rental Vacationers Into Panic

On August 1st, the Hawaiian Island of Oahu began altering the home rental landscape to the dismay of renters and tourists alike.

Published

on





     On August 1st, the island of Oahu – the capital island of Hawaii, began to enforce a decades-old law regarding illegal home rentals. For many years – several decades, in fact – it was illegal for Oahu property owners to rent units for fewer than 30 days outside of resort zones. However, this law was never previously enforced. This change of heart is expected to close about 5,000 “illegal” rentals on the island. It states that any advertisement for the property, physical and virtual, may be used as evidence of the illegal activity. To ensure that the resident takes this threat seriously, continuous violators are liable for fines up to $10,000 a day. Ouch. As an expected surprise, the city of Honolulu stated that the number of listings it saw dropped 37% (compared to weeks prior). Unfortunately, as this crackdown is now a serious “crime”, tourists that had long booked their vacations before this August 1st switch-up are dealing with its immediate fallout. Vacations, anniversaries, and wedding plans have all been deeply affected by this new rental landscape.

Disaster

     Marlena Rundquist is one such bride-to-be that has felt the intense pressure caused by this immediate rental alteration. Regarding her September 4th wedding – “I had full-blown anxiety and panic attack. It was literally a month away. I couldn’t find anywhere to go. The people still willing to take a fine had hiked the prices: $200 a night went to almost $500 a night. Hotels were upping the price.” Not only was her own accommodations totaled by this change, the rooms needed and booked by guests were also heavily affected. “I’m still nervous because you don’t know between now and then if anything will happen,” she said.

In a similar situation, Tommy Szymanski was planning to visit the island to celebrate a number of special events including his own anniversary. However, he was given much of the same news. “The Waikiki reservation canceled Saturday and was like: ‘Yup, that’s it. We’re closing up shop on four different places and are trying to figure out what to do… I’m sitting here going ‘Really?’ My initial reaction – and this is from an outsider not knowing the stuff behind Hawaii’s politics – the resorts are getting exactly what they wanted with this bill.”

“The cost for two nights for a place on Travelocity was the cost of six nights through my Airbnb,” he added, alluding to the fact that remaining choices on Airbnb were less than desirable. “There were either ones with horrible reviews or they were substantially more expensive.” 

Choices?

     Clearly, this new bill has impacted vacationers and renters, alike. Refunds from apps like Airbnb and HomeAway have been administered but the new costs to be incurred by committed guests will surely be hard to swallow. Costs have doubled (or worse), the selection of respectable accommodations have narrowed, and the fill-rate of the newly available rooms is sure to explode. Is this the right way to deal with interested parties?


Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Destinations

Unforgettable Adventures to Know About For Lovers and Family Alike

Published

on

By

Going on a shared adventure is a well-known way to strengthen relationships. Whether you want to get to know your lover better or want to enhance your family bonds, it’s worth taking some time out of your normal day to go on an adventure. As you plan an unforgettable adventure, it helps to use these ideas that lead to memorable experiences.

Plan a Romantic Escape

If you’ve ever watched a couple run off into the sunset together on horseback, then you already have an idea of how this adventure can inspire romance. Take a moment to picture you and your beloved one riding on horseback together in a gorgeous landscape setting. Most horseback riding adventures last from one to two hours. You can use this time to admire each other’s beauty along with the amazing scenery.

Make Memories With Family-Friendly Fun

Sometimes, you want to bring your kids along on an adventure. In this case, horseback riding taps into your child’s love of animals. Plus, they’ll have an adventure that they won’t be able to wait to tell their friends about. Family-friendly horseback riding adventures can be shorter when you have children under eight years old in our group. Taking them for a short walk around a lake helps them gain confidence on the horse for the first time. Soon, you can bet your child will ask to do it again as they develop more skills.

Explore the Beauty of Nature Together

The best adventures take you out of your comfort zone and encourage you to experience things you might not get to enjoy during your daily life. Exploring the outdoors on horseback involves multiple changes of scenery. On your ride, your guide might take you through a stream crossing. You may also go down an old log road as you learn more about the history of the area. As you ride, remember to keep an eye out for wildlife such as deer and wild turkeys that further give you and your companions a deeper appreciation of nature.

Establish Unforgettable Bonds

Sharing unique adventures helps to reinforce your bond with your loved one by showing you new aspects of their personality. Watching as your loved one sits atop a horse may give you more insight into their strength and willingness to try new things. You’ll also enjoy sharing the memories of the beautiful things you saw and experienced together. Making sure that your adventure stands out from your daily activities further heightens the positive effects of your shared experience. To create even stronger bonds, consider turning your adventure into an overnight rusting camping trip that gives you more time to spend together without the intrusion of phone screens.

Once you’re enjoying your adventure, remember to leave some time in your day to share your thoughts about the experience. Talking to your partner or family member about your favorite parts of going horseback riding or on a carriage ride helps to strengthen your memories. In fact, you might even find that you look forward to repeating your adventure on future dates such as your anniversary or a family member’s birthday.

Continue Reading

Destinations

Vacation Ideas Based On 2018’s Oscar-Nominated Films

Amazing vacation ideas inspired by the settings of some of the best films of 2017.

Published

on

2017 was a great year in movies. So many amazing films made by some of the best directors and actors of our generation. And a lot of them were set in very cool places too! So when planning your next vacation, why not consider the settings of some of your favorite movies of the year? Here are the 6 best vacation spots that come to us from this year’s Oscar-nominated films. 

NORTH YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND (PHANTOM THREAD)

Easily one of the more visually beautiful films of 2017, Phantom Thread owes a lot of that beauty to its location of North Yorkshire. Tucked along the coastline, it provides amazing views in every direction. And be sure to visit the Victoria Hotel in Robin Hood’s Bay to recreate the moment Daniel Day-Lewis first meets his muse!

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA (LADY BIRD)

Perhaps the perfect location for a film about a teenager looking for more, Lady Bird takes place in the California state capital of Sacramento. And while not typically considered a desirable travel destination, it is the perfect exemplification of a town someone could become nostalgic for without planning on it. Nothing beats that California sunshine!

LONDON, ENGLAND (DARKEST HOUR)

If you’re looking to take a vacation in some place rich with history than you can’t do much better than the setting for Darkest Hour, London, England. Visit the famous landmarks of Big Ben, Downing Street, and Buckingham Palace. But be sure to “Keep Calm and Carry On’ while you do!

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (COCO)

Coco may be an animated movie, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it’s setting! Well, technically the film didn’t take place in Mexico City. But the animators used specific elements of the city when designing the movie’s locations. Just be sure to plan your trip around Dia de los Muertos. It is not to be missed.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (THE POST)

If you want to experience the energy and fast-paced lifestyle of a political journalist, then look no further than the setting for The Post, Washington, D.C. Some of the crowds and lines can be annoying, but it’s worth it to experience such important American history.

NORTHERN ITALY (CALL ME BY YOUR NAME)

 Italy is famous for being one of the most beautiful countries in the world. With its elegant and timeless architecture, winding cobblestone roads, and rolling hills, the Italian countryside is indeed worth experiencing. Take your time, relax, and contemplate what it must have been like to come-of-age in such an incredible place. 

Continue Reading

Destinations

A UK Bar Pretends To Be A Church To Get Around Pandemic Rules

Published

on

royal guard standing near lamp post

The pandemic has made it difficult for some businesses to run, which is why this bar is getting creative by registering as a church to their customers

With everyone being in lockdown and not being able to go out, not a lot people have been able to offer up prayers to the 400 rabbit gods, and with 2020 being the hot mess that it is, a tequila joint in Nottingham, England is planning to change that and keep their business afloat, as well. 

England just got out of its second nation-wide lockdown as of December 2, and now implements a system where they have tiered restrictions. Nottingham currently sits on the highest risk, the tier 3 category, which states that businesses targeted towards hospitality will stay closed with the exception of delivery or takeout.

Church of 400 Rabbits is an Aztec-themed bar that has an extensive choice of tequila and an application to become a worship center that is currently waiting for approval from Nottingham’s registrar general.

This bar decided to mix spirits with spirituality in hopes that it can implement a loophole in the COVID-19 rules of England, which says that if you’re a church or a place of worship, groups from the same bubble or household can enter your business. 

After posting their application that will certify their bar to operate as a place of worship, Church of 400 Rabbits is now looking for devotees through their website.

People who are interested in becoming a Bunny Believer can do this for free, and with a small fee of $13, (£10), you can be ordained as a Reverend, with a t-shirt that you use as your official robes. 

James Aspell, owner of Church of 400 Rabbits isn’t too hopeful that Nottingham will consider the application, but says that it’s an attempt to show how ridiculous the tier system is and how some of the rules are contradictory.

He says that it’s difficult because the government insists on these strict rules but that there is little to no financial support. Aspell believes that even if they moved down to a tier 2, they wouldn’t be able to open without dishing out substantial meals, and adding that it’s another Scotch Egg debacle. 

For those of you that don’t know what a Scotch egg is, it’s a hard-boiled egg that is wrapped with sausage meat and breadcrumbs. After a lot of debate, it has been considered a substantial meal by Michael Gove, who came under fire when he described it as an appetizer. 

Church of 400 Rabbits isn’t the first business that tried to apply as a place of worship, as Atlantic Squash and Fitness Club also rebranded to Church of the Healthy Body to keep their gym open.

Aspell notes that the number of devotees for 400 Rabbits is multiplying rapidly, as rabbits would and has decided to donate all proceeds to a Nottingham homeless charity group. 

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Facebook

Tags

Trending