The Polite Traveler

Wailua River Cruise & Fern Grotto Tour Revised 4/2021 Seventeen years ago, my hubby and I celebrated our fifth wedding anniversary by vacationing in Kauai.  While there, we went on a river cruise to see the famous Fern Grotto.  Unfortunately, I was in a wheelchair at the time.   Because the trip into the Fern Grotto included a trek through the forest, therefore inaccessible, I was tied to the boat.  Now that I am not chair-bound, I am excited to jump ship.  Will it be worth the price of admission?  Read along to find out. Note : Follow Hawaii and CDC guidelines when visiting.  Always wear your face mask when in public. The Riverboat Cruise Located on the east side of the island in the beautiful town of Wailua, is Smith’s Tropical Paradise.  It isn’t too far from Lihue, but it is off the road a bit.  Once there, we parked, when inside the building, and purchase our tickets for the riverboat ride which also includes a Fe...

The Room Over The Power Plant Revised 4/2021 The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas offers guests beautiful rooms, which include kitchens or kitchenettes, outdoor grills, and a number of pools.  Most often, it includes an excellent restaurant, poolside bar, and small store.  A large grocery store is within walking distance as well.  Thus, the theory is that guests will not have to leave the property once they cross the big pond to reach it. Great theory, but that’s not necessarily true when the only on-site restaurant is closed.  Add to that the incredibly loud room...well, let’s just say I needed a break from the property at times.   Note : Follow Hawaii and CDC guidelines when visiting.  Always wear your face mask when in public. May we just see the room we should have had? After an exceptionally long journey that included a broken plane and a rushed connection—not to mention airport security—we were surprised to find that our ...

Sales Pitch: Vacation Ownership is not a Timeshare – And, Pigs Fly Revised 4/2021 Ah Hawaii...land of pineapples and gentle ocean breezes.  Honestly, I cannot get enough of that warm Pacific air.  Moreover, add a touch of rum to those juiced pineapples and I am in heaven.  I enjoyed both on my last visit to the oldest of the Hawaiian Islands, Kauai.  The only glitch in this trip to paradise was our first room at the Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas.  Well, there was that bit of sleight of hand too. Note : Follow Hawaii and CDC guidelines when visiting.  Always wear your face mask when in public. If a deal is too good to be true...well, you know. I begin by sharing, what I believe to be a slight bit of deceit.  My husband, who is an excellent trip planner and always does his homework, received an “invitation” to learn more about Westin’s resort in Kauai.  The price was too good to pass up.  However, he was skeptical.  T...