How much would it cost to move to Hawaii?|141383

We are thinking of moving to Kauai, into a two bedroom condo. I was wondering if anyone had an estimate of how much it would be to move and settle there?

I moved to Kauai in 2005. Shipping my car from Long Beach, CA cost about $1000. Matson will only ship your car if it_s totally empty so don_t try to pack stuff in it to save on the move. There are other companies that ship cars and I have heard that some of them allow you to send the car fully packed, but I have never used anyone but Matson. (I moved from CA to the Big Island of Hawaii in 2000, so I have done this twice.)

Do you plan to bring a lot of furnishings and things with you? If so, you will need a container. When I used a container in 2000 it cost about $3000 for the shipping. I did all the packing myself. I also had to pay to hire a trucking company to drop off and pick up the container in both locations (CA and HI).

Your name is Puppy Lover, so I_m assuming you have pets. If you do, there is a mandatory quarantine for pets moving to Hawaii from anywhere else in the world except England. (England has the same quarantine laws Hawaii does.) Check out the link I_ve provided at the bottom for more details. It is time-consuming and expensive, but at least they allow airport release of pets now if you have your paperwork in order. When I moved to the Big Island in 2000, there was a mandatory minimum 30-day quarantine for all animals. That was also very expensive!

I rent a 3-bedroom, 1 bathroom house on the east side of Kauai. It_s a new house and I have few neighbors. This is a desirable area. I pay $1700/month + utilities (cable, phone, electric, water, and trash). That_s another $300+ per month. A 2 bedroom condo will cost you about the same, maybe slightly less, but it depends on where. I had a 2br, 2 ba second floor condo with no yard when I first moved here that I paid $1500/month for.

Groceries are expensive here. All of the locally made and locally grown products (such as eggs and milk) cost MORE than the stuff that is shipped from the mainland, if you can believe that! Most things have to be shipped here, so everything costs more. I shop at Safeway because they have the best sale prices and I buy generic brands whenever I can. Costco helps because I can get detergent, paper towels, toilet paper, cleaning products, etc. in bulk much more cheaply than I can get those items at Safeway or even Wal*Mart.

Benefits: very few homes have A/C or heat because we just don_t need it here. The average ANNUAL temperature is 78 degrees! We spend a lot of time outdoors here and make our own fun. We do have a movie theatre and a mall, but nothing like what you_re probably used to on the mainland. There is a lot of beach camping and just plain hanging out at the beach on weekends. We bbq with friends, surf, ride bikes, go to the parks, and just enjoy being outside as much as possible. Kauai is very laid-back and quiet. Not much nightlife at all.

I make over $50,000 annually and could not make it here on my own without the child support check I get from my ex-husband every month. If you have 2 incomes or no debt or one very high income, you will probably be fine if you live within your means.

Good luck!

Here_s a search for 2 BRs in Kauai

http://honolulu.craigslist.org/search/ap��


I think a good rule of thumb is that you will need 2X (getting by) to 3X your rent as take home income. For example:
Rent = $1500. Take home income has to be $3000 to $4500.
Food and transportation will be almost equal to your housing expense, when you add in utilities, car insurance, etc.
So 2X rent gets you by
3X rent and you can relax when you are not working two jobs (typical in Hawaii)
Advice
Get married. Or get a roommate if you don_t feel that foolish.
Make sure you have a job or at least an 80% chance of getting one before you arrive. You may have to visit, get the job, then come back. This is a good way to do it, because no job and lots of overhead will crush you in a few months.

Aloha and good luck.

It_s very expensive to live there. I went there in 1996 and I talked to this guy who settled there. He lived in a 1 bedroom apartment and his rent was $1000.00 per month!! Not including his utilities. The poor guy worked 3 jobs .... whats the fun in living on that beautiful island if you_re stuck working all the time?
But do whatever you want to do, it_s your life
If you do decide to go enjoy it.

big $$$$

bring about 20,000.00 to at least settle in, then look for work.

bring alot of money, you may not find job for a long long time

check online

Im traveling to Hawaii and I am finding there is so much to do, any recommendations for my itinerary?|154279

I want the Hawain experiance and relaxation. I_ll be there for 7 days.

If you are looking for a laid back atmosphere then Maui, Kauai, or the Big Island is your destination. If you are looking for some city life then Oahu is what you are looking at for your final destination. Oahu has the country and a lot more city life for the shopping, restaurants and such. The country can be found on the North Shore and East Shore. So if you are trying to get away from it all then Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island is where you should going. If you are looking for a slice of the city also then make it Oahu.

There is plenty to do from the beaches, hikes, and just relaxing.

Just another local....


http://www.hawaii-vacation-adventures-oa��

Snorkeling on the Big Island! It was one of my favorite memories from my Hawaiian trip! There is a big cove on the island and you can hang out on the beach all day. I think the snorkel rental is like $4.
I also swam with the dophins, which was awesome, but it ended up being about $100 per person for all of 5 minutes of time in the water.

Heres some stuff you can try

Learn Hula dancing
Go to a Luau
Horseback riding
Snorkeling (If you_re willin, go to Molokini you can swim with whales).
Surfing
Canoe surfing
Scuba Diving
Firedancing
Offroading in jungle
Hiking in jungle
Helicoptor ride over waterfalls
Hiking Near Volcanoes
Visiting locals and hearing stories
Kayaking
River-rafting
Fishing
Swimming with dolphins or sharks
Parasailing
Windsurfing
Submarine boat
Bicycling

I_ve only been on the island of Kauai. You have to see Waimea Canyon. Mark Twain described it as the grand canyon of the Pacific. Also Hanalei Bay where Puff the Magic Dragon is. We also took a helicopter flight and went horseback riding, both centered around the Northern end near Princeville. And the Napali Coast, the wettest place on the planet. Says so on the sign.

Maui is more relaxing than Honolulu. Hon. is more touristy. Although Pearl Harbor was good if you like history. Take the road to Hana (sp?). It was amazing!! You_ll see so much that you_ll never forget. Just drive careful, b/c it_s a dangerous road if you_re not paying attention. Bring a swimsuit and towel wherever you go. See the mountains, not just the beaches.

Where is the best place to go in columbus ohio for new years eve?|151016

My husband and I want to go out and have fun on new years eve without spending a ton of money. We both want to drink so we were hoping to find a party in or near a hotel. I know there is a big one going on at the hyatt downtown, but it would be over $500! We are both in our 40_s,and don_t want to do anything where we_d be the oldest in the crowd! (or youngest!!) Any ideas?

The arena district is having a party. Several bars including Spice are participating. It_s always fun down there and there are people of all ages!

Is it a good idea to drive from Houston to Florida for a 8 day vacation ?|152269

Houston to Florida is a 1000 miles - is it a good idea to travel that far with a car - and stay around 8 days for disney and orlando parks and Kennedy space center ?

Any advise on what are the suggestions to make it a great holiday.

Thanks!

We have done it between Chicago and Disney World and it worked out well. The conveniance and cost savings of having your own car on vacation is well worth it.

Because the one way distance for us is 1150 miles, we didn_t drive it in one day. We spent overnight in Chattanooga Tennessee, which is approximately the half-way mark. For you, Pensacola Florida is about half-way.

Stay in lodging that has a kitchen where you can prepare your own meals purchased in local grocery stores. This is a whole lot cheaper than eating in restaurants. Also stay at lodging at the attraction you expect to use the most because if they provide transportation within that attraction, it will be free for guests. You will only need your car to visit other attractions and the grocery stores.

Search the internet for coupons for the attractions you plan on visiting. Check with travel agents for discounts on accommodations and attractions.

Have your vehicle inspected by a trusted mechanic at least two weeks before you leave. This will give them time to fix any major problems they find. Check the air inflation on all of your tires. If you have a full-size spare tire in the trunk (like I do), don_t forget to check it also.

Also consider joining a motor club to provide towing and roadside assistance in case you have vehicle problems. Some motor clubs also offer free maps and travel directions (including detours for construction on the routes you plan on taking). Some motor clubs also offer coupons or discounts for attractions, restaurants, lodging and stores. Search the internet for these motor clubs and choose the one that has the benefits you are interested in.

see the first answer above for some very good suggestions.

I-10 is a comfortable interstate,,, best bet is to follow I-10 to Lake City, Florida where you will pick up I-75 south to the turnpike and on into Orlando.

I_d choose Mobil Alabama over Pensacola as my half way lay over. Pensacola is best experienced from the interstate, not as an overnight stay. ( I just finished a construction project there last year and found it somewhat stuffy in dealing with travelers, whereas Mobil is quite friendly ) Mobil also has some attractions you may find interesting,,, Bellingrath Gardens and the USS Alabama park come to mind quickly.

Do not be suckered in by the huge number of bill boards touting _free_ or highly discounted tickets for the Orlando attractions. Save the aggravation you will encounter at those places for dealing with traffic in Orlando.

Be prepared for some really crappy attitudes just about everywhere in Orlando,,, the city that depends on tourism for the bulk of it_s livelihood despises tourists and is generally not bashful about letting you know it.

The space center is very nice, you need a full day to travel there, see what you want to see and travel back to Orlando,,, though it_s not a super long day and it is worth the trip in my opinion.

In Orlando, if your budget will allow it, stay at a resort on Disney property,,, getting around is very easy with the built in transportation available and getting off property to see other attractions is quite simple as well. If you cannot stand the idea of staying in Disney, or your budget will not go that expense, locate something in Kissimmee and just avoid driving during the peak hours.

I_m not a Florida native, it is my home state now and I am quite ashamed of some of the attitudes presented to tourists here. BUT,,, it is worth the trip whether you have children or not. Just be prepared is all I am saying.

You_ll spend half as much time traveling as you did visiting. Figure at least 2 days each way. Unless you want to sightsee via car, I don_t recommend it. It can be tiring and put wear _ tear on the car. How about trying Greyhound and maybe getting a companion ticket at 50% off? I think you can still hop off at different points along the way with Greyhound.

What are the cheapest and best areas in Detroit to live?|128213

I am looking to relocate to Detroit but I know nothing about the city. I was wanting to possibly renovate a property in the city. What is the best area of Detroit to do that in? And what high crime areas should I avoid? I am really looking to find a neighborhood that is low in crime and nice but not expensive. Thanks for any info you can provide.

I have lived in a few suburbs of Detroit. First off, I suggest you look in the suburbs and not in the actual city, which is high in crime regardless of the area you live. Depending on if you plan on working or going to school downtown, how far you are willing to travel by car to where you_re going, etc changes the recommendation like crazy.

If you are looking specifically in the city of Detroit, you will want to look at areas near the stadiums (Comerica Park and Ford Field, around Woodward between Jefferson and Mack. Corktown is also nice, and a lot of people are starting to move there. Anywhere around the stadiums and the Wayne State University campus are your best bets for safest areas.

As for suburbs, consider the following:

The fun, young places to live right now are Ferndale and Royal Oak. Lots of culture, bars, some posh clubs, etc. This is essentially the place to be when it starts warming up if you_re not partying on the lake. Renting in these places can be very reasonable, and even buying small homes can be also, provided you are looking in the right areas of the city. Don_t be thrown off by the high rise condo prices here. Another fun place to live is Rochester (or Rochester Hills), as they have a cute downtown area with some good pub-type atmosphere.

You will get the most for your money in Macomb County--check out cities like Sterling Heights and Shelby Township. These are pretty far from the City of Detroit, however, and if you need to go down there on a daily basis you_ll get frustrated by the commute. That said, Sterling Heights is consistently rated as one of the safest cities in America and the school system is great, so if you have kids this is a great place to be.

If you want to look into some of the pricier areas, you can check out Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, and the surrounding areas. These are wonderful places to live, and most of the area wealth is concentrated here.

Hope this helps!

Of course, the cheapest areas of Detroit are not the best. There are several northern suburbs on the city line. they are good family neighborhoods, with reasonable prices: Ferndale, Southfield, Hazel Park, Berkley, etc. You would be about 8 miles from downtown Detroit.

Above 8 mile (like the movie.) Troy is very nice. I_d stay away from downtown Detroit, Warren and Southfield.

How does places like orbitz, and travlelocity get rates so cheap?|127815

I went to a certian hotel website in the city im looking to stay and its 99 a night, orbitz says i can book for only 69 a night. HOw do they get the rates so cheap?

because orditz/etc are huge travel agencies and sent ALOT of customers their way. so the hotel gives it to them for less. also orbits has less cost compared to the other website so they can sell for less.

Its very rare to get a better deal from a consolidater the best deals are usually with the hotels direct, also if you book your room and the price drops after booking you call the hotel and they will match your price, booking direct you only pay the first night as a deposit have a look here and see if this does any better
http://vegasuncovered.wordpress.com/2008��

They negotiate different rates with the different properties, and what they do is they promise to book a lot of rooms, and as long as they hit those big numbers they are given the cheap rate.

You can see some really cheap rates for vegas hotels at
http://www.bestofvegas.com

they may also have only a limited number of rooms at that rate. We got really cheap deal booking 10 months ahead four nights in Harrahs, middle of the strip for ��123 for two. Check out as many sites but remember to write down all the deals and where you saw them so you don_t get confused.

You_ll get even cheaper rates if you book direct from the hotels using their promotion codes, check
http://www.smartervegas.com
they list all the recent codes.

check
http://www.ilasvegascoupons.com/

How can I find out about inclement weather along my route?|167565

I_m looking to drive from Northwest Washington to Southeast Idaho. I_ve driven the route before but always in the summer. How can I check the weather along the route for snow and possible road closings?

Try calling the Idaho and Washington state police. I_ll try to look it up for you, but I know here in TX as well as OK, and NM have phone numbers you can call for road conditions. I think it_s the highway patrol.

EDIT:
Try
http://511.idaho.gov/
for Idaho

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/
and this one for WA

Go to weather.com and type in your city or zip for local info.

What are famous and good food spots to visit in sanfrancisco?|180566

can you help me find good placeses to visit in san francisco?
and good resturant? what is sanfrancisco well known for and especially in foods? what resturant? any sites, placese to visit?

San Francisco is a great food town. They are famous for sourdough bread. As an old port city it is known for its seafood especially crab and has a famous Fisherman_s Wharf. Gharadelli chocolates and the bar that claims to have invented the Irish Coffee are nearby. The whole Fisherman_s wharf area is, as you might imagine. a major tourist area. If you drink beer try to visit Anchor Steam brewery, a historic and great brewery. Beyond that the city is a great city for restaurants. You_ll definitely want to try the Chinese and visit the famous Chinatown but you will also find cuisines from all around the world and some of the world_s best chefs. Based on your tastes ask when you are here and you_ll get a lot of good suggestions.

Enjoy the city, it is one of the great cities in the world.