Kauai Tourist Trap Tips by April1985

My family and I decided to go on a one day tour of Kaua'i. The tour is another story! The souvenere shops, were like set ups. Our tour guide would tell us these crazy stories of shells, and how unique they are, and the red dirt shirts and everything, and we would end up stoping at these rest stops and tourist stores... the prices would be way over priced. I think I saw one shell necklace, which was beautiful, dont get me wrong, but it was priced for $1200.00 ! I think that is outrageous ! They people who work in these stores, probably know the tour bus driver, so they know when a fresh shipment of tourists are coming, and they folllow you around the store, and try to haggle you into buying something you would never think of buying... be careful...and be smart

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At Least Do This: We didnt really have a choice, we kind of had to go in. We would much rather be seeing lush mountain sides and waterfalls... but, we were stuck here until all the people on the bus were done being ripped off. Well, if you can't beat them- join them. Buy something that you wont regret later, like a red dirt shirt, or bag or soemthing. They are a little pricy, but why not... We got suckered into it, and they are kinda kool.
Alternative: Dont feel like going inside these tourist traps ? If you dont have to , dont ! Or just use the restroom and leave . They dont make you buy something to use the restrooms, and they are supprizingly very clean! When I walked in, there was someone in there cleaning it... i think they knew we were coming! How nice of them?

Polynesian Adventure Tours, was by far the worst thing we could have waisted our money on. My family had decided that we wanted to see another island besides Oahu. So, we though that we should visit the garden island, Kaua'i ! We were so excited because of how everyone spoke of Kaua'i. It was a paradise! So, we said, lets go for it! We went to our American Express travel assisitant at the hilton hawaiian village desk at Oahu, and he booked it for us. He didnt know much about this company. So he couldnt really say much about it, except it would pick us up at 5:00am. So, $1000.00 dollars later (3 adults) we were off to Kaua'i. Little did we know that we would be stuck on a bus for 8 hours looking at nothing but a highway .. the whole day... the brochure said we would tour a sugar kane plantation, a waterfall, we would have a river boat ride, and even see the fern grotto! We were so excited, we thought we would be hicking up the tropical forrests, and see some amazing things. Well , we ended up seeing a waterfall, from 1000 feet away, from a bridge on a major high way , we passed the sugar kane plantation on the highway going 50 mph , too fast to even snap a picture ... of where we would have turned in to tour it ... and then a river cruise to the fern grotto , which has be closed due to falling rocks for 6 months, no one bothered to tell us it would be closed , instead they took us all the way out there to only keep us hostage on this damn river cruise and have to be forced to listen to these tourist money sucking hawaiians ( no offence ) sing us the hokipoki ? (put your right foot in, and your right foot out, sing the hokipoki and turn your self about) hello ? its not even hawaiian! they even wanted tips ! i dont think so , i was very disappointed, and the whole time , i had to witness one of the hawaiians picking his nose the whole time... on a boat... with 100 people ! talk about a bad experience!

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At Least Do This: bring an MP3 player, you'll be on the bus for a long time, you mine as well keep your self busy doing something ! Maybe bring a coloring book ? haha ... no seriously , jump off the bus and go swimming ! Ditch the bus !

(but remember you wont get a refund !) probably because they know how bad this tour really is!

In case you feel the need to spend 8 hours on a bus tour, here is the info, but i dont recomend it:

addy:
3113B OihanavStreet
Lihue , Kauai, Hawaii 96766

phone: (808) 246-0122

e-mail: sales@polyad.com

website: http://www.polyad.com/
Alternative: fly to kaua'i, rent a car, and go around the island your self ! you will find a lot more hidden treasures, and you will enjoy yourself even more! the tour is terrible! dont waist your money!