Why Hawaii Is the Top Luxury Vacation Spot in the US
Browse more guides: United States travel | Americas destinations I've spent the past nine years splitting my American luxury weeks between four places: Aspen in February, Napa in October, Coronado Island in July, and Hawaii in just about every other window I could carve out of my calendar. After enough trips that my passport stamps for Maui outnumber my stamps for most foreign countries, I've stopped pretending the contest is close. So for a US passport holder who wants resort-grade comfort, ocean access, warm weather without packing a sweater, and a flight that doesn't require a customs queue at the other end, Hawaii wins. This article is the long version of the answer I give friends asking where to spend their twentieth anniversary or their first big bonus. I'll compare Hawaii to the other obvious US contenders, do an island-by-island breakdown of resorts I've actually stayed at, share the real costs my credit card statements remember, and give you the honest ...