When we started planning our honeymoon, we knew one thing for sure—Hawaii was calling, and we had to go. (Remember the movie Forgetting Sarah Marshall, set at Turtle Bay Resort on Oahu? We had to see it for ourselves!) With its mix of stunning beaches, epic adventures, and the perfect balance of relaxation and excitement, it was the ultimate destination to kick off married life.
We packed a lot into this trip—so much that we’re breaking it down into a series of posts over the next few months (which you’re familiar with, if you keep up with our Spaces And Places). If you’re planning a trip to Hawaii (or just want to daydream about one), we’ve got all the details coming your way!
In this post, we’re covering how we got to the islands and our incredible stay at Turtle Bay in Hawaii—the perfect place to unwind and ease into island life.
In upcoming posts, we’ll also dive into:
🏙️ Waikiki – The bustling beach city, tourist hotspots, and best places to eat and drink
🥾 Diamond Head – The hike that made us sweat but was totally worth it
🌋 Maui & Haleakalā – Sunset at 10,000 feet, and why it’s a must-do
🌴 The Road to Hana – Taking on the full loop in a Jeep
So if you’re thinking about a Hawaiian getaway, stay tuned! Now, let’s talk about getting there and why Turtle Bay was the ultimate honeymoon kickoff.
Planning Your Trip: Go With the Flow, But Have a Game Plan
One of the best things about Hawaii? You really can’t go wrong. Whether you plan every detail or just wing it, you’re going to have an amazing time. That said, we do recommend at least putting together a rough list of priorities so you don’t end up spending half your trip Googling “best things to do in Oahu” from your hotel room.
For us, our honeymoon game plan was simple:
1️⃣ Relax – We kicked things off at Turtle Bay Resort
2️⃣ Eat & Drink – Because what’s a trip without amazing food and tropical cocktails?
3️⃣ Play – A mix of big-name tourist spots and hidden local gems
We traveled in March, and it was perfect—not too crowded, warm but not scorching, and great weather the entire trip. In fact, we loved it so much we’re already planning to go back for our 5th anniversary the same time of year.
Getting There (Especially If You’re Coming From the East Coast)
We’re based in the Southeast U.S., so getting to Hawaii is no small feat. We decided to break up the long-haul flights by spending two nights in Seattle on the way out and two nights in LA on the way back. If you’re coming from the West Coast, you can probably power through in one go, but if you’re flying from the East Coast or Southeast, we HIGHLY recommend a stopover. Not only did it help with jet lag, but it gave us an excuse to check out two more cool cities along the way.
- We flew Delta in and out of Honolulu and had a great experience.
- For inter island travel, we flew Hawaiian Airlines exclusively—and honestly? Loved it. Cheap, super easy to book last-minute, and flights were short and smooth.
Bottom line: Don’t stress about over-planning. Prioritize what matters most to you, leave room for spontaneous adventures, and give yourself plenty of time to soak it all in.
Turtle Bay Resort on Oahu’s North Shore
Luxury, Views & Next-Level Relaxation
From the moment we arrived, Turtle Bay in Hawaii felt like a dream. Our room had a private balcony overlooking the Pacific, so naturally, we took full advantage by ordering room service and eating breakfast with ocean breezes and sunrise views. It was one of those “is this real life?” moments that we’ll never forget.
Of course, we weren’t only lounging around—we made sure to indulge in some serious honeymoon pampering:
💆♀️ Couples Massage at Nalu Spa – Nothing says “we’re on vacation” like a full-body massage while listening to the waves crash outside. While waiting, we lounged on a private patio with champagne and relaxing sounds and smells. Absolute bliss.
📸 Sunrise Beach Photoshoot – Turtle Bay offers a complimentary professional photoshoot at sunrise, and we jumped at the chance. The photos turned out stunning (highly recommend dressing in light colors for that dreamy beach aesthetic).
Eating & Drinking Like Royalty
Turtle Bay has some incredible dining options, and we made it our mission to try as many as possible:
🍽️ ALAIA – Perfect for a romantic dinner, featuring locally sourced seafood and island-inspired dishes. Brian loved the scallops, and I devoured the fresh catch of the day served Chef’s choice.
🍕 Sunset Pool Bar – Casual but delicious, with killer mai tais and some of the best wood-fired pizza we’ve ever had.
🌮 Off The Lip – A relaxed, open-air bar with fresh fish tacos and craft cocktails. The view alone is worth it.
And let’s talk about the infinity pool—because we spent a LOT of time there. Turtle Bay’s pool area is gorgeous, and with bottomless drink service, we were living our best honeymoon lives, mai tai in hand.
Helicopter Tour (Aka: The Magnum P.I. Experience)
One of the most unreal things we did while at Turtle Bay was the Magnum P.I. Helicopter Tour. Yes, like the show. Yes, we felt like action stars. This particular tour takes off from a landing pad right on the resort, so it feels super VIP.
We went doors-off, which means nothing but open air between us and the Pacific Ocean (and, okay, a seatbelt). It was equal parts thrilling and mildly terrifying—but the views? INSANE.
What We Saw from the Sky:
🛥️ Pearl Harbor & USS Arizona Memorial – Seeing this from above was incredibly moving. You can actually spot the sunken ship beneath the water.
🌿 Sacred Falls – A massive waterfall that’s completely off-limits by foot. The only way to see it is by air, and it was breathtaking.
🦖 Ka’a’awa Valley (Jurassic Valley) – If you’ve seen Jurassic Park, you’ve seen this valley. It looked straight out of a movie (because, well, it is).
🏖️ Waikiki & Diamond Head – Seeing Waikiki’s coastline and Diamond Head crater from the air gave us a whole new appreciation for just how stunning this island is.
Pro Tips for a Helicopter Tour:
- Go doors-off if you can – It makes the experience way cooler (only take your phone if you have it in a lanyard pouch or otherwise attached to you!).
- Wear dark clothes – Light colors reflect on the windows and can mess up your photos.
Don’t eat a huge meal beforehand – Unless you enjoy testing the limits of your motion sickness meds.
Sacred Falls
Jurassic Valley
Why We’d Stay Here Again (And Again)
Between the private beach, infinity pool, world-class dining, and spa treatments, Turtle Bay in Hawaii was the perfect way to start our honeymoon. It’s peaceful, romantic, and away from the Waikiki crowds—but still close to all the best North Shore spots. And private, VIP helicopter tours?!
10/10, already planning to come back.
Stay tuned for the next blog in this series, all about Waikiki and Diamond Head!
