MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII -- Marines, sailors and their families are anxiously awaiting the start of the holidays, looking for things to do and places to stay. Marine Corps Community Services Information, Tickets & Tours and Tradewind Travel can make that happen.
Located at the Mokapu Mall on base, the ITT specializes in finding the best available rates for any travel, vacation and lodging, and is open to all active duty and retired service members.
“A lot of people traveling over the holidays often find themselves getting stressed out when planning their trips,” said Cherish Yamashiro, manager of ITT. “That’s why we’re here. We find the best deals for traveling in the quickest time so they don’t have to.”
Those who are planning to travel to the mainland and going home this Christmas may want to book their flights through ITT. Their services can ensure there are no charges if there was an emergency.
“We worked with two units who had the option of coordinating their travel and block leave with us,” Yamashiro said. “If something came up that would have kept them from being able to leave, we would ensure they didn’t have to pay any cancellation fees for their travel.”
However, service members are more aware of Space Available travel, which comes with its benefits and disadvantages just like any other service, according to Yamashiro.
"Space-A travel is typically a waiting game,” Yamashiro explained. “ITT eliminates that factor. People traveling through Space-A have to sign up and hope there are seats left, and in some cases there aren’t enough seats for service members and their families. But with ITT, we’ll get them to where they need to go without having to go through that kind of hassle.”
Those who plan to stay on island for the holidays, whether you have family visiting or you just want a recreational getaway for a few days, can take advantage of the The Lodge at Kaneohe Bay.
With four different facilities spread across MCB Hawaii, service members, retirees and their families can enjoy the tropical year-round climate, and the vast scenery of Kaneohe Bay and the Pacific Ocean.
“The best thing about our facilities is the location. You’re not in the heart of Waikiki fighting against the traffic,” said Mia Ng, general manager of The Lodge at Kaneohe Bay. “Our facilities are a relaxing place to stay as well as a hidden treasure, and the experiences they take away from here may last a lifetime.”
Service members who want to get away for the weekend can take advantage of the Windward Travel packages, which offer cheap trips for two to one of Hawaii’s neighboring islands. Starting at $565.00, each package includes two round trip air tickets, three-day hotel and car rental.
The services on base offer plenty of resources to help service members plan an easy and affordable vacation. To see the latest offers and exclusive deals from ITT, visit http://www.mccshawaii.com/itt.
The Lodge at Kaneohe Bay is offering holiday rates for their facilities between the November and December time periods. For more information or to make a reservation, call 254-2806.