$455 16 Day Hawaiian Vacation
16 days in Hawaii for only $455 per person? Including airfare? Yes, please! Oh, one slight issue. You would have to travel back in time to 1965 to enjoy this offer.
This advertisement ran in the September 1, 1965 issue of the Mississauga News. The $455 was in U.S. dollars and included round trip airfare and all the many other features shown above.
How much would that be in 2019 money? Generally, a dollar in 2019 is worth eight times more than a dollar in 1965. Therefore, this translates to $3,640 per person. That’s much more expensive but probably still a decent price for the same vacation today at a Hawaiian resort. As for exchange rates, in 1965 a Canadian dollar got you 93 cents American, much better than today’s rate.
Package Features
Here’s a look at what you got back in 1965. I have to believe that including all these options today would cost a pretty penny.
- 16 days touring the four islands of Maui, Oahu, Hawaii ad Molokai
- Full meal service on the flight (equivalent to ‘first class’ today)
- Flight on an ‘ultra modern’ aircraft
- All baggage handling and transfers included
- All flights between the islands included (via Hawaiian Airlines)
- Tours of: Hilo’s Orchid Nurseries, Kona Coast, Iao Valley, Old Honolulu, Pineapple cannery, wood carving factory, Diamond Head
- Participation in the ‘Hawaii Calls’ radio show. This show ran from 1935 to 1975 and featured Hawaiian music during the 30 minute show
Saturn Airways
Saturn Airways was founded in 1948 as All American Airways. The airline ceased operations in 1976 after being absorbed into Trans International Airlines.
This airline was headquartered in Oakland, California. Saturn Airways bought its first Douglas DC-7C aircraft in 1963, just two years prior to this ad being printed.
Douglas DC-7C
It was nicknamed ‘Seven Seas’ because it really advanced trans-continental travel. The Douglas DC-7C was a four propeller engine aircraft that was pressurized and was radar-equipped.
The DC-7C was 34.21 metres or 112 feet in length. This is equivalent to the length of a modern Boeing 737-700. The airliner could fit up to 105 passengers with a crew of five, along with four flight attendants.
The wingspan was 38.86 metres or 128 feet. The was longer than the standard DC-7 and allowed for larger fuel tanks. These increased fuel pushed the flight range at maximum payload to 7,459 kilometres. The plane stood 9.65 metres or 32 feet in height at the tail.
