© 2017 Cynthia W. Gentry. This article first appeared in the Summer 2004 of budget savvy magazine.
Ah, Hawaii. The name conjures images of sun-drenched beaches, swaying palm trees and, if you’re like me, fruity drinks with little umbrellas in them. Yes, Hawaii can be paradise—and an affordable paradise, if you follow a few simple tips.
When to go. Plan your Hawaiian vacation for the off-seasons: mid-April to mid-June, and September to mid-December. You’ll avoid the summer and holiday crowds. Hotel rates and airfares will be much lower. And the weather will be superb.
Where to go. While no island is less expensive per se than any others, if you go to Oahu, you won’t have to worry about inter-island flights that can add to your airfare (although many airlines do offer direct flights to Maui, Kauai and the Big Island). Also, if you stick to Honolulu, you won’t need to rent a car, since everything you’ll need is pretty much right in Waikiki. But if you go to an island like Maui, you’ll definitely need a car, unless you plan to stay in your room the entire time (unlikely).
How to get there. Watch your favorite airlines for periodic sales, especially if you’re a frequent flier. You can sometimes find great last-minute and Internet-only deals. But remember that the lowest fares are often nonrefundable and must be booked in advance. Stay over a Saturday night or fly during midweek if your schedule’s flexible.
This may sound like heresy, but after you’ve done your online research, compare prices with your travel agent. A good travel agent can get you discounts and deals that might not be available online, especially when it comes to all-inclusive packages. “As travel agents, we get access to the best packages and deals,” says Jane Scott of Witmor Travel in San Francisco. “We can often even do better than the airline Web sites.” Which brings me to perhaps the best way to save money on Hawaiian travel:
Consider a package. An all-inclusive package usually includes some combination of airfare, accommodations, rental car and airport transfers. Sometimes they even include discounts on activities like cruises and luaus. Many airlines, including American, Continental, Delta and United, offer good packages. Again, a good travel agent will be able to hook you up with the best package for your budget.
Where to stay. You’ll get the best deals with packages, but if you’re building your trip à la carte, check out discount online reservations services. You may also get better prices by calling a hotel’s local number rather than central reservations or the toll-free number.
I highly recommend staying in a condominium that includes a kitchen or kitchenette. Dining out in Hawaii is not—I repeat, not—inexpensive. By staying in a condo, you can save a ton of money by fixing your own breakfasts, packing picnic lunches, and even preparing your own gourmet dinners. This past New Year’s, for example, my significant other and I skipped the fancy dinner packages offered by most restaurants and grilled up some fresh local fish at the barbecue in our condo complex, ate by candlelight on our private balcony, then rang in the New Year with a bottle of wine on the beach. It couldn’t have cost us more than $20.
Where to eat. OK, you’re on vacation, so you don’t want to eat every meal at home. It goes without saying that if you’re trying to save money, avoid hotel restaurants like the plague. It is possible to find inexpensive dining in Hawaii; one of my favorite restaurants on the islands is Maui Tacos. Their fish tacos to die for! To find budget restaurants, consult your guidebook, and ask the locals for recommendations.
What to do. If you’re the active type, Hawaii has it all: hiking, golfing, surfing, sailing, snorkeling, scuba diving, horseback riding, whale watching, sunset cruises…the list goes on and on. But each of these activities will cost you. If you book a package, you can sometimes get activity discounts in advance. Ask your travel agent.
One of the best ways to save big bucks on activities is with a Discount Gold Card from the Activities & Attractions Association of Hawaii. The Gold Card can save you 10% to 25% off activities, shopping and dining for up to four people. It only costs $30 and is good for a year from the date you buy it.
Of course, some of us don’t need much more than a book, a lounge chair and a beach (and a freshly mixed Mai Tai) to have the perfect Hawaiian vacation. Why crowd onto an expensive “sunset cruise” with a bunch of strangers when you can pull off the road and watch the sun go down in private with your sweetie? The Hawaiian Islands offer natural beauty that’s truly breathtaking—and it’s there for free. Aloha!
Online Resources
Airfares
Consolidators: Cheap Seats (www.cheapseatstravel.com), Cheap Tickets (www.cheaptickets.com), FlyCheap.com (www.flycheap.com), Lowestfare.com (www.lowestfare.com)
Travel sites: Expedia (www.expedia.com), Travelocity (www.travelocity.com),Yahoo! Travel (travel.yahoo.com)
Auction sites: Hotwire.com (www.hotwire.com), Priceline.com (www.priceline.com)
Packages
More Hawaii For Less (www.hawaii4less.com)
Pleasant Hawaiian Holidays (www.pleasantholidays.com)
SunTrips (www.suntrips.com)
Lodging
Hotel Discounts (www.hoteldiscounts.com)
Hotels.com (www.hotels.com)
TravelAxe (www.travelaxe.com)
Activities
Activities & Attractions Association of Hawaii (www.hawaiifun.org; 800-398-9698 or 808-781-7947)
Warning: Looking for a cheap meal at the beach? Those quaint roadside stands can be a rip-off. I recently paid $10 for a fish burrito and $3 for a soda.