How to Travel to Hawaii on a Budget

In case you have been living under a rock, let me educate you.  I love Hawaii.  I am a self-proclaimed expert in Hawaiian Travel.  That began when I was a travel agent but I continue to study the islands and keep up with the costs and attractions because I try to go regularly.  A big question that comes up with regards to Hawaiian travel is budget.  You can absolutely travel to Hawaii on a budget and I am going to tell you how!

Maui

So how can you travel on a budget? This post will tell you my secrets and they don't just apply to Hawaii.  You can use these tips to travel anywhere!

Step 1:  Join an airline frequent flyer club.  I recommend Hawaiian Airlines since they are the airline of Hawaii and still feed you for free on flights!  The aloha spirit begins before you even get to Hawaii!  So why join a club?  Miles add up to free flights!  With Hawaiian Airlines, you don't just earn miles on flights.  You can also earn them just by searching using their web add-on.  You can also earn them with of Hawaiian Airlines credit card or a Bank of Hawaii debit card.  These miles really do add up and a free flight is the first step towards budget travel.  Remember, even if you only can obtain a free one way ticket, that's still a deal!

Step 2:  Pack light! I wrote an entire post on this step alone.  Go read it here (NEW WINDOW) and I will wait for you to come back and continue!

Step 3:  Book a condo instead of a hotel.  Why?  It's simple.  It's generally cheaper, has laundry facilities (helping to facilitate step 2) and it has a kitchen which means spending less on food.  Now, I know what you're thinking...Why do I want to do laundry and cook on vacation.  It really isn't that bad.  We throw the laundry in at night when we return from that day's adventures and pop it in the dryer before bed.  Clothes are clean by the time you wake up.  As far as cooking goes, we don't cook EVERY meal.  Usually breakfast is in the condo and can be simple pastries or eggs and bacon which are simple to cook.  Depending on the day, lunch can be packed sandwiches and such.  These are great for hiking days!  We only cook a few dinners at the condo because we want to experience dining out too.  I tell you though, barbecuing in the condo's common area that overlooks the beach while enjoying a beer and meeting your neighbors is a great experience.  We buy most of our groceries at Costco because that's the cheapest place to shop and is often nearby the airport so it is convenient on the way to your temporary home.  The exception here is fresh fruits from local farmer's markets!

Step 4: Plan ahead!  This seems simple but most people screw it up.  Planning ahead does not mean "Let's go to Hawaii May 5th through 15th.".  It means planning every detail.  We pre-plan our meals, our adventures, our activities, our gas fill ups.  Everything.  It makes for a stress free trip with no wasted time.  Obviously we plan ahead for free days and surprises too but having an outline makes the most use of your trip.  It also enables you to save the right amount of money for your trip.

Step 5: Do free things!  Hawaii is loaded with free things to do as well as over-priced tourist traps.  Beaches and hikes are free.  Museums are free or very inexpensive.  Spend $30/day on a rental car and go explore the islands.  I can help you plan the perfect trip!  (For a small fee, haha.)  I can always point you in the right direction.  There are free activities for every taste!

Forgetting about the airfare for a minute because that's standard and universal, let's look at how to save.

Packing light will save a couple of hundred dollars before you even get there.

By booking a condo for $125 per night, you can save over 50% on the trip's accommodations.  For a week, you might spend $1000 instead of $3000 on a hotel.  Beaches aren't cheap to live by.

Cooking even 1/3rd of your meals will save you hundreds.  Eggs are cheap when you cook your own.  We have spent $100 each dining out for a nice dinner.  We spent $12 each for the same exact meal cooked in our condo.  I am telling you, chores in Hawaii feel like a fun adventure.

You often get a discount by planning ahead.  You're familiar with the ad that reads $10/advance, $20/at the door.  It applies.  Using the internet to your advantage to constantly research your trip and pre-book as much as possible can save you hundreds on activities, tours, and adventures.

Obviously free activities vs. hundred dollar tours can save you thousands over the course of the vacation.

The first time I took Alyssa to Maui was a $9,000 trip.  We spent $4,000 just by following these steps.  Our second trip together included 4 islands, our wedding, and my boys for a week.  It was a $15,000 trip and we spent less than $7,000.

It can be done if you try!  I promise.  You can travel to Hawaii on a budget!  Remember, there is a lot to do on the islands.  If you want me to plan the perfect itinerary for you, drop me an email.  A small fee will apply.