By Shiromi Nassreen
A trip to Hawaii is a dream vacation that might seem impossible if you're on a budget. But there are ways that you can save money on a Hawaiian vacation, such as traveling to the islands off-season, when hotels and airlines cut ticket prices to draw visitors. There are also several ways that you can cut costs on food during your visit and plenty of activities that are cheap, yet well worth doing.
Instructions
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Step 1
Travel during the low season. The low season in Hawaii generally runs from September to the beginning of December, with Christmas and summer being the peak seasons. To get the best deals on airline tickets, accommodation and even activities, travel during the off season is essential.
Step 2
Book your accommodation in non-touristy areas. When looking for accommodations consider looking at areas away from tourist hubs like Waikiki or Lahaina. Not only are accommodations more expensive there, but so is everything else, including groceries. How do you know if an area is a tourist hub? It'll have one or more big resorts nearby.
Step 3
Stay at a hostel or a vacation rental. If you're traveling by yourself or with friends, consider one of the many hostels located around Hawaii. There are hostels right on Waikiki beach, so if you do decide that you want to be in the tourist hub, a hostel is the cheapest option. For families, vacation rentals are easily the cheapest way to go. To get the best rates, look for local Hawaiian condo rental agencies that service the island you're visiting, like Condominium Rentals Hawaii which has vacation rentals on both Maui and Kauai.
Step 4
Save on food. If you're staying in a vacation rental and have a Costco membership, consider using it as that will get you the biggest savings on groceries anywhere in the islands. If you don't have a membership or aren't staying long enough to justify buying in bulk, you can still save on groceries if you shop away from the resorts. Foodland is a major local grocery store which has the Maka'i card, a free discount card which will save you money on groceries. Of course, you'll probably end up eating out at some point. Plate lunches are usually the cheapest grinds on the island and can be found almost everywhere. It's not uncommon to see locals queuing up for food served from a pickup truck. Plate lunches usually consist of a meat dish like kalua pig, two scoops of rice and macaroni salad.
Step 5
Look for discount activities. No matter which island you choose to visit, you'll inevitably be assaulted with flyers about helicopter tours, boat cruises and other activities. There are a number of ways that you cave on such activities. Booking online ahead of time is a good way, as many tour companies like the Pacific Whale Foundation actually offer online discounts. Call around for last minute deals--this works for boat tours and helicopter rides--as the tour companies like to offer specials to fill the empty seats. Take advantage of coupons found in brochures like "101 Things to Do." You'll find racks of these kinds of brochures and flyers at the airport and many of them have deals such as two for one helicopter rides.
Step 6
Snorkle. It costs just a few dollars to rent gear from Snorkel Bob's and you can even rent from one island and drop off gear at a branch on another island. Talk to the people where you rent your gear from to find that particular island's best snorkel spots.
Step 7
Hike. The Hawaiian Islands are blessed with a great deal of natural beauty which costs nothing to enjoy. The Big Island has the live volcano Kilauea which you can hike to, whilst Maui has Haleakala, a dormant volcano. Kauai has Waimea Valley, considered the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific" and Oahu has plenty of lush tropical rainforests to hike through. Ensure that you pack well for the type of hike you are going on. For instance, if you are hiking through a rainforest stock up on mosquito repellent.
Step 8
Take a drive. There are many famous scenic drives. On Oahu, H3 is considered the most beautiful highway in America, whilst the road to Hana is a breathtaking drive passed rainforests and waterfalls on Maui.
About the Author:
Shiromi Nassreen is a British writer. She holds a B.A. in theatre studies from Rose Bruford College of Speech & Drama and has been writing professionally for three years. She writes primarily travel and outdoor articles on Hawaii. Her articles have appeared in Dysfunkshion Magazine as well as Illusion Television and Matador Travel.
