178 thoughts on “Updated Hawaii Hotel Prices Avg. To $913 | Hawaii Vacation Rentals Avg. $251”
Rose J
Our family has been using rental properties for at least ten years. We love it because we always have friends and families visiting and that’s really not possible to do if you’re in a hotel room. We BBQ often and cook most of our meals at home while dining in a cozy family atmosphere. It makes so much more sense to vrbo for our large family than to place us in a cramped hotel room.
Vacation rentals are by far more private, less expensive, and more accommodating than hotels. For the client it offers an inexpensive seclusive home away from home experience complete with all the amenities of a home.For example, I once rented a whole 3 bR 2 Ba house for my family of 5 for only $85 a day. We spent the whole 3 day weekend and were able to attend a funeral in Kona, Hawaii, and enjoy ourselves afterwards at the beaches and dine out or eat in as we choose. For the host it offers an additional source of income and an opportunity to meet great people from all over the world. For the state an additional 15% in tax revenue. It is a win win for everyone!
This me I think you have made a very big assumption regarding Hotels vs Rentals. What I have experienced with rentals in Hawaii and Aspen Colorado are not so wonderful. Without a quick response Management Team renters are often left to fend for themselves during a crisis. And as you stated in your article, increased inspections to assure cleanliness will be up to each rental owner or manager to follow. That sounds like a bad idea during this health crisis.
So I will pay a few more dollars and stay at a well respected Hotel or Resort so I feel safer and have a better piece of mind.
It’s unfortunate you may have had a less than stellar stay in a Vacation Rental. I quite familiar with those on Kauai. All of the owners I know on Kauai have implemented extremely high protocols of cleanliness for their guests. Yes, each owner or manager may have implemented different protocols each Hotel or Hotel Chain does the same. All this takes is a conversation with the owner or manager and ask to get your concerns or questions answered. It’s just that easy!!!
The visitors bureau in Hawaii County is advising that Hotels open first and Short term vacation rentals stay closed. The West Hawaii Association of Realtors is objecting to this, citing many of the reasons you’ve cited in your article. Thank you!
Here on the Big Island, all vacation rentals have been deemed “non essential businesses” and are closed. I am not sure what will happen once they are allowed to reopen. Whole-house vacation rentals have always been a bit controversial — many of us have always viewed them as a “invasive species”, managed by outsiders, often from a cellphone. Recently, with the advent of this, there has been this fear and resentment building among our local population against all types of visitors in our residential communities. The local press has many stories of outside travelers breaking mandatory quar antine and showing up partying on our beaches, in our shopping centers, running around our neighborhoods. Neighbors are on the edge, quite understandably so. The mood is: We went through all this stay home/social distancing pain and now we don’t want outsiders to come into our neighborhoods and bring the vi rus back. So I expect that the many semi-legal house-type AirBnBs in our residential areas and the any strangers emanating from them will get some extra scrutiny going forward.
How will this be possible? The termination or / phases out plan of Short Term Rental Home #STRH Permits The State of Hawaii and surrounding counties imposed back in March before this states this was no longer going to be permitted and Home Owners have no right to use their private homes as vacation rental?!
Hello! Thank you for the info, as I await a reply from our timeshare condo, question is this: we book our timeshare on Kauai 1 year ahead of time, Pono Kai in Kapaa. Been going there for over 25 years! Anyhow, with the times as they are we have not booked our flight as we also are fortunate to have a home on the Big Island and we travel for vacation between island. Is there any word that timeshares will free up are they not accommodating anyone? Is it not worth it now to go? Although we love Kauai, we would rather be in our home on the big island Stay in place. Our trip is for late July early August? Thoughts?
This cannot drag on much longer without more specific answers from the state. They will have to make a decision on ending this and our feeling is we will know much more this month. Since you’re not planning on traveling until July, suggest waiting a bit to see what evolves.
Wondering if I will ever return to Hawaii. Imagining people getting arrested for simply going to the beach is something I cannot wrap my brain around. Freedom was bought at a huge price and it is being burned up on the altar of “for your safety”
Thank you,
Yes I agree, can’t hold visitors hostage as these are island and they depend on tourists this can’t be good for the economy there especially employment. Thank you again
No one is being arrested for “going to the beach.” They are being arrested for flagrantly violating the 14-day quar antine they agreed to at the airport when they arrived. After the 14 days anyone is free to go to the beach.
We have vacationed in Hawaii for decades. Early on, we discovered the benefits of having our own timeshare condo in the Islands over staying in hotels. It has allowed us a lot of the same benefits of being home, but in our favorite destination!
I am in the “half that don’t go back”. My husband and I started vacation home rentals over 10 years ago. If we are in a place for a week or more, we wouldn’t even consider a hotel. There are so many advantages to a home. It certainly allows for a better “feel” of the place we are visiting. However the things that put it over the top for us include the fact of a kitchen that allows for meal prep and saves money (that can be spend on other indulgences). Even if you don’t like cooking and tend to go out, you don’t have to eat out multiple times a day (eg breakfast, lunch AND supper). For each of our last Hawaii trips, we rented places on the water. Never would have been as close to the water otherwise (certainly not for the cost) in a hotel. We were so close to the waves we had to close the windows at night until we got used to the sound. We’re never going back.
We have a small condo on the water in West Maui, that we bought 20 years ago. About 13 years ago, we began renting it on VRBO, then with the recent fees we are getting fed up and we’ve signed on some of the book direct sights, not sure Rob and Jeff want me to mention them here, so I won’t. Luckily, we mostly rent to repeat guests and use it ourselves..
By the way, we refunded 100% of our cancellations, April, May, June and August. (July my friend is/was going to use the condo.) I’m sure there will be more to come.
Yes please!! I second that. 🙂 Tired of almost booking a vrbo unit until I see the grand total and have to back out. Would love to give business to some great management companies that haven’t incorporated these same methods of ‘ultra-charging’ clients.
Thanks for the information. I looked into a Air B&B before I went to Oahu just the week prior to the shut down and left 3 days before everyone had to shelter in place. I was greatly disappointed to see so many required one stay a minimum of 30 days. In ny dreams I’d love nothing better than to do that but reality says I can usually stay 7 to 10 days at most. That being said, I found it cheaper to stay in a hotel on Waikiki Beach.
Last time I heard and checked, the individual and private rentals were to become more controlled by the City Fathers or someone in authority, and stop the shorter rentals and require longer rental terms. is this still in the works and going to become law? Anyone know?
This is why we love our time share. A kitchen and washer/dryer. We can use stairs instead of elevator, but elevators are big. And beach just a few yards away
Our on island managers are spot on with all state and county regulations and restrictions. When we are not using our condo we know our managers make sure our renters feel at home, safe secure with every amenity of home. Love them and Kauai♡
Do you think VRBO/ Home away will lessen that service fee they added? I feel that fee is to much. After tax, the “ service fee” and cleaning fee it really takes a bite out of your lodging budget. Cleaning fees will probably go up due to extra sanitizing I’m sure.
I just booked a condo in Kihei over Christmas break. The prices for the same exact unit on booking.com was at least 10% and often closer to 20% higher than Homeaway/AirBnb. The layers of fees was astronomical (sometimes adding 40% to the “list price”), not that some (but not most) AirBnb add some pretty questionable charges like hundreds of dollars admin fee?!
Aloha; Thank you for the article. You bring up some very interesting points regarding vacation rentals. You ask the question whether we would switch vs. hotels. My short answer is not likely.
All four major points you make for switching to vacation rentals will also apply in the future to hotels. Granted, there will be more people at a very large hotel, but I expect changes to include social distancing there as well. I already have keyless and contactless check-in at both Marriott and Hilton chains, and I expect others do as well.
Cleaning will change everywhere, including hotels. My concern with vacation rentals is that cleaning regimens will vary widely, and become yet another thing the renter has to investigate and determine whether they are comfortable. Granted, hotels can become lax as well, but you typically have a larger chain of authority to answer to, and for the guest to use as a complaint channel, if necessary. If a guest finds a vacation rental lacking in cleanliness, it is not as simple as changing to a different room in a hotel.
I don’t know the percentage of vacation rentals owned by someone who is off-island. I do know in a couple of ones we rented, both the owner and manager were off-island. Yes, there was a local contact for problems, but as you mention, if will fall to the owner to ensure that inspections will take place. I see this being far harder to enforce/police than at a hotel.
It doesn’t bother us to cook our own food, or go out to eat, but a very large number of people find the convenience of in-house food services essential for their vacation. We’re not rich, so hotel restaurants are typically out of our price range, and we’d rather enjoy local cuisine. What’s a trip to the Big Island without visiting Ken’s and Broke Da Mouth?
Finally, when I travel for business, I prefer the consistency of chain hotels. A bit boring perhaps, but at 150+ nights a year, boring when arriving at 2:00 in the morning after delayed flights is quite alright. The common amenities and location offered by the hotels even on vacation is a big plus for us. Vacation rentals can be “unique”, both on the positive and negative end of the scale. Online reviews can be skewed; pictures can be deceiving. When arriving, I’d rather not have big surprises.
Tighter regulation of vacation rentals is certainly coming, even more than it has recently. Some of those regulations will drive the pricing up, and may improve consistency. It may also shrink the available market.
Overall, I’d say our experience with vacation rentals, albeit small, runs about 6 out of 10. Cheaper generally than hotels, but less convenience. Hotels stays on average, run about 7 out of 10. Both can have issues, both offer advantages. I would expect over time to see about the same mix of rentals to hotels as we have today. It will be an interesting study to watch how this develops.
For better or worse, I am saving my points over the last few years for retirement usage, when our incomes drop.
We used vacation rentals on the Big Island before we bought our house there, in order to be able to stay in neighborhoods we were interested in. To that end, they worked well. The variance between the rentals was significant. In one case, we had a beautiful place, less than one year old, and very nicely set up. In another, it was extremely worn, poorly furnished, and barely tolerable.
In the future, would I consider a vacation rental? Absolutely. But to believe a vacation rental will be cleaner or safer than a hotel may be expecting a bit too much. The beauty is that everyone’s requirements are different, and hotels fit some people, and vacation rentals fit others.
I do feel for those owners that have one or two properties, and are using them to supplement their income. For those that are leveraged to the hilt, and in it soley for the money, not so much.
Thank you for this encouraging article about the short term rentals. We are owners of two condos in Kihei, Maui in an area zoned for legal rentals. It is comforting to hear about future hopes for the business. We have totally refunded, or if the guest desired, applied money to their future rental. Right now we are taking a loss, but under the circumstances it is the right thing to do. Our bills are the same for property tax, mortgage, insurance, etc., but we can not rent the properties at the current time. It is wonderful to see in print the benefits of our type of rentals. As are most owners, we are happy to answer questions about legality and any other concerns. Am many have mentioned the license number is a good indicator of legality. People can also check for our authenticity through long standing on Google Business, a Facebook Page and Instagram. Thank you Beat of Hawaii for your always current news about all things Hawaiian. I love receiving your e-mails.
Nicely said Linda! I too own on the Big Island and share your feelings. We have lost our fair share of rentals in March, April, and. May. Looking forward to helping out renters in the near future to enjoy their Hawaiian vacation again!
We own several beachfront rental properties in Ko Olina and experienced a similar scenario. Fully occupied for April & May prior to the pan demic. Now zero dollars revenue with all of the costs as you describe. I wish the State of Hawaii would reduce our property taxes from Hotel / Resort to residential for half the year. This would allow us to pay $1,000 for the six months instead of $7,000 x 2.
The federal government already turned down our HOA PPP application stating that neither HOA’s or individual vacation rental owners qualify under the terms of the PPP program.
Maholo as always for the interesting post. I have a vacation rental on Kauai that I rent thru VRBO. Early on, they strongly suggested that given the circumstances, that guests be given the option to cancel with a full refund. For a variety of reasons, I chose to go with that. So, all of my bookings for late March, April, May and June were given full refunds. I’m hoping they will book for next year!
We have stayed at a condo each and every time we have went. We enter right into our room from the parking lot. Only two floors. We love it that way. Less noise and interaction.
We are timeshare owners, so we will continue to book that way. I like having the best of both worlds…a spacious villa with full kitchen and washer/dryer and amenities such as the pools and activities.
I’m a VBRO guest 100% on my Hawai’i vacations. But the stories that are coming out of owners not refunding money makes me think I will book a hotel in the future. No third party, straight with the hotel, normal 24 hour full refund policy.
Stacy, Would you care to elaborate? I’m interested to hear what you’ve come across in terms of condo owners not refunding money. I’ve heard plenty of stories about the cruise lines not refunding money but am in the dark about condo/apartment owners. Thanks!
If you book directly with a Property Management Company (and I would do my homework on who is best) you will have many features like the hotels offer as far as cancellations. We have a property on Maui, and our property management company refunded or booked a future date for all cancellations because of this. They are also allow for free cancellations for the immediate future because of the uncertainties.
Greetings Thanks for all the updates info. Beat of Hawaii has been giving great info. For many years. Several years ago we discovered the value of condos. One condo in Kauai, on the ocean, we have been using 5 times. Since all of us baby boomers are retiring and cashing in our chips I have found that if you have a favorite place/condo one must book it earlier than a few years ago. 3 weeks in January is our next trip. Plane fares from Phoenix are finally getting lower.
To find a legal rental, a rental should ALWAYS have their tax ID associated with any advertising. It’s the law. I have a condo that I rent on Maui and got tired of dealing with VRBO and AirBnB. [Edited.]
We agree! As rental owners in a tourist destination we have been inundated with requests to book, yet our County order does not allow outside residents yet, unless they come for more than 14 days and self-quar antine.
We exclusively use Airbnb as our booking platform, which has worked tremendously well for us. Clearly Airbnb is struggling as we hosts are losing multiple thousands of dollars each month.
However, we are confident that travel close to home is going to make a big comeback, based on our current inquiries. We hope that we will see our business recover and that we can hold out until then.
We have always employed sanitation practices similar to what the CDC has recommended for this. I personally doubt that hotel chains can go through the 3 hour process in every room that we use in our vacation cottages.
While it is difficult to know that your host is using the recommended procedures. As a traveler myself, I will always come prepared with my own cleaning products and protective gear.The rapid turn around expected by hotels is a cause for concern in relation to cleaning and sanitizing procedures.
People have a need and a desire to travel that we suspect is not going to be extinguished by this vi rus. We can attest to this fact as we have had booking requests from the outset of the lock down and get them on a daily basis now.
Aloha, the problem I see is with the “RESORT FEES”. I dislike them greatly & it has affected my travel. I remember when the put the $2 a day road tax. Ahh. I love the islands & the people. But it seems like the tourists are always taking it in the wallet. I was happy to finally be able to use my Medicare card to ride the bus for $ even from the airport. Hooray for THE BUS. Mahalo.
For all the reasons you mentioned, it’s interesting to note that Hawaiian vacation rentals were ordered to close down for April and May, while hotels were allowed to stay open for those who needed to quarantine. This is baffling to me.
That said, Hawaii has done a great job taking care of it’s residents and visitors during this crisis. I’m looking forward to traveling back to my happy place as soon as possible.
It’s not baffling once you realize the power of the hotel lobby. The state already has been finding for every excuse possible to get rid of vacation rentals. They have told the local residents a lot of lies about how vacation rentals are responsible for their problems.
Short term vacation rentals on the Big Island are prohibited in single-family residential and agricultural zones and only allowed in hotel, resort, commercial, and multifamily commercial zones. Hope that helps.
Speaking to some folks in the business, some owners are going under. Whereas the more traditional owner had sufficient funds to weather storms etc, in recent years people have mortgaged properties or stretched themselves financially to buy a property and used the rentals to pay for the costs etc. No rentals no income so looks like some of the small fish will sell up which probably means prices will spike. For a group of 4 or so then renting a house makes much more sense out side of staying in Waikiki where the right hotels have beach access and beachside pools. Wait to see what happens with Airbnb. I think a lot of folks are having trouble getting refunds for these rentals where hotels just require the usual notice. Think things will change.Maybe the move to condos at Hilton etc will see hotel chains getting more into rentals if it is a growth market. Might fit with the experience model they use for Millenials etc.
I loved that you mentioned renting a vacation property in Hawaii will make you feel more local. My husband and I are thinking about our next vacation destination, and we are looking for advice about choosing a hotel or rent a vacation property. I will let him know about the benefits of renting a vacation property to help his decision.
Could you offer advice about determining what constitutes a legal rental? There are tons of rentals on the North Shore of Oahu but my guess is that only a handful are truly “legal.” Is anywhere on Oahu’s North Shore specifically considered a designated tourist area–from Wailua to Kahuku?
Thanks.
Perhaps others can chime in too. One thing is that there is a vacation rental number associated with legal rentals. Those may or may not be in the actual listing. You might also check with directly with the provider and ask them for some more formal confirmation of legality.
I found is that there is no simple and easy way to determine whether a vacation rental I find on AirBnB or VRBO is in fact legal. For example, on the Big Island legality depends on the zoning designation the vacation rental is located in (i.e., whether it is in a Residential, Ag, commercial/visitor zone) and whether the rental is occupied by its owner or not. Non-owner occupied vacation rentals in all single family residential zoned areas (RS) and Agriculture Areas (AG) of the Big Island are banned starting September 2019, meaning that nobody is allowed to establish a new vaca rental there after that date if it is not their primary residence. Existing rentals already established by April 2019 are allowed to continue if they file for a yearly special permit. On the other hand, vacation rentals in visitor areas (CV) such as downtown Kailua Kona, Waikoloa, or Hilo’s Banyan Drive continue to be legal regardless of whether the owner actually lives there, or lives somewhere else. (The majority of vacation rentals on the Big Island are non owner occupied.)
We own a single condo rental on the Big Island. We applied for and received and STVR License and Certificate. All legal rentals must post their Certificate on the outside entrance window and on the back of the main and bedroom(s) doors. All advertising must carry the STVR legal rental number, which we do on Air BnB, or exclusive posting site. There should be no confusion for those seeking legal rentals on the BI. As for the other islands I don’t know
Vacation rentals are a perfect choice for families as they allow for a quality vacation at a lower price than in a hotel + meals. A family of 4 would spend at least a 150 usd if you need to buy 3 meals a day.
What hotels can do is to create aparthotels like in Europe. They have prime real estate on the shore, and just need to converts some do the rooms into 1bdrm suites with all amenities that vacation rentals offer.
Aloha all! We’ve been renting condos, apts. and homes for 10 years now and only book a hotel if the stay is less than 3 nights (cleaning fees alone can make or break a good deal). We want a kitchen. We want to be in local neighborhoods vs high traffic tourist spots. In fact this morning I came home from a week in Portland – AirB&B – we scour every ad, read every review (and know some people just cannot be made happy) and ask specific questions of the owner/host before committing. We’ll be in O’ahu in October for 2 weeks…yep, in a condo (and it will be our 6th Hawaii trip without the use of a hotel). There is something comforting about a home versus a hotel.
Aloha Tea, I totally understand that you’d prefer to be in a local neighborhood. At the same time, please consider that as a consciencious traveler you might want to hesitate before renting a condo or even an entire house outside any of our visitor areas. It is an open secret that vacation rental numbers in our once quiet residential neighborhoods have spiralled out of control and many locals are increasingly getting fed up with the situation and resentful of tourists, which is so sad. Local traffic, rents, and house prices are up and nobody seems to know who their neighbors are any more. On the Oahu North Shore, for example, one in five local homes is a vacation rental. Neighborhoods feel that they are at the breaking point. If you read any of our local newspapers such as the Honolulu Star Advertiser, you probably know what I mean. If you love and care for Hawaii’s future, you might choose a condominium in one of the traditional visitor areas such as Waikiki, Kailua-Kona Village, Waikoloa (but not Waikoloa Village, many workers live there), etc. etc. Just my 2 cents.
Sarah, you will be happy to know that for our Hawaii trips, all have been in “tourist destinations” (not so with all of our trips though), and yes, I realize that my friends and I are part of the problem, especially with skyrocketing rents. It’s a double edged sword, we want reasonable accommodations with all the comforts of home, and traditional hotels just don’t offer that for us when we’re traveling for 2 weeks at a time ☹️ (I used to love hotels!)
Aloha Sarah. I don’t know your island, but as for the Big Island there was a pretty good process last year by Mayor Kim to get all rentals legal. These included rentals in Waikoloa Village. Our legal condo is in Keauhou and fits the perfect example of those locations where visitors don’t want to deal with the noise and crowded areas, but want to be near shopping, beaches and outdoor activities. The situation on Oahu might be different, but the now legal STVR’s on the Big Island are well-regulated. I would even say that Waikoloa Village is an excellent choice. The condos available for rent are actually away from the resort crowds, yet a ten-minute drive down to the best beaches on Hawaii Island. I’m curious about whether you meant homes in residential neighborhoods or condos.
The hotels have to be competitive. If they want business, stop gouging guests with ridiculous “resort fees” purportedly to cover the cost of things that are already provided. For me personally, this was a real turn off that drove me to the vacation rental sector
Thanks a lot for this great blog about Hawaii hotels vs vacation rentals that contains a lot practical tips and advices that people would like to take note of. Very helpful share.
I think this article has me convinced that Hawaii rentals win every day. Hawaii is the best, and I would love to enhance my experience with a rental home. I will have to look into this for my next Hawaii trip.
I agree wholeheartedly about vacation rentals. We have been staying almost exclusively in rentals for the past decade. One of our first was on the Big Island. A lovely place with 3 bedrooms, a full kitchen and so close to the ocean that we had to close the windows our first couple of night because the waves crashing on the shore. All for a whopping $600. I checked recently and saw that it’s up to $900 (for the week) but what a deal!
You will love it! Just make certain you read reviews, and the listing carefully, so you understand what you’re getting. Also ask questions if you aren’t clear on something. We have stayed in numerous VRBO’s in Hawaii in the past 10 years, and each one has been great! Spent anywhere from $800 a week for 2/2, to $350 a night for a sprawling 3/2 home with gorgeous views, and loved each one for its unique qualities.
We were recently “treated” to 8 nights at Turtle Bay Resort on Oahu. What an incredible location, but I couldn’t help feel as if I were paying, I’d rather be in a home with kitchen and laundry, and fewer people. Plus enough left over for another trip to Hawaii!
We have had two disappointing VRBO’s. One with misleading description and many reviews that make one wonder ‘where did they come from?” Our experience was awful. Teenie, tiny DARK shower, bed that we rolled to the center in, an outdoor kitchen, which looked great in photos, but was a mosquito hatchery, had NO hot water and you had to walk through the living room to get to the indoor dining area or else eat with the mosquitoes during Dengue fever outbreak. Also listened to sirens all night. Very bad experience.
Our other try was problematic due to the two sets of adult parents who left during the day leaving a kid about 14 to watch the little ones who ran back and forth upstairs from about 6 a.m. until bedtime. Non stop – and I am not exaggerating. Condo was great. Neighbors were not. My suggestion: ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS rent the top floor unit. Hopefully, you can manage stairs.
We now have two weeks of timeshare on the Big Island and we love it there. Although our last time there the folks below us had a very loud party all night and were even running around the golf course naked! They were evicted the next morning. But we put in one lousy night. Nothing like that had ever happened before.
We would try a vacation rental again though – due to the savings and the potential for a lovely visit. I have researched hotels. We would have to eat PB & J’s the entire trip if we paid those rates. It is sad.
Our family has been using rental properties for at least ten years. We love it because we always have friends and families visiting and that’s really not possible to do if you’re in a hotel room. We BBQ often and cook most of our meals at home while dining in a cozy family atmosphere. It makes so much more sense to vrbo for our large family than to place us in a cramped hotel room.
Vacation rentals are by far more private, less expensive, and more accommodating than hotels. For the client it offers an inexpensive seclusive home away from home experience complete with all the amenities of a home.For example, I once rented a whole 3 bR 2 Ba house for my family of 5 for only $85 a day. We spent the whole 3 day weekend and were able to attend a funeral in Kona, Hawaii, and enjoy ourselves afterwards at the beaches and dine out or eat in as we choose. For the host it offers an additional source of income and an opportunity to meet great people from all over the world. For the state an additional 15% in tax revenue. It is a win win for everyone!
This me I think you have made a very big assumption regarding Hotels vs Rentals. What I have experienced with rentals in Hawaii and Aspen Colorado are not so wonderful. Without a quick response Management Team renters are often left to fend for themselves during a crisis. And as you stated in your article, increased inspections to assure cleanliness will be up to each rental owner or manager to follow. That sounds like a bad idea during this health crisis.
So I will pay a few more dollars and stay at a well respected Hotel or Resort so I feel safer and have a better piece of mind.
It’s unfortunate you may have had a less than stellar stay in a Vacation Rental. I quite familiar with those on Kauai. All of the owners I know on Kauai have implemented extremely high protocols of cleanliness for their guests. Yes, each owner or manager may have implemented different protocols each Hotel or Hotel Chain does the same. All this takes is a conversation with the owner or manager and ask to get your concerns or questions answered. It’s just that easy!!!
The visitors bureau in Hawaii County is advising that Hotels open first and Short term vacation rentals stay closed. The West Hawaii Association of Realtors is objecting to this, citing many of the reasons you’ve cited in your article. Thank you!
Hi Andee.
Thank you.
Aloha.
I was led to believe you could not use Airbnb in Oahu?
I thought the state of Hawaii has banned short term rentals under a month at a time, with only a few exceptions?
Here on the Big Island, all vacation rentals have been deemed “non essential businesses” and are closed. I am not sure what will happen once they are allowed to reopen. Whole-house vacation rentals have always been a bit controversial — many of us have always viewed them as a “invasive species”, managed by outsiders, often from a cellphone. Recently, with the advent of this, there has been this fear and resentment building among our local population against all types of visitors in our residential communities. The local press has many stories of outside travelers breaking mandatory quar antine and showing up partying on our beaches, in our shopping centers, running around our neighborhoods. Neighbors are on the edge, quite understandably so. The mood is: We went through all this stay home/social distancing pain and now we don’t want outsiders to come into our neighborhoods and bring the vi rus back. So I expect that the many semi-legal house-type AirBnBs in our residential areas and the any strangers emanating from them will get some extra scrutiny going forward.
Only in nonresort designated areas.
How will this be possible? The termination or / phases out plan of Short Term Rental Home #STRH Permits The State of Hawaii and surrounding counties imposed back in March before this states this was no longer going to be permitted and Home Owners have no right to use their private homes as vacation rental?!
Hello! Thank you for the info, as I await a reply from our timeshare condo, question is this: we book our timeshare on Kauai 1 year ahead of time, Pono Kai in Kapaa. Been going there for over 25 years! Anyhow, with the times as they are we have not booked our flight as we also are fortunate to have a home on the Big Island and we travel for vacation between island. Is there any word that timeshares will free up are they not accommodating anyone? Is it not worth it now to go? Although we love Kauai, we would rather be in our home on the big island Stay in place. Our trip is for late July early August? Thoughts?
Hi Les.
This cannot drag on much longer without more specific answers from the state. They will have to make a decision on ending this and our feeling is we will know much more this month. Since you’re not planning on traveling until July, suggest waiting a bit to see what evolves.
Aloha.
Wondering if I will ever return to Hawaii. Imagining people getting arrested for simply going to the beach is something I cannot wrap my brain around. Freedom was bought at a huge price and it is being burned up on the altar of “for your safety”
Thank you,
Yes I agree, can’t hold visitors hostage as these are island and they depend on tourists this can’t be good for the economy there especially employment. Thank you again
No one is being arrested for “going to the beach.” They are being arrested for flagrantly violating the 14-day quar antine they agreed to at the airport when they arrived. After the 14 days anyone is free to go to the beach.
We have vacationed in Hawaii for decades. Early on, we discovered the benefits of having our own timeshare condo in the Islands over staying in hotels. It has allowed us a lot of the same benefits of being home, but in our favorite destination!
I am in the “half that don’t go back”. My husband and I started vacation home rentals over 10 years ago. If we are in a place for a week or more, we wouldn’t even consider a hotel. There are so many advantages to a home. It certainly allows for a better “feel” of the place we are visiting. However the things that put it over the top for us include the fact of a kitchen that allows for meal prep and saves money (that can be spend on other indulgences). Even if you don’t like cooking and tend to go out, you don’t have to eat out multiple times a day (eg breakfast, lunch AND supper). For each of our last Hawaii trips, we rented places on the water. Never would have been as close to the water otherwise (certainly not for the cost) in a hotel. We were so close to the waves we had to close the windows at night until we got used to the sound. We’re never going back.
Aloha,
Thanks for another interesting article!
We have a small condo on the water in West Maui, that we bought 20 years ago. About 13 years ago, we began renting it on VRBO, then with the recent fees we are getting fed up and we’ve signed on some of the book direct sights, not sure Rob and Jeff want me to mention them here, so I won’t. Luckily, we mostly rent to repeat guests and use it ourselves..
By the way, we refunded 100% of our cancellations, April, May, June and August. (July my friend is/was going to use the condo.) I’m sure there will be more to come.
Mahaho
Lanell
Hi Lanell.
Thanks very much. We’ve thought about having a marketplace listing where people can list their vacation homes, and we may still do that.
Aloha.
Yes please!! I second that. 🙂 Tired of almost booking a vrbo unit until I see the grand total and have to back out. Would love to give business to some great management companies that haven’t incorporated these same methods of ‘ultra-charging’ clients.
That would be amazing! If you do, how will you let us know?
Hi Noelani.
If that does happen, we’ll be doing a post or two to let people know.
Aloha.
Thanks for the information. I looked into a Air B&B before I went to Oahu just the week prior to the shut down and left 3 days before everyone had to shelter in place. I was greatly disappointed to see so many required one stay a minimum of 30 days. In ny dreams I’d love nothing better than to do that but reality says I can usually stay 7 to 10 days at most. That being said, I found it cheaper to stay in a hotel on Waikiki Beach.
Hi Karen.
There still are legal short term rentals. Waikiki is challenging and we too often stay at hotels there.
Aloha.
Last time I heard and checked, the individual and private rentals were to become more controlled by the City Fathers or someone in authority, and stop the shorter rentals and require longer rental terms. is this still in the works and going to become law? Anyone know?
This is why we love our time share. A kitchen and washer/dryer. We can use stairs instead of elevator, but elevators are big. And beach just a few yards away
Our on island managers are spot on with all state and county regulations and restrictions. When we are not using our condo we know our managers make sure our renters feel at home, safe secure with every amenity of home. Love them and Kauai♡
Do you think VRBO/ Home away will lessen that service fee they added? I feel that fee is to much. After tax, the “ service fee” and cleaning fee it really takes a bite out of your lodging budget. Cleaning fees will probably go up due to extra sanitizing I’m sure.
I just booked a condo in Kihei over Christmas break. The prices for the same exact unit on booking.com was at least 10% and often closer to 20% higher than Homeaway/AirBnb. The layers of fees was astronomical (sometimes adding 40% to the “list price”), not that some (but not most) AirBnb add some pretty questionable charges like hundreds of dollars admin fee?!
Aloha; Thank you for the article. You bring up some very interesting points regarding vacation rentals. You ask the question whether we would switch vs. hotels. My short answer is not likely.
All four major points you make for switching to vacation rentals will also apply in the future to hotels. Granted, there will be more people at a very large hotel, but I expect changes to include social distancing there as well. I already have keyless and contactless check-in at both Marriott and Hilton chains, and I expect others do as well.
Cleaning will change everywhere, including hotels. My concern with vacation rentals is that cleaning regimens will vary widely, and become yet another thing the renter has to investigate and determine whether they are comfortable. Granted, hotels can become lax as well, but you typically have a larger chain of authority to answer to, and for the guest to use as a complaint channel, if necessary. If a guest finds a vacation rental lacking in cleanliness, it is not as simple as changing to a different room in a hotel.
I don’t know the percentage of vacation rentals owned by someone who is off-island. I do know in a couple of ones we rented, both the owner and manager were off-island. Yes, there was a local contact for problems, but as you mention, if will fall to the owner to ensure that inspections will take place. I see this being far harder to enforce/police than at a hotel.
It doesn’t bother us to cook our own food, or go out to eat, but a very large number of people find the convenience of in-house food services essential for their vacation. We’re not rich, so hotel restaurants are typically out of our price range, and we’d rather enjoy local cuisine. What’s a trip to the Big Island without visiting Ken’s and Broke Da Mouth?
Finally, when I travel for business, I prefer the consistency of chain hotels. A bit boring perhaps, but at 150+ nights a year, boring when arriving at 2:00 in the morning after delayed flights is quite alright. The common amenities and location offered by the hotels even on vacation is a big plus for us. Vacation rentals can be “unique”, both on the positive and negative end of the scale. Online reviews can be skewed; pictures can be deceiving. When arriving, I’d rather not have big surprises.
Tighter regulation of vacation rentals is certainly coming, even more than it has recently. Some of those regulations will drive the pricing up, and may improve consistency. It may also shrink the available market.
Overall, I’d say our experience with vacation rentals, albeit small, runs about 6 out of 10. Cheaper generally than hotels, but less convenience. Hotels stays on average, run about 7 out of 10. Both can have issues, both offer advantages. I would expect over time to see about the same mix of rentals to hotels as we have today. It will be an interesting study to watch how this develops.
Is part of the reason because you are using points for the stay vs. paying out of pocket for a vacation rental?
Alfred;
For better or worse, I am saving my points over the last few years for retirement usage, when our incomes drop.
We used vacation rentals on the Big Island before we bought our house there, in order to be able to stay in neighborhoods we were interested in. To that end, they worked well. The variance between the rentals was significant. In one case, we had a beautiful place, less than one year old, and very nicely set up. In another, it was extremely worn, poorly furnished, and barely tolerable.
In the future, would I consider a vacation rental? Absolutely. But to believe a vacation rental will be cleaner or safer than a hotel may be expecting a bit too much. The beauty is that everyone’s requirements are different, and hotels fit some people, and vacation rentals fit others.
I do feel for those owners that have one or two properties, and are using them to supplement their income. For those that are leveraged to the hilt, and in it soley for the money, not so much.
Thank you for this encouraging article about the short term rentals. We are owners of two condos in Kihei, Maui in an area zoned for legal rentals. It is comforting to hear about future hopes for the business. We have totally refunded, or if the guest desired, applied money to their future rental. Right now we are taking a loss, but under the circumstances it is the right thing to do. Our bills are the same for property tax, mortgage, insurance, etc., but we can not rent the properties at the current time. It is wonderful to see in print the benefits of our type of rentals. As are most owners, we are happy to answer questions about legality and any other concerns. Am many have mentioned the license number is a good indicator of legality. People can also check for our authenticity through long standing on Google Business, a Facebook Page and Instagram. Thank you Beat of Hawaii for your always current news about all things Hawaiian. I love receiving your e-mails.
Hi Linda.
Thank you.
Aloha.
Nicely said Linda! I too own on the Big Island and share your feelings. We have lost our fair share of rentals in March, April, and. May. Looking forward to helping out renters in the near future to enjoy their Hawaiian vacation again!
We own several beachfront rental properties in Ko Olina and experienced a similar scenario. Fully occupied for April & May prior to the pan demic. Now zero dollars revenue with all of the costs as you describe. I wish the State of Hawaii would reduce our property taxes from Hotel / Resort to residential for half the year. This would allow us to pay $1,000 for the six months instead of $7,000 x 2.
The federal government already turned down our HOA PPP application stating that neither HOA’s or individual vacation rental owners qualify under the terms of the PPP program.
So it’s all out of pocket for us unfortunately.
Aloha,
Maholo as always for the interesting post. I have a vacation rental on Kauai that I rent thru VRBO. Early on, they strongly suggested that given the circumstances, that guests be given the option to cancel with a full refund. For a variety of reasons, I chose to go with that. So, all of my bookings for late March, April, May and June were given full refunds. I’m hoping they will book for next year!
Hi Randy.
Thanks.
Aloha.
We have stayed at a condo each and every time we have went. We enter right into our room from the parking lot. Only two floors. We love it that way. Less noise and interaction.
We are timeshare owners, so we will continue to book that way. I like having the best of both worlds…a spacious villa with full kitchen and washer/dryer and amenities such as the pools and activities.
I’m a VBRO guest 100% on my Hawai’i vacations. But the stories that are coming out of owners not refunding money makes me think I will book a hotel in the future. No third party, straight with the hotel, normal 24 hour full refund policy.
Stacy, Would you care to elaborate? I’m interested to hear what you’ve come across in terms of condo owners not refunding money. I’ve heard plenty of stories about the cruise lines not refunding money but am in the dark about condo/apartment owners. Thanks!
If you book directly with a Property Management Company (and I would do my homework on who is best) you will have many features like the hotels offer as far as cancellations. We have a property on Maui, and our property management company refunded or booked a future date for all cancellations because of this. They are also allow for free cancellations for the immediate future because of the uncertainties.
Greetings Thanks for all the updates info. Beat of Hawaii has been giving great info. For many years. Several years ago we discovered the value of condos. One condo in Kauai, on the ocean, we have been using 5 times. Since all of us baby boomers are retiring and cashing in our chips I have found that if you have a favorite place/condo one must book it earlier than a few years ago. 3 weeks in January is our next trip. Plane fares from Phoenix are finally getting lower.
Hi Ed.
Thanks.
Aloha.
One advantage to hotels is fewer restrictions regarding cancellation.
To find a legal rental, a rental should ALWAYS have their tax ID associated with any advertising. It’s the law. I have a condo that I rent on Maui and got tired of dealing with VRBO and AirBnB. [Edited.]
We agree! As rental owners in a tourist destination we have been inundated with requests to book, yet our County order does not allow outside residents yet, unless they come for more than 14 days and self-quar antine.
We exclusively use Airbnb as our booking platform, which has worked tremendously well for us. Clearly Airbnb is struggling as we hosts are losing multiple thousands of dollars each month.
However, we are confident that travel close to home is going to make a big comeback, based on our current inquiries. We hope that we will see our business recover and that we can hold out until then.
We have always employed sanitation practices similar to what the CDC has recommended for this. I personally doubt that hotel chains can go through the 3 hour process in every room that we use in our vacation cottages.
While it is difficult to know that your host is using the recommended procedures. As a traveler myself, I will always come prepared with my own cleaning products and protective gear.The rapid turn around expected by hotels is a cause for concern in relation to cleaning and sanitizing procedures.
People have a need and a desire to travel that we suspect is not going to be extinguished by this vi rus. We can attest to this fact as we have had booking requests from the outset of the lock down and get them on a daily basis now.
So hang in their travelers and hosts!
We will get back to our nomadic ways!
Aloha, the problem I see is with the “RESORT FEES”. I dislike them greatly & it has affected my travel. I remember when the put the $2 a day road tax. Ahh. I love the islands & the people. But it seems like the tourists are always taking it in the wallet. I was happy to finally be able to use my Medicare card to ride the bus for $ even from the airport. Hooray for THE BUS. Mahalo.
Hi Dewayne.
Thank you.
Aloha.
For all the reasons you mentioned, it’s interesting to note that Hawaiian vacation rentals were ordered to close down for April and May, while hotels were allowed to stay open for those who needed to quarantine. This is baffling to me.
That said, Hawaii has done a great job taking care of it’s residents and visitors during this crisis. I’m looking forward to traveling back to my happy place as soon as possible.
It’s not baffling once you realize the power of the hotel lobby. The state already has been finding for every excuse possible to get rid of vacation rentals. They have told the local residents a lot of lies about how vacation rentals are responsible for their problems.
I thought it is illegal, at least on the Big Island, to rent a home/condo for less than 30 days. Is this no longer true?
Hi Bob.
Short term vacation rentals on the Big Island are prohibited in single-family residential and agricultural zones and only allowed in hotel, resort, commercial, and multifamily commercial zones. Hope that helps.
Aloha.
Speaking to some folks in the business, some owners are going under. Whereas the more traditional owner had sufficient funds to weather storms etc, in recent years people have mortgaged properties or stretched themselves financially to buy a property and used the rentals to pay for the costs etc. No rentals no income so looks like some of the small fish will sell up which probably means prices will spike. For a group of 4 or so then renting a house makes much more sense out side of staying in Waikiki where the right hotels have beach access and beachside pools. Wait to see what happens with Airbnb. I think a lot of folks are having trouble getting refunds for these rentals where hotels just require the usual notice. Think things will change.Maybe the move to condos at Hilton etc will see hotel chains getting more into rentals if it is a growth market. Might fit with the experience model they use for Millenials etc.
I loved that you mentioned renting a vacation property in Hawaii will make you feel more local. My husband and I are thinking about our next vacation destination, and we are looking for advice about choosing a hotel or rent a vacation property. I will let him know about the benefits of renting a vacation property to help his decision.
Could you offer advice about determining what constitutes a legal rental? There are tons of rentals on the North Shore of Oahu but my guess is that only a handful are truly “legal.” Is anywhere on Oahu’s North Shore specifically considered a designated tourist area–from Wailua to Kahuku?
Thanks.
Hi Julianna.
Perhaps others can chime in too. One thing is that there is a vacation rental number associated with legal rentals. Those may or may not be in the actual listing. You might also check with directly with the provider and ask them for some more formal confirmation of legality.
Aloha.
Turtle Bay is a North Shore resort area and short term rentals are approved in resort areas.
I found is that there is no simple and easy way to determine whether a vacation rental I find on AirBnB or VRBO is in fact legal. For example, on the Big Island legality depends on the zoning designation the vacation rental is located in (i.e., whether it is in a Residential, Ag, commercial/visitor zone) and whether the rental is occupied by its owner or not. Non-owner occupied vacation rentals in all single family residential zoned areas (RS) and Agriculture Areas (AG) of the Big Island are banned starting September 2019, meaning that nobody is allowed to establish a new vaca rental there after that date if it is not their primary residence. Existing rentals already established by April 2019 are allowed to continue if they file for a yearly special permit. On the other hand, vacation rentals in visitor areas (CV) such as downtown Kailua Kona, Waikoloa, or Hilo’s Banyan Drive continue to be legal regardless of whether the owner actually lives there, or lives somewhere else. (The majority of vacation rentals on the Big Island are non owner occupied.)
We own a single condo rental on the Big Island. We applied for and received and STVR License and Certificate. All legal rentals must post their Certificate on the outside entrance window and on the back of the main and bedroom(s) doors. All advertising must carry the STVR legal rental number, which we do on Air BnB, or exclusive posting site. There should be no confusion for those seeking legal rentals on the BI. As for the other islands I don’t know
Vacation rentals are a perfect choice for families as they allow for a quality vacation at a lower price than in a hotel + meals. A family of 4 would spend at least a 150 usd if you need to buy 3 meals a day.
What hotels can do is to create aparthotels like in Europe. They have prime real estate on the shore, and just need to converts some do the rooms into 1bdrm suites with all amenities that vacation rentals offer.
Aloha all! We’ve been renting condos, apts. and homes for 10 years now and only book a hotel if the stay is less than 3 nights (cleaning fees alone can make or break a good deal). We want a kitchen. We want to be in local neighborhoods vs high traffic tourist spots. In fact this morning I came home from a week in Portland – AirB&B – we scour every ad, read every review (and know some people just cannot be made happy) and ask specific questions of the owner/host before committing. We’ll be in O’ahu in October for 2 weeks…yep, in a condo (and it will be our 6th Hawaii trip without the use of a hotel). There is something comforting about a home versus a hotel.
Aloha Tea, I totally understand that you’d prefer to be in a local neighborhood. At the same time, please consider that as a consciencious traveler you might want to hesitate before renting a condo or even an entire house outside any of our visitor areas. It is an open secret that vacation rental numbers in our once quiet residential neighborhoods have spiralled out of control and many locals are increasingly getting fed up with the situation and resentful of tourists, which is so sad. Local traffic, rents, and house prices are up and nobody seems to know who their neighbors are any more. On the Oahu North Shore, for example, one in five local homes is a vacation rental. Neighborhoods feel that they are at the breaking point. If you read any of our local newspapers such as the Honolulu Star Advertiser, you probably know what I mean. If you love and care for Hawaii’s future, you might choose a condominium in one of the traditional visitor areas such as Waikiki, Kailua-Kona Village, Waikoloa (but not Waikoloa Village, many workers live there), etc. etc. Just my 2 cents.
Sarah, you will be happy to know that for our Hawaii trips, all have been in “tourist destinations” (not so with all of our trips though), and yes, I realize that my friends and I are part of the problem, especially with skyrocketing rents. It’s a double edged sword, we want reasonable accommodations with all the comforts of home, and traditional hotels just don’t offer that for us when we’re traveling for 2 weeks at a time ☹️ (I used to love hotels!)
Aloha Sarah. I don’t know your island, but as for the Big Island there was a pretty good process last year by Mayor Kim to get all rentals legal. These included rentals in Waikoloa Village. Our legal condo is in Keauhou and fits the perfect example of those locations where visitors don’t want to deal with the noise and crowded areas, but want to be near shopping, beaches and outdoor activities. The situation on Oahu might be different, but the now legal STVR’s on the Big Island are well-regulated. I would even say that Waikoloa Village is an excellent choice. The condos available for rent are actually away from the resort crowds, yet a ten-minute drive down to the best beaches on Hawaii Island. I’m curious about whether you meant homes in residential neighborhoods or condos.
The hotels have to be competitive. If they want business, stop gouging guests with ridiculous “resort fees” purportedly to cover the cost of things that are already provided. For me personally, this was a real turn off that drove me to the vacation rental sector
I agree!
Thanks a lot for this great blog about Hawaii hotels vs vacation rentals that contains a lot practical tips and advices that people would like to take note of. Very helpful share.
I think this article has me convinced that Hawaii rentals win every day. Hawaii is the best, and I would love to enhance my experience with a rental home. I will have to look into this for my next Hawaii trip.
I agree wholeheartedly about vacation rentals. We have been staying almost exclusively in rentals for the past decade. One of our first was on the Big Island. A lovely place with 3 bedrooms, a full kitchen and so close to the ocean that we had to close the windows our first couple of night because the waves crashing on the shore. All for a whopping $600. I checked recently and saw that it’s up to $900 (for the week) but what a deal!
Only problem for me is there has to be a pool. It does limit the options for rental properties.
You will love it! Just make certain you read reviews, and the listing carefully, so you understand what you’re getting. Also ask questions if you aren’t clear on something. We have stayed in numerous VRBO’s in Hawaii in the past 10 years, and each one has been great! Spent anywhere from $800 a week for 2/2, to $350 a night for a sprawling 3/2 home with gorgeous views, and loved each one for its unique qualities.
We were recently “treated” to 8 nights at Turtle Bay Resort on Oahu. What an incredible location, but I couldn’t help feel as if I were paying, I’d rather be in a home with kitchen and laundry, and fewer people. Plus enough left over for another trip to Hawaii!
We have had two disappointing VRBO’s. One with misleading description and many reviews that make one wonder ‘where did they come from?” Our experience was awful. Teenie, tiny DARK shower, bed that we rolled to the center in, an outdoor kitchen, which looked great in photos, but was a mosquito hatchery, had NO hot water and you had to walk through the living room to get to the indoor dining area or else eat with the mosquitoes during Dengue fever outbreak. Also listened to sirens all night. Very bad experience.
Our other try was problematic due to the two sets of adult parents who left during the day leaving a kid about 14 to watch the little ones who ran back and forth upstairs from about 6 a.m. until bedtime. Non stop – and I am not exaggerating. Condo was great. Neighbors were not. My suggestion: ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS rent the top floor unit. Hopefully, you can manage stairs.
We now have two weeks of timeshare on the Big Island and we love it there. Although our last time there the folks below us had a very loud party all night and were even running around the golf course naked! They were evicted the next morning. But we put in one lousy night. Nothing like that had ever happened before.
We would try a vacation rental again though – due to the savings and the potential for a lovely visit. I have researched hotels. We would have to eat PB & J’s the entire trip if we paid those rates. It is sad.