No doubt about Hawaii’s current travel boom. But there are more hidden costs you may not be expecting, and we want you to know about them first.
Before booking your Cheap Flights to Hawaii, ask yourself about these:
1. Finding reasonably priced accommodations. This has become another big issue since Hawaii travel rebounded suddenly.
BOH: It would be wise to look at accommodation prices and availability for your destination before buying airfare. Consider a low-cost price hold guarantee that some airlines offer. Or, in almost all cases (do check, however), you can cancel your reservation within 24 hours of booking and obtain a complete refund to your original payment method.
2. Hawaii car rentals. Will they be available for your desired dates, and at what cost. And do you even need one?
BOH: When in Honolulu, a car can be a liability. Parking isn’t easy, and it is costly. You may do better with taxis, Ubers and The Bus. When outside of Honolulu, it is still desirable to have a rental car. When car rentals aren’t available for your entire stay, check for just some of your dates or consider Turo.
3. Planning any must-have things, including restaurants and activities. Those two have been in short supply. Visitors report being unable to get restaurant reservations, except sometimes at odd times.
BOH: When these make it or break it, then, by all means, check before purchasing airline tickets.
4. Covid testing, especially for kids too young to be vaccinated.
BOH: Testing remains an option instead of vaccination for those eligible but is essential for kids too young to be vaccinated. Look for free Covid testing, which is often still available as reported in comments here. Just be sure you take the correct test within 72 hours of your mainland to Hawaii flight and that you can expect to have results back in time before your flight.
5. WiFi on Hawaii flights. Will you have it, do you need it and how much will it cost?
BOH: It starts at $8 for Southwest Hawaii flights (a great deal) and goes up from there on other airlines. It isn’t yet on all airlines, so check if you need this service. Also, some airlines offer free texting. Hawaiian Airlines has still not implemented WiFi on its fleet, and we have not had any updates on their doing so for a long time.
6. Checked bag fees. Ouch. Other than on Southwest, where each passenger still gets two free, you can expect to pay $30 for the first checked bag and $40 for the second checked bag per passenger.
BOH: There are ways to avoid checked bag fees. Packing light for Hawaii is the best trick here. Other options include earning elite status or having an airline-branded credit card that offers free checked bags. Virtually every airline has one. Also, be mindful of the airline’s checked bag specifications in terms of size and weight. Oversize will result in an even higher fee.
7. Hawaii bank ATM fees. This may come as a surprise. You will be hard-pressed to find your bank here, so you’ll be relying on your bank’s ATM network.
BOH: Best to check this out in advance. Also, you can generally get cash back at grocery stores in Hawaii without an extra stop or any additional fees.
8. Trip insurance. First, do you need it or do you not. Do your research and figure a plan before buying airline tickets.
BOH: When we opt to buy trip insurance, we do so from a trip insurance provider rather than from the airline itself. You’ll have many more options. Don’t forget that trip insurance needs to be purchased within a set number of days from your first trip purchase. A policy with a “cancel for any reason” clause will let you change your mind with minimal expense. Â
9. Don’t call the airline. This may seem quite obvious, but the price when you call them isn’t usually the same price you’ll find online.
BOH: You should expect to be charged an extra fee for not booking online, or the cheapest fares won’t be available on the phone. If you aren’t adept online, consider getting help or using a travel agent if that doesn’t work.
10. Laundry in Hawaii. If you don’t have a plan, this can either be time-consuming to handle yourself or expensive if someone else does it.
BOH: Hawaii vacation rentals most often come with a washer and dryer. That’s perfect here in Hawaii, and it reduces your checked bag requirements as well. Some Hawaii hotels offer self-service laundry facilities, so check in advance.
Please add your best tips to this list. Have you traveled to Hawaii recently? If so, are there any things you would have done differently?
Updated 1/28/22.
Pack in baggies some ‘you-must-have’ foods that are even more expensive in HI, eg. walnuts, flax seeds, protein powders, salt and pepper shakers, freeze-dried berries, etc.
In addition to the regular airline credit card, many frequent flyer programs like United Airlines Mileage Plus have a Chase United card that gives many perks such as some free bags, bonuses for the air miles, admission to the airport private club (very handy during flight delays). Remember, Hawaii flights generally get thousands of miles/points awarded.
Aloha BOH,
Once again you hit it out of the park with an article jam-packed with useful tips!
Big Hugs to you guys and hope you’re staying well!
Mahalo
Hi Lisa.
Thanks very much!!
Aloha.
Whats the latest requirements for Hawaii travel? Comment below said something about a questionaire??
As of your tip #4- right now, as of 12/17/21, the only thing you need to do is have your vaccine info with Safe Travels and complete a questionnaire 24 hours before your flight from the mainland, yes? I have not seen anything that states Hawaii has re-instated a covid test prior to entering the state.
Aloha Rob and Jeff, I pack a food bag. Sandwich for the plane, English muffins, protein bars, cookies, M+M’s trail mix, granola for breakfast, condiment pkgs. Even pouch of Tuna. These items are expensive in Hawaii and can really come in handy. Also crackers and cheese. The cheese will be fine, I just did it.
The extra taxes Hawaii has placed on the hotels are extreme. I spent 5 nights in Maui last week. The extra taxes were over $225. I paid $600 for a car rental. Thank God the resort we stayed at had no resort fees!
Most people going to Hawaii for their first time don’t likely understand that getting there is the cheap part. Lodging, cars and dining is really expensive. We bought food to supplement the times we didn’t want to go out to eat (we had a kitchen). One paper bag of groceries- +$100
Aloha BoH,
One thing not mentioned, when it comes to banking fees at ATM’s, is that if you bank with a Credit Union, many of them have access to “shared branch” banking. Every island has local ATM and Credit Union’s that do shared branch banking. Check with your CU to verify you have the ability to use it, and you will avoid unnecessary transaction fees. 🤙
Hi Jim.
Thanks for mentioning that.
Aloha.
Many CUA credit unions are not doing shared branching currently unless you are a member of their credit union. Not a big deal if you have a local CU but can be an issue if you are trying to do shared branching and are not a local member.
Consider renting a timeshare for a week. included in most – kitchen (to save $$ on breakfast, snacks, and perhaps leftovers), laundry machines, free parking. No, there probably won’t be a restaurant on site but is it really necessary especially if you are looking to hold costs down. Redweek and tug2 are timeshare groups that list rentals – there are probably others (think or search on timeshare exchange organizations)
Loved our vacation rental on Kauai with parrishkauai.com
Hi, does anyone know how much to budget for food for 10 days in Hawaii. We will be cooking in for some meals. Thank you.
Hi Jen.
Not sure there is a way for anyone to say what you will be eating. Perhaps double what your good costs would be on the mainland.
Aloha.
Hi Jen,
We have been going for 15+ years and you can check out the weekly ads for the local and chain groceries, which help you figure out costs (Longs/CVS has great deals sometimes). It is useful to have a preplanned list of meals and/or staples (I even bring my own, like tea and sweetener). Double check what your vacation rental kitchen is stocked with before you get groceries—they often have staples in the cupboard and fridge. Costco is good, but you can often over buy. Also, checkout the roadside stands for fresh fruits, etc. and the farmers markets—they can save you money. Milk, for example, is expensive, but if you plan and look for sales the cost for food doesn’t have to be super expensive.
Actually, Diana, on the Big Island, Longs had milk for $9.99 a gallon, and Safeway had it for less than $5, so definitely check prices in multiple places, especially if you are staying outside of main tourism areas. In secluded areas prices can be much higher for many products that are shipped in.
I drink long life milk and will be taking my own when I travel next May. I’ll also be taking other essentials such as tea, coffee, sugar, and breakfast cereal. I’m staying in a unit with a kitchen – don’t plan on doing much cooking, but it’s nice to at least be able to have breakfast or a cuppa on the lanai each morning.
Oh, here’s another really good trick if you know you will be shopping and cooking. Join the Kamaaina (locals) club for the stores and look for their app. You can find the stores by Googling “Honolulu Food Store” etc. and check out the ads and saver programs. If they ask you for a local address just give them your hotel/condo.
Yogurt is double (1.50+ for individual container), bacon was just 8+ at Walmart, head of lettuce was 4+, milk about 6+, ice cream about 6 for local brand (10 for Breyers type name brands)
So basically most things about double at home. I’m sitting on Kauai now and that’s what we’ve been paying for 2 weeks. Pineapples were 10 even at the farmers markets (papayas + mangoes 2-3 ea).
Restaurants – some places are about 25 for fish + chips type meal. Others running 40-50 for nice meal, a la carte
Make sure you bring your Costco card if you have one. Not only is their gas cheaper than other gas stations, but food is less expensive as well. For instance, pineapples are always $3.99 each whereas they’re about double that at the farmers markets. A hot dog and a drink are still $1.50 and the rotisserie chicken is a fantastic deal.
The food trucks dotted around all the islands can also be a great deal for a quick meal and you can sit outside so you don’t have to worry about social distancing.
Depending on what island you’re visiting, there are plenty of grocery stores. Check Google for your island. I believe Foodland and Safeway are on Maui, Oahu and Big Island. It’s easy to check on line sale ads. You know what you like to eat! Costco is also a great place to shop, great place to pick up your Hawaiian grown pineapple & liquor for a reasonable price. If you’re on the Big Island, outside of Costco a person sells coffee out of her car for a reasonable price and it is good.