• Home
  • Deals
  • COVID Travel
    • Vaccination Passports
    • Travel After Recovery From COVID
    • Kauai Resort Bubble Options
  • Southwest
    • Latest Updates: SWA Hawaii
    • Southwest Hawaii Deals
    • Southwest Inter-Island Flights
    • Southwest vs. Hawaiian
  • Categories
    • Hawaii Deals
    • Hawaii Travel News
    • Travel Tips
    • Culture and Events
  • Top Picks
    • 25 Ways to Save on Hawaii Car Rentals
    • Free/Cheap Parking Waikiki
    • Jellyfish Warnings 2021
    • Frugal Hawaii | 15 Ways To Save
    • Hawaii Sunscreen | New Law + Health and Safety Updates
    • Best Time to Visit Hawaii for Every Reason
  • Kudos
  • Win Free Trips

Beat of Hawaii

Cheap Flights to Hawaii | Hawaii Travel News & Tips

2022 Frugal Hawaii Vacation Planner

October 1, 2021 by Beat of Hawaii 113 Comments

Hawaii Deals

Frugal Hawaii may not seem like words that go together, but they certainly do in 2022! And still, it’s always easy to get caught in Hawaii’s tourism money trap. We’re here to say there are so many creative ways that run the gamut to help you reduce costs.

We like to make it all a game instead of a burden while saving on airfare, accommodations, ground transportation, and activities. Below you will find just updated tips and tricks that may be new to you. We look forward to more ideas from our savvy readers like you. Also, if you don’t already, subscribe to our free email updates and never miss a Hawaii deal.

1. Ride the “Southwest Effect.” With Southwest Hawaii’s recent expansion in Hawaii, airfare to Hawaii has never, repeat never been cheaper. Competition with Hawaiian Airlines is fierce, as is also the case with Alaska Airlines and others. Recently we’ve had fares as low as $77 each way!

2. Travel during the off-season when you can. One of our perennial top tips. Even coming to Hawaii at the shoulder seasons, like late summer instead of mid-summer, will result in far lower costs across the board, plus reduced crowding. The most expensive times to visit Hawaii are over the Christmas holidays, followed by summer (June 15 to early August), then spring break.

3. Plan far ahead for peak seasons or be spontaneous and wait for Hawaii deals.

4. Consider travel insurance, whether or not you eventually buy it. Do not purchase through an airline, tour company, or cruise ship. Read how travel insurance saved us $600. Start shopping within a few days of making your first trip reservation as waiting can result in reduced coverage options. Consider how much money is at risk (think non-cancellable) and how much you are willing to lose in the event of trip cancellation, early termination, or loss of luggage. Shop around for the best insurance for your specific needs and do not buy on a whim. You need to do your homework to avoid throwing away money and perhaps even then not getting the coverage you need.

5. Be creative in buying Hawaii activities. Go to the vendors’ website and you may find online deals for a direct booking. We have seen this many times for boat tours and restaurants. Read how we saved $144 each and had a blast using the Go Oahu card.

6. If you’re coming here to celebrate a special event, be sure to mention this. Birthdays, honeymoons, and anniversaries may all qualify for that potential upgrade or another perk. Keep in mind, however, that it doesn’t always work, and it has been tried oh so many times.

7. Check restaurant websites and Yelp too. Many restaurants have discounted menus on certain days of the week or for early dining. We’ve also found discounts and freebies for Hawaii restaurants on Yelp.

8. How far are you willing to drive to save money on airfare? Consider neighbor airports to you. One example is San Jose and another is San Diego. Both frequently have great Hawaii deals on airfare when compared with neighboring airports. It doesn’t always work, but it is certainly worth checking.

9. In Honolulu, if you aren’t going to rent a car, consider in advance how to get from the airport into town. The Bus is definitely the cheapest way at $2.75 if you don’t have oversized luggage. Or buy an all-day pass for just $5.50. There will be a rail system in the near future. Otherwise, our unequivocal pick is Uber (which can now pick up and drop off at airports). Alternatively, there are many choices of taxis, shuttles or tour buses, none of which come totally cheap.

11. Car rental prices can be all over the map. Look at our guide to save money on 2022 Hawaii car rentals. And by the way, don’t forget to check the gas. Our recent rental came to us with a nearly empty tank, but we were so busy looking for dings that we forgot to check the gas until well after we’d left the rental lot. Ugg.

12. Travel with a nylon duffel bag. Especially if you’re traveling with only a carry-on, this can be helpful when buying too much on your Hawaii vacation and are needing to check a bag on the return.

13. Hawaii is replete with wonderful and abundant free activities. Take advantage of them from hiking to beaches to incredible Hawaii sunsets and more.

14. Purchase a buffet breakfast at your hotel. Yes buffets are returning, and many Hawaii hotels offer lavish buffets where you can eat enough to only need to buy dinner. Find out in advance what’s offered. When purchased with a room rate, these can often be had at about half the cost of buying them at the restaurant once you’ve arrived.

15. Please share your best Frugal Hawaii tips!

Updated 11/8/21.

 

Disclosure: We receive a small commission on purchases from some of the links on Beat of Hawaii. These links cost you nothing and provide income necessary to offer our website to you. Mahalo! Privacy Policy and Disclosures.

Filed Under: Travel Tips

Subscribe to Free Updates

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Comment policy:
* No profanity, rudeness, personal attacks, or bullying.
* Hawaii focused only. General comments won't be published.
* No links or UPPER CASE text.
* No duplicate posts or using multiple names.
* Use a real first name.
* A "please" or "thanks" is required for a reply.
* Comments edited/published at our sole discretion.
* Beat of Hawaii has no relationship with our commentors.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


Comments limited to 750 characters.


Please, use first name and last initial only.

* Denotes required fields. By commenting you agree to our Privacy Policy.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Comments

  1. Andy L. says

    July 6, 2021 at 11:27 am

    Hey there! We will be travelling to Kauai in October – does anyone know of any good distilleries to visit that may offer either free, or inexpensive tours? Any other fun/like type of ideas for Kauai are appreciated – Happy Hours?! Thank you in advance!

    Reply
    • Beat of Hawaii says

      July 6, 2021 at 11:50 am

      Hi Andy.

      Neither are really our bailiwick, so hopefully, someone else will give us a hand.

      Aloha.

      Reply
  2. Alondra says

    April 25, 2021 at 10:37 am

    Hi we are planning a trip to hawaiia and are wondering how to plan one going to the different islands. What would be the best way to plan that out?

    Thanks in advance

    Reply
    • Beat of Hawaii says

      April 26, 2021 at 10:51 am

      Hi Alondra.

      You have options. If you like travel planning, then do your research online or through guidebooks. It isn’t hard. Alternatively, you could cruise on the Pride of America, which starts on Oahu, then visits Maui, the Big Island, and Kauai. It is very enjoyable and easy. And lastly, consider using a travel agent if you want help with the entire process. Just make sure that they are very knowledgeable about Hawaii.

      Aloha.

      Reply
  3. Catherine says

    June 26, 2020 at 11:48 am

    Hello my name is Mrs.catherine I’m trying to get some great deals about hawii please can you call me [deleted].

    Reply
    • Beat of Hawaii says

      June 26, 2020 at 1:34 pm

      Hi Catherine.

      Unfortunately, that isn’t how Beat of Hawaii works. You are welcome, however, to leave comments or ask questions, and we will try to help.

      Aloha.

      Reply
  4. Lucy says

    March 2, 2020 at 8:06 pm

    What is the cost of admission to state parks on O’ahu?

    1
    Reply
  5. KENNETH M says

    January 1, 2020 at 9:02 am

    We will be vacationing in Hawaii from 9/14/20 to 9/24/20.. when is the best time to look for airfare from NY. My wife would like to fly Hawaii Air. As of now round trip is 806$.Is this A good price or do you think it will drop?

    Reply
  6. Mazie B. says

    January 1, 2020 at 7:29 am

    We are planning a family trip during Christmas 2020. There could be up to 10 of us all adults. We are thinking Airbnb house, what’s the best/cheapest island to do this on to get the most out of our stay. We all want to visit pearl harbor, snorkel, surf, and hike. We were wondering if there are all inclusive vacations or just go with Airbnb in which we could eat 2-3 meals at the house.

    Do flights ever go on sale? meaning is there a time in which the flights are best price for booking during Christmas?

    Reply
  7. Jess says

    December 30, 2019 at 2:25 pm

    Hi there,

    My extended family and I are planning to go to Kauai in August 2020 for a week. We will be flying from Toronto. When would it be a good time to book tickets? Also would it be cheaper to fly directly to Kauai or to the mainland and then catch a inter island flight. We’re also thinking about staying a week on the big island. Please advise the best way to book the tickets.

    Thanks,
    Jess

    Reply
    • Beat of Hawaii says

      December 30, 2019 at 3:01 pm

      Hi Jess.

      Book perhaps 3 months in advance and expect to pay no more than $500 RT midweek starting the second week of August. No savings by booking multiple tickets. You can fly into Kauai and out of Kona.

      Aloha.

      Reply
  8. kiawe says

    December 24, 2019 at 12:51 pm

    Hi! If you are coming from the mainland, and you can’t get away without at least one checked bag, consider making it a squashable duffel. Unless you are visiting someplace that needs some formality, Hawaii is fairly laid back about dress codes; we tend to bring a few things on vacation we can discard, which gives us more room for souvenirs, and the duffel can easily roll up and be packed itself. At the end of the trip, mail back some things; you can cram a lot into a large size flat rate box, and the USPS will deliver to your door so you won’t have to wait at baggage claim.

    Reply
  9. Dan M. says

    December 23, 2019 at 4:08 pm

    I know that on Maui Costco sells gas typically $.60 or $.70 a gallon less than other gas stations.

    Reply
  10. Janes B. says

    December 23, 2019 at 3:23 pm

    I agree about Costco !!

    Reply
  11. Donna says

    November 13, 2019 at 8:11 am

    Hello from the cold Canadian Prairies! Thank you so much for sharing so much information on this site – I just booked our flights to Oahu for the end of January and I’m SO excited! I am having a really hard time figuring out accomodation though – it’s a lot more expensive (even the VRBO’s and AirBnB’s and Bed & Breakfasts) than I had expected. Are there usually post-Christmas sales on hotels or is black friday a good time to book? Is it safe to leave it last minute and hope for a last minute sale or can I run the risk of paying even more? Thank you so much for any insight you could provide!

    Reply
    • Beat of Hawaii says

      November 15, 2019 at 8:05 am

      Hi Donna.

      Cyber Monday is a possibility, but we don’t expect to see significant discounting at that time, due to high demand. One other constraining factor is the issue with Airbnb rentals on Oahu, and many have been removed from the listings.

      Aloha.

      Reply
      • terri s. says

        December 23, 2019 at 3:18 pm

        Don’t stay right on the water. Stay a couple of blocks away and mountain view is ALWAYS cheaper.

        Reply
  12. Karen Z. says

    July 8, 2019 at 11:13 am

    Help! Is it true that home rentals like AirBnB and VRBO are no longer legal so we have to get a hotel? We are planning a January trip. Thanks for any info.

    Reply
    • Beat of Hawaii says

      July 8, 2019 at 11:40 am

      Hi Karen.

      Not true at all. Just needs to be a legal rental. Look for vacation rental number. Should not be any issue.

      Aloha.

      Reply
  13. Linda F says

    May 2, 2019 at 5:16 am

    I am thinking of going to Hawaii in the next couple of years. I am wondering since I am a big cruiser would it not be cost effective to fly into San Francisco or San Diego and take a cruise to Hawaii. The cruise is your hotel and food all in one and they stop at multiple islands where you can get off or take one of their excursions.

    Reply
    • terri s. says

      December 23, 2019 at 3:23 pm

      They give you limited time on each island and sometimes it may take a full day for a particular excursion like on Oahu going to the North Shore you have to consider traffic and it’s a long day if you also want to visit Pearl Harbor and Waikiki Beach too. Or on Maui the Hana Trip and Haleakala Crater

      Reply
    • Lisa says

      December 23, 2019 at 5:05 pm

      I had a friend who did a cruise through the islands, she loved it. Me, I prefer a land based vacation, with a home to stay in. It really depends on your preference. Having lived in Hawaii in the past, when I returned, my choice was definitely to plan my own vacation using AirBNB and VRBO to stay in areas I wanted to revisit.

      Reply
  14. daniele says

    April 2, 2019 at 5:42 pm

    Question please. I plan on going to Hawaii in December 2019 with my 3yr old granddaughter to visit my son and his wife. I’m not sure if the island yet because they won’t be there until July 2019. I want to go first class only and would like to know the best airlines to go with and the best times to find seats for the trip. Help Please,

    Reply
    • Beat of Hawaii says

      April 3, 2019 at 7:54 am

      Hi Daniele.

      It all depends on where you will be flying from. For first class, price is not going to vary by waiting so you can start that process right now. Also, 2nd half of December is especially pricey due to holidays.

      Aloha.

      Reply
  15. aaron d. says

    December 24, 2018 at 7:43 am

    Hi! Needing advice please. My wife and I are planning on celebrating our 10yr anniversary to Hi. We will be traveling roundtrip from ATL to Maui (OGG) around the 3rd week of sept 2019. We have done extensive research on your site (thx) and others. We are waiting on southwest to start their sale to Hi so we havent bought any tickets yet. Here are a few things we need help in?
    1. Best/cheapest way to fly roundtrip from ATL? Will there be a cheaper option than southwest?
    2.Best/cheapest way to stay there? Should we buy a vacation package from Costco/other retailers including airfare or should we book airfare and lodging separately?
    3. Is it better/cheaper to book a condo, hotel, VRBO/AirBNB? Looking for a very nice/unique fun place to stay
    4. Ideas/tips of renting car? Do they UBER in Maui?
    5. Ideas/tips on taking short term trips (24-48 hrs) to other islands? Is it better to fly or take ferry?
    6. which Island(s) would be best to visit via ferry from Maui
    7. Any other ideas you can give us to enjoy the islands frugally?

    I know its a lot of questions but any help would be greatly appreciated.

    thanks

    Aaron D

    Reply
    • Beat of Hawaii says

      January 2, 2019 at 1:25 pm

      Hi Aaron.

      1. Southwest with a connection is one way. Other airlines will respond to SW so keep that in mind and check others too once SW announces.
      2. Costco or other packages won’t save you money, but you may find them more convenience. It depends on how you like to do things. Do you want to control each element or do you prefer the package concept of buying it all in once place?
      3. We greatly prefer vacation rentals to hotels for all but the briefest of stays. Especially in Hawaii. It also saves money since you’ll have a kitchen and probably laundry and parking too.
      4. You need a car on Maui. Read our post on car rentals for more ideas.
      5. There’s only one ferry and that’s from Maui to Lanai. Otherwise, stay put as changing islands is expensive and sucks up a minimum of 1/2 day in each direction.
      6. Answered above.
      7. Do look at our guidebook suggests. That will really help you navigate the islands and not miss anything.

      Aloha.

      Reply
      • Lisa says

        March 18, 2019 at 10:46 am

        Costco package certainly saved me $ so there’s that!

        Reply
        • Janes B says

          December 23, 2019 at 3:21 pm

          I agree about Costco !!

          Reply
  16. Gary B says

    November 21, 2018 at 3:43 am

    This will be our third trip in two years to Hawaii all based on Beat of Hawaii flight tips! We’ve saved hundreds. Mahalo!!

    February we travel to the Garden Island for the second time and was excited to read your “reviews” of the best luaus. Disappointed to read about only one. Seems like a pay for play instead of an unbiased review. Did I miss something?

    Reply
    • Beat of Hawaii says

      November 21, 2018 at 1:10 pm

      Hi Gary.

      We have no recommendation or affiliation regarding any luau and to be honest we don’t even like them. Maybe once in a lifetime.

      Suggest you check out luau’s on Kauai Revealed.

      Aloha.

      Reply
      • suzy says

        April 22, 2019 at 11:09 am

        we DO like luaus and enjoyed both the Old Lahaina Luau and the other one we saw (sorry, forgot the name). I am a tourist and i LIKE touristy things.

        Reply
« Older Comments

Subscribe to Free Updates

Most popular on Beat of Hawaii

  • Hawaii Visitors and Residents Whipsaw in 1,000 Comments Hawaii Visitors and Residents Whipsaw in 1,000 Comments

    1,060 Comments

  • Win A Free Trip To Hawaii Sweepstakes Free Trip to Hawaii Travel Sweepstakes For May 2022

    705 Comments

  • Hawaii Car Rentals Latest Rates And Issues | Hawaii Car Rentals | Finding A Deal

    638 Comments

  • Coco Palms Infamous Coco Palms Kauai | Why It Just Won’t End

    407 Comments

  • How Some Tourists are Ruining Hawaii Travel for Everyone

    346 Comments

  • Southwest Hawaii Flights Southwest Hawaii Stiffens Competition: 11 New Daily Flights Exposed

    1,785 Comments

Home » News » Travel Tips » 2022 Frugal Hawaii Vacation Planner

Beat of Hawaii was featured in

TripAdvisor
Budget Travel
Frommer's
USA Today
NBC News
The Seattle Time
ABC News
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • YouTube
  • Facebook
  • Privacy
  • Disclosures

Copyright © 2022 · Beat Of Hawaii. All Rights Reserved.

sponsored