13 thoughts on “Hawaii: Not for Champagne Taste on Beer Budget”
Douglas C
Hawaii on a budget. My hint: As your article recommends, firstly always off season. Then Costco Travel at least 4 months in advance. But, decouple the Air if you are a SWA member with points. Costco for room and car or shuttle. Then SWA flight on points. The Costco cancelation policy is much kinder this way. You can cancel the air with no penalty and no cash out of pocket.
Im from the Big Island. I had to leave 16 years ago due to.the highest cost of living in America. Whenever I go back to visit, I stay with friends since accomodations in Hawaii are crazy expensive I cant afford. Eating out is beyond my budget. Its a shame that many local families and Hawaiians are priced out of their native homes and land too.
Hawaii is playing with fire in terms of lodging & vehicle rates. The high cost of dining is understandable, but daunting. Taxes on visitors are obscene. If every visitor was able to receive a clear breakdown of what they are paying in taxes, fees & surcharges, a huge percentage would cancel. Hawaii legislators clearly prefer to tax visitors rather than residents. If you don’t believe it, just look at how low property taxes are in Hawaii compared to virtually every other state. Hoteliers seem oblivious to rate increases, in terms of percentage of increase to the frequent Hawaii visitor. The next two years will cause great consternation. Advance bookings are lagging badly, groups are gone, and the Japanese & Downunder markets have vanished.
There are many ways to save money and visit Hawaii. Those don’t include staying at the Halekulani for $1,000 a night. HA charges $8,000 per person for First Class seating traveling round trip from BOS to HNL, that was $5,000 just a few months ago. If the airlines and hotels are incentivized by customer demand to jack up their prices, they will continue to do so. And many of the islands are getting in on the money train, charging to visit so many locations that were free to visitors last year. Other forums are chock full of comments about how folks living in the islands just love to spot the celebrities visiting their multi-million-dollar Maui and Kauai estates. Hawaii is morphing into the Palm Beach/Bel Air/Tribeca of the Pacific.
Aloha, dare I say a travel agent could help with finding these deals and perhaps lessen the burden for those who are not so internet savvy?
My own experience with, especially senior travelers, is that internet savvy is not a strong suit and it is vital for your excellent suggestions on travel. Shoulder months and planned ahead and I recommend your blog to people I talk to are all necessary if you need to be very budget minded. You can’t complain about expensive Hawaii if you’re shopping the Grand Hyatt here on Kaua’i. Kapaa offers great more budget friendly accommodations and nearby groceries and eating places. Anywhere near the Coconut Marketplace seems ideal to me.
Thank You BOH as the suggestions and Advice may help others find a more reasonable and sensible solution to a Hawaiian Vacation. With the price increases coming at Tourists from every conceivable direction many have chosen Not to return, others have decided to go once and never return. If the Hawaiian Business Model doesn’t change and provide some real relief the Negative Impact will certainly change the experience for everyone including the Taxpayers of Hawaii.
Aloha Guys! 🙂
I agree with Charles H. We tried a condo at the Mauna Lani for the first time in June 2022 when the prices for the Mauna Kea increased by 100% from our stay in Dec. 2021. We loved our condo with over 1600 sqft for two people, a Viking grill on the lanai, and sunset views every night. We visited Costco, the farmers market, and the fish monger to dine on BI ribeyes, Hamakua mushrooms, Kampachi, and our favorite wines for a fraction of the cost we would have paid at a resort. We also had meals at many local restaurants-Support Hawaii small business owners! Book in advance. Booked for Feb, July, and Sept 2023. Mauna Lani condo from 6/29 – 7/6 is $1936. The best priced condos go quick!
Oahu vaca for Nov 29 thru Dec 3.
I used Alaska airlines & Alaska credit card’s companian fair. Seats & fees/taxes were $568 for 2 people.
I booked a condo at Ilikai for $149 a nite
Hawaii on a budget. My hint: As your article recommends, firstly always off season. Then Costco Travel at least 4 months in advance. But, decouple the Air if you are a SWA member with points. Costco for room and car or shuttle. Then SWA flight on points. The Costco cancelation policy is much kinder this way. You can cancel the air with no penalty and no cash out of pocket.
What are the dates for Spring Break 2023?
Im from the Big Island. I had to leave 16 years ago due to.the highest cost of living in America. Whenever I go back to visit, I stay with friends since accomodations in Hawaii are crazy expensive I cant afford. Eating out is beyond my budget. Its a shame that many local families and Hawaiians are priced out of their native homes and land too.
Hawaii is playing with fire in terms of lodging & vehicle rates. The high cost of dining is understandable, but daunting. Taxes on visitors are obscene. If every visitor was able to receive a clear breakdown of what they are paying in taxes, fees & surcharges, a huge percentage would cancel. Hawaii legislators clearly prefer to tax visitors rather than residents. If you don’t believe it, just look at how low property taxes are in Hawaii compared to virtually every other state. Hoteliers seem oblivious to rate increases, in terms of percentage of increase to the frequent Hawaii visitor. The next two years will cause great consternation. Advance bookings are lagging badly, groups are gone, and the Japanese & Downunder markets have vanished.
That is absolutely right on. Even with all my booking “tricks” my wife and I are just about at our last Hawaii trip forever.
There are many ways to save money and visit Hawaii. Those don’t include staying at the Halekulani for $1,000 a night. HA charges $8,000 per person for First Class seating traveling round trip from BOS to HNL, that was $5,000 just a few months ago. If the airlines and hotels are incentivized by customer demand to jack up their prices, they will continue to do so. And many of the islands are getting in on the money train, charging to visit so many locations that were free to visitors last year. Other forums are chock full of comments about how folks living in the islands just love to spot the celebrities visiting their multi-million-dollar Maui and Kauai estates. Hawaii is morphing into the Palm Beach/Bel Air/Tribeca of the Pacific.
Aloha, dare I say a travel agent could help with finding these deals and perhaps lessen the burden for those who are not so internet savvy?
My own experience with, especially senior travelers, is that internet savvy is not a strong suit and it is vital for your excellent suggestions on travel. Shoulder months and planned ahead and I recommend your blog to people I talk to are all necessary if you need to be very budget minded. You can’t complain about expensive Hawaii if you’re shopping the Grand Hyatt here on Kaua’i. Kapaa offers great more budget friendly accommodations and nearby groceries and eating places. Anywhere near the Coconut Marketplace seems ideal to me.
Thank You BOH as the suggestions and Advice may help others find a more reasonable and sensible solution to a Hawaiian Vacation. With the price increases coming at Tourists from every conceivable direction many have chosen Not to return, others have decided to go once and never return. If the Hawaiian Business Model doesn’t change and provide some real relief the Negative Impact will certainly change the experience for everyone including the Taxpayers of Hawaii.
Aloha Guys! 🙂
I agree with Charles H. We tried a condo at the Mauna Lani for the first time in June 2022 when the prices for the Mauna Kea increased by 100% from our stay in Dec. 2021. We loved our condo with over 1600 sqft for two people, a Viking grill on the lanai, and sunset views every night. We visited Costco, the farmers market, and the fish monger to dine on BI ribeyes, Hamakua mushrooms, Kampachi, and our favorite wines for a fraction of the cost we would have paid at a resort. We also had meals at many local restaurants-Support Hawaii small business owners! Book in advance. Booked for Feb, July, and Sept 2023. Mauna Lani condo from 6/29 – 7/6 is $1936. The best priced condos go quick!
Oahu vaca for Nov 29 thru Dec 3.
I used Alaska airlines & Alaska credit card’s companian fair. Seats & fees/taxes were $568 for 2 people.
I booked a condo at Ilikai for $149 a nite
Mahalo🍁