When you’re traveling to the most isolated island in the world, costs can get expensive. According to AAA, a couple spends on average $793/day between food, lodging and activities. We’ve put together some helpful tips to help keep your budget in-line, while having the Hawaii vacation of a lifetime!
#8 Plan Ahead
Plan your Hawaii Vacation ahead of time, and save!
Planning your vacation far ahead of peak season will save you time and money. The cheapest airfares are the first to sell out, so the longer you wait, the more you will be spending. You can also pre-arrange car and hotel reservations way in advance, so you can cancel just in case something unexpected comes up. Giving yourself a lead time of several months will surely guarantee you enough time to research and reserve the best deals for your perfect Hawaiian vacation.
#7 Avoid the Breakfast Buffet
While the breakfast buffet might sound inticing, a la carte is the way to go.
If you are staying at a hotel or resort, and the breakfast buffet is not part of your package deal, avoid it. The breakfast buffet can cost up to $45 per person, and you can end up saving more money by ordering a la carte from the menu for around $15 per person. Another great way to save is to take advantage of Hawaii’s version of happy hour called “pau hana,” and get half-priced appetizers from Hawaii’s best restaurants.
More: Hawaii’s Best Family Friendly Hotels
#6 Rent a Car
On Hawaii, mobility is key. Rent a car to make the most of your Hawaii vacation.
Renting a car for your Hawaiian vacation can save you more money than going with tour companies which can cost around $100 per person per day. Having an itinerary is extremely important in making sure you can hit most or all of your travel destinations with your rental car. In addition, make sure to look for dings and check that the gas of your rental is not empty before you leave the rental lot. Lastly, Hawaii rental car prices can be all over the map, so make sure to research the car rental service you can get the most value from.
#5 Get a Kitchen and Pack Lunches whenever you can.
Don’t eat out every night.
Hawaiian resorts and hotels sometimes have small kitchen areas – almost all house and condo rentals have them. Eating out for every meal can quickly become one of your biggest expenses during your vacation. Hawaii has amazing restaurants and we love eating out, however, consider not eating out for every meal. Perhaps eating out for lunch and staying in for dinner since dinner is usually more expensive. Try stocking your fridge with food from Hawaii’s grocery stores.
