Budget Hawaii Vacation: How to Visit Hawaii Cheap

Everyone’s definition of “cheap” is different, but typically speaking, Hawaii is not known as a budget destination. If you are really wanting to go to Hawaii but have a tight budget, I have good news.

There are definitely ways to save.

I broke down this article by all of the different variables there are to save in Hawaii. I’d say the biggest are definitely lodging and airfare but we will cover every little thing I can think of to get you to Hawaii on a budget.

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Be Flexible

The rest of the categories are broken down by the different areas to save money in Hawaii but I wanted to include this first.

My top tip for going to Hawaii cheap is flexibility. Pretty much every category I discuss can be made cheaper if you have a little bit of flexibility.

The time of year is also something to consider because flights will be more expensive around peak seasons like holidays and spring break. The downside is that this is also when most people are able to maximize time off of work.

If you can be flexible on when you visit, that’s great. If you can also be flexible on where in Hawaii you’d like to go, that can help as well. For example, maybe flying to the Big Island is cheaper than flying into Oahu.

Airfare to Hawaii

Plane tickets to Hawaii is going to be one of the most expensive parts of the vacation. Like I mentioned before, if you can be flexible on your dates, this will help you save money on airfare. It’s not uncommon for Thursday flights to be much cheaper than Saturday flights, for example.

I usually start with Google flights to check prices. I always check my local airport to each of the 4 main islands that I can fly into. If you’re not familiar, Hawaii has four main islands you can fly into, Maui, Oahu, Kauai, and the Big Island.

Generally, Oahu (Honolulu is the airport) is the cheapest island to fly into. But play around with different dates, different Hawaiian islands, and different departure cities (see more on that in the next paragraph) to find the best prices. Also play with round trip versus one way flights – occasionally it can be cheaper to book one way (this is especially true when booking with points).

Flights between Hawaiian Islands tend to be reasonably priced so if you find a reasonably-priced flight but it isn’t the island you want to visit, keep that in mind. Southwest flights won’t show up on Google maps but they can be as low as $49 one way. Hawaiian Airlines is another great airline to check for flights between Hawaiian islands.

If you really want to dig into cheap flights, you can also consider a repositioning flight. This is where you take a flight from your local airport to another airport with cheaper flights to Hawaii. For example, flights tend to be cheaper from the west coast so it can be worthwhile for us to fly from Tampa to California for a cheap flight.

We did this the first time we went to Hawaii with our kids. We flew from Tampa to Phoenix, stayed there for a 24 hour layover, then flew on to Maui. We did the same thing on the way home. It also helps with jet lag.

The upside is that this gets you there cheaper. The downside is that it does take more time, which can be difficult if you have limited vacation time. I generally require around a 24 hour “layover” if I’m repositioning to avoid missed flights – since it isn’t a layover on the airline’s end, there generally won’t any protection if you miss a flight because the flight you booked on your own to reposition was delayed or even cancelled no matter the reason.

Time of year will likely make a difference in flights to Hawaii. Off season is typically April and May then September to early December. This is not an exact science, but it will typically be cheaper during off season. Flights will likely be exceptionally high during times like spring break and the holidays.

Some airlines charge for checked bags. If you are flying an airline that charges, you could consider bringing a carry on instead of checking your bags. Every little bit helps!

I almost always book our airfare with airline rewards. We are always opening a new credit card to earn points to use on travel. Currently, we have the Companion Pass with Southwest Airlines which means that I can fly free with my husband. Well, technically there is a $5.60 fee each way, but that’s basically free. This really helps with cost.

Accommodations

Other than flights, I’d say the most expensive part of a Hawaiian vacation is the accommodations.

Hotel prices (and all accommodations, really) will vary depending on time of year, location on each respective island, type of accommodation (airbnb/other type of vacation rental vs hotel), and time of the week.

Generally speaking, booking early is your best bet to make accommodations as affordable as possible. By early, I’d say 6-12 months in advance (although some hotels only have availability 11 months in advance). Many times, the opposite is also true and booking last minute can get you some great deals. However, unless you are extremely flexible and also willing to be wrong (aka have to pay even more) I would advise against this.

Hyatt Regency | Credit: Hotels.com

There are some no-frills cabin options as well as camper/RV options on Airbnb that can be rented for a more affordable stay.

Wherever you book, it generally will be cheaper to book a few blocks away from the beach and to book hotel rooms that don’t have a view.

You’ll also want to be aware of resort fees. If you aren’t familiar, they are a daily charge in addition to whatever you pay for the room. They can range wildly from $15-50 but generally I find that they’re around $35 per night. They claim to cover amenities (usually things you’d expect from any hotel like wifi, a pool, and pool towels but some include things like kayaks and beach chairs) and you can’t opt out of them.

Another unique option is that there are plenty of timeshare presentations on the island which can get you credit towards a future stay. This definitely is not for everyone – for us, time is money and the last place I want to give away my time is on vacation. I also hate having scheduled plans/somewhere I have to be anytime but especially on vacation. BUT it can be a great deal if you want to come back to Hawaii in the future! Just be prepared to say no!

I also have an article on the best places to stay in Maui for families.

Most of the major hotel brands have somewhere to stay in Hawaii. When booking with points, we find Hyatt to be the best value but there are also options to book with Marriott and Hilton in the Hawaiian islands.

If you’re booking with points, here are your options:

Hyatt

• Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach (Oahu)
• Hyatt Centric Waikiki Beach (Oahu)
• Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach (Oahu)
• Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa (Kauai)
• Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa (Maui)
• Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort, by Hyatt (Maui)
• Hyatt Vacation Club at Ka’anapali Beach (Maui)
• Hana-Maui Resort (Maui)

Marriott Bonvoy:

• Moana Surfrider (Waikiki/Oahu)
• Royal Hawaiian (Waikiki/Oahu)

Hilton:

• Grand Wailea

Vacation rentals can definitely be cheaper (especially if you are not paying for your hotel with points). They also (typically) don’t require resort fees or parking fees. There is typically a kitchen so you can save money on food.

Activities and Experiences: 

There is no shortage of fun things to do in Hawaii, no matter which island you stay on. And luckily, this is one of the areas that you can really save some money in Hawaii while still having a great experience because with so much natural beauty, there are tons of cheap/free things to do!

There are tons of things to do outdoors that don’t cost a lot of money. Things like the beach are almost always free (sometimes there is a parking fee). State parks and national parks in Hawaii are also incredible with a small fee for entrance.

You can also be creative. For example, instead of a snorkeling tour you could rent snorkel gear and find a cool place to snorkel.

Food Costs on a Budget in Hawaii

You’ll probably find that the average cost of food in Hawaii is more than what you’ll find at home.

The easiest way to save money on food is going to the grocery store and cooking food wherever you’re staying. This will be easier to do if you are staying in a place with a full kitchen.

We do really like to eat out while we are exploring a new place and if you enjoy doing the same, here is what we found helpful:

Poke from grocery stores is surprisingly cheap (and not surprisingly absolutely amazing/delicious!) I could eat poke bowls for every meal and it’s so good in Hawaii.

Food trucks have lower prices than sit down restaurants. They are also a great place to try a variety of local food from different places. For us, this was also an easy spot to eat out since we were in Hawaii with our kids and sit down restaurants definitely take more effort with kids!

Some restaurants had good deals for happy hour. This was a big win for us because we love eating a late lunch – then we really only need one meal for the day and that also typically means visiting when it’s less busy which is also ideal for us when traveling with kids.

Rental Car in Hawaii

I recommend renting a car if you can afford it. This is the best way of getting around the island because it’s the most convenient. This is true regardless of which island you are staying on. Of course, the cost of a car rentals will add quite a bit to your trip. Not only do you have to find money for the rental itself but you’ll want to factor in parking fees at your hotel (if applicable) and paying for parking out and about (like at some of the beaches).

If you’re staying in Waikiki (on the island of Oahu), you can book a shuttle from the airport to the hotel (Waikiki Shuttle and Speedi Shuttle are two popular options).

Oahu also has the best public transportation of all the islands. If you don’t want to rent a car, staying on Oahu will be your best bet. They have a pretty good bus system. Fares are reasonable ($3 per way at the time of this writing and you do need exact change). If you’re going to be riding the bus a lot, they do have passes (at the time of this writing, it is $20 for a 3 day pass, $35 for a 7 day pass, and $80 for a month pass).

Also, the buses do not allow large suitcases so if you have anything larger than a carry on, you’ll need to book a shuttle, cab, or Uber from the airport to your hotel.

I still prefer renting a car but this is an option if you need to save the money.

Another option would be to just rent a car for part of your stay instead of for the whole stay.

Final Thoughts on Visiting Hawaii on a Budget

Hopefully this helped you see that it’s possible to plan a trip to Hawaii on a budget.

From finding the cheapest way to fly to deciding between a hotel stay and a vacation rental, there are plenty of strategies to finding the best deal.

With a little research and flexibility, you can uncover the best budget options that let you experience Hawaii’s beauty without overspending. In the end, the cheapest way to visit Hawaii still comes with the same reward—the best time on a Hawaii vacation you’ll never forget.

Related article: Maui Itinerary