Trip Reports - My cheap Hawaiian vacation

My vacation cost us: for 31/2 weeks.. for both hubby and myself

Airfair.. Mainland to HNL... 150.00 for (2)
Interisland airfair... 385.00 HNl to big island,, Big island to Maui, Maui to HNL (for 2)

One Week big Island - lodging.. Private semi luxury house (beautiful home) on 3 acres direct ocean front.. with sunkin hot tub on deck. $600.00 8 nights... tax included.

(2) weeks Maui.. Ocean Front Studio Condo.. about 15 feet from ocean front on second floor.. small condo complex.. totally private.. we loved it.. and ended up staying here 15 days instead of 6 days we had planned. Nothing fancy but clean well kept up.. and nice/new furnishing.. and VERY PRIVATE.. $1,360 including tax cleaning fees etc.

Rental vehicles.. $650.00 3 weeks.. and had a jeep and a PT crusier during this time.

Total for trip not including meals or spending money.

$3,145.00 and if you devide that by a little over 3 weeks.. it was like $131.00 a day for the both of us for lodging - and all transportation.

I think this was pretty good.. Hard to get by with any less.. and our lodging and rental vehicles were all very nice..

That's clearly not a cheap trip.

This should in my opinion go to Trip Reports.
The airfare and the rental cars are cheap, but the accomodation wasn't.
A budget travel does not involve a spending amount of 131$ per day excluding meals and all the other stuff you need.

i have never seen a USD150 airfare from mainland to HNL... where did the op get it from? award ticket and thats the taxes???

That's clearly not a cheap trip.

This should in my opinion go to Trip Reports.
The airfare and the rental cars are cheap, but the accomodation wasn't.
A budget travel does not involve a spending amount of 131$ per day excluding meals and all the other stuff you need.

For an expensive destination such as Hawaii for that amount of time, WITH a rental car I consider that a pretty damn good bargain, but not exactly cheap. But he could've gone even farther and booked a hostel.

just got back from Maui, Skyskaver flight (55$), Hotel Free, Car Free, 300$ cash (didn't get any trinkets as I have been there before), so for under 400$ I had a great time snorking, eating, twin falls, etc.

I thought for sure I did good on the expenses.

The Lodging was around $100.00 a day including the high taxes and cleaning fees. Also the lodging we stayed at was not anything like a hostel.

One was a private luxury home on 3 secluded acres "direct ocean front" sunkin hot tub on deck, excersise room, about 3,000 square feet - and the other one was a private condo complex.. only 8 units in the whole complex very private and direct ocean front about 10 feet from the ocean.

I searched rentals/lodging for over a year and weighed out all aspects. Quality location and cost for the best price. Where in the world could you stay at a luxury home for under $100.00 a day actually the luxury home was $79.00 a night all taxes and cleaning fee included. We had the whole house to ourselves..

I guess if this is not a cheap trip all in all - where does one find anything close for the quality and price we paid? please give me some pointers as I would like to go back some day.

Airfair from mainland by the way was workperks - and was a little higher then the $28.00 fees in taxes they charged initally - as I ended up extending the vacation an extra week so was charged $100.00 per ticket. I guess airfair was then $128.00 not $150.00 as I preciously stated.

Now remember this tripe cost was for (2) people not just one.

Is this still considered a expensive trip or a budget trip? At.. let me reculate - this would average about $65.00 per person.. expenses - airfair, lodging, and car rental.

Is that cheaper now? :D

just got back from Maui, Skyskaver flight (55$), Hotel Free, Car Free, 300$ cash (didn't get any trinkets as I have been there before), so for under 400$ I had a great time snorking, eating, twin falls, etc.


K so yours was cheaper? how long did you stay? and I guess mine is only on budget because I acutally did pay for my expenses and just founds bargin prices - not freebies. how in the heck did you get a rental car for free and lodging? did you know someone who lives overthere that allowed you to get your lodging and car for free? If so I could see how this may be a cheap vacation - but me I did not know anyone over there-nor have coupons - I had to pay out of pocket.

I still think my vacation was a bargin - considering I did not really have many coupons or certifcates.

I was there for a week, I was invited by a freind who is working there and had access to free car and hotel. I can't say what/who they work for since a few rules were broken having us there. But it was well worth it. I always invite people to come along on my business trips they just have to get their own airfare. Hotel is paid for and if I get a car, they can use it. What goes around comes around!

I was there for a week, I was invited by a freind who is working there and had access to free car and hotel. I can't say what/who they work for since a few rules were broken having us there. But it was well worth it. I always invite people to come along on my business trips they just have to get their own airfare. Hotel is paid for and if I get a car, they can use it. What goes around comes around!


Lucky you!

I wish I knew someone there...

Can't beat the price you paid for you stay that is for sure.. beats mine hands down.

I can't find the forum called "trip reports" if my main post should be moved there - moderator please move.

One bargin I did get was meal at a nice restaurant "Jamesons by the Sea"by purchasing a certificate from ebay and also signed online to the restaurant mailing list and they mailed me a couple other cerficates. We had $200 in certificates for a dinner and we paid only $60.00 total for a dinner for 4 with tip included (price includes the price of the certificate from ebay). Is this one considered a bargin? I feel like after the responses I got formy trip maybe my trip wasn't a bargin/budget (but I still think so, I spent more going to Florida on a trip for 2 weeks then I did Hawaii for 3) I am sure I we could of ate at Mcdonalds for less so maybe it is not a bargin. but Mcdons doesn't serve wine and fresh seafood/steak either. :D

I guess I may have to look around to be a better bargin shopper!

There's a difference between "cheapest possible" and "best value".

My really cheap trips involve camping or youth hostels, public transportation, and picnics with food from grocery stores.

There are times when I'm willing to pay more for certain things - a place with air conditioning or a swimming pool if I'm going somewhere hot and humid; car rental if public transportation is sporadic or doesn't serve areas that I want to go; meals at restaurants for local specialties or atmosphere, etc.

It's a matter of choosing what's important to you and how you want to spend your time and money.

There's a difference between "cheapest possible" and "best value".

My really cheap trips involve camping or youth hostels, public transportation, and picnics with food from grocery stores.

There are times when I'm willing to pay more for certain things - a place with air conditioning or a swimming pool if I'm going somewhere hot and humid; car rental if public transportation is sporadic or doesn't serve areas that I want to go; meals at restaurants for local specialties or atmosphere, etc.

It's a matter of choosing what's important to you and how you want to spend your time and money.

Yes so true.. I guess in this instance Camping wasn't my form of an Hawaiin vacation (I dont' mind camping mind you I love it - just not while on this vacation)

I guess I could of gotton by with camping on the islands.. I did check into it.

cost about $7.00 a week vehicle permit so would of been only $22.00.. I guess then I would need to purchase or rent sleeping bags camping gear coolers etc. Estimate between $200.00 - 400.00 for the supplies I would of needed.. including ice pots pans to cook etc. for the 3 weeks. So I could of cut my lodging fees down.. but then camping I would of had to look at waste and how long food is going to hold out versus being in a freezer or fridg and not just a cooler. This would bring the grocery $$ amount up some as i wouldn't of been able to purchase in bulk and freeze meats etc like I did.

I guess could of gone camping - for the 3 weeks I could of cut my lodging down about $600-$700 dollars (divide that by 3 weeks) thats over $200.00 a week.

All in all I feel my trip was well worth the expense considering the type of lodging I had. Which I have seen 5 star resorts that want in excess of $300-$500.00 a night - that were in no way as nice as the house we rented on the big Island. for $79.00 a night..

I guess I could of .. bought a (used) raft.. rowed to Hawaii - Camped out on public beaches under the moon and stars and convered up at night with palm leaves - used feet power to where ever I wanted to go or hitch hike - and eat fresh fuits picked from the trees... :D I guess I could of gotton by way less expensive.. boy what was I thinking... :rolleyes:

I'm going to move this to Trip Reports.

Thanks!

bhatnasx
Budget Travel Moderator

K so yours was cheaper? how long did you stay? and I guess mine is only on budget because I acutally did pay for my expenses and just founds bargin prices - not freebies. how in the heck did you get a rental car for free and lodging? did you know someone who lives overthere that allowed you to get your lodging and car for free? If so I could see how this may be a cheap vacation - but me I did not know anyone over there-nor have coupons - I had to pay out of pocket.

I still think my vacation was a bargin - considering I did not really have many coupons or certifcates.

Ignore the naysayers -- you're average of $130/nite - was quite a bargain - especially considering the types of accomodations you were able to snag!

But no matter - you still spent time on those wonderful isles! That it self is the best!

Counting the days till our 2 week trip to the Big Island and Oahu this coming October.

i have never seen a USD150 airfare from mainland to HNL... where did the op get it from? award ticket and thats the taxes???

UAL had a fare that was $130 all-in a while back from ATL-HNL. Many FTers got on that one.

I think the OP did all right with value vs. the market rates if you wanted something borderline luxe, but overall it was still a bit rich for my blood. Usual M.O. is to Priceline something in Waikiki, hoping for $40s at 2* or $50s at 3* but often lately having to pay around $10 more than that. Neighbor islands are tougher to crack, but Kauai and Maui have a thin ragged line of independent places in the sub-$50 range, sometimes in "historic" buildings and usually only with fan. Maui also has a couple of hostels in Wailuku that have $50 or so private rooms with bathrooms down the hall.

I know it's a far cry on luxe standards from what the OP got, but budget travelers rarely have the option to take a $260 value for $130 (to pull numbers from a hat). Some would say I spent too much at around $50/night, as they would have to go with hostel dorms or camp. I could have done that in my 20s, but not now.

On cars the M.O. is to try to coupon-stack, especially with National. Three days in Maui in a compact totaled at $57, which was needed with gas being $1 more there than here (and nearly all stations the same!) Oahu can be done in whole or in part on public transit, and I like to redeem free days to fill short gaps.

My son and his wife were given a week's timeshare in Hawaii as an anniversary gift. I am new to FlyerTalk and hope this is not an inappropriate question. Does anyone know what is a reasonable priced airfare from Chicago to Honolulu or when is the best time to secure the transaction? Our family travels infrequently and sometimes the travel arrangement tasks are stressful enough to avoid the trip.

My son and his wife were given a week's timeshare in Hawaii as an anniversary gift. I am new to FlyerTalk and hope this is not an inappropriate question. Does anyone know what is a reasonable priced airfare from Chicago to Honolulu or when is the best time to secure the transaction? Our family travels infrequently and sometimes the travel arrangement tasks are stressful enough to avoid the trip.

One way you can check for flights is:

There is always specials from the West Coast out to the Islands. So keep an eye on Hawaiian Air

Then when you see a good deal from the West coast out... check for flights from Chicago to that West City - usually best flights are from San Franciso or LA to HNL.

Another way to check for flights is by going to sidestep.com
sidestep checks all alirlines to give you the best rates at the time of your search.

Hope this helps.

Aloha,