OUR TOP BUDGET TIPSHawaii can affordable as long as you aren't eating in restaurants for every meal or booking expensive tours when there are other options. Its not Bali cheap but you get the benefit of being in a western country that is safe while still feeling like an exotic destination.
Food can be as cheap or expensive as you like and there are lots of options for every budget. There is so much to see and do on the islands that are free or very low cost, you can have a fabulous holiday and still see and do a lot without breaking the bank. Regardless of your budget, I doubt you will want to eat a large heavy breakfast every day or spend more on accommodation than you need to so we have put together a list of our top tips for doing Hawaii on a budget and still have a great time. |
ACCOMODATION
Rent a condo
Shop around
Location, Location
- There are lots of condo options available across the islands with various amenities and and locations.
- Generally you will get a kitchen which makes breakfasts and snacks a lot easier.
- Condo’s are generally a lot cheaper than a hotel (look at the difference in price between the two at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, same location, the condo’s are much cheaper and even cheaper still if you rent from the owner)
- In most condo's you won’t get things like room service or a daily room clean but rooms are often bigger and have laundry facilities.
- Some condo's offer free or discounted parking
Shop around
- While a package deal is looks great at first glance, if you shop around and book flights and accommodation separately you can sometimes find a better deal.
Location, Location
- Beachfront hotels in Waikiki can we super busy and expensive and dont have much beach in front of the hotel. Saving some money by choosing a hotel or condo that isnt right on the beach will be a lot cheaper and you wont actually lose anything in the way of beach access
- Hotels on the big island often don't have beach access at all so if an ocean view isn't super important, a resort further inland will be much cheaper and they often make up for the lack of beach with fabulous pool areas.
FOOD
Go food shopping
BYO lunch (or breakfast) by the pool
Eating Out
- There are supermarkets and smaller general stores on all of the islands, within easy access to the resort areas. Buying snacks and/or breakfasts is a great way to save a few dollars, especially if you are out and about for the day.
- In Waikiki there is a full supermarket on Kuhio Ave and the ABC stores on every corner all have food options, look in a few ABC stores, some have more options than others.
- We always get a few days’ worth of breakfasts and some snacks and drinks for by the pool. That way you don’t have to buy everything at hotel prices.
- Everyone wants a cocktail in Hawaii but if you are sitting by the pool, some resorts will let you BYO (or wont ask questions if you do)
- If you are staying in a condo, most places won’t have a pool side bar but that just means you can BYO!
- Buy alcohol at ABC or the supermarket – bottles of spirits are from about USD$16
BYO lunch (or breakfast) by the pool
- Especially if you are in a condo, lunch time by the pool can be almost deserted. Most people are off at the beach, out at lunch or sightseeing. This is a great chance to relax by the pool and have a cheap lunch.
- ABC stores have salads and sandwiches or get take away from somewhere local and share.
Eating Out
- Meals can be generous in Hawaii, especially if you are eating at one of the chain restaurants like the Cheesecake Factory or the Yard House. Its so tempting to order an entrée each and then a main but in our experience, unless you are huge eaters it will be too much food.
- Keep in mind that they call their courses by different names. What we would call an Entrée, they call an Appetizer and what we would call the main meal, they call an Entrée and these are sized accordingly.
- In a lot of the larger restaurants appetizers are often designed to share so consider this when ordering. If you order one each plus a main, you will have a lot of food. As an example, the Southern Fried Chicken Sliders at the cheesecake factory comes with generous 4 sliders, lettuce, tomato and pickles. If you ordered a side of Fries and a salad, you could easily share these as a couple for a main meal.
- Appetizers can often be eaten as a main for one person but generally don't come with sides, so you may want to order a small salad or fries on the side.
ACTIVITIES
- There are so many free things to do on the Hawaiian islands and often tours charge for the same things that you can do for free or at very little cost.
- Spend a day on the beach
- Explore the town you are staying in
- Go for a hike
- Swim in a waterfall
- Visit a museum
- Listen to live music in a park or at a hotel (you don't need to be a hotel guest to do this)
- Watch a hula show
- Learn Hula for free
- Visit a farmers market
- Go snorkeling
- Visit a farm
- See our activity pages for specific things to do on each island that are free or low cost
- If its your first time in Hawaii focus on seeing the island you are on and all it has to offer, these are often the cheapest options.
- This might be an unpopular opinion but you aren't missing out if you miss the Polynesian Cultural Center or a Luau. Both are expensive and are often run by non Hawaiian owners (the PCC is owned and run by the Mormon church)