How to Travel to Hawaii 2021 on a Budget

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If it is your first time traveling to Hawaii 2021, you will be tempted to go island hopping. Nevertheless, visiting multiple islands is costly when the flights add up. Moreover, booking hotels and renting cars are more expensive. It is better to stick to one island and enjoy free stays at hotels and more affordable car rental fees.

Travel to Maui Hawaii, Kauai, Oahu, or the Big Island for a budget-friendly vacation. There are many tourists here because of the discount travel packages to Hawaii and the direct flights offered. Oahu has the cheapest travel rates and many hotel choices and direct flights. Furthermore, they have competitive prices for car rentals, activities, and tourist spots. Because of the hotel, activity, and car rental rate competition, prices are lower compared to Molokai and Lanai. Another good thing is that you can find a vacation package that is within your budget. 

If you visit Hawaii during school vacation, the rates are likely very expensive. You might double the price for flights and hotel rooms during the peak season. It is recommended to avoid the last week of April because it is the Golden Week celebration in Japan. Since this is a week-long break, there will be many Japanese tourists. Therefore, rates are higher, too. 

Early autumn or late winter is the best time to visit. The best month to travel to Hawaii is February because the airfare is reasonable and there are more hotel booking options. If you are traveling with children, going there in September and early October is also a good idea because of the cheaper flights. 

One easy way to save money on hotel rooms is to go to Hawaii with your family and friends. In Maui, one of the affordable places to stay is The Maui Beach Hotel. You can save even more when you can share the cost of the room. Aside from sharing a room and splitting the cost, you can rent a bigger Airbnb or VRBO because they are less expensive compared to hotel rooms. 

When you travel to Hawaii 2021 with other people, you can also save more on food. Going to Costco and buying snacks, ready-to-cook meals, and large containers of drinks is a great idea. Moreover, splitting the cost when renting a large vehicle is another helpful budget tip. You and your family or friends can also avail of a group discount when you go on a tour.

How much does it cost to travel to Hawaii? You likely have an idea of what the answer is. However, you have to keep in mind that airlines have a lot of charges. Checked-in luggage fees are one of the ways they try to charge. Therefore, it is best to check the luggage fees of your airline and consider them into the total cost before booking a flight. 

Then, you decide on what you will pack in your luggage. It is somewhat easy to pack for Hawaii since you will likely bring summer wear and swimsuits which do not take a lot of space. 

People who have visited Hawaii are not exaggerating when they say the prices of items in Hawaii. Items there are more expensive since most of them have to be imported. They also do not have large stores, so the selection of items can be limited. That is why it is recommended to pack your essentials from home. You can save more than buying items once you arrive there. 

Even though getting essentials in Hawaii is not recommended, you will likely purchase items when you travel there. It is hard to resist not getting cute stuff there. Nevertheless, if you end up purchasing clothes, snacks, and souvenirs, you might have to buy suitcases to take all of them home. That is why it is a good Hawaii budget tip to bring a lightweight duffel bag. 

You can easily bring it because it can be folded and fit easily inside your luggage. This bag is also handy for your dirty clothes, and you can also have it checked in for free if your airline offered it. 

You can compare the rates in the cities and towns of the island you plan to visit before booking your accommodation in Hawaii. Although you can save if you go to the cheapest time to travel to Hawaii, there are places to stay that are more expensive and cheaper. Not picking the ideal spot to stay can ruin your vacation. Therefore, it is crucial to research the hotels and other accommodation in the area. It will be easier to narrow down the choices if you list down the amenities you need. 

In Maui, Kihei has more affordable places to stay compared to Kapalua or Wailea. In Kauai, Kapaa has cheaper accommodation compared to Poipu and Princeville. In Oahu, staying outside Waikiki is the most affordable option. 

Going hiking is one of the undervalued free activities to do in Hawaii. The view is very breathtaking. If you go to Oahu, one of the ideal hiking spots is Diamond Head. You can overlook Waikiki and Honolulu from there. It can take you around 45 minutes to reach the peak of the trail, but it can take longer if it is crowded. Going to a state park, the only thing you might have to pay for is parking.

There are many amazing waterfalls in Hawaii. You can find one on every Hawaiian Island. You can see them at designated lookout areas with parking spaces or on the side of the road. A vacation in Hawaii will not be complete without seeing at least 1 waterfall there. Kauai or Opaekaa falls are some of the best waterfalls to see. Nevertheless, many of the beautiful waterfalls are hidden in a jungle. They can only be accessed by hiking or riding a helicopter.

Another great activity in Hawaii is observing birds. Birding is a free activity, too. However, you need to have good binoculars. If you do not have one, you can try borrowing a pair in a VRBO or condo. You can see some birds that are unique in Hawaii. They will leave you in awe because of their vibrant colors and unique sounds. This experience is indeed one for the books. 

If you travel with children, they will surely love the experience of watching outdoor movies in Hawaii. Moreover, several hotels also have “dive-in” movies. Instead of watching from a car, you can watch movies from the pool area. You can enjoy outdoor movies from beach parks and local churches. You just need to bring blankets and food. Then, you have a cheap but very fun night in Hawaii. Virtually all Hawaiian islands have outdoor movies.

You might be wondering why visiting a shopping center is included when it is not budget-friendly. However, Ala Moana Shopping Center has a lot of stuff for free. Ala Moana Shopping Center is the 9th largest shopping mall in the US. It is also the biggest open-air shopping complex in the world. You can watch amazing hula shows on stages and other programs any time of the year. Moreover, you can get freebies such as adorable pineapple cookies made by the Honolulu Cookie Company.

If you visit Oahu, this is a place you should not miss. Since it was founded in 1926, it has gone through numerous changes in the past years. When you visit the observation deck on the 10th floor, you can see the harbor, some cruise ships, and Honolulu. The best part is you can enjoy this for free.

Finally, you have an idea of how to enjoy traveling in Hawaii without spending a lot. It does not matter if you are going there for your honeymoon, family vacation, or solo trip because you can have a blast even when you are on a budget.