How Much Money Do I Need To Vacation In Hawaii
It seems like everyone wants to know how much money you need to vacation in Hawaii. Well, it depends on which island, the duration of your stay, and the accommodation type but you will more likely than not be spending about $1000 per person for an approximately 10 day vacation. National averages are meant to help us all make decisions about life but unless we’re hiring an accountant or a financial planner, these are not actionable pieces of information. So what do we do? Call our friend Google who sure as heck isn’t going to give us any actionable advice either. And that’s probably because they get paid by advertisers when they link out to travel review sites. Not to say that I disagree with their rankings — I just don’t care about them anymore — because I’ve done the research based on where I want to go and how long I plan on being there. So let’s look at travel costs based on (1) where you’re staying and (2) how long you’re staying there …
It might seem impossible to get to Hawaii, with the rising cost of living. But it’s not impossible: all you need is enough money to cover the costs of your trip. How much will that be? If your dream vacation is to fly to Hawaii, you’ve come to the right place. I’ve been there and I’ll tell you how much money you will need to vacation in Hawaii on a low budget.
How Much Money Do I Need To Vacation In Hawaii
Hawaii is the part of United States people have heard of. It’s a tropical paradise in the Pacific and home to thousands of military people who work on one of more than a dozen military installations. Tourists flock to Hawaii as well, to enjoy the warm climate and soft breezes. One of the most beautiful places on earth is the Hawaiian islands. These volcanic islands are surrounded by some of the most gorgeous beaches, clear blue water, and lush vegetation.
How Much Does it Cost to go to Hawaii?
By Barry Choi | July 6, 2022 | 4
**This post may contain affiliate links. I may be compensated if you use them.
Do you want to know how much does it cost to go to Hawaii? I’m going to break it down for you and provide some tips on where and how you can save. When it comes to a beach vacation, Hawaii is one of the first places that comes to mind. Idyllic white beaches, great food, friendly locals, and stunning scenery made famous by Hollywood movies including Jumanji 2 and Jurassic Park.
For the purpose of this article, I’m going to suggest an itinerary of 7 days and 7 nights. I’m also going to base this article on Oahu prices as it is the main and most expensive island in Hawaii. That said, I’m going to throw in some mentions of what to do in Maui too. If you plan on doing additional Hawaiian islands, you’ll need to budget more. Please note that this guide is based on the costs for a single person. If you are travelling as a couple, make sure to double these estimates (except for hotels).
Table of contents
[show]
| Estimated cost | |
|---|---|
| Airfare | $800 |
| Accommodations | $1,400 ($200 per night) |
| Local transportation | $70 (or $50 a day for a car) |
| Food and drink | $595 ($85 per day) |
| Attractions | $400 |
| Random spending | $100 |
| Total | $3,365 USD |
The above estimate is in American dollars, so please use XE.com to find out the average costs in your home country.
Airfare
Airfare to Hawaii can really vary in cost, but if you have some time to plan then keep an eye out for sales. Hawaii is a popular destination in North America and it’s pretty easy to find deals, flash sales, or promotions to Hawaii. To get the best deals, avoid the high season (summer months and over the holidays). April and September are great times for a Hawaii vacation.
I’ve estimated airfare to Hawaii to be $800 but if you’re travelling from within North America, I’ve seen prices in the $450. For those who live on the west coast of Canada or the US, e.g. in Vancouver, San Francisco and Los Angeles, prices could be even lower on Southwest Airlines. Expect your airfare to cost more if you’re coming from the east coast. Of course, if you live on the opposite side of the world, you could easily spend more than $800.
If you’re Canadian, you may want to consider applying for one of the best travel credit cards in Canada to help offset your costs by collecting points. For example, the American Express Platinum Card gives you a signup bonus of up to 85,000 American Express Membership Rewards points which have a minimum value of $850 (potentially more if you transfer your points to Aeroplan or Marriott Bonvoy). There’s also the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card that has no foreign transaction fees and it comes with airport lounge access.
Local transportation
How you get around Hawaii’s island of Oahu will depend on what your plans are. If you plan on basing yourself in Honolulu, then you can rely on the local bus, conveniently called ‘The Bus’. If you are staying on the North Shore, or are really looking to explore then your best bet is to get a rental car. Note that most resorts charge parking fees.
The bus costs $5 per day for a daily ticket while renting a car will put you back about 40 dollars a day without insurance. If you’re staying in Maui, renting a car is pretty much a must unless you plan on booking a tour for all of your activities.
To get to and from the airport I suggest using one of the shuttle services which cost $16 per person rather than a taxi which will cost $40+ to the Waikiki area. Uber is also an option both to/from the airport and around Honolulu.
Remember, my guide assumes you’re staying on a single island. If you plan on island hopping, you may need to budget another $250 per flight with Hawaiian airlines. Please note that the estimate given in this article is for using local transportation so prices will vary depending on where you stay.
Accommodations
From vacation rentals to luxury hotels, Hawaii has every accommodation possible. However, no matter what you choose, you will likely find it pricey in comparison to other destinations. I’m going to estimate $1,400 for seven nights ($200 per night) in a midrange hotel in Waikiki-the most popular part of the island for visitors. The average price for a hotel room in Maui is also $200 per night. Prices can drop below $200 per night during the off-season, so you could save a bit of money depending on your timing.
Certain parts of the island, such as Haleiwa, have limited options for accommodations so be sure to book in advance.
If you are looking for accommodation recommendations in Honolulu, I suggest the following:
Budget
Mid-range
Luxury
If you have the right credit card, you can save a fair amount of money on hotels. Americans should strongly consider the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card since you can earn up to 75,000 Marriott Bonvoy points and $200 back at U.S. restaurants as a welcome bonus.
Canadians should consider the Marriott Bonvoy American Express which gives you up to 55,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. That’s enough points for a few free nights at some hotels which could easily have a value of over $500.