5 Tips how to travel to Hawaii on a Budget

Much mahalo, Sheila, for your "5 Tips how to travel to Hawaii on a Budget". We are certain that this post will provide many people, who currently see a Hawaii vacation a far away dream, provide with great tips to get on that plan to the Hawaiian Islands and make it a realty:

"Our fiftieth state is a tropical paradise from which no one returns without a smile, at least no-one I've ever talked to. But as lovely as it is, it can be expensive to visit. The air fare, lodging, even grocery store food in the islands can be prohibitive for moderate and low-income folks, seeming to be a luxurious life-perk reserved for people who earn well more above the average.

1. Travel with family or friends

But if the perfect beaches (and perfect bodies) of the south seas seem an alluring but impossible dream, it’s not necessarily so.  By going as a group—be it with family or friends—where each person pays her or his own way, significant expenses can be slashed.  Now this isn't going to be your romantic honeymoon-type trip; it may involve sharing the room with Mom or a couple of friends.  But if you have four other people you can get along with for ten days of close quarters, you can probably afford a Hawaii vacation.

2. How to find cheap airfares

The cheapest fares are to Honolulu on Oahu; many offer package deals for short stays in Waikiki. If you’re interested in this type of experience, be sure to ask a lot questions and read the fine print on promotions. For those who’d rather make their own way and see a less developed Hawaii, the outer islands are a better idea, even though both transportation and living costs will be somewhat higher. When it comes to airfare, it pays to shop around. Begin with the determination to pay $350 or less round trip, including the flight to the outer island of your choice. In local newspaper travel section, you may find travel agencies that specialize in budget fares or sign up for airline promotion. The more flexibility you can manage about just when to travel, the more likely you are to get a bargain rate.

3. Island Budget accommodations

It’s also a good idea to stay open about which island to visit when you begin to research places to stay.  Each island has its own special magic, and if you find a great budget accommodation on just about any one of them, the success of your trip is practically ensured as you won’t have to break the bank just for a place to sleep and can spend more on having fun. Ask around among friends and associates, consult a budget travel book and invest in phone calls until you find an affordable accommodation that sounds appealing.

4. Are top Amenities an issue?

You can save money by staying a block or two away from the beach. Do you prefer ocean or pool? Places without pools cost much less if you can be happy swimming in the sea at beach parks, some of which offer fabulous snorkeling at absolutely no charge. And if swimming and ocean viewing aren't a high priority, you can save even more by going inland to rent a room or a house, often amid banana and papaya trees and wild orchids. However, a kitchen or kitchenette is a must for low or moderate-rollers in Hawaii. With some cooking and storage facilities, you can eat your favorite foods but much less expensively than eating out.

5. Island Activities

Rugged Hawaii, or The Big Island, is a popular destination these days, as the volcano Kilauea is putting on a spectacular show, and the island is large enough to still not be overcrowded. Through a friend we learned about a three-bedroom home for rent within walking distance of the awesome Volcano National Park and the Volcano Winery—at $75 a night for us all—and used this as our home base.  We stayed several nights at the Kona Tiki Hotel ($62/night plus tax; $8 extra for a third person in the room), a homey, comfortable place in a lovely tropical setting. The money we saved on restaurant meals paid for splurges: a helicopter ride over the volcano, a gracious luau at the Royal Kona Hotel, and several rounds of tropical cocktails in various glorious settings

Although visitors to Hawaii are offered a flashing assortment of expensive excursions and experiences, the truth is that the most wonderful things about the islands are free—the caressing trade winds, the dazzling sun, sea, tropical flora and birds, the carefree pace and the aloha spirit of the people. Last but not least, hula, the dance of the islands can be enjoyed daily for free at most island shopping centers. We followed our passions and did everything we wanted. Our basic expenses, food, lodging, and car rental for ten days, cost about $45 a day each."

Sheila Signer lives in California. She is passionate about photography, music, writing, and especially travel. In her late thirties she began to save $100 a month years to take a year off in Hawaii. She learned many lessons of aloha. This article was inspired by a wonderful trip to the Big Island with her husband, long-time friends and 90-year-old mother-in-law.

original on http://kohalacoastweb.blogspot.ru/