Comments on: How much money should you budget for a Hawaii vacation?

By: sheila

sheila — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 22:07:16 +0000

Kamaaina — the AAA rates were based on the “rack rates”, which is the top rate that people very rarely pay.

I tend to trust the weekly survey results from Smith Travel Research. They’re rates are much more “accurate” and “normal” versus the AAA reports.

By: Kamaaina

Kamaaina — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 05:05:27 +0000

So the rates must be published based on average cost, and when some rich people like Gates’ or Obamas go to Hawaii they have big budgets to throw the mean way higher than the median. Remember how Gates reserved the entire island of Lanai? That includes the town, airport, all the public roads (for which there was some uproar), everything.

An ordinary person will spend much less.

By: Matt@Proofreading Service

Matt@Proofreading Service — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 04:58:02 +0000

It’s interesting to see everyone’s take on vacationing in Hawaii. I was there with family early last year for two weeks and I have to say we did pretty well in terms of spending. We stayed in a $130/night hotel (not gonna give away that secret, haha) and we ate very well for dinner at local hole-in-the-wall restaurants in Honolulu/Waikiki (see Da Smokehouse: http://www.dasmokehouse.com). On our previous visit, we ate at a Chinese restaurant each morning, but that got to be a little too expensive and filling, so last year we generally skipped breakfast or ate bananas that we bought from Kmart. We had tasty, healthy wraps for lunch, each about $5 or $6. Everything else was purely discretionary, so really, if you can afford the flight over and be mindful of your food spending, Hawaii’s just like home – except moved to paradise.

By: Jackie

Jackie — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 18:37:24 +0000

People do have healthy appetites. Especially when they are being fed. We live on Kauai in the winter. We have lots of visitors. We spent nearly $2500 last month “entertaining” guests (food and booze). Some guests like going out to eat, which is OK, but very expensive with entrees in the $25-35 area. Add a bottle of wine and dinner is at least $100/couple. Eating in? Prepare to pay $15-27/pound for fresh local fish.
Next year – no visitors. We just can’t afford it.
In all fairness, some guests offer to help pay until they see how expensive food is. This is an island. Everything has to come in by air or sea. If you only eat organic, be prepared. A dozen organic eggs costs over $8 at Foodland. Seriously!
We once hosted a family of four for a week. Between eating out (nothing fancy) and eating in, we spent $1500. Thank god they were not big drinkers. This alone prompted us to join Costco.
So, if you are a guest, do your host a favor and send them a check in advance so they can stock up. For us, Costco is on the other side of the island and not a trip I like to make during a visit with friends.

By: john moji

john moji — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 10:40:09 +0000

steve mcgarret would be APPALED at these prices per day of enjoying hawaii !!

By: Kevin

Kevin — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 19:27:13 +0000

How? that seems like a really good price for three weeks.
Could you give me some examples of places you visted, and where you stayed at?

By: lilian

lilian — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 08:25:22 +0000

weird… shitake! man tj is that you?

By: Kris

Kris — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:38:56 +0000

Honorary kama’aina status, eh? I like the way that sounds.

I’m sure we’d be in some pretty good company, too.

By: sheila

sheila — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 01:10:17 +0000

@ Kris – Hawaii should recognize you, Cindy, Andy and I for supporting the travel economy. Perhaps they could give us honorary kama’aina status.

By: Kris

Kris — Fri, 29 May 2009 04:40:05 +0000

Um, I might have something to do with the AAA numbers, but not that high.

We’ve always saved up and paid for the oceanfront rates in Maui because we’ve been totally addicted to the views at the Sheraton. We’re literally 20 feet from the water.

Admittedly, hindsight is 20/20 and we haven’t been very smart about those things (other than helping out Maui’s economy!). I joke to myself that if we’d been smarter the past 4 trips to Maui, we’d have a pretty nice down payment for a part-time place in Kihei.

This September, though, we’re heading there for the Maui Photo Festival and getting a crazy low rate at the Hyatt Maui Regency since we’re attending the workshops. After that, we’re looking for a week in February, and will likely be much smarter than we have been in the past.

No worries, though. We’ll probably spend the extra money we save to help the Maui economy some other way.

By: sheila

sheila — Tue, 26 May 2009 13:33:00 +0000

@tj – yes, Hawaii has hostels.

By: tj

tj — Tue, 26 May 2009 12:24:40 +0000

they have hostels in hawaii?

By: Abdi

Abdi — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 18:43:46 +0000

i think it will be about 300$ or more every day

By: sheila

sheila — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 20:16:05 +0000

Hi Laurie – Wow! Looks like your budget will come in well below AAA’s inflated average. Have a great time in Molokai and try a Mocha Mama decadent iced coffee drink at the Coffees of Hawaii on Molokai. Also try to visit Purdy’s Macadamia Nut farm.

By: Laurie

Laurie — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 20:10:26 +0000

Well, let see this years vacation (2009) is going to be Molokai for a full 31 days.

We are set a budget of 6K and these are the expenses broke down.

2- People (husband and myself)

2- RT tickets First Class = $1190 (woldperks miles used plus cash) – Already paid

2 – RT tickets – Interisland fare from HNL- to MKK = $211.00 – Already paid

1 month car rental at Budget car rental (economy) $747.21 – Reserved locked in

30 night condo stay (Oceanfront 1-bedroom) = $2.250 (incusive of all taxes) – Partial paid.

Cash on hand – $1,600 (food, will cook most of our own – we are not heavy eaters) entertainment, sitting at beach with a couple cocktails, just driving around looking at scenery. Maybe play around of golf)

We might go over alittle budget depending if we want to splurge and go like on a whale watch or something – but all in all, we think this should do rather well for a month stay. We will be working during the day at our home/condo office so we will not loose out on any work income during the time. Have laptop’s will travel and cell phone. We are set!

Molokai March 2009 HERE WE COME!

Aloha!!

By: Sheila

Sheila — Wed, 07 May 2008 12:25:12 +0000

Lissete – Thanks for sharing how much you spent. You guys did a lot for way less than AAA estimates!

I’ve struggled with how to list the food budget. Someone would have to have a very healthy appetite in order to have an $18 breakfast, $20 lunch, and then $50 dinner.

By: Lissete

Lissete — Wed, 07 May 2008 04:05:49 +0000

Holy cow! That estimate is way off our budget! We spent a total of about $5500 for 15 days on our first (an only thus far) trip to Hawaii. That includes air, inter island air, car, accomodations, cars, luau, helicopter, Trilogy, PCC & food. Add a bit more for gas & all the stuff I bought. We didn’t eat fancy every.single.night though. I was happy w/ Da’ Kitchen! Breakfast was in the condo and sometimes we’d just make sammy’s for lunch. I, for one, usually only have either lunch OR dinner.

By: Sheila

Sheila — Tue, 06 May 2008 20:00:50 +0000

@ David – you did very well on your trip! Thanks for sharing your budget with us.

@ Dave – I think the whole report is misleading. It’s ok for comparing the relative cost difference ofvarious destinations, but that ends its usefulness. They’ve grossly over estimated the cost based on using rack rates. I’m bothered that AAA is continuing the perception that Hawaii is too expensive for the average American.

By: Dave

Dave — Tue, 06 May 2008 19:52:32 +0000

I saw that… IMO… It’s very misleading. The way I read the report… That’s how much people spend… NOT how much it costs. (BIG Difference)

For example… If you’re on a honeymoon, you’re likely going to spend some extra cash to create that perfect memory at romantic restaurants and beachfront luxury hotel rooms with a view, etc. Versus – Staying at a budget hotel a away block from the beach and eating fast food.

Sure… You could live like a rock-star and spend a fortune on your Hawaii vacation if you wanted to but it’s not a requirement.

I’m sure Las Vegas would be the most expensive if gamboling losses were figured into the equation. But there again… You don’t “Need” to spend money on that if you don’t want to.

By: David

David — Tue, 06 May 2008 19:30:00 +0000

I think you can buy whatever they were smoking up on the top end of Maui.

Our recent 3 week trip to Maui cost us about $270 a day. That’s for everything, airfare, condo, car rental, food, gas, gifts and so on.

David