The Savvy Traveler » Hawaii Bound and Within Budget Too!

Hawaii Bound and Within Budget Too! | The Savvy Traveler

Mar 26 2007

Hawaii Bound and Within Budget Too!

Published by Jennifer at 9:16 pm under Discount Travel, Hawaii, Travel Spots

Are you heading to the island paradise that in 1952 became our nation’s 50th state? (For those of you that are not that into history–that means Hawaii!) A Hawaiian vacation is something everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime. Hawaii is no longer something only the rich can afford to see. Even someone on a limited budget can experience the nation’s most beautiful island. Even you can afford to go to Hawaii!

The most expensive part of a Hawaiian vacation is getting to Hawaii. You can easily spend over a thousand dollars just on a single plane ticket. That is a lot of money for someone on a budget. The key to getting a cheap flight is timing. Flying anywhere during the peak tourist season almost doubles the cost of flights and hotels. It is always summer in Hawaii, so you don’t always have to go during the summer. Peak tourist season runs from June 1st to Labor Day. If you can avoid flying during these dates, you can save up to 50% on your flight alone. If you must go during these times, websites like Travelocity offer discounts and package deals. If you are willing to be flexible on your travel dates and departure locations, Priceline’s website offers tremendous discounts on flights year round. If you take your time and do your homework, you can easily get a flight to Hawaii for only a couple hundred dollars rather than a thousand dollars.

The next obstacle to overcome is lodging. While a room with an ocean view may be just what you had in mind, it may not be what your wallet has in mind. Sometimes your travel agent or an Internet travel site will offer you great deals on beachfront hotels, but usually, you will be paying a hefty price for that ocean view. Never fear! Just a few blocks away and a few dollars cheaper you will find the perfect lodging. Hotels that are located off the beach are usually about half the price of those on the beach. Sometimes you are not even far enough away from the beach to not see it, and the price of the hotel drops by half. If you are willing to walk 10 minutes, the price drops more. You have heard it in every business class you have ever taken: Location! Location! Location! Even for hotels this law applies. The further from the beach the hotel is located, the cheaper it will be. How far from the beach should you be located? That depends on how big your budget is. You can get a good hotel for under $40 a night less than a ten minute drive from the beach. Yes you have to drive, but the price is unbeatable!

If you can manage to fly there and get a hotel that meets your budget means, then you have mastered the major hurdles of a Hawaiian vacation. The only thing you have to worry about is food. Most Hawaiian towns have all the major restaurant chains and even a few new ones, so you can easily find everything from a value meal to a four star dining experience. They have everything for every budget. If you want to spend more money on partying or souvenirs, they have fast food galore!

There are two main reasons people can’t ever make it to Hawaii: They can’t afford the plane ticket, or they can’t afford the hotel. If you just know how to get it, you can get both at a good price. Now there is no reason that everyone can’t go to Hawaii at least once. With today’s Internet, there is no reason why you too can’t be Hawaii bound and within budget too!