Marie wants to know if there’s such a thing as inexpensive hotels in Hawaii. In Travel SOS, Rachel shares some super suggestions that are sure to save Marie’s money.
Q. Marie
I often see some great deals for flights to Hawaii but when I start to look for accommodation, it quickly becomes unaffordable. How can I find inexpensive accommodation so as to take advantage of such great deals?
A. Hawaii is a major tourist destination, and accommodation is always going to be at a premium. It would be easy for me to say ‘you get what you pay for’ in this scenario, but that would be about as useful as a chocolate teapot. So here are my best tips for finding accommodation deals and off-peak prices, to ensure those temptingly-cheap Hawaii flights don’t end up costing you a fortune.
Step one is to avoid the peak travel season. Hotel prices will be lowest in February, May, September and October. Excitingly, February is also the best time of year for humpback whale watching, and September is filled with the Aloha Festivals. If you time your trip right, you might be able to catch one of these amazing experiences and get a great accommodation deal.
Step two is to look for a package deal. Hawaiian Airlines is currently offering deals that include return flights from Sydney and four nights’ accommodation in some of the bigger hotels at a discounted rate. To take advantage of these offers, it helps to sign up to receive emails from Hawaiian Airlines, so you hear about the deals as they are announced.
Step three is to think outside the box. Stop looking at hotels, and get creative. There are some great hostels near the beach in Hawaii, such as the Northshore Hostel in Maui, where you can book a private room with a shared bathroom from about $80 per night. Or if you are travelling with your family some hostels, such as the Waikiki Beachside Hostel, offer private rooms for four people. These include a private bathroom and kitchen, and will set you back about $150 per night. Or consider booking an entire apartment on Airbnb. The average price for a studio or one-bedroom apartment near the beach in Honolulu is $140 per night (although they can be as low as $80 per night), and some of the apartment buildings come with a pool.
Do you have any other tips to help Marie find affordable accommodation? Help her out by leaving a comment.
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