How expensive is Hawaii

[Jenio]

Thinking about using our point to go to Aulani. Trying to figure out just how expensive it really is for everything.... plane tickets, food, recreation ect. Is the price of food comparable with Disney World???? Thank you for any help you can give!!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Well, obviously that depends a lot on where you live for airfare, and the time of year you plan to travel. We find airfare to Hawaii to be a bit better in the late summer/early fall. For us here in the upper midwest, a common airfare for coach class round trip is going to be $800-1200 per person (and that's for a good deal). First class runs in the $2000 range unless you get a really good deal. The frequent flyer tickets have seemed to have gone away for us for Hawaii since Delta took over NWA.

While you are there, the transient tax, food tax, and just plain old food expenses are very high. Think of what your family might spend for food at WDW and then at least double that. If you are renting a car, the parking fees in Hawaii are high as well.

 

[CruznLexi]

For me the r/t was $950 from Florida, rental with USAA for a week was $250 luau was $60 per person, food for 2 at $100 per day. Not to mention tours and souviners easily for 2 would cost us in the $4000-$5000 for a week. So we opted for the DCL Hawaii cruise instead.

 

[Pakey]

I paid almost $1000 for a rental car on Maui this year over spring break week. Car rentals have always been high in Hawaii (we've been 5 times now) but this year was outrageous with the taxes and "peak fees" that were added onto the basic rental price. Thank goodness they were not able to talk me into upgrading to a jeep; I can't imagine how much that would have cost me. And you will need a rental car for the DVC resort because it's not close to much of anything.

A very small alcoholic beverage at the pool was $14. A coworked went 2 weeks after I did, stayed at a different hotel; their pool drinks were $16 each.

On our last day, my husband and I ate in this small town on our drive back to the airport. He had a fish sandwich and I had a sliced tomato salad. We both had ice teas. Our tab, not including tip, was $53.

You can do Hawaii as cheap as WDW but you have to pay attention to where you eat, how you spend your money. We are not on a budget but still, the above costs I mentioned were excessive enough that I haven't forgotten them.

 

[limace]

We do a week or two in Maui almost every year. If you really stock up at Costco when you land and cook most meals in your room, which is what we like to do, food isn't that much more than the mainland. Local grocery stores, gas, and eating out are expensive. It's a relatively reasonable vacation for us if we can get a good deal on airfare.

 

[Deb & Bill]

It's an island with limited space to grow and manufacture. So lots of what is needed is brought to the island and that's not cheap to do.

It's expensive to live in Hawaii, so traveling there will also be expensive.

 

[TLPL]

But remember...... you don't have to spend on park tickets that you normally have to spend when you visit WDW.

 

[Jenio]

Thanks everyone! We are new to the dvc and feeling overwhelmed by our options! It's a good overwhelmed though! Super excited for our new adventures to com,

 

[3happydancers]

thanks everyone! We are new to the dvc and feeling overwhelmed by our options! It's a good overwhelmed though! Super excited for our new adventures to com,

welcome home!!!

 

[utahkennedys]

We are taking our first trip to Aulani this November but typically go to Maui. I have never paid more than $200 for a 10 day car rental on Maui through Hotwire, but I plan ahead. We are lucky b/c from Seattle we have non-stop Hawaii flights and we never pay more than $500. Everything in Hawaii is expensive -- groceries, restaurants, activities, etc. But we LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it! In some ways we feel it is cheaper than WDW because there are no tix to buy. We eat b'fast in our room most days and some lunches by the pool or beach if we pack a picnic. I will be curious to see how Oahu stacks up against Maui.

 

[spleen]

well, our gas will be cheaper than Maui, that's for sure. Maui for some reason has the most expensive gas of all of the 4 major Hawaiian islands (Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island).

 

[Jenio]

I really would love to go to Hawaii but I would have no idea how to plan a trip like that! There is sooooo much! Where would you even start?

 

[disneydenisel]

We are taking our first trip to Aulani this November but typically go to Maui. I have never paid more than $200 for a 10 day car rental on Maui through Hotwire, but I plan ahead. We are lucky b/c from Seattle we have non-stop Hawaii flights and we never pay more than $500. Everything in Hawaii is expensive -- groceries, restaurants, activities, etc. But we LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it! In some ways we feel it is cheaper than WDW because there are no tix to buy. We eat b'fast in our room most days and some lunches by the pool or beach if we pack a picnic. I will be curious to see how Oahu stacks up against Maui.

I'd love to hear what you think about Oahu (Aulani) versus Maui.

To the OP, we have been going to Maui every year since 1989. We love love love it there, too .

1. For airfare, we use FF miles that I save up for, but that will probably be your biggest cost if you don't have FF miles.

2. For food, we buy everything we need for a week at Safeway, including alcohol. I would say I spend $350 to feed a family of 4 for a week. We usually have some leftovers, so clearly I overbuy, and I buy things like ice cream and popsicles that we could probably do without , but hey, I'm on vacation so I like my frozen snacks .

We don't eat out too much, maybe island tacos and two nice meals out, maybe a lunch. So I think we spend $120 on a nice dinner and $60 on a casual lunch. Drinks are overpriced, so we tend to make our own with the blender in our villa.

3. For a car, I usually get a full-size via Priceline for easily under $200 for a week. This year, I think I used the Costco discount with Alamo and got it for $134.

4. Accommodations are always a timeshare, so that is an annual dues fee. Our timeshare on Maui has very high maintenance fees, so it's double what it costs for a week in Orlando at a DVC resort . Still, we love love love it .

5. Activities...there is so much for free. Beaches, sun, swimming. We visit the aquarium on Maui and buy an annual pass, that's $165. Other than that, we walk and beach sightsee. On Oahu, you'd probably want to do an island tour, Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head, etc. But that would be a one time deal for most, and then subsequent trips you would just hang out and enjoy the resort.

6. Gas...can't use too much since it is an island, but it was 4.99 a gallon on Maui in April. I think we used 1/2 tank for our full-size car.

 

[utahkennedys]

We are excited for Aulani for the Disney touches like the character meal. Disney but not over the top Disney! We always stay at Westin Ka'anapali Villas and it is heavenly, so we hope Aulani isn't any different in feel. We are also staying at Marriott Ko'Olina and the JW Marriott at the end through Priceline for $120/night. All in all this trip didn't cost as much as we thought.

 

[disneydenisel]

We are excited for Aulani for the Disney touches like the character meal. Disney but not over the top Disney! We always stay at Westin Ka'anapali Villas and it is heavenly, so we hope Aulani isn't any different in feel. We are also staying at Marriott Ko'Olina and the JW Marriott at the end through Priceline for $120/night. All in all this trip didn't cost as much as we thought.

We always stay at the Westin Villas, too! Nine times and counting so far .

 

[Snookies]

I really would love to go to Hawaii but I would have no idea how to plan a trip like that! There is sooooo much! Where would you even start?

I recommend the "revealed" guides as a starting point. The publisher's website has many reviews and can be found at

http://www.wizardpub.com/

 

[cpster]

It's been a few years since we've been, but I wanted to mention that the exit before the one you take for Ko Olina there is the town of Kapolei. I don't remember if the exit is labled Kapolei or Makakilo, but there is a Safeway, Pizza Hut, Outback and more there. I heard there was even a Target now.

I love the garlic chicken at the Loco Moco. We're from California so prices were just a bit higher...but again...this was a few years ago. Hopefully some local folk can chime in.

The major cost will be airfare it seems.

 

[cpster]

We do a week or two in Maui almost every year. If you really stock up at Costco when you land and cook most meals in your room, which is what we like to do, food isn't that much more than the mainland. Local grocery stores, gas, and eating out are expensive. It's a relatively reasonable vacation for us if we can get a good deal on airfare.

Great tip! I forgot about the Costco!

 

[spleen]

Yup, there's a Costco in Kapolei pretty close to Aulani. Target is in Kapolei as well and Walmart will be opening sometime in the next year. There's even a Home Depot if you feel like doing some home improvement on your Aulani unit ... lol

 

[Jenio]

Wow this is all really helpful! Thank you for the great tips!