How much for a family of 5 to go to Hawaii?

[erinmomof2]

We are headed to Maui over the Xmas holiday (the most expensive week in Hawaii, BTW, for hotels and condos) and while we pay nothing for airfare, our hotel bill alone will run about $23,940 for 3 rooms at the Grand Wailea. That doesn't include food or other activities. We expect to pay another $4000 or so for that. Definitely not a budget trip, but we're doing this in lieu of a 50th anniversary party for my folks and my brother and I are splitting the cost.

Makes a trip to WDW seem cheap by comparison, doesn't it??

I can't believe that price. DH stayed at Grand Wailea for our honeymoon for 8 days for about $4,000 for the room only and we had an ocean view room and patio. This was 7 years ago, but I can't believe prices went up that much.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Take 7 years of inflation, add 50% for the holiday week, and voila. Plus, rooms with 2 queen beds are more expensive than rooms with King size beds. Plus the daily room charge. If you'd like to help us defray the cost I am willing to open a paypal account

I can't believe that price. DH stayed at Grand Wailea for our honeymoon for 8 days for about $4,000 for the room only and we had an ocean view room and patio. This was 7 years ago, but I can't believe prices went up that much.

 

[Carlyzmom]

The people that should be embarrassed are those who take trips with money they don't have.

AMEN to that!!!

 

[rach2674]

We've been wanting to go back for a long time. We have just about enough ff miles for 3 of us to go and maybe have to spend a little bit for the extra miles we need. Last time we stayed in Kapalua which was gorgeous, but I got a great travel agent rate at the time and unless I can find something cheap, that's not an option this time. But it had the greatest beach ever, which unfortunately we didn't discover until the last day!

You can also sign up at hawaii.com and they send weekly specials, but not sure if they're that great or not. I'm going to look into some condo's this time with some of the recommendations everyone has left here. Renting a car was a must for us because we got to do a lot of exploring.

One of the great things we did last time was hang out at a local bar and got to know some locals. They gave us great tips to find secluded waterfalls and beaches. I also got the frommer's and fodor's books. Lots of great tips in there. You can always get them in the library or check out their websites.

Good luck! I think it's great you're saving up for such a wonderful trip!

Rachel

 

[erinmomof2]

Take 7 years of inflation, add 50% for the holiday week, and voila. Plus, rooms with 2 queen beds are more expensive than rooms with King size beds. Plus the daily room charge. If you'd like to help us defray the cost I am willing to open a paypal account

I believe you about the price, it just astonishes me. It's a great resort, if you haven't been there before, probably the most beautiful place I've ever been. I was thinking of going back for our 10 yr anniversary, but at those prices I don't think we can swing it.

 

[tinkerbell13]

Tinkerbell13 - private beach and sea turtles sounds so cool. Where is the North Shore?? Would you mind narrowing down where you got your condo from VRBO? Thanks!!!

Sorry! The North Shore is on Oahu! The area we stayed in is called Haleiwa. It's about 1/2 hour from the Airport. If you are going in the summer, make sure you get a rental that has air conditioning! It's near Waimea Falls.
Check out the Swap meet in Honolulu too! Lots of great stuff there for cheap!

 

[cndij]

$23,940 for 3 rooms at the Grand Wailea.

I hope one of you has a Hilton frequent traveler account, or will have before you go, because the points on that one stay should be enough to have one week for free the next time.

And for the OP, I took my extended family of 7 last summer (flew on FF reward tickets so that knocked about $5000 off of our costs from East Coast) and spent around $5-6000 for 2 weeks. That was a week on Kauai and a week on the Big Island. A lot of just sightseeing/free stuff, though we did do a luau, and the dolphin encounter and a few splurges. Stayed in a condos from VRBO one week and a timeshare rental I got on Ebay the other week. It all depends on what's important to you and budget accordingly. The very best things about being in Hawaii (to me) are free. Be sure to pick up one or more of the Hawaii Revealed books and start reading them (they have a lot of budget or free activities in them as well). I probably could have trimmed $1,000-1,500 off our costs if I cut out the splurges.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

I hope one of you has a Hilton frequent traveler account, or will have before you go, because the points on that one stay should be enough to have one week for free the next time.

I have frequent traveler accounts with all the major hotel chains, but I try and use Hilton Honors as much as I can. I work for an airline and I have to travel frequently, so the points add up, even with our negotiated rates.

 

[mermaidwannabe]

cndij - thanks for the info. I visited my brother almost 20 years ago when he had an internship on Kona and stayed for almost a month. (Used my student loan money for a plane ticket, but that's another story ). I didn't have much money but I don't remember that even making a difference because I was thrilled just to swim, snorkel and sightsee. Hanging out in a condo near a beach is my idea of heaven, but I'm sure my kids would love a luau and to see dolphins. I've already decided to do a condo so we can cook since that will really save money.

 

[ptlycloudy]

When I lived there for several years and my family wanted souvies I went to Walmart or the Oahu flea market. Cheap prices for tshirts, Mac nuts etc.

Since your trip is so far off maybe you could get a ccard with airline rewards to see if you can rack up enough points to get free or reduced airfare. Paying it off each month of course! I have found the best food is from the cheaper places like shrimp trucks along the road. Yum!

 

[stsomewhere]

Have you thought about a crise around Hawaii?
You would be able to see alot of the isalnds.
You could try Holland America or Princess. I think that Carnival might even go there.