Hawaii always seems like it’s the ultimate dream vacation. Perfect temperatures of around 72 degrees Fahrenheit while you’re sitting on the beach drinking a daiquiri. Luaus at night having delicious meals with new friends. But depending on where you live, the journey to Hawaii can easily be a multi-day flight.
Since you more than likely won’t be revisiting Hawaii anytime soon, here are several ways to make the most out of your vacation to the islands.
Double Check Your Bookings
This might sound silly, but there are many times people have booked a car or hotel for the incorrect dates. Imagine arriving on your first day in breathtaking Honolulu. You go to check into your hotel only to find out you accidentally set your dates for the wrong month. Next thing you know, the hotel is completely booked for the night.
If this ends up happening to you, there are apps like Priceline and HotelTonight that give you express deals on hotel stays. These are specials various hotels will have when they are trying to fill their same-day occupancy.
Leave Room In Your Suitcase
When traveling to Hawaii, you’ll always want to leave extra room in your suitcase. Between snagging some cool souvenirs to shopping for something to bring home for your friends and family, you’ll always come home with more than what you brought.
Not to mention with beautiful sunny weather year-round, you won’t need heavy sweaters or long pants. That is unless you are heading to some of the higher elevation hikes or volcanoes at the early hours of the morning.
But a week-long stay in Hawaii sounds like a lot to pack for. One great tip for consolidating your items is to bring only what you need. We’re always preparing for the worst-case scenario or bringing extra clothes for just-in-case situations. Hawaii has stores, too. Anything you might have forgotten will be available there.
Make sure when you’re packing your suitcase, you roll all of your clothes instead of folding them. This ends up saving a significant amount of space. Don’t forget to think about your toiletries, too. You don’t have to bring a full-size container of sunscreen. Only bring travel-size skincare products to make sure you’re protecting yourself from the sun and other various elements your skin might not be used to.
Find Ways to Save Money
Hawaii is rather an expensive place to visit. Most of the state’s annual income is directly from tourism, hence the higher prices. But there are little ways you can still make your trip to Hawaii affordable.
- Make sure the hotel you are staying in has a kitchenette. That way, you aren’t going out to eat for every single meal during your vacation.
- When looking for hotels, find one that includes free parking. Many hotels require valet parking and prohibit self-parking, which can cost upwards of $40 to $50 dollars a day for your rental car.
- If you’re a solo traveler, look into staying at hostels that end up being a fraction of the cost of a standard hotel or Airbnb.
- Book your outdoor activities and rentals through a concierge. You’re bound to find yourself walking along the beach and running into various vendors, but you can guarantee they’ll be significantly more expensive than through your hotel.
Rent a Car and Take a Ferry
While you’re there, you’ll want to try to see as much as possible. Not to mention, there are eight islands for you to explore. Honolulu, for example, is the capital of Hawaii on the island of Oahu. What you might not know is that it’s only a two-hour drive around the entire island. This is a scenic way to see all of the hidden gems this place has to offer.
You’ll also want to look into exploring ferry options while you’re there. Ferries can get you from one island to the next at an affordable price. While it does require more travel time, it feels like taking a mini-cruise on your island vacation.
Hawaii is always going to be there, but you may not always have the opportunity to travel there. Make the most out of your vacation by doing a bit of research ahead of time.
