@ Katie Mosing oh my god, it was amazing. i was so sad to leave. Dx but yeah, i feel ya. airfare is the killer. however, i didn't have to pay for my airfare bc my aunt already paid for it with her miles. all i really had to pay, airfare-wise, was my one-way ticket to burbank airport to meet her and D. c: you def. need to shop around for airfare bc some websites charge obnoxiously. :(
i do have a few tips!!
1. if you're able to, rent an airbnb or a homeaway. the hotels in hawaii are ridiculously priced, so don't even try; i mean, unless you've got the budget for it, then go for it, but otherwise, you're better off renting an airbnb or something. that's what we did and while i give the apartment a solid 6/10, it was just an apartment and we only were there to sleep, haha. additionally, keep in mind where you want to stay and that'll help you gauge how the prices are. we stayed in paia on maui's north shore. idk what my aunt paid, but from what i understand, it was relatively cheap, compared to the hotels. if you stay in lahaina or wailea, you're going to pay a ton more.
2. shop at costco, if you've got the membership. we did that and while everything is more expensive in hawaii, you get a better deal on some items, especially food and ESPECIALLY fruit! also, buying in bulk is better bc you can kinda ration your food out for however long you're staying; loads of people do that! you can also buy discounted vouchers for food and other activities like ziplining, ferry tours, maui's ocean center (10/10, would recommend to go to!), and other stuff at costco for a better deal. that's not to say that we didn't eat at restaurants (bc we did and it ain't cheap either), but for the most part, we did eat at the apartment.
3. if you're able to rent a car, rent a jeep wrangler. it was more than $100 cheaper than even the smaller cars.
4. sign up for groupon; you can sometimes get deals on brunch and other stuff at the nice hotels, as well as local food places all around maui.
that's all i have the tips that i personally have, but here's a website that gives you a few more: http://traveltips.usatoday.com/vacation-hawaii-cheaply-4539.html (:
oh my god, it was amazing. i was so sad to leave. Dx but yeah, i feel ya. airfare is the killer. however, i didn't have to pay for my airfare bc my aunt already paid for it with her miles. all i really had to pay, airfare-wise, was my one-way ticket to burbank airport to meet her and D. c: you def. need to shop around for airfare bc some websites charge obnoxiously. :(
i do have a few tips!!
1. if you're able to, rent an airbnb or a homeaway. the hotels in hawaii are ridiculously priced, so don't even try; i mean, unless you've got the budget for it, then go for it, but otherwise, you're better off renting an airbnb or something. that's what we did and while i give the apartment a solid 6/10, it was just an apartment and we only were there to sleep, haha. additionally, keep in mind where you want to stay and that'll help you gauge how the prices are. we stayed in paia on maui's north shore. idk what my aunt paid, but from what i understand, it was relatively cheap, compared to the hotels. if you stay in lahaina or wailea, you're going to pay a ton more.
2. shop at costco, if you've got the membership. we did that and while everything is more expensive in hawaii, you get a better deal on some items, especially food and ESPECIALLY fruit! also, buying in bulk is better bc you can kinda ration your food out for however long you're staying; loads of people do that! you can also buy discounted vouchers for food and other activities like ziplining, ferry tours, maui's ocean center (10/10, would recommend to go to!), and other stuff at costco for a better deal. that's not to say that we didn't eat at restaurants (bc we did and it ain't cheap either), but for the most part, we did eat at the apartment.
3. if you're able to rent a car, rent a jeep wrangler. it was more than $100 cheaper than even the smaller cars.
4. sign up for groupon; you can sometimes get deals on brunch and other stuff at the nice hotels, as well as local food places all around maui.
that's all i have the tips that i personally have, but here's a website that gives you a few more: http://traveltips.usatoday.com/vacation-hawaii-cheaply-4539.html (: