STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Karina · Chanel

How to NOT spend a fortune in Hawaii?

bumblebee · Coach

it will be much easier to budget in honolulu than in maui, where there is less choice (everything is resort-priced there, whereas in honolulu, there are more people who live there year-round so you can find less-expensive restaurants, hotels, etc.). so i would advise going in knowing that you will save your more pricey romantic meals for when you are in maui.

what things specifically are you looking for? i was just in both places this summer (twice) so maybe i can help if you need specifics.

Metric · Gucci

We always get a room with a kitchenette and make some of our own meals. We always have breakfast in our room, usually just fresh fruit from a market and yogurt and the hotel provides coffee. Our favorite hotel has bbq's so sometimes we will grill for dinner. Eating out in Honolulu can be pricey.

Karina · Chanel

BrazenCanadian wrote:

We always get a room with a kitchenette and make some of our own meals. We always have breakfast in our room, usually just fresh fruit from a market and yogurt and the hotel provides coffee. Our favorite hotel has bbq's so sometimes we will grill for dinner. Eating out in Honolulu can be pricey.

Which hotel is this?

Karina · Chanel

bumblebee wrote:

it will be much easier to budget in honolulu than in maui, where there is less choice (everything is resort-priced there, whereas in honolulu, there are more people who live there year-round so you can find less-expensive restaurants, hotels, etc.). so i would advise going in knowing that you will save your more pricey romantic meals for when you are in maui. what things specifically are you looking for? i was just in both places this summer (twice) so maybe i can help if you need specifics.

Where would you recommend us go for dining?

bumblebee · Coach

well that's why i was asking you to tell us what you are looking for specifically--i don't know what you like.

in maui, i would highly recommend one of the only budget choices--this place on the main (front st.) street in lahaina, called aloha mixed plate. it's really good, fresh grilled seafoods and meats and veggies, and really inexpensive.

honolulu (are you staying in waikiki?) has all the regular chain type of places you would find in any other big american city. the last time i was there, i ate a subway sandwich in an underground mall food-court--so there's definitely a wide selection of everything. for souveniers in waikiki, i think the open market (i don't know what it is officially called, it's the big main one on kalakaua) is great. you will start to see all the same things in every store, but you can usually talk the prices down a little at the open market. i got a gold charm for my bracelet for around $50, when the same one was $90 in lahaina.

BC's idea with the barbecuing is good, too--there's also a public park right on the beach in waikiki, nestled in among the hotels on the main strip (it's about two developments over from the halekalani, which is easy to find and where i would stay if money was no object!) that has barbeques. so you could get some kebabs or something at the market and grill them right there while watching the waves.

oh--if you want fresh flower leis, wait until near sundown and the ladies who make them at home will come out to the beach and start selling them for a few dollars--they are the freshest and cheapest ones you can get.

Metric · Gucci

We always stay at the Hawaiiana Hotel on Beachwalk. Its quite small, but has 2 pools and beautiful gardens. Also The Breakers just next door is really good also.

In Waikiki the International Market has some good deals and its really fun to poke around in. Also in the food court is the best Mexican food I've ever eaten at a place called "Toritos".

gruiz · Kenneth Cole

I was recently talking to a couple that just got back from a Hawaiian honeymoon. They said the most expensive part was eating. One night they ordered an ice cream sundae from room service and it was $31! They said what helped was to get a fridge in the room. They went to WalMart and bought a bunch of breakfast stuff so at least they could save money on one meal per day.

kealoha · Kate Spade

Karina, you should definitely try to book a condo on both islands. Maui's a LOT pricier than Honolulu, so you'll want to do breakfast in the room w/a kitchenette.

Off-hand, I can only think of one chain that has condo facilities you'll be able to utilize. I don't know how great they are, but it's worth a shot. http://www.resortquest.com/resortquest/vacationRentals/hawaiiMap.do

Additionally, hit up Wal-Mart or the Aloha Stadium flea market for souveniers. ABC stores are widely available but a total rip-off. If you can get to a Longs Drugs for simple things like film, sunblock, snacks, etc., you'll save more than if you stopped into ABC. If you're a foodie, dine @ lunch instead of dinner. Hotel restaurants have grossly inflated prices, so excercise caution when selecting one to dine at.

As far as activities go, there are some things to do that don't require a lot of $$$. Hike Diamond Head Crater for a spectacular view & visit Haleakala (on Maui) @ sunrise to be sprititually moved. I don't know how much admission to the park is, but it can't imagine that it'd be more than $15/vehicle. Of course there's the beach, but try to avoid the submarine dives & dinner cruises b/c those can be kind of lame.

PM me if you need more info. I still have contacts w/in the hotel/travel industry here. The timing of your honeymoon will dictate room rates as well.

Good luck.