• Realize that you may have to compromise. If money is no object than you certainly would be able to travel and stay in the lap of luxury. But most travelers have some kind of budget they must adhere to. Keep in mind that if you are willing to fly in the middle of the night, stay at a hotel that is not right on the beach or take public transportation you can save substantial money. Decide what you can and cannot do to make your trip to Hawaii enjoyable and affordable.

Budget travel to Oahu For those traveling to Hawaii's most populated island there are lots of budget choices here. First keep in mind that no trip to Hawaii is complete without a visit to at least one of their famous beaches. The good news is that Hawaii is one of those lovely places where the beaches are by law the domain of the public. You can spend the afternoon out on your strip of sand dreaming of what life would be like in paradise. In addition Oahu is a good idea for those on a tight budget because of two very valuable advantages: more low-fare, direct flights and cheap public transportation to just about anywhere on the island. Travel experts and locals advise that once you are on Oahu be sure to take in a show. There are free nightly Hawaiian music and hula shows beside Kuhio Beach in Waikiki. On Fridays as a bonus they are followed by fireworks. On the weekends be sure to catch the free second-run films shown at Sunset on the Beach. You should also check out the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center, which offers free hula and ukulele lessons as well as instruction in Hawaiian quilting and lei making. And remember all of outdoors with the gorgeous scenery on Oahu is always free. Another important note for budget travelers is that if you decide to go without a rental car the bus is $2 a trip, or buy your four-day tourist pass for $20 at a local convenience store. If you are staying longer you may want to get the $40 monthly pass used by the island's commuter crowd. Do not forget to stop at the massive swap meet at Aloha Stadium early on the weekends to buy bargain souvenirs and gifts for people back home. Ten T-shirts for $20 is not an uncommon find and will certainly fulfill all of your souvenir needs for everyone. You can also find cheap eats on Oahu. The Saturday farmer's market at Kapiolani Community College near Diamond Head is know for featuring local honey, produce and tropical flowers. Another way to save money on food is to ask the locals where they go since non-tourist restaurant tend to keep their prices down in order to lure back the locals for repeat business. And finally a not to be missed experience in Oahu is a visit to the USS Arizona Memorial. This is another must see for remembering the 2,390 lost in the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. And this stop will fit right into the budget of any traveler since admission is free for a full guided tour, including a movie with footage of the attack and a ferry ride to the memorial.

• Consider cruising. Cruising is one of the most affordable options in seeing Hawaii. In today's travel industry cruise lines are offering some of the most substantial discounts available to travelers. While you may be put off by the seemingly higher upfront price keep in mind that by booking a cruise not only do you know exactly what you are paying but your meals, lodging and even entertainment are included in the price. The all-inclusive nature of cruise ships makes them one of the most affordable travel options available today. While cruising through the Hawaiian Islands many cruise ships even dock overnight giving you the opportunity to really explore the islands while your cruise ship waits in port like a floating hotel.
• Realize that all Hawaii is not exactly the same. One of the biggest benefits in traveling to Hawaii is the diversity in geography, activities and amenities but this also means that there is a vast difference in price. Some islands because of their location will offer cheaper flights, have more hotels and a wider range of options of where to eat and shop. Keep in mind the more choices you have the wider range of prices you can choose from meaning budget travelers will find more options for them on more populated islands.
• Do not travel in the high season. Many destinations have what is known as a low and a high season. Hawaii is unique in the fact that because of its popularity there really is not a cheaper time to visit Hawaii but there is a much more expensive time. Many travelers seeking to escape cold and snowy winters at home flock to the beautiful weather Hawaii offers during December and January. If you can avoid traveling during this time of year you will save money on both flights and accommodations right from the start. But you should understand that because it is Hawaii (a highly popular destination) all things are not created equal. Besides the winter months flights are extremely high when kids are out of school but accommodations may be lower. You may want to map out 2 or 3 times when you can travel to see what is the best value overall.
• Remember the longer you stay the better discount you will receive. Hotels love the idea that they do not have to rebook rooms, airlines can fly less (theoretically) and you will be around longer to help the economy. If you can stay longer than a few days you will generally receive a better discount on flights and accommodations. Be sure to check with your airline and hotel for discounts that you can receive for weekly bookings.
• Book as a package. Many times budget travelers can find an affordable way to travel to Hawaii through a package deal. Generally these types of trips include airfare, hotel and car rental. You can often save large amounts of money by booking all of these together rather than picking and choosing different options.

Now that you have some general guidelines for planning your trip here are some specifics to save you money.

The accommodations
It is important to understand that just like the airlines have seasonal rates, the hotels and accommodations will also have seasonal rates. While they may mirror each other most of the time in order to get the best deals you will need to check with the individual hotel or rental you will be staying in. It is also important to know that while special events do not affect airline rates, they will send hotel rates sky-high because all the residents of Hawaii will be flying to different islands and staying in hotels to attend the events. While it could be nice for a visitor to come to Hawaii and participate in these one-of-a-kind events, it will not be fun or affordable if their reservations are lost and every hotel in the city is booked full, or they are paying huge prices for the pleasure. If you want to come during this time travel experts state that you should book early and check your rates. The two biggest events are the Merrie Monarch Hula Competition, starting on Easter Sunday in Hilo (Big Island) for one week, and the Ironman Triathlon, normally in October in Kailua-Kona (Big Island). Both of these events will book hotel rooms for years in advance and the triathlon actually blocks the entrance to the airport for most of the day of the event. Also travelers should be aware (to a lesser extent) of the NFL Pro Bowl on Oahu in February, and the Honolulu Marathon on Oahu in December.

There is another special note about accommodations. One of the best ways you can save money is with garden or city view rooms in hotels or other types of lodging. You should realize that these are rooms that do not have an ocean view or a 'desirable' view. While a desirable view can be nice do you really want to spend some of your hard-earned budget on it? Keep in mind that oceanfront does not always mean beachfront. Oceanfront can mean your room is within 10 feet of a 30 foot cliff with no ocean access. You can save substantial money just by being willing to walk out your hotel room door and take a quick walk or bus ride to the beach.

The flights
When it comes to travel arrangements, air travel is how almost all vacationers to get Hawaii. Therefore, if you are on a budget there is a good chance that you are looking for cheap flight to Hawaii. It is important to understand that there are a number of factors that can play into you finding an affordable airline ticket to Hawaii. Some of these are:

• Examine your intended Hawaiian destination. You will need to decide which of the Hawaiian Islands you would like to visit? Keep in mind that which Hawaiian Island you choose to visit, as well as which part of that island, may have an important impact on finding cheap flights to Hawaii. There are a large number of Hawaii airports (like the two Molokai airports), which are unable to land many large airlines. In most cases, you will find that the larger airlines are the ones who tend to offer the cheapest flight into Hawaii.


• Your point of departure will determine how cheap a flight you can get. Sometimes travelers can save one to even three hundred dollars on one airline ticket just by driving an extra hour to another airport. Be sure to check what the prices are at airports around you since you may save substantial amounts of money fairly easily.
• How you make your travel arrangements is also an important part of finding cheap flights to Hawaii. If you are looking to make your airline reservations yourself, you are urged to examine the airlines that fly directly to Hawaii. If one of those airlines also offers flights in or out of one of your local airports, you may be able to make your reservations online or directly through the airline. You may also be able to find a number of cheap flights to Hawaii this way, as a number of airlines are now trying to compete with online travel websites. Be sure to do your research online in order to find out what the best price really is.