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How much does it cost to go to Hawaii?

As a Hawaii Travel Agent, one of the most common questions that I get is, “How much does it cost to go to Hawaii?”

You probably already know that Hawaii is one of the best places for a vacation. From almost perfect weather to clear water to pristine beaches to incredible hikes, and some of the friendliest people in the world. These are just some of the incredible things Hawaii has to offer.

As you might imagine, that comes at a price. Most people assume that Hawaii is expensive, and they aren’t wrong! That said, some people don’t understand why it costs so much to visit Hawaii, which is why I’m writing this blog post.

I’ve had a few people message me and ask if it’s possible to visit Hawaii for $1500-$3000, and the answer is absolutely not.  Unless you are very creative (fully booking with credit card points, camping, etc.) a Hawaii vacation for two is going to start around $4000-$5000 and go up from there. Remember that these are averages, and of course, you can spend less, or quite a bit more, on a Hawaii vacation.

Meet Amy, a Hawaii Travel Agent

Before we get started, let me introduce myself. My name is Amy, and I’m a Hawaii Travel Agent. I’m one of the top travel agents for Hawaii, and creating amazing custom trips in Hawaii is my passion! Contact me today if you’d like help planning and booking your Hawaii vacation!

Now, let’s get to how much a Hawaii vacation costs, on average. 

How much does a trip to Hawaii cost?

Let’s break down how much it costs to go to Hawaii by the basics:

• Flights
• Accommodations
• Rental cars
• Activities
• Food

The prices of the first three things will vary depending on the time of year, how early you book, and several other factors.

Even with these variables, this post should give you a good idea of the average cost of flights, accommodations, car expenses, etc.

the cost of flights to Hawaii

It doesn’t matter where you live; Hawaii is a long way away. The Hawaiian Islands are the most isolated population center in the world!

The first thing to consider when determining the cost of going to Hawaii is flights. There are a couple of cruise options from the West Coast of the US, but they take several days and cost quite a bit. Cruising for weeks isn’t ideal for most people.

The cost of flights to Hawaii depends on quite a few things. The first is which airport you’re flying from. Also, what time of the year you’re visiting Hawaii. Third, when you book your flights. Timing can be very important!

If you want to go to Hawaii, you’ll probably have to fly. Flights from the West Coast start around $300. On average, your flights from the West Coast will cost at least $300-$500 per person.

From the midwest, flights range from about $600-$800 per person. From the East Coast, you’re looking at around $800-$1000 on average. Flights out of major airports in major cities (think Chicago, Dallas, and San Francisco) will likely be less expensive than smaller airports or out of smaller cities.

Flight prices vary wildly depending on the time of the year. If you plan to fly around holidays, you’ll want to book your flights as early as possible. 

How to find a cheap flight to Hawaii

As of 2024, flights to Hawaii have been all over the price. Sometimes, there are good deals; sometimes, flights are barely available and quite expensive. Most aspects of Hawaii vacation have gone up, and flights can go either way. 

The best way to find a cheap flight to Hawaii is to be flexible! Look at Google Flights and see which days it’s cheapest to fly. This is typically midweek, but not always.

If the flight seems a bit high, set an alert to be notified when the price drops. Make sure to try different airports; it may be worth it to drive a bit further to a larger airport if the flight price is half of what it is from your home airport. 

When you fly to Hawaii, it matters

The timing of the flights also matters. If you’re flying around the holidays, waiting until the last minute will be a disaster.

Typically, you’ll see the best prices about 2-4 months in advance. If you’re traveling during the summer or any school holiday, booking your flights as soon as possible is best to ensure you get the flight and seats you want.

I could write an entire blog post about flying to Hawaii—I have! To read more, check out how to survive the flight to Hawaii and how to fight jetlag.

how much do hotels cost in Hawaii?

Accommodations in Hawaii can range a LOT in price. If you want to camp in Hawaii, your costs will be minimal. If you’re going to stay at the Four Seasons, it will be quite a bit more than average. You get the idea.

To start, you can check out my favorite resorts in:

• Maui
• Big Island
• Kauai
• Oahu

If an upscale vacation is more your style, check out the best luxury resorts on Maui or the best luxury resorts on Oahu.

The average hotel in Hawaii costs just under $400 per night. Yes, that’s more expensive than most parts of the mainland. Prices have soared in all aspects of travel in the past few years, and Hawaii travel has definitely been affected. It’s now difficult to find a nice hotel for less than $500/night.

That is the price of paradise. Everything from real estate to labor costs more in Hawaii, so it would make sense that the hotels and resorts reflect those prices.

A standard resort like the Hyatt, Sheraton, or Westin will likely cost between $500+ per night for a standard room. Again, this can depend on the time of year, but these are averages.

The Kahala Hotel and Resort is one of my favorite 5-star resorts on Oahu.

Resort Fees in Hawaii

Another thing to remember is that most resorts, and even some hotels, charge a resort fee. This fee can vary from $10 to $50+ per night, with most resort fees being in the $25-$35 per night range.

This fee includes using resort amenities and will be paid directly to the resort rather than upon booking. Make sure to see what your resort fee includes and take advantage of it. One of my favorite resorts, the Andaz Maui, has a pretty big resort fee, but it includes so much!

Many high-end resorts (think Four Seasons) do not charge a resort fee, and some basic hotels do not charge a resort fee either. Although free breakfast isn’t offered very often, most resorts have packages that include it.

Does Hawaii have all-inclusive resorts?

It’s also a good time to mention that there aren’t any all-inclusive resorts in Hawaii. Some resorts, like the Hana-Maui Resort offer meal packages, but it’s nothing like the “all-inclusive” you’d find in Cancun.

While a few resorts offer meal packages, you won’t find all-you-can-eat-and-drink deals like you do in Mexico or the Caribbean. 

I wrote an entire blog post about Hawaii all-inclusive resorts, do they exist? So make sure to check it out!

If you’re looking for a high-end, all-inclusive resort that is on the more affordable side, check out my Hyatt Zilara Cancun review. 

Hotel prices in Hawaii

As you can see, accommodations can vary widely, but you should expect to spend upwards $400 per night for a basic room. One of my favorite budget hotels in Hawaii is the ISO Kauai. You can check out my review to learn more about this affordable boutique hotel in Kapa’a, Kauai.

Rental Cars, Parking & Gas

I can’t say enough that I always recommend renting a car in Hawaii. It might be okay to skip a vehicle if you plan to stay in Oahu in the Honolulu/Waikiki area and not venture out of Honolulu often. Otherwise, you’ll need a car. Instead of sharing all the details here, you can check out why to rent a car in Hawaii.

Renting a car in Hawaii generally costs between $40 and $100 per day, depending on the type of car, the time of year, and when you book it. If you don’t have a rental car yet, I recommend Discount Hawaii Car Rental. You’ll find the best deals on any of the Hawaiian Islands.

Booking a car when you book your flights and accommodations is essential. Rental vehicles can and do sell out in Hawaii, so book early to get the vehicle you want.

If you plan to use Uber or a taxi in Hawaii, factor that into your budget. I would not recommend doing it anywhere but Oahu, and even then, I think you should rent a car. I once had someone email me regarding my “why to rent a car in Hawaii” post and tell me that they were not renting a car because they were choosing to stay at their resort in Maui.

You can do that, but why go all the way to Maui and never leave your resort?! Oh and by the way, resorts don’t have airport shuttles, so you’ll still have to pay for transfers. 

You will really miss out if you never leave your resort!

Parking

While we’re on rental cars, let’s talk about parking. Some resort fees include self-parking, but most do not. Make sure to check if your resort has resort fees or parking fees so that you won’t be surprised.

Parking is expensive in the Waikiki area, so if you rent a car on Oahu, be prepared for that.

Parking can cost between $20 and $50 per day, and valet parking is slightly more expensive than self-parking.

Gas

Gas is the biggest factor that travelers forget when planning a Hawaii vacation. If you have a rental car (and you should), you’ll have to put gas in it!

Don’t forget to budget for gas, which costs about 40% higher per gallon than the national average. Expect to pay $4-$5 per gallon. The islands are small, but you’ll probably do a lot of exploring!

Activities

Activities are another area where costs can vary widely. If you plan to bring your own snorkel set and hang out at the beaches all day, activities can cost little to nothing.

The cost can be quite high if you plan to do more significant, more expensive tours every day. Activities generally do not cost much more than they would anywhere else.

I’m sure a luau is on your Hawaii bucket list. A luau is about $200+ per person. The popular Feast at Mokapu in Maui is over $250. You can check out the best luaus in Hawaii, the best luau on Maui, and the best luau in Oahu to choose which one is right for you. 

Snorkeling is one of the best things to do in Hawaii. A half-day snorkeling tour will cost about $15+. Don’t forget to check out the best places to snorkel in Hawaii or my review of snorkeling Molokini Crater in Maui.

A surf lesson might range from $50-100. Let’s be honest: what better place to learn to surf than Hawaii?

• Surf lessons in Maui
• Surf lessons in Kauai
• Learn to surf on the Big Island
• Surf lessons on Waikiki Beach

I recommend a balance of paid and free activities. You can check out my favorite things to do on Maui, the Big Island, Kauai, and Oahu. You can also check out 50 free things to do in Hawaii.

Food

I will not spend much time discussing food because it’s too much of a variable.

The average cost of food in Hawaii is $61 per person per day. This can vary wildly and depends on how you like to eat on vacation. Spending $61 on one meal at a nice restaurant is easy. 

I find that food in grocery stores costs about 10-30% more than on the mainland, but restaurants seem to be priced comparably. Of course, resort restaurants are generally pricier than off-site restaurants, as is the case anywhere.

You can stay in a place with a kitchen and make your meals or eat at a resort restaurant every meal. There is no wrong way to eat in Hawaii, but the price will vary from person to person.

And yes, Hawaii has “normal” stores like Costco, Target, and Walmart, as well as grocery stores, etc., to buy groceries. 

How much does it cost to go to Hawaii during the holidays?

If you plan to travel to Hawaii during the holidays, be prepared to spend quite a bit more. Traveling during the holidays (particularly Christmas) can cost up to twice as much as any other time.

If your only option is holiday travel, I recommend booking as far in advance as possible.

How much does it cost to go to Hawaii?

So, how much does it cost to go to Hawaii? Well, it’s going to vary based on your preferences. I always tell my clients to plan on an absolute minimum of $5000 for one week for two people. $6000+ is more realistic for a nicer vacation. 

Yes, it can be done for less and often more. However, $5000-$6000 is a good starting point.

If you want upscale accommodations, you’ll likely need to spend at least $10,000 for two people for the same amount of time. 

Again, these are averages, so don’t get mad at me and tell me that it can be cheaper or more expensive. I already know! As a Travel Agent specializing in Hawaii Travel, these are simply the average prices I see.

The cost of a Hawaii vacation

I hope that this post answered your questions about how much it costs to go to Hawaii. 

If you’re looking for some tips on how to plan a Hawaii vacation, I have plenty of those:

• 10 things to know before going to Hawaii
• 100 things to do in Hawaii
• Is Hawaii safe?
• 5 must-have travel items for Hawaii
• 20 things you should never do in Hawaii

I’m a Hawaii Travel Agent, and I’d love to help you create the perfect Hawaii itinerary! Contact me for more information. 

The best way to get Hawaii travel tips and the most current travel information is to sign up for my email list. I send one weekly email with the latest news, travel deals, and more. Sign up below.

If you love these posts and want to support my blog but aren’t prepared to travel yet, you can buy me a coffee to show your support. I ❤️ coffee!

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