Staying in Hawaii on the cheap on clarkhoward.com

Think you can't afford Hawaii? Aloha, McFly! It's never been more affordable to stay in paradise!!

Hotel bookings on the Hawaiian Islands are at the worst level in 20 years, since record-keeping first began. In fact, 1 out of 3 hotel rooms sat vacant during the recent peak season. Historically, hoteliers hope to sell out more nights than not in a peak season.

So what's going on? Several airlines that flew to Hawaii -- including Aloha Airlines and ATA Airlines -- have both gone out of business. That leaves mainly the full-fare airlines serving Hawaii.

But even the full-fares are reducing their number of flights. Their business model is too inefficient to support extensive flying to some far-flung vacation destinations.

So if you're lucky enough to find a deal on airfare, you can count on your accommodations being very affordable. Clark particularly likes VRBO.com for finding cheap vacation rentals by owners.

Imagine if you're able to use frequent flier miles to get free airfare and use free stay points to get your hotel accommodation for nada. Hmmm…Free airfare + free stay points = time in paradise for FREE. That's the kind of math that Clark likes!

What others are saying

Hawaii On The Cheap
You make good points with regard to airfare and hotels, but it's also good to note that there is plenty to DO in Hawaii for free. Of course the beach, but tons of music and cultural events, too! Check BigIslandOnTheCheap.com and HonoluluOnTheCheap.com for ongoing deals and freebies.
By Kris Bordessa @ 06/12/09 03:39:54 PMreport abuse
Discount Hotels Hawaii
Thats www.discounthotelshawaii.com, sorry about that.
By Uncle Bud @ 06/09/09 11:49:58 AMreport abuse
Discount Hotels Hawaii
You might try www.discounthotelshawaii for a really great deal. Hector and his crew are always ready to give you the best prices and service on the island. I've used this service many times and he always has the best deals and it costs you nothing
By Uncle Bud @ 06/09/09 11:48:34 AMreport abuse
Hawaii
I have been using FF miles and VRBO for years to visit paradise. It's outrageous how much hotels go for on the islands. I don't know who these people are that can pay $500-1000 a night for a room. Even VRBO properties have doubled their rent lately, because the real estate bubble hit hawaii hard with most properties doubling in value between 2002 and 2006. land is so expensive they sell lots not by the acre but by the square foot!!! they need a big reality check, I hope all the rentals sit empty for a while and they have to pay their own mortgages until they lower prices back to real levels...no, your little 1 bedroom apartment near the beach is not worth $150 a night....more like $75 so get real!! I do like VRBO because you can bargain with the owner directly in most cases...I look for areas with many units and check their availability calanders to confirm that many are empty during the time i want to stay, then i send a letter to 10 owners telling them "something is better than nothing" and ask for a deal. It usually works. The overpriced restaraunts and bars need an attitude adjustment too. A few years ago waikiki had early bird specials where you could get surf and turf for $10 (smaller portions, but a deal) now there is no place offering it. On maui there used to be $1 maitai happy hour specials, now they are $4 during happy hour....i hope they see the error of their greedy ways and bring the good prices back.

while its true that aloha and ata have gone under they now have Go airlines that offer cheap inter-island flights along with Hawaian air. as long as there are at least 2 major inter-island airlines they will be competitive and flights will stay under $75 ($40-$50 during sales) from one island to another. they also have a new high speed ferry between islands that is way overpriced and impractical for most tourists...also during whale season (nov-april) they have to slow down to a crawl so they don't hurt the whales.
By Dave @ 06/03/09 10:53:23 AMreport abuse
Hawaiian Air
I just recently purchased RT from Pheonix to HNL for $260 !! Kayak.com did not have the price but I went directly to the site. The site indicated RT $488 from west coast so, I tried the reservation system and got $240 + junk fees) They did not charge for seat selection which was nice !! Not sure if the sale is till going on? We will spend our 25th in Hawaii :-) We also used the VBRO.com and found good deals depending on where you stay.
By Jay @ 06/03/09 08:21:44 AMreport abuse
What Airline?
You could learn to fly yourself in your own aircraft and not worry about the airlines. Not as fast in a little J-3 Cub but more fun low and slow, get to see more of the world. Don't think it would make the stretch to Hawaii though.
By Grandpa Gene @ 06/02/09 11:55:44 PMreport abuse
Airlines
I ama old enough to remember when airlines were regulated, then they became unregulated, what a mess it has become. For those of you who don't, going from point A to point B was the same price no matter what airline you went with, what they did you win you was service that they offered. No Frequent Flyers miles back then. Anyone remember Eastern Airlines..haha
By Guy @ 06/02/09 08:53:27 PMreport abuse
Fed up with Airlines
Like you Clark, I am fed up with the airlines. Going out of business, erasing our skymiles, cutting routes, and making it more inconvenient for us. If the government doesn't step in soon, all Americans will suffer heavily, much worse than they are now. I will not fly another airline until the government rescues the airlines by taking them over and making them more efficient and friendly for us all to fly. Like all REAL Americans, I am fed up with this corporate $&%#.
By Socialism Sam @ 06/02/09 03:00:55 PMreport abuse

Hawaii On The Cheap

You make good points with regard to airfare and hotels, but it's also good to note that there is plenty to DO in Hawaii for free. Of course the beach, but tons of music and cultural events, too! Check BigIslandOnTheCheap.com and HonoluluOnTheCheap.com for ongoing deals and freebies.

By Kris Bordessa @ 06/12/09 03:39:54 PMreport abuse

Discount Hotels Hawaii

Thats www.discounthotelshawaii.com, sorry about that.

By Uncle Bud @ 06/09/09 11:49:58 AMreport abuse

You might try www.discounthotelshawaii for a really great deal. Hector and his crew are always ready to give you the best prices and service on the island. I've used this service many times and he always has the best deals and it costs you nothing

By Uncle Bud @ 06/09/09 11:48:34 AMreport abuse

Hawaii

I have been using FF miles and VRBO for years to visit paradise. It's outrageous how much hotels go for on the islands. I don't know who these people are that can pay $500-1000 a night for a room. Even VRBO properties have doubled their rent lately, because the real estate bubble hit hawaii hard with most properties doubling in value between 2002 and 2006. land is so expensive they sell lots not by the acre but by the square foot!!! they need a big reality check, I hope all the rentals sit empty for a while and they have to pay their own mortgages until they lower prices back to real levels...no, your little 1 bedroom apartment near the beach is not worth $150 a night....more like $75 so get real!! I do like VRBO because you can bargain with the owner directly in most cases...I look for areas with many units and check their availability calanders to confirm that many are empty during the time i want to stay, then i send a letter to 10 owners telling them "something is better than nothing" and ask for a deal. It usually works. The overpriced restaraunts and bars need an attitude adjustment too. A few years ago waikiki had early bird specials where you could get surf and turf for $10 (smaller portions, but a deal) now there is no place offering it. On maui there used to be $1 maitai happy hour specials, now they are $4 during happy hour....i hope they see the error of their greedy ways and bring the good prices back.

while its true that aloha and ata have gone under they now have Go airlines that offer cheap inter-island flights along with Hawaian air. as long as there are at least 2 major inter-island airlines they will be competitive and flights will stay under $75 ($40-$50 during sales) from one island to another. they also have a new high speed ferry between islands that is way overpriced and impractical for most tourists...also during whale season (nov-april) they have to slow down to a crawl so they don't hurt the whales.

By Dave @ 06/03/09 10:53:23 AMreport abuse

Hawaiian Air

I just recently purchased RT from Pheonix to HNL for $260 !! Kayak.com did not have the price but I went directly to the site. The site indicated RT $488 from west coast so, I tried the reservation system and got $240 + junk fees) They did not charge for seat selection which was nice !! Not sure if the sale is till going on? We will spend our 25th in Hawaii :-) We also used the VBRO.com and found good deals depending on where you stay.

By Jay @ 06/03/09 08:21:44 AMreport abuse

What Airline?

You could learn to fly yourself in your own aircraft and not worry about the airlines. Not as fast in a little J-3 Cub but more fun low and slow, get to see more of the world. Don't think it would make the stretch to Hawaii though.

By Grandpa Gene @ 06/02/09 11:55:44 PMreport abuse

Airlines

I ama old enough to remember when airlines were regulated, then they became unregulated, what a mess it has become. For those of you who don't, going from point A to point B was the same price no matter what airline you went with, what they did you win you was service that they offered. No Frequent Flyers miles back then. Anyone remember Eastern Airlines..haha

By Guy @ 06/02/09 08:53:27 PMreport abuse

Fed up with Airlines

Like you Clark, I am fed up with the airlines. Going out of business, erasing our skymiles, cutting routes, and making it more inconvenient for us. If the government doesn't step in soon, all Americans will suffer heavily, much worse than they are now. I will not fly another airline until the government rescues the airlines by taking them over and making them more efficient and friendly for us all to fly. Like all REAL Americans, I am fed up with this corporate $&%#.

By Socialism Sam @ 06/02/09 03:00:55 PMreport abuse

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Jun 02, 2009 -- Staying in Hawaii on the cheap

What others are saying