Do you get home from Hawaii and have sticker shock?
 

Do you spend exactly what you planned or do you get there and spend way more than you expected to?

We have been to the islands many, many times and everytime we get home and see our credit card bills we go through sticker shock. We are booking lower end rooms, but still will stay in nice hotels/resorts.

Amazing, isn't it? BTW, if you think that is bad, watch out for Cabo San Lucas! More expensive than Hawaii, even for marginal restaurant meals.

Didn't you just post on the "I love Oahu thread?" Where is the aloha?

Hotel prices are going through the roof in Hawaii but that's the price for paradise I guess. Six years ago we stayed at the Ihilani in Oahu on a spa package ocean front room at $442 per night tax included. The room rate now for the same package is $638 without tax. There's also a $14 or $15 per day parking fee also. I wish the previous company still owned the Ihilani and it wasn't a Marriott. That property was true paradise. We're still visiting again in December but now the hotel caters more to large business groups.

Four Seasons BI - just after the 2001 tragedy room rates were $400 with breakfast included for a golf/ocean room. Now the rates are $625/nt bed and breakfast.

Sooo many people are traveling to Hawaii now, rates wouldn't be so high if someone wasn't willing to pay for it:)

I suspect the average person pays more than they expected too also including food costs. But it is heaven on earth and there's no other place like it.

When I lived in Hawaii in the mid 1960's we thought prices were high THEN and that stretch along Kalakaua Avenue where the high end shopping is located was filled with T-shirt shops and the Hofbrau!

I agree..no place like it, love it, and just keep sucking the prices up when we go back.

Aloha MellisaHi,

Don't get me wrong. I love the islands like no other place on earth. That's why I have been there 14 times and have my May trip all planned and we will be buying our airfare for October 2007 next month.

I am venting about what I spend. I have choices not to spend as much as I do. We are just so taken in by the beauty and majic of the islands, that we are not careful enough about what we spend. I guess that's what vacation is all about. It's just that we go over twice a year. (yikes)

We are now at the point where we have decided not to spend between $625-780 for a regular room anymore. We will now book garden view rooms and not spend more than $450.00 per night for a room. We used to pay $227 per night for a nice room at the Westin Maui.(we don't stay there anymore, but that's another story)They would always upgrade us to a Deluxe Ocean View room. Every year we found ourselves booking a higher room category. (Our bad) We got spoiled, but have now come to our senses I hope.

Prices keep going up, but that's true everywhere, it seems. We spend less than we think, because we always plan on taking a heli ride, or other tour, and just end up enjoying the beaches (and other wonders). And we never stay in a hotel (vs. condo) and we never eat every meal out. Lots of picnics and grilling our own.

We stay primarily in vacation rentals (much more relaxing and private) when we go to Hawaii and while those are a much better deal GENERALLY than hotels, the prices for these have skyrocketed too. For the price of a low end hotel room at the FS, one can rent a pretty gorgeous beachfront/waterfront/oceanview condo or cottage for two.

If you are really concerned about value, and don't mind spending the money, rent a condo at Makena Surf, Polo Beach Club or an oceanfront rental in Makena. Much more bang for the buck.

pila

I don't feel the same way as the majority on this. I think Hawaii can be done very cheap. I've traveled there 6 times and airfare was always a bargain. (Sometimes free with our miles). Lodging can be found relatively cheap if you ask me. It all depends on how much pampering you need or want. Location is also a key factor on price. Love the ABC stores. I have never felt sticker shock about Hawaii. I don't know why. Maybe being from New York has something to do with that.
I have a trip planned to Sweden in July 2007 ( Yes I've been there several times before) and I feel the sticker shock already. To me Hawaii is still a bargain.
((r)) Annika

We're booking a trip in February, and I have been researching B&B's and found them to be VERY reasonable. (Most under $150...) Beautiful locations, breakfast taken care of, what more could you want?

I agree with Annikani.

I don't spend any more in Hawaii than I do on a vacation in Mexico. If it's upsetting to you, why don't you stay at less expensive hotels, eat at less fancy restaurants?

The beauty of Hawaii is in the BEING there. It does not have to be so expensive as you are making it.

It can be done relatively cheaply. Rick Steves' philosophy works just as well in HI as it does in Europe. You have to decide what's worth scrimping on.

I stayed at B&Bs and usually ate snacks I brought from the mainland (Clif bars, gorp, etc) for lunch. Most days I only had a light dinner - only had two proper sit-down dinners and those were less than $30 each. Then again, I'm charging around all day on hikes and the last thing I want to do is go out for big dinners.

Ferreting out local restaurtants also helps... moco locos and plate lunches are a bargain, provided you don't already have high cholesterol. ;)

As I mentioned before, if you're not in debt after a vacation you did it wrong.
;)

^ HA! :)

Don't you all agree that you get what you pay for? I have read horror stories about people who book cheaply and then end up moving to another hotel/resort because they got what they paid for. I have stayed at the FS Maui and Lanai and I don't need that silly evian spritz, but I do like to know that my room is going to be cleaned and I won't have any service issues. I guess it all depends on preferences. I have gotten better service at the Hyatt Maui than at the FS Maui.

We have decided to stay at the Ali'i on Kaanapali. It will be so nice to just make our own breakfast and lunch. We will most likely go out to eat for dinner. We have tried to stay at adult oriented resorts, but I don't think there is any such thing in Hawaii anymore. I just don't feel that the service that you get in higher end resorts is in line with what you pay. I can honestly say that when you stay at the higher end resorts in Hawaii you don't get what you pay for, even when you pay a zillion dollars for a room. Every time we have gone back we have had totally different experiences even though we have stay at a certain hotel many times. I think we will give up on the higher end resorts and experience a condo. For me, this is like jumping into the deep end of the pool for the first time. It's scary, but necessary. Who knows, I might love a condo.

I have found that using cash for daily expenses really helps avoid the sticker shock upon returning from a vacation - I find I think more about my purchases if cash actually has to leave my hand. I have never been to Hawaii, so perhaps sticking to a budget is particularly difficult there ;) but it seems to work well other places.

Of course one can spent a whole lot less on condos when one visits Hawaii or any destination. But generally when visiting an exotic destination travelers like to splurge on a hotel room with maid service, restaurants, and room service. Hawaii is a major honeymoon destination. The price for that does not come cheaply anymore. People are choosing to spurge or prices would not continue to go up. But I also think they may price certain travelers out of the market that prefer not to go the condo or home rental route. Yes, prices are going up in a lot of places like Las Vegas for example but Hawaii to me is a little extreme with rate increases. Of course costs may have gone up alot too with the recent oil situation.

<<Don't you all agree that you get what you pay for?>>

<<I just don't feel that the service that you get in higher end resorts is in line with what you pay.>>

Fivestar your last post doesn't make sense. You're complaining about paying too much for the high-end resorts but worried that your room won't be clean if you don't spend $600 a night. Huh?

I've been to Hawaii three times and have always paid in the $200 - $300 a night range and my room has always been clean and the service good.

Honestly, I'm just happy to be in Hawaii. I was just in Kauai and stayed at a condo of all places (yes I know shocking), but we never had any problems and the room was cleaned on a daily basis. I don't think staying at the Princeville would have made our trip any better.

You can do Hawaii expensively or inexpensively. Do what you prefer. But if you are going to spend $600/night don't complain about it.

Husband and I spent a week on the BI and spent less than we had budgeted. We spent much less on food than what we had planned to spend. The Farmer's Markets were so great that we ended up doing a lot more picnic type lunches anad breakfasts than I had planned.

It just seemed like there was so much you could do: snorkeling, boogie boarding, hiking, etc. that we didn't have time to spend much money.

Fivestar, the Ali'i sometimes offers auctions on luxurylink.com. It's not there now but perhaps it will come up again in the future. Hope this helps:)

I'm with Anikany and others, on that it can be done reasonable. I've never paid over $150.- a night in the islands (usually under $100.-). B & B's are great, and some are very private with more of an apartment type unit (breakfast fixins, not formal breakfast with a group). And reasonable meals are easy to find.

we used to think hawaii was expensive until we went to tahiti!! we loved it but made this last trip to hawaii seem like a bargain!

I'm still dreaming about an over water bungalow in Tahiti one day:)

We always spend more in London and NYC than Hawaii. As a family on the go we don't tend to savor leisurely breakfasts or lunches in Hawaii. We love to pick up fresh fruit, snacks and water before a long day at the beach or hiking.
I've never paid $500 a night or more for a hotel (those prices are for business trips or reward nights only! :) )

Hawaii caters to most budgets just getting there is expensive from the East coast and the airfares are the sticker shock for us... but once we're there that's forgotten! :)

hahahaha...Similar... I thought Kauai was expensive until we did Italy in Sept.
The Euro vs the Kauaiian Puka exchange rate was killah'.

Kal?

And that exchange rate is...? How much would a package of your rooster jerky cost in euros? I'm going to Italy in April, I could try selling some.

-pila

fivestar- Yes I think I get what I pay for but I mean it in a more positive way than you do :-)

I hate large resorts. I stay at nice normal local Hawaiian style hotels. There are several hotels I know of with nice rooms including a kitchen, free coffee and juice in the morning, a pool and $100 or less per night, right in Waikiki. I am guessing you would not care for these places, but I love them. They are clean, safe, simple, welcoming, and "islandy".

I just don't like to go out to fancy restaurants often. I'd rather eat from the ABC stores, grab sushi, plate lunches, food to-go, bakeries, the grocery store. I mix up pitchers of rum punch cheap in my hotel room to drink by the pool.

I do enjoy a couple splurges for nice sunset beachfront cocktails or dinners.

I don't do high-priced tours or formalized activities. Not so much because of the money, but I wouldn't have fun doing them.

I visit museums or historical sites, do walking tours, when something like that is available. Take public transportation to get around, don't rent a car.

I'm not saying my way is superior, only that is why I don't have sticker shock from Hawaii as you asked about originally.

I am never surprised at my Hawaii expenses. They seem quite normal to me...

:((

If you want a budget vacation, go to Tulsa. Me, I'll go to Hawaii and not worry about the money. I figure that if I can't take it with me when I die then I might as will leave it in Hawaii.
((D))8-)

Travelinwifey,

You hit the nail on the head with every post. Thank you for the link to Luxury Link. I will keep a watch out.

Kal,

You sound like a funny man.

wtm003,

I understand your confusion. I have read some horror stories of people who booked budget rooms and had serious service issues. I have read about broken AC unit's, moldy bathrooms and kamakazi cockroaches that the hotel wouldn't/didn't fix. I have experienced some issues at one time or another, but management quickly rectifies the situation. I just feel that for the prices we have been paying that we shouldn't have to rectify anything. I am happy for the people who are happy just to be in Hawaii and don't mind what thier accomodations are. I see a lot of people justifying thier lower end accomodations by saying "your not in your room much anyway". What a silly thing to say. I am one of those people that would mind if I had mold, broken AC and tattered sheets. I just want to find a happy medium. I am now going to be a lot smarter about what I spend
while in paradise. I am about what my immediate surroundings are. I think the Ali'i will perfectly suit my needs. It seems that all the smart people stay in condo's these days with the prices for hotels in Hawaii skyrocketing.

You mean "funny" ha ha or "funny"....oh nevermind...

Remember, if you can't do the time-don't do the crime.

I-|I-|I-|

pila

Paradise does not dome cheap, but don't worry, be happy, tomorrow is another day! Aloha!!

Yes, most hotels in Hawaii only fix the regular roaches. The surgery is really too expensive to waste it on the kamikaze ones, who by their nature eliminate themselves.

<<I have read about broken AC unit's, moldy bathrooms and kamakazi cockroaches that the hotel wouldn't/didn't fix.>>

Well... I can only say my $100 rooms do not have any of these problems. It's about thoroughly researching so you know what to expect, not necessarily about how much you pay.

Also for Fivestar I do agree, I would never use the excuse "you don't spend much time in the room" for staying in an inferior place... because I do. And I like to feel comfortable and at-home. Again though, money does not necessarily buy that.

so fivestar, are you actually venting, or trying to say that you stay in expensive resorts, or are you taking another jab at Hawaii? I guess I'm biased because of your other posts about yourself and Hawaii.

If you stay at five star resorts, and pay $500/night for a hotel room, I hardly see the point of complaining about expenses here on the forum.

It is your own choices that are making it expensive. Don't blame Hawaii.

I have the opposite reaction...when I go somewhere other than Hawai'i I am usually thinking "if I were in Hawai'i right now I wouldn't be spending any more money and would be enjoying it more."

I have to say that I try to keep lodging in the $100-150 per night range, and meals under $20 (per person, per meal)--in any location.

Suze makes great points. Hawaii is there for all budgets. Pick your place and budget, then enjoy.