I'm thinking about taking my two boys ages 17yrs and 7yrs and one more person to Honolulu this summer and have no idea how much to bring. I don't even know if I should get a car or if I can get around all right without one. I'm worried about food, taxis and entertainment. Teenagers can be a little expensive and I want them to have fun...but am again a little worried about funds. I don't even know the best place to stay at a descent price.

Forgive me for saying this, but your question seems very outdated. How much money to bring? Very little. Just make sure you have an ATM card with a decent bank balance, and at least one or two credit cards. Who carries cash?

Are you asking how much to budget? That depends on where you want to stay, what you want to do, and how well you want to do these things. Personally, I think that a rental car is unnecessary if you are going to spend most of your time in Waikiki. You may want to get one for a day or so if you want to plan a trip out to North Shore or something. I went to Waikiki with some friends in November and we stayed at a fairly cheap hotel that was fairly close to the beach for about $60/night. I probably spent about $40/day on food and drinks and I wasn't doing anything excessive. I think I blew a couple of hundred bucks on activities such as $25 catamaran ride, $40(?) parasailing, $40 luau, $20 snorkeling (including transportation, equipment, entrance fees), etc. Then of course I did a ton of shopping. If all you are going to do is lie on the beach, you could probably do it really cheaply, but of course you could also spend a ton more than I did too. Also, prices are probably higher during the summer.

Does anybody else find Patrick's tone to be condescending?

No. I don't find his tone to be condescending because I was thinking the same thing.

I don't go on some wild spending spree on vacation but have an idea on what I'll spend.

I don't go to a vacation spot without a good idea of the cost of things such as food, entertainment, and transporation.

A shot in the dark budget figure is $100 per person per day for food, tips, taxes, transporation, and entertainment.

Sorry if my post seemed condescending! I spend a lot of time on the Europe board and the question how much "cash" to get or take is asked over and over again. Like there the answer is simple. Cash is a thing of the past. Use ATMs and credit cards. I assumed the $$ meant cash. Was I wrong?

I totally agree with Patrick.
M

My recommendation to the original poster is to pick up a guide book or two on Hawaii, learn a little about the city and then post more specific questions here. Given the ambiguity of the post it is hard to tell whether Patrick's response was appropriate or whether the poster is more concerned about budgeting. In any case I did not find it condescending. Lastly, the only reason I read this post was that I wanted to see if anyone slammed the op for not putting more information in the subject line, like "Honolulu" for example.

That brings up a question concerning ATM's on Hawaii. If you use an out-of-network bank, do they charge an ATM fee?

Are there any free ATM's? For example, here in central Jersey, the WAWA's (similar to a 7/11 store) offer no-fee ATM's. Any such "animal" in Kauai or the other islands?

If they do charge fees, one would most likely take out larger amounts of cash per transaction.

Kobrien doesn't know if he needs to get some local currency at home. And if his ATM will work on Hawaii.

talk about condescending........

some of you regulars need to take a long vacation from this board........

Since this is kobrien's first and only posting, it sure would help if he/she came back and clarified the post a little.

Are you asking about overall budget?

Are you someone who doesn't like using credit cards?

Are you someone who can't use credit cards?

Most of the Hawaii threads I've seen all involve a car rental. Maybe kobrien hasn't read any of the Hawaii threads.

Whatever the case, Patrick's original thread wasn't condescending. Incredulous maybe, condescending? No.

With 4 people a air/hotel/car package deal might be a good value. Check with an airlines or look in a travel magazine for ads. Or try Pleasant Hawaiian Holidays or an agency like that.

Hawaiiana Hotel and The Breakers are two low-rise local hotels off Waikiki that have reasonable rates if you don't want to book a hotel package.

The Bus (island public transportation system) is inexpensive and in theory you could get around Oahu just using that.

Where you could spend lots of money is booking formal activities like snorkeling tours, whale watching, helicopter rides, whatever. A picnic from Safeway and a day at the beach doesn't have to cost too much.

i was referring to Faina, GoTravel. never-the-less, if the shoe fits.......

uuhhh, I was referring to lovingheart calling Patrick condescending not you. In fact I totally missed your post.

Would you like me to say you were being condescending to Faina's condescending post?

I took my ATM question and posted it on a separate thread. Sorry, didn't mean to hijack this one, and besides, I feel a food fight a brewing.

Allow me to rephrase my question. Of course I meant how much should I budget. And yes I do use my debit card. And no I don't use any credit cards. And since this is the first time I will be taking my kids on a vacation by myself (I'm a single mom) I just wanted some advice so my kids would have a good time. Thank you all for your input. Especially about the car rental. Getting a car for one or two days..does sound a lot better. I have been doing a lot or research and just found this website. I didn't even know it exsisted.

"In fact I totally missed your post."

i'm crushed........ you may write what you like about me, GoTravel, but i find it ironic that many regulars are screaming for new blood on these forums, then respond a'la Faina to a first time poster. the tone of Patrick's post may be questioned by a reader, but there's no doubt about Faina's.

Okay uuuhhh, I take total offense to your post. Is that better

Budman, here's a bananna cream pie atcha!

I was pleasantly surprised that all food was not outrageously expensive. Plate lunches (hearty Hawaiian fast food)from a to-go window, sandwiches made at a bakery, bowls of cut-up fresh fruits from a fruit stand, cold noodles from the ABC Store (like a 7/11), etc.

Depending on where exactly you stay, you might be able to do everything nearby on foot (avoiding taxis), with The Bus or a rental car for a couple day trips. Although do compare because sometimes on packages deals they are throwing in the car for the week "for free". But often hotels charge for parking, so that's another consideration.