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Visitors returned to Hawaii in 2022 faster than many travel experts expected. High demand and inflation drove up the cost of Hawaii vacations. For 2023, we've got estimates for how much a trip to Hawaii costs for a family of four.
Cheapest Place In Hawaii To Visit
In 2019, we estimated that a comparable trip to Hawaii would cost $10,100 for a family of four. In 2021 the same trip cost $8,914. The price rose 37 percent to $12,239 in 2022 as demand for Hawaii vacations increased as travel restrictions ended.
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How to calculate the cost of a Hawaii vacation in 2023? A 10-day trip to Hawaii in June 2023 for a family of four will cost $13,493.
With international travel fully open in 2023, especially to Japan, experts predict another busy year for travel to Hawaii. High demand drives up prices for hotels, rental cars and plane tickets. Inflation didn't help either.
Cost breakdown of a trip to Hawaii for a family of four to Oahu for 10 days in June 2023.
My son and I enjoy the pool at the Sheraton Waikiki (a great kiddie pool!) with Diamond Head and Waikiki Beach in the background. Waikiki has the best value and luxury hotels in Hawaii.
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As mentioned above, the average cost for a family of four to travel to Hawaii was $13,493. That's $3,373 per person.
For our cost estimates, we averaged hotel prices on Expedia for a non-ocean view room, car rental prices on Hawaii Discount Car Rental, airfare using our booking method, and some of our favorite tours and activities on Oahu.
Oahu is the most visited island of Oahu, the cheapest Hawaiian island to visit, and Waikiki is the best place to stay on Oahu for price and location (in our opinion). Therefore, we used Oahu for our cost calculation.
For a 10-day trip, you might want to consider the 10-day Oahu and Maui itinerary. See our Hawaii guide for information.
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Of course, there are ways to make this trip cheaper (think: glamping on Maui) and there are ways to make this trip much more expensive. But that's a pretty reasonable cost for the mid-priced vacation you love.
Summer 2022 approached 2019 visitor numbers from pre-pandemic summer levels. We hope that 2023 will be another full year.
Check out our suggestions below for how to save on your Hawaii vacation in 2023. Then sign up for our Hawaii Travel Newsletter to stay up-to-date on your visit to Hawaii this year.
You can find great deals on flights to Hawaii right now. Low-cost carriers to Hawaii include Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and Hawaiian Airlines. See our article How to get a cheap ticket to Hawaii. We personally love Hawaiian Airlines because they make your Hawaii vacation feel like it started when you set sail.
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Most low-cost flights to Hawaii depart from the West Coast. Since guests (about 14 percent) also come from the East Coast, I averaged Delta and United Airlines LAX tickets at higher prices to make the average more realistic.
Most of your budget will go towards accommodation. Most people who come to Hawaii stay in a vacation rental hotel. In June 2022, data from the Hawaii Tourism Authority showed that 67 percent of visitors stayed in a hotel while on vacation in Hawaii.
That's why we've used nightly rates for a 10-night stay at some of our favorite value hotels in Waikiki. Prices are for a standard room without ocean view. Click on the hotel links to learn more about the hotels.
As with most places, hotel prices are subject to change. You have cheap accommodation and luxury resorts. For your interest, Oahu luxury resorts are listed below.
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These prices include taxes and resort fees. Resort taxes and fees can be 20% to 30% of the total cost of your stay. Because there is a wide range of prices, we have calculated the average value-total hotel cost.
Your accommodation will be your biggest expense when visiting Hawaii. Hotel prices increased in 2022, especially in the summer, as visitor demand increased on the islands. Projected hotel rates for 2023 are slightly higher than summer 2022 hotel rates, according to the chart below.
Official hotel prices in Hawaii until 2022. The year was marked by expensive hotels in Hawaii, especially luxury hotels. (Source: Hawaii Tourism Authority)
Whether you're looking for a luxury resort or a great value hotel, we've got some ideas for you. Check out the Waikiki Resorts and Hotels videos below from your favorite YouTubers.
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You could technically skip the rental car and save on that cost, but there's so much to do and see on Oahu, we recommend sticking with a rental car. Yes, it can be frustrating to pay for overnight parking, but if you plan to see a lot and drive around the island, it's worth renting a car.
To save money, we book rental cars through Discount Hawaii Car Rental. We always have the best prices and you book with the leading car rental companies. Also, you don't have to pay for the reservation in advance.
On an average trip, we typically save $60-$75 per week by booking with Discount Hawaii Car Rental. But on a New Year's Eve trip to the big island, we saved over $300!
For this estimate, we used Hawaii discount car rental and came up with a 10-day rental price for a full-size car, which was $1,006.
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Let's consider a tank of gas for $100 and parking fees at a Waikiki hotel. Parking rates, even without parking, are a steep $35 per night. Total for parking and fuel is $450
Just when you think you've paid for all the expensive stuff on your trip, think again. Eating out in Hawaii is expensive.
Even hitting the food trucks (Maui food trucks and Kauai food trucks are the best!) can be a significant amount (although they are delicious and worth it).
But since we're calculating the total cost of a 10-day trip, we have to include food. An average dinner can cost $50 - $100 per person, depending on the type of restaurant and the number of drinks ordered.
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At Duke in Waikiki, for example, a fish plate costs $34 - $39. Add the drink, tax and tip and you've spent $70 without even trying. Add an appetizer or dessert and the bill goes up.
At the Paia Fish Market across the street, you can get a cheaper meal, but tickets will cost $15 - $20.
To put it all together, we estimate that an adult will spend $75 a day on food and a child eating from the children's menu (keiki menu) will spend $30 a day. The cost is obviously lower if you stay at a tourist lodge and don't eat out.
We think it's safe to say you'll spend about $210 a day on food for four people on a comfortable budget.
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The last and perhaps most exciting thing you will spend on your trip will be for your activities. There are so many free and cheap things to do in Hawaii that this category is hard to rate. Hiking is free, snorkeling is cheap (Oahu has good snorkeling), and visiting Pearl Harbor National Monument is free.
So you can go all out and spend a ton on activities, spend little, or somewhere in between.
If this is your first trip to Hawaii, you may want to do a few special things. We recommend the following activities for 2 adults and 2 children. These were chosen as our favorites from our Oahu tours and activities.
The cost of these three activities is $1,848 (prestain included). Consider adding a travel tip of $10 to $20 per person.
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The Polynesian Cultural Center is very entertaining and educational for children and adults. Check out our Ali'i Luau vs Gateway Buffet article to save and see which package is better. Booking with the Polynesian Cultural Center direct link includes a discount on packages.
Now that you know how much a trip to Hawaii costs for a family of four, are there ways to save? Here are proven ways to save on a trip to Hawaii.
Don't forget to check your Hawaii vacation guide for coupon codes to find deals on shave ice snorkeling excursions (most discounts are on Maui).
Plus, Planning a Trip to Hawaii: 15 Essential Tips for Hawaii Family Planning!
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I love a good resort experience and most visitors stay at a resort when they come to Hawaii. But if a family really wants to save money, a vacation rental can offer significant savings. It is the best savings
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