How to Travel to Hawaii Quick Tip #2: Find the Best Place to Sleep

You're flying to Hawaii!  (or that other dream destination.)  Want to know a secret?  No one cares where you sleep!

(We do NOT make any compensation on recommended lodging.  We are Amazon Affiliates and do may small compensation on designated links so that we may continue to travel and teach.  Click HERE for our recommendations on items to purchase for travel.)

We get it.  You're in Hawaii.  You dream of a beautiful villa with an infinity pool overlooking the ocean with a colorful drink that hosts an umbrella within reach.

Ready?

​We going to need you to Let. It. Go.

By all means, if you have the ability to book that type of vacation, please do.  There are many amazing places in which you can hang out all day and take in amazing views.

For the average traveler, it's just not a realistic vision if you want to be able to do more than one trip in your lifetime.

And guess what?  Not one person judges you if you don't.  Because the reality is, you're at the dream destination.  They want to know what you DID.  Not where you slept and showered.

s#1 - Sign up for Reward Points immediately.  We recommend Best Western.  (no compensation or affiliation)​For budget traveling, signing up for rewards really does matter.  While we have a few different places we have signed up for, Best Western came through. 

• Reward points never expire. 
• They have locations worldwide. 
• They are typically clean and maintained and usually have a decent breakfast included.

We stayed at the Best Western on Oahu.  Located right outside the airport, it was not fancy.  It was clean, had a great breakfast, and we were able to use the pool with palm trees overhead. 

The freeway went right by the front near the 7th floor.

It's a trade off.   We weren't using the hotel as our getaway.  We needed an affordable place in a great location to access the different parts of the island.  

And it's affordable without points.

Picking a hotel chain that you can afford on a quick trip can help you collect points quicker as well as use them for bigger destinations.  

When we traveled to Hawaii, we had to stay an extra night in Toronto to ensure we crossed the border.  We used our points for a free night that did not cut into our budget.

#2 Learn how to book on a rental by owner site.

We're going to be honest.  Three of our nights on the island were spent with family, which helped our budget.  That being said, we did a little digging on Airbnb and found affordable places.

There are a few tips to make booking on these sites worthwhile.

A)  Don't book with scams. 
It's probably the most obvious, but requires a little bit of finesse.

• Avoid bookings with very few reviews that are all perfect ratings. 
• Read through the entire bio, end to end.  If something sounds off, it probably is. 
• Try everything to find bookings that are rated by the site as top hosts.  These are much more likely to be dependable bookings.

B) Calculate the cost with the extra fees.
A great price for a night can turn quickly when cleaning and booking fees cost over half of what you are paying for the rental.   The cleaning fee may be lower on a slightly higher rate than a cheaper night, so you'll end up getting more for less money.

C) Be open to anything
You never know what you may find as a place to stay.  Tiny homes, cabins, campers, or trailers are just as nice or nicer than a standard booking for a better deal.   

D)  Book big trips with others

We were invited to see #thekauaipoolhouse in Princeville.  It's a stunning accommodation that can save you big if you go with a group.  Find it here: The Kauai Pool House. (We do NOT receive compensation.) For less than a week with the mouse, you can share the Hawaiian experience for a fraction of the cost in one of the most beautiful spots on the island.

Here's your homework:
1)  Find a hotel within your typical budget range and sign up for reward points.  Take those small trips while building up your points.
2) Pick your dates and start searching.  Compare hotels, multiple sites, and vacation rentals by owner.
3) STICK TO YOUR TYPICAL BUDGET RANGE.  This one is the hardest.  It's easy to convince yourself to book more on a beautiful place because you're going to a dream location.  It backfires in the end.  By spending more you find yourself doing less or regretting the booking. Typically because you really don't spend as much time as you think you will at the booking location.  Dream destinations call you to explore!  Sitting in a house is something you can do at home!
​
Lastly - don't rule out camping!  You can do amazing things with the freedom of a tent.  Click HERE for our camping gear!