One of my favorite destinations to vacation to is Hawaii. My husband and I have been going to the island of Maui every year since 1999. I love everything about it…the tropical weather, the ocean, the people, the pace, the “aloha” spirit. I’d say the only negative thing about it is the cost! Over the years I have learned some “savvy traveling tips” that have saved us a lot of money when traveling to Hawaii and I’d like to share them with you. Please keep in mind that I live in Southern California, so my experience and costs associated with airfare will be from that perspective. With that being said, here is what I have discovered.
Although I love flying Hawaiian Air for the obvious reasons, they discontinued their “non-stop” flight from San Diego to Maui a few years ago. Once I make the decision to travel to Hawaii, I want to get there as fast as humanly possible. Direct flights are the ONLY option for me. I do not want to have a layover that will delay my arrival in Maui, my time there is too precious. One of the Airlines that flys non-stop from San Diego to Maui is Alaska Air. Their flight departs at 7 AM, we land in Maui by approx 10 AM, and I am sipping a Mai Tai by noon. I have been very pleased with Alaska Airline’s service over the years and their flights are almost always on time.
One money saving tip that I discovered years ago, is the power of the Alaska Airlines credit card. If you open an Alaska Airlines credit card, you will be issued a $99 “companion ticket” on a yearly basis*. What that means is that you will pay full fare for one ticket and get your other “companion” ticket for $121 ($99 base fare plus taxes and fees from $22). There is a yearly fee** associated with the account, but I have found that the yearly fee is far less than the amount of savings that I receive. Since we like to bring our children from time to time, my husband and I each opened our own Alaska Card, so we get two $99 fares a year. They also offer a Business Credit Card and, of course, I have that too. Don’t travel to Hawaii often? The companion fare is not just valid on flights to Hawaii, it can be used to travel to Alaska Airline’s many destinations!
Another added benefit of the Alaska Airlines credit card is that you will start accumulating points with every purchase. The points that you accumulate can be used to earn free tickets and upgrades. When I first signed up with their credit card, there were no restrictions on the class of seat that you could purchase with your companion fare. I’d buy a First Class ticket and get the second for $99, but that came to an end rather quickly. You now are only able to purchase a Coach Class fare, HOWEVER, (and this is HUGE…stay with me…) if you book an “upgradable” coach fare ticket with your companion ticket, after you complete your purchase you can call back and upgrade both seats to first class! (assuming that there are two seats available in First Class AND that you have enough points in your account for the upgrade)
Another way to save money on your Hawaiian vacation is to rent a timeshare. If you have read my Timeshare Blog, you will know that although I am not in favor of owning your own timeshare, I am a fan of renting out timeshares from other owners! Most timeshare units have full kitchens which will save you a ton of money on your “food budget” for the duration of your stay. My favorite website to rent out timeshares from other owners is redweek.com, but VRBO is another great option. If traveling with kids, you will find that having a kitchen in your unit is a lifesaver!
One word says it all for my next saving tip. COSTCO. There is a Costco less than a mile from the Kahului Aiport (OGG) in Maui and that is always our first stop. We stock up on bottled waters, ground coffee, breakfast items, lunch items, snacks, wine, sunscreen, and even snorkel gear! They also have a gift card section and many times you can find discounted gift cards to some of the restaurants and activities on the Island. Last time we traveled, we bought our “ziplining” tour through Costco and it saved us a couple hundred dollars. Love fresh flowers? Costco’s floral section has the most beautiful tropical flowers and most of the time carry a variety of fresh leis. I also suggest buying your Hawaiian Host treats in “bulk” here. It’s a great way to bring home gifts for others and it will be much less expensive than the ABC store.
Lastly, if you rented a car, which I suggest you do, don’t ever select the option of “return vehicle empty”. They will gouge you on gas prices. It is much cheaper to select the option stating that you are responsible for returning your rental car with a “full tank”. The Costco mentioned above also sells gas and since it’s within a mile from the airport and most of the car rental places, you can just fill up your tank when you head back to the airport at the end of your stay. It’s never easy to leave Maui, but hopefully your wallet is a little thicker if you followed these tips. Aloha.
* Annual companion fare from $121 (USD) ($99 base fare plus taxes and fees from $22) after you make $1,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of your account opening.
** $75 for Visa Signature® accounts, or $50 for Platinum Plus® accounts.
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Disclaimer. This was written based on my own experience with the Alaska Credit Card and terms may have changed since it was written. Please go the Alaska Air directly and read their current terms if you are interested and do not rely solely on the information stated here. I am in no way affiliated with Alaska Air and I do not receive any benefit or compensation from writing this article.