Here I come, Hawaii

HAWAII HERE I COME!

So you've always wanted to go to Hawaii, but think you can't afford it. I'm here to tell you that if you plan ahead, it could be more affordable than you've ever imagined. Going to Hawaii doesn't mean you have to spend thousands of dollars on airfare, hotel, car, food and things to do if you know when to go and where to look for good deals. With the world of information at your fingertips, visiting paradise is very doable, especially if you do some research up front.Today I am just going to talk about the island of Oahu. The outer islands are absolutely beautiful and definitely worth going to, but they rate an article on their own.The absolute must do if you want to save money on a trip to Hawaii is do your homework on airfare and accommodations. This is where you will save the most on your trip if planned right. 

Ready for the no brainer secret? It's simple economics. It's called supply and demand. In other words, go to Hawaii when everybody else doesn't or can't go. Ta Dah! You did it. You just saved loads of money. I'll go even one step further and tell you the best times for airfare bargains. With the exception of holidays, April, May, September and October are the cheapest times to visit.

The bonus about these times is the weather is absolutely beautiful. It also means this is the best time for hotel, car rental and other bargain prices, too. As you already know with hotels, you are going to get what you pay for. If you want posh facilities with the convenience of beaches at your doorstep, you are going to pay way more than those a block or so away from the water. If all you care about is having a pillow, bed, shower and toilet, I would either check out the hotels by the airport or hostels. 

You'll save mega-bucks if you do this. If want to take this a step even further, do it the Jerremy Newsome way. Stay with a friend or relative if you have that option! Transportation is the same kind of deal... you get what you pay for. If you want the convenience of a car at your fingertips, you'll have to rent a car and pay big bucks for parking. You can get some great deals on cars on the internet, especially in the off-season. Again, just do your homework before you go. When you arrive at the airport and if you are not renting a car, I would stay away from taxis to get you to your accommodations. Taxis here are expensive. 

Get a ride from a hotel shuttle, bus or friend if you can. Hawaii has a great bus system if you don't mind all the things that go along with riding a bus. You can go anywhere you want for a couple of bucks, versus spending $4 a gallon of gas in a rental car. A great money saving idea if you are staying in Waikiki, where you don't need a car, is to rent a car only on the days you want to travel outside of the city. Other days you can just walk or bus it. Another place to save tons of money when visiting Hawaii is on food. There are a zillion different restaurants with all kinds of awesome food, from all different walks of life here. The key is to know where to go for the best deals, especially if you don't mind leaving Waikiki. For starters, something to keep in mind when planning your trip here is to look for accommodations that have kitchenettes or offer free breakfast in one form or another. 

The savings here alone will be huge. When eating out though, one of the best ways to find deals is to pick up visitor magazines at the airport or on most street corners. They have some great coupons for cheap eats; all usually within walking distance if you are staying in Waikiki. If you are mobile, look for restaurants outside of Waikiki, like in Chinatown. There you can find great food at reasonable prices. A last suggestion to save money on food is to hit grocery stores. You can get everything from sandwiches, to sushi, to cooked meals for a lot cheaper than eating out.The last subject I'm going to cover is things to do while in Hawaii. 

Believe it or not, a lot of them are free. Here's what not to do in Hawaii: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xL8mP_WCy5k

Jonny G's Favorites:

Waikiki Beach (all the entertainment you need: beach, food, drink, shopping, people)North Shore Beaches (Turtle Beach, Waimea, Banzai Pipeline, Sharks Cove )You have to eat at the shrimp trucks and get shaved iceSouth/East Shore Beaches (Sandy (be careful of the shore break), Makapuu, Bellows and Kailua)West side Beach (Koolina)Do you like hikes? Diamond Head, Koko Head (better be in good shape), Manoa Falls (usually wet), Lanikai Pillbox and Makapuu LighthousePali Lookout (beautiful view of northeast side)Punchbowl CemeteryTantalus Drive (overlooks Honolulu, Waikiki and Diamond Head)

Some of my other favorite things to do in Hawaii, but ones that are not necessarily free, are listed below. Don't forget the visitor magazines, discount activity centers at hotels and of course, the Internet for discounts on activities. They?ll save you a lot of money!

- Pearl Harbor (USS Arizona and USS Missouri (go early) and Pacific Aviation Museum)- Hanauma Bay snorkeling (go early)- Polynesian Cultural Center (dinner & show)- Outer Islands (love them, and a whole different article)

There you have it! No excuses now. Take a trip to Hawaii without having to spend an arm and a leg to do so. If you think about it, you only need two or three good trades to pay for most, if not all of the trip! Remember to reward yourself, guys! You work hard and deserve some downtime. Kick up your feet and relax in paradise. If you have any questions, or if you want some recommendations, please let me know. I love helping people plan trips here. Love it, live it, trade it.Hope to see you soon. Aloha for now?

My email is jonny@reallifetrading.com  Oh, and if you didn't realize it, that was Jerremy demonstrating how NOT to skim board in Hawaii.