Which is the Cheapest Island in Hawaii to Visit? (2024)

If going to Hawaii is on your bucket list, you might be wondering what the least expensive Hawaiian island to visit is. The answer: Oahu.

If only trips to paradise were free, right? Everyone knows traveling to Hawaii is not cheap. But that doesn’t deter people from visiting. In fact, travelers save up for months with the goal of visiting one or more of the islands.

Which Hawaiian Island is the Cheapest to Visit

Due to the abundance of hotels, activities, tours, and attractions, Oahu is the cheapest Hawaiian island to visit. Between the competitive prices and myriad of things to do, those looking for a budget vacation to Hawaii will find that Oahu is exactly what they’ve been searching for.

Even though Oahu is considered the cheapest island in Hawaii to visit, you still need to do your research. Price shopping for hotels, activities, and transportation ensures you find the lowest prices available.

When scouring the Internet for affordable travel rates, keep these tips in mind:

Skip the Rental Car

If you were debating renting a car while visiting Oahu, think again. Oahu’s public transportation is easy to use and inexpensive.

Related Post: Getting Around Oahu When You Don’t Know What You’re Doing

When you visit Oahu, use a combination of public transportation, ride-sharing services, and Turo for days when you want to go to the North Shore.

Which is the Cheapest Island in Hawaii to Visit? (1)

Be Selective of Hotel Location

While the hotels on Waikiki Beach are gorgeous and full of amenities, so are the hotels a few blocks away. Try to find a hotel that isn’t directly on Waikiki Beach for lower nightly rates.

These hotels are also within walking distance of the beach and other Waikiki area attractions. Why pay more for beachfront access when these convenient hotels cost far less?

Visit in the Off-Season

For even cheaper rates on hotels, flights, and activities, visit Oahu in the off-season. Typically, the spring and fall seasons boast smaller crowds and better prices.

Be sure to double-check the calendar and make sure you’re not booking a trip during a school break either!

Inexpensive Things to Do on Oahu

Since Oahu is considered the cheapest Hawaiian island to visit, you’re probably wondering what there is to do on the island. Oahu is bursting with exciting (and cheap) activities to do, including:

Snorkeling ($)
Botanical Gardens ($)
Hiking Trails – Diamond Head (Free)
Ziplining ($)
Pearl Harbor (Free/$)
Bishop Museum ($)
Going to the Beach (Free)
Food Trucks ($)
Surfing (Free/$)
Touring the Dole Plantation ($)
Waikiki Aquarium ($)

To make sure you stay within budget, have an itinerary planned out for each day. That way you’ll know exactly how much you’re spending on food, transportation, and fun!

Tripster also has the best rates on fun watersports excursions like parasailing and sailing around the Pacific shore on your own Personal Yamaha Watercraft.

Related Post: Oahu North Shore Attractions You Can’t Miss

What’s more, Oahu has some of the best whale-watching adventures for you to see the majestic humpbacks in all their glory. We have great deals with guaranteed whale sightings or your money back!

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Cheapest Hawaii Island to Visit on a Budget?

While the cheapest island to visit in Hawaii is Oahu, that doesn’t mean you can’t explore the other islands for less!

Planning a Hawaii vacation on a budget is easy, so long as you do your research and follow our advice. We have “10 Absolutely Free Things to Do in Poipu, Kauai,” and other handy information right at your fingertips.

Take Advantage of Free Activities

Which Hawaiian Island is cheapest to visit for free activities?

When you visit any of the Hawaiian islands, you’re instantly immersed in a lush tropical paradise full of adventure.

Each island offers an extraordinary amount of free things to do including lounging on pristine beaches, exhilarating hikes, snorkeling, nature walks, sample the best coffee at Kona Hawaii and so much more. Do your research and stretch your budget by taking advantage of these free activities.

We have extensive guides on nature trails through state parks, the best places to swim and museums to browse, across all the islands. Check out “8 Fun and Free Things to Do on Big Island.”

And, while not all activities are free, many are affordable. Renting a mask, snorkel, and fins cost me a whopping $12 for the day on the North Shore of Oahu. That’s it!

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Hawaii Cheapest Island to Fly To

Arguably the most expensive part of a Hawaiian vacation is the flights. Depending on where you are coming from in the world, flights can annihilate a travel budget.

With this in mind, if you want it is imperative you book your flights strategically. In addition to being on the lookout for airline sales and other travel promotions, use these tips to find a cheap flight:

Which is the Cheapest Hawaiian Island to Fly To?

Unless you plan to use airline miles or points to book your flight, it is in your best interest to be flexible with your travel plans.

Everything from the airline you book with to the time of day you fly has an effect on which is the cheapest Hawaiian island to fly to.

Being flexible with these factors can help you secure the least expensive flight to your island of choice.

Related Post: Where to Stay in Hawaii on a Budget: A First Time Visitor’s Guide

For instance, I found it was far more affordable to book a ticket to LAX on one airline and the next flight to Honolulu on another.

You may find that flights later in the day offer cheaper rates. Be flexible and shop around!

Don’t Book Too Soon or Too Late

A study showed that booking a flight anywhere from 3.5 months to 3 weeks in advance is the “sweet spot” for prices. Booking too early or too late can lead to a surge in fares.

When searching for flights, be sure to use a site with a pricing indicator that suggests the best time to buy.

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Book a Condo or Suite

At first glance, this bit of advice may seem counterintuitive. Don’t condos and suites cost more than a typical hotel room? While, yes, they are more expensive, you save more in another area of your trip to Hawaii: food.

Condos and suites often have a kitchen or a kitchenette, which allows you to cook your own food. While I highly encourage you to sample Hawaii’s heavenly cuisine, you can save money by cooking breakfast and lunch for yourself.

Cheapest Places to Visit in Hawaii with Hawaii Vacation Packages

For even more budget friendly savings, look for opportunities to combine your hotel and activities into a vacation package. Package options from Tripster are the perfect way to save!

Build your own vacation package with your choice of hotel, luau, and activities, and watch the savings roll in. You can also save a bundle when you combine lodging with activities like luau concerts and spectacular area helicopter rides.

Cheapest Island in Hawaii to Visit: Planning and Research

With a bit of planning and research, you can travel to Hawaii without spending far too much. Those looking for the least expensive Hawaiian island to visit should book a trip to Oahu.

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However, it’s also possible to travel to Maui, the Big Island, and Kauai without draining your travel budget.