Maui, Kauai, Big Island: Priceless beaches, budget rooms

Just like in Las Vegas, where a time-tested low roller’s strategy is to stay at a cheaper hotel next to the mega-resort on the Strip where you intend to spend most of your time, in Hawaii you can position yourself near the islands’ best beaches without spending a fortune on a resort room.

Deals: Here are a few of my favorite budget-conscious finds near some major resorts on the neighbor islands.

Maui — If you can’t afford to stay right on the beach at Wailea or Makena, try one of the cheaper condominium complexes in Kihei. Most of these condos are just across the road from the beach. Personally, I’ve stayed at the Kihei Kai Nani, where rates start at $109.19/night including tax for a spacious 1-bedroom condo ($120.33/night for air-con units).

Big Island – If you stay at a resort north of Kona, be prepared to shell out big bucks. However, there are plenty of cheaper options on the South Kona coast within easy driving distance of the Gold Coast’s best beaches. Keauhou has many oceanfront condos for rent, including the well-reviewed Keauhou Kona Surf & Racquet Club, where 2-bedroom condos start at $111.42/night including tax during October.

Kauai – Honeymooners especially love Princeville resorts for their romantic beaches and hideaway villas. Yet more private vacation rental houses on nearby Anini Beach often rent for less than a hotel room (from $1100/week, excluding taxes and fees). Check available rental listings with Anini Aloha Properties and other real-estate management companies.

When: Rates are cheaper right now during the shoulder season. As of mid-December, most hotel and condo rates will rise.

Caveat: The rates quoted above do not including a mandatory cleaning fee, typically at least $75/stay. A multi-night minimum stay usually applies, too; ask about discounts for weekly and monthly bookings.

Connect/Disconnect: Internet connectivity may vary not only between different properties, but also from unit to unit at the same condo complex. Inquire before making reservations, and come prepared with your dial-up backup details, if the Wi-Fi is down.

Contact: Kihei Kai Nani, (808) 891-0049, (800) 473-1493
Keauhou Kona Surf & Racquet Club, (808) 930-1830, (877) 782-5642
Anini Aloha Properties, (808) 828-0067, (800) 246-5382

What are your favorite budget Hawaii condos? Share the love in the Comments section below.

Related links:
Hawaii: pre-Thanksgiving airfare savings from LAX
Hawaii: Testing TravelWorm’s hotel deals on Oahu
Hawaii Superferry sails again: Oahu-Kauai, not Maui

—Sara Benson

[Photo: Courtesy of Anini Aloha Properties, Inc.]

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This entry was posted on Monday, October 1, 2007 at 3:32 pm by Sara Benson and is filed under Weekend Getaways. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.