If your Hawaiian vacation includes children or group travel, an Oahu condo or vacation home rental can be a great way to stay within your Generally the more in your group, the better the savings.
Oahu condos and vacation homes are found in all regions of this island, from Waikiki to the North Shore. A condo with only one bedroom but a sleeper sofa can give you privacy and save money, as will a kitchen, which can save you lots.
If your Hawaiian vacation on Oahu is going to last more than week, you’re savings will be even better because you will usually get a better rate for staying longer. When looking into renting a condo, ask about car rental deals If one isn't offered, you may want to balance your vacation budget by taking the island's awarding winning bus (the Honolulu based Oahu public transportation system is one of the best in the nation.)
Here's an example of how even a condo or vacation home can work with this shoestring budget. A listing at North Shore Vacation Homes for a one-bedroom townhouse at Turtle Bay on the North Shore rents for $90 a night, provided you stay a minimum of one week. If you can save money by taking The Bus, wait for the best discount air fare, and spend wisely, this would be quite doable for a family of three. You’d have about $300 per person left for food and fun. Not as much as you'd have with most of the other options in this guide, but enough to have a fun and relaxing vacation...
Please note: These tips are excerpted from the guide's first edition (2005). It's now in its 2010 edition:
