Just a couple of weeks ago, we went to Oahu for 6 days/5 nights and had an incredible time. We were able to lounge at the beach, hike in the rainforest, eat amazing food, drink lots of Mai Tais, surf, snorkel, go on multiple tours, and learn about Hawaiian history and culture. All without breaking the bank. (Here is our 5 day Itinerary)

I’m about to share with you some of the tips and tricks that helped us save money while maximizing our time on the island.  

Key deals and services that made our trip affordable

Airbnb instead of a Hotel –we stayed at a place that was $99/ per night, 2 blocks from the beach in Waikiki. Nothing fancy, just a small studio in an apartment building, but we spent so little time in the room, that it would have been a waste to stay at a fancy hotel. The bed was very comfortable, and that was all we needed.

NOT renting a car for our entire stay – we rented a car one day (Monday) to drive to the West coast because access by bus was not easy and there were a few activities we wanted to do. We were able to make multiple stops (Liliha bakery, Pearl Harbor, water park and Ko Oalinga) and return it back by 7pm. Overnight parking is expensive in Waikiki!

Go Oahu City Card – Best purchase ever. This saved us over $280! All the activities that are included in the cost of the card can be found here.  Many of the activities included transportation or offered transportation for a low cost. This saved us a lot of money too, Uber/Lyft can add up quickly! 
The greatest challenge with the Go Oahu card is planning your days to make the most out of the deals. I spent hours before our trip making phone calls and doing research to coordinate and plan our days. 100% worth it. And now I’m sharing what I learned so you don’t have to 🙂