Boujee Budget Travel

March 2025

A week in Honolulu doesn’t have to completely wreck your budget. In March 2025, I spent one full week on Oahu with friends, focusing on experiences over luxury, and the trip ended up being far more affordable than expected.

Here’s how we did it.

✈️ Flights: Book Early, Travel Smart

Round-trip Delta flight (Albuquerque → Honolulu): $542.80

Flights are usually the biggest hurdle when planning a Hawaii trip. I booked a round-trip Delta flight from Albuquerque to Honolulu for $542.80, which is solid for spring travel. Using a travel-focused card like the Chase Sapphire Reserve made this even better—earning bonus points on travel and providing peace of mind with built-in travel protections.

🚗 Transportation: Minimal but Efficient

Total: $58.96

We kept transportation simple:

Lyft and Uber for airport transfers and a few parking fees when needed (my buddy was there on a work trip so had a rental provided by her company).

🏨 Accommodations: The Power of Splitting Costs

My share: $528 for the week

This was one of the biggest money-saving strategies of the trip. We stayed in Waikiki and split the hotel cost among friends, which brought my share to $528 for six nights.

Sharing accommodations dramatically lowered the nightly cost while still keeping us close to the beach, restaurants, and shopping. Waikiki can be pricey, but splitting expenses made it totally manageable—and way more fun.

🌊 Entertainment: Spend Where It Counts

Total: $646.13

We prioritized memorable experiences:

UTV Raptor Tour at Kualoa Ranch (worth every penny) and Whale watching tour for three people, a once-in-a-lifetime experience during peak season!

These activities made up one of the larger expenses of the trip, but they were intentional splurges. Hawaii is about experiences, and we chose quality over quantity.

Some free activities we enjoyed included driving to/spending time on different beaches, touring local nature spots, a free hula show, and pub trivia!

🍽️ Food: A Little of Everything

Restaurants & food trucks: $357.63

DIY groceries & snacks: $74.41

Food in Hawaii adds up quickly, so we balanced eating out with grocery runs.

Highlights included:

Kono’s, Kualoa Ranch, Tiki’s Bar and Grill, Hula’s Bar, D.K Steakhouse (a splurge!), Matsumoto Shave Ice, Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck, Coconut Hut, and many other delicious spots!

We also stocked up at ABC Stores and Safeway for breakfasts, snacks, and beach days. Mixing casual eats, food trucks, and groceries helped keep food costs reasonable while still letting us try iconic local spots.

🛍️ Souvenirs & Extras

Souvenirs: $97.17

Tips: $22

I kept souvenirs intentional—small items that actually felt meaningful rather than touristy clutter.

💰 Final Cost Snapshot per person

Flights: $542.80

Transportation: $58.96

Accommodations: $528.00

Entertainment: $646.13 (for 3 people)

Food (restaurants): $357.63

Food (DIY): $74.41

Souvenirs: $97.17

Tips: $22.00

Total for one week in Honolulu: approximately $2,326

Final Thoughts

Hawaii will never be “cheap,” but it can be intentional. Sharing accommodations with friends, choosing experiences wisely, mixing grocery meals with local favorites, and leveraging credit card perks made this week in Honolulu both unforgettable and financially reasonable.

If you’re flexible, travel with friends, and plan ahead, a dreamy Hawaiian vacation doesn’t have to stay on the vision board—it can actually happen. 🌺✈️