Lanai City, Lanai on a Budget
If you are a cost-conscious traveler wanting to visit Lanai, worry no more because you can still have that dream vacation in Lanai despite your budget considerations. There are so many available budget accommodations on Lanai that you can choose from, with quite a number of activities that will not cost you so much and restaurants which offer not so expensive but sumptuous Hawaiian foods. Here are some tips on how to save up on your Lanai trip expenses.
Scout for cheaper airfares.
It is best to travel to Lanai by a charter flight from Honolulu, since there are no direct flights going to Lanai. There are major charter companies in Hawaii that offer cheap fare rates to tourists, such as the Hawaiian Airlines and Island Air. Book in advance to avail of discounted rates.
When getting around Lanai, you can go downtown in a rented vehicle, since there are so many rental car companies operating in Maui and Lanai with cheaper rates for tourists. That way, you will be able to minimize your costs on roaming-around expenses. If you want to ferry your cars to Lanai you may do so, especially if you want to enjoy the freedom of driving around the island.
Go for inexpensive accommodations.
First, try contacting the Lanai Visitors Bureau to get a list of the top three practical hotels to stay in and book through them. Or coordinate a group vacation with your family or friends to Lanai to save on accommodation expenses. You may choose to stay instead in a condominium with complete amenities at a reasonable price. There is the Hotel Lanai, located near Lanai downtown where you will be presented with a wide range of dining and shopping options, from those with tight budgets to those who can afford luxurious fees. In Lanai Hotel, there are 11 rooms ready for accommodation, with each room offering a fee of less than $200 per night. Its rooms are very comfortable to stay in, with beautiful Hawaiian quilts covering the beds, and local Hawaiian artists’ masterpieces hanging on the walls.
There is also the Hotel Lanai & Cottages, a hotel within walking distance of most stores and eating establishments in Lanai. This is another sure pick of travelers frequenting the island of Lanai. The dining experience in Hotel Lanai & Cottages is excellent and is comparable to other four-star restaurants in New York City. Equally important are the staff that is extremely pleasant and so accommodating. Or if you want to go somewhere else, you may go to Dreams Come True Bed & Breakfast where they provide clean and comfortable rooms, with spacious and very cozy beds, and a relaxing bathroom Jacuzzi tub to soothe away exhaustion from the daily adventures on Lanai.
Last option would be to come and stay in Maui, and just travel to Lanai since Maui abounds in inexpensive resorts, inns, and hotels. Doing this could really give you ample savings. Or better yet, stay in a Lanai City hotel because the local inns, hotels, and rental homes are very affordable, and they are just walking distance from the restaurants and island shops. This could mean not having to rent a car for roaming around.
Practical outdoor activities
Really, you don’t have to spend so much to take pleasure in Lanai's natural beauty. You may enjoy a wide range of activities in this beautiful island of Lanai at the same time sticking to your budget. Go swimming with various multi-colored tropical fish and beautiful coral formations in the beaches while scuba diving, as it will not cost you so much. Or you may tour historic spots such as the Manele-Hulopo’e Marine Life Conservation District and get glimpses of the centuries old fishing villages of Lanai. Admission to these kinds of tourist spots is usually free, or only requires minimal fee. Also, before hopping to Lanai, make sure you have checked and chosen among inexpensive island excursion offers by various companies. Compare the prices and maximize your activities such as visiting beautiful forests, coastlines, and beautiful valleys.
Other enexpensive but enjoyable activities in Lanai
You may also choose to go hiking on trails like the Munro Trail, or do some biking along the mountain sides of Lanai. Or visit cultural centers in the island where the Hawaiian culture and heritage are showcased, expanding your knowledge about Hawaiian folklore.
You may visit the Lanai Art Center, a center created for tourists and locals who want to join workshops or simply admire artworks. There are galleries and classes on-site regularly, so if your kids enjoy craftworks, bring them to the art center for an afternoon of creativity and fun, learning experience. Or, visit the Lanai Culture & Heritage Center to learn more about the historical events in Lanai as well as its culture. You may come to this center during Mondays to Fridays, 9 am to 3 pm and learn about Lanai’s very first settlers, and how they were responsible for transforming the island into a pineapple plantation, finally evolving into the premier vacation destination Lanai is now known for.
You may also marvel at the famous tourist spot Garden of Gods, more popularly known as Keahiakawelo. It's a beautiful and meaningful landscape of various shapes of rock formations and boulders due to excessive erosion over hundreds of years. It is best to explore this vacation spot during early mornings when the sun’s rays beautifully strike on to the rock formations, displaying a magnificent array of colors. See, getting a peek of Lanai’s beauty is not really expensive at all. You get to see the beauty of Lanai, without hurting your pocket so much.
Another unique attraction of this beautiful island that doesn’t cost you any is the Bird Man of Lanai Petroglyphs, located at the Shipwreck Beach. These Lanai petroglyphs are drawings or carvings on rocks that are not really that ancient, but are a sure favorite tourist spot for both locals and visitors.
Budget restaurants on Lanai
Blue Ginger Cafe
This Bed & Breakfast restaurant is located on the 7th Street of Lanai, where they offer various breakfast items that are very affordable and will surely satisfy your taste buds. They offer breakfasts at very affordable prices such as different kinds of omelets, breakfast burritos, fresh-baked pastries, and banana pancakes. For dinner, they offer their very famous stir-fries, club sandwiches, fish and chips, and several other delectable foods.
Pele's Other Garden
There are just so many casual dining options in Lanai, so no need to worry about having to dine expensively here. If you want to splurge on eating without spending much, just visit 8th Street where during lunchtime, you could simply split one Turkey & Swiss or Roast Beef & Provolone sandwich into two for only $8, and feel much filled up already. For a delicious dinner, Pele’s Other Garden restaurant becomes Italian at night where big servings of pasta entrees will only cost you about $18, along with individual pizzas priced under $10. Isn’t that something to grab while at Lanai?
The Sweetest Days
After you have splurged on a sumptuous and filling meal, you may also decide to go for some dessert. There is no better place for it than the dessert shop popularly known as "The Sweetest Days," which is just right next to Pele's on 8th Street, for ice cream-on-cones, sundaes, floats, or shakes. They also boast of their famous banana dipped in chocolate and sprinkled with macadamia nuts for only $2.25. This sweet shop also offers its diners nachos, hot dogs, and chili dogs with rice for only $3 to $6, making this place a perfect stop for affordable and quick snacks.