Everyone has a list of things they want to do in Hawaii. These include such popular items as day tours, snorkel trips, helicopter rides, ziplines, horseback rides... The choices are endless. They all cost money and those that involve the use of fuel are more expensive now than ever. As the cost of oil goes up, so do the cost of many of the activities in Hawaii.
Before the days of the Internet most visitors waited until they arrived in Hawaii to book their activities. The problem was that many were already booked solid and when space was available you paid top dollar. The Internet solved that problem.
Book Your Activities Online
Almost all activities can be, and should be, booked in advance of your trip.By booking ahead, you not only guarantee that you'll get to do what you want to do when you want to do it, but you'll also often save money. How? Most activity providers offer a discount, often between 10-20% for booking online. Why? It helps them fill their schedules and saves them the cost of the commission they would otherwise pay to a booking agent at a hotel or local activity kiosk.
One of my favorite tour companies in Hawaii, Polynesian Adventure Tours is offering a 10% discount on all tours booked online. My favorite helicopter company on Kaua'i, Jack Harter Helicopters offers a savings of between $30-40 per person when booked online. Hike Maui offers a 10% discount for all adventures booked online. That's just three of the hundreds of activity providers that give discounts by booking online. The savings are there to be had. Take advantage of them and you'll save considerable dollars.
Expedia Local Expert
So, what if you forget to book ahead or aren't sure what you want to do? If you're on Maui, check out the Expedia Local ExpertTM desks found at many condos, hotels and resorts. Not only will you have the benefit of a great expert to help you pick the best activities, you'll also get the best, and often discounted price.You'll also find numerous other activity desks and kiosks throughout the islands which can save you money on last minute activity bookings. The activity providers want to fill their bookings and many offer substantial discounts for last minute bookings through these agents.
With a little bit of planning in advance you can easily save between 15-20% on your activity costs.
More Articles in this Series
Part 1 - Free Nights and More at Hawaii Hotels and Resorts for the Fall and Winter of 2009-2010
Part 2 - Condo Hotels Offer Hawaii Visitors Affordable Alternatives
Part 3 - Cheap Eats in Hawaii
Part 4 - Saving Money on Liquor and Other Liquid Refreshments in Hawaii
Part 5 - Renting a Car in Hawaii
Part 6 - Using Your Frequent-flier Miles for Travel to Hawaii
Part 8 - Free in Hawaii
