Is it really worth it to reserve a hotel in Hawaii with a kitchen?

Question

I heard food is very expensive in Hawaii. Were going Monday thru Friday in March of 2007 for our honeymoon but people keep telling me it is expensive to even eat over there....Please Help...

Answer 1

We have gone to Hawaii on three trips, none of them with a kitchenette. Depending on what you are planning to do, it really is not that important to have one. If you are out, you can usually find a nice place for an affordable price. This is true for any of the islands which we went to (Oahu, Kauaii, Maui, and the Big Island).

Also, you could look into inclusive packages for your hotel/motel, which would allow you to eat at their resturaunts. This option works better out of Honolulu/Waikiki, but you should be able to look into it there also. If you are in the Waikiki area, there are numerous places, both fast food and casual dining.

Answer 2

I lived in Hawaii for 2 years. Honolulu... Waikiki... If you try to buy groceries at the Food Pantry on Kuhio you will go broke. We only bought beer, bread and hot dogs. Things like milk were $7.99 a gallon. Go to a Foodland, Times, or Safeway. There is a Foodland in the Ala Moana Mall, you will do much better than shopping in Waikiki. Eating out may shock you a little bit, depending on where you live right now. If you normally eat out in NY or LA you won't be surprised. Cheeseburgers are ten bucks and most places, expect more if an ocean view comes with the burger. There is a lot of cheap breakfast places on Kuhio, under $5 for eggs, potatoes, and toast. Some are $2.99 I think . YOu can get good food at a reasonable price at the Wailana Coffee House near the Hilton Hawaiian Village. It is open 24 hours too. Eat big for lunch and then have a light dinner like apps and a drink. You will still get the atmosphere for a fraction of the price. The Mai Tai bar has half price apps and drinks with a nice atmosphere between 4-7 daily. If you go there late night it will be more like a club with a lot of people. Remember this... the servers at the restaurants are living in Hawaii for school or the beach. Most of them like to go out to eat and drink. Talk to the servers... they will know all of the good places to eat, drink specials, and local stuff going on. Congratulations and Good Luck... Hawaii was the best 2 years of my life!!!

Answer 3

Yes - - - compared to the mainland but the mainland is catching up. Getting inexpensive food is a matter of knowing where to shop & how to work the sales for a one or even two week stay is too complicted espeically if you are on your honeymoon. DO you really want to be cooking? Shouldn't you be f* * * ng & enjoying each others company & taking time to explore the island? Budget between ten to fifteen dollars per person per meal and go out to eat - - - check out the 'local' resteraunts outside of Waikiki and you will find 'bargains.' It is more than the expense of cooking - - - cooking involves those things such as having the right spices & oils etc - - - leave the cooking worries to someone else. Enjoy.

Answer 4

Last time in Maui (Ka'anapali beach), my brother & I stayed at the Kaanapali Shores Hotel. We had a room with separate bedroom, fully equipped kitchedn & sofa-bed in the lounge area. There's a supermarket behind the hotel, where we shopped.

So we had cooked breakfast in the room, which saved time & money. When we spent the days snorkelling & diving we could come back to eat lunch in the room too - I figure we saved $80 a day having that kitchen & 2-3 hour of our time (not having to go out & find somehwere to eat). The hotel also gave us $100 credit at the hotel restaurant, which helped further. So the room (we already got a free night, thanks to Expedia worked out at $170 a night. But with the food saving was effectively costing us under/about $100 per night - which is about what I paid last time in Waikiki :-)

On a 5-day trip, having the kitchen meant the difference between staying at the 4-star Kaanapali Shores & staying at the overpriced & cheesy 3-star Royal Lahaina (I've stayed there in the past - nowhere near as good as the Kaanapali Shores).

Answer 5

I live on Oahu and it is NOT expensive to eat here....I mean you can chose expensive or not. Just like you can anywhere else.
The first thing you need to do is decide if your going to eat any meals, including breakfast in your room. The kitchenettes in most hotel rooms are not prepared for you to cook at full meal unless you are staying in a condo.
They will usually have a small frig, microwave, small range with very limited cookware and utensils. But it is perfectly equip to make toast and coffee and even eat or cereal.
It will depend on your eating habits also..are you breakfast eaters? You can also make sandwiches there. Remember it is your honeymoon..a once in a lifetime trip. You will find a Starbucks in EVERY corner street. Plus make sure you find out,,your hotel room may include breakfast.
I hope this has helped.. Aloha

Answer 6

Personally I don't see why you would want a kitchen in your hotel room. Do you really feel like cooking while on your HONEYMOON? I really don't think so. Hey everything will be expensive no matter where you have your honeymoon. On a good note don't be shy to ask the hotel workers for advice on where to eat, that is always a plus. And besides the local people know where the good eats are. I would like to suggest one place if you don't mind go up Kapahulu there is a place called RAINBOWS good eats there also along the way up is also Leonards Bakery OOO very good eats there also if you like deserrts and still on that same strip there is also a great shave ice shop right there also. But yes ask the locals they know where to get the good eats. Oh yes also if you go towards Ward Shopping Center look to the Marina and you see Lunch Wagons w/a long line of local people behind them now those are the places to eat its always a good sign when you see a line behind these wagons because that means there are good eats. Also there is the Ala Moana Fish Market right behind of Ward Shopping Center go in there they got some good places to eat. Also don't be scared to venture in China Town now they got some good places in there to eat also. I do hope you have a lovely time in Hawai'i on your honeymoon, I do recommend these places to eat tho. Believe I would not steer you to some place that I wouldn't eat myself, living away from Hawai'i my home I am always think of these favorite places to eat because up here in the STATES there is nothing like it but HAWAI'I.

Answer 7

Yes! I would reccommend u get a kitchen. Most places w/ kitchens ae condos & are cheaper than hotel rooms & you can make sandwiches for your day trips or hikes & have a nice dinner & champagne celebrating, It is my personal preference not to eat out every meal, some condo's even come w/ blenders, coffee makers, full kitchens w/ microwaves & same price as a hotel room, but they might not be on the beach, but in Maui & by Daimond Head at the South end of Waikiki are lots of condos w/ kitchens, you'll probably save money on meals! Aloha! & have fun.

Answer 8

For some reason all of my clients that go to Hawaii insist on a kitchen or kitchenette. There's not that much of a price difference. If you think groceries are expensive wait to you add up eating out daily.
I can find you a good deal.

Answer 9

First, congrats on your honeymoon and best wishes for your future wedded life!!
Go for the kitchen if you want, what ever you want to do in Hawaii, it is all up to you!
I have been to Oahu five times, and have never had a room with a kitchen/kitchenette, but more than likely, you can reheat your food in the microwave, and keep foods colder/beverages colder in the fridge!!
Aloha, and have a great time!!

Answer 10

I have been in Hawaii on various islands at least 30 times in the past 5 years. I prefer to have a kitchen/kitchenette at least. Especially with a honey moon, think about this, do you really want to wake up and get all dressed up just to eat breakfast, or wouldn't it be nicer to just be able roll out of bed put on a rob with just you and your new hubby and have something there? We always try and go out at night for dinner, but breakfast in the room or condo, and make a lunch for the beach or hike in the afternoon, then out to dinner, and champagne in the fridge chilled with the strawberries and chocolate at night. I vote for the kitchenette!