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Trust us — a vacation to Hawaii is always a good choice. Between the weather, culture, food, landscape and miles upon miles of sandy beaches, you’ll have a terrific time visiting the 50th state.
Plus, with cheap airfare right now, it may be as good a time as ever to book your trip to Hawaii. We’re seeing much lower-than-average fares to several Hawaiian hotspots from West Coast gateways from just $176.99 round trip per person.
We’re seeing the cheapest fares from Los Angeles (LAX), San Jose (SJC), San Francisco (SFO) and San Diego (SAN) to three Hawaiian destinations: Honolulu (HNL), Kahului in Maui (OGG) and Kona (KOA). Most of the lowest fares are Alaska Airlines’ Saver tickets, which means you’ll be allowed to take a carry-on bag on board but you’ll have to pay more to reserve a seat and check a bag.
The fares are scattered throughout February and March 2022, so if you’re looking for a vacation sometime soon, this could be a great option. Additionally, some of the cheapest fares include weekend travel dates — ideal if you’re not?flexible with your travel plans.
Keep in mind that even if you feel comfortable traveling right now, Covid-19 restrictions may change at any moment. At this time, Hawaii requires that domestic travelers follow all Safe Travels Hawaii protocols, which means that you must upload proof of vaccination or have a negative test result prior to departure. You can find the full rules here.
We recommend booking either directly through the airline or via an online travel agent like?Priceline,?Expedia?or?Travelocity.
Here are some examples of the cheap Hawaii flights you can book right now.
San Francisco (SFO) to Kahului (OGG) for $176.99 round trip with Alaska Airlines
Los Angeles (LAX) to Kahului (OGG) for $177 round trip with Alaska Airlines
San Diego (SAN) to Kona (KOA) for $197 round trip with Alaska Airlines
San Jose (SJC) to Honolulu (HNL) for $197 round trip with Alaska Airlines
Los Angeles (LAX) to Honolulu (HNL) for $197 round trip with Alaska Airlines
San Diego (SAN) to Kahului (OGG) for $197 round trip with Hawaiian Airlines
Where to stay in Hawaii
Once you’ve arrived in Hawaii, you’ll need somewhere to stay, and the islands are known for being on the pricier side. But fear not! There are budget hotel options to be found so you don’t have to worry about breaking the bank.
Check out these hotels for your stay in Maui.
Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea
At the higher end of the price spectrum, this property offers all the luxury amenities you need, including three swimming pools and three on-site restaurants.
Hilton Waikoloa Village
This property has a full-service spa on site, as well as a golf course. There’s also a free shuttle service to nearby Anaeho’omalu Bay for a day off the resort.
Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa
For someone looking for an all-in-one stay, this is it. The resort offers a full-service spa, five on-site restaurants and a water park.
If you’re heading to Honolulu, check out these hotels for your stay in Hawaii’s capital.
Halekulani Hotel
At the higher end of the price spectrum, this property has stunning views overlooking Diamond Head, along with three on-site restaurants, a day spa and a live jazz lounge.
The Royal Hawaiian, A Luxury Collection Resort
Located in the heart of Waikiki, this property features an exclusive area on the beach, as well as a full-service spa and two outdoor pools.
Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort
If you’re looking for beach access, this is a great option. The Moana Surfrider is just steps from the famous Waikiki Beach with a private beach area and also features a freshwater pool.
Finally, if you’re heading to Kona, consider a stay at one of these hotels around the island.
Four Seasons Resort Hualalai
At the higher end of the price spectrum, this property has an award-winning golf course as well as seven pools. There are also five dining options at the resort, so you’ll have a hard time running out of options.
Royal Kona Resort
This family-friendly resort offers a pool and ocean views, and is within walking distance of plenty of nearby restaurants and activities.
Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel
Located on the site where Hawaiian King Kamehameha once lived, the Courtyard offers ocean views while also being walking distance from downtown Kona.
How to book your flights
If your mind is now set on the idea of heading to Hawaii, make sure you book your flight the right way in order to maximize what you’re getting for your purchase. For instance, there are a number of credit cards that earn extra rewards or perks when you book travel with them.
Widely considered the best card for booking flights is?The Platinum Card? from American Express. You’ll earn 5 points for every dollar you spend on flights booked directly with an airline or via Amex Travel when you use the Amex Platinum (on up to $500,000 per calendar year). So if you book the $197 round-trip flight from Los Angeles to Honolulu directly with Alaska Airlines, you’ll earn 935 points from Amex, plus points in Alaska’s Mileage Plan program.
Alternatively, you could book these flights with a card like the?Chase Sapphire Reserve?, which earns 3 points per dollar on travel, including flights, and 5 points total on air travel if you purchase through Chase?Travel?. Then, when you’re ready to book your hotel, you can use the same card to earn 3 points for hotel and home rental bookings, or 10 points total when booking through Chase Travel?.
And if you’re planning to book with an online travel agency like?Priceline, remember to book your flights with a credit card that earns points on all travel, not just travel booked directly with airlines or via an issuer’s booking portal.
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Want to maximize your airfare and hotel purchases? Check out CNN Underscored’s?list of the best credit cards for travel
