
Hawaii Travel Made Easy Podcast—Hawaii travel tips, Things to do in Hawaii, Hawaii vacation planning
Hawaii Travel Made Easy is the ultimate Hawaii travel podcast for families and first-time Hawaii visitors looking to plan a stress-free and unforgettable Hawaii vacation. Hosted by a seasoned Hawaii travel expert, this show delivers essential Hawaii travel tips, Hawaii vacation planning advice, and insider insights to help you navigate the Hawaiian Islands with confidence.
Marcie Cheung is a certified Hawaii destination expert by the Hawaii Tourism Authority, runs the popular Hawaii family travel site Hawaii Travel with Kids, and has visited Hawaii more than 40 times.
Whether you're dreaming of your first trip to paradise or planning your return visit, each episode provides budget-friendly recommendations, cultural insights, and must-know Hawaii travel guide information to make your Hawaii vacation planning simple and stress-free. From choosing the right island to finding hidden gems, we'll help you create the perfect Hawaii experience!
New episodes drop every Wednesday!
Hawaii Travel Made Easy Podcast—Hawaii travel tips, Things to do in Hawaii, Hawaii vacation planning
Where to Stay in Hawaii: Resort vs Condo vs Hotel vs Vacation Rental Guide
Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Perfect Hawaii Accommodation for Your Family
In this episode of the Hawaii Travel Made Easy podcast, Marcie dives into the details of selecting the ideal accommodation for your Hawaii vacation. She discusses four main types of lodging options: Hawaii resorts, Hawaii hotels, Hawaii condos, and Hawaii vacation rentals, highlighting the pros and cons of each. Marcie also covers current costs for 2025 and 2026, provides a decision-making framework tailored to family needs, and offers specific recommendations for Oahu, Maui, the Big Island, and Kauai. Additionally, she answers common questions about all-inclusive resorts and shares essential booking tips and red flags to watch for. Whether you're seeking luxury, convenience, or the best value, this episode will help you find the perfect place to stay in Hawaii.
00:00 Welcome to Hawaii Travel Made Easy
01:26 Choosing the Best Hawaii Accommodation
02:16 Understanding All-Inclusive Resorts in Hawaii
03:58 Exploring Hawaii Lodging Options
04:11 Hawaii Resorts: The Full-Service Experience
04:54 Hawaii Hotels: The Middle Ground
05:34 Hawaii Condos: Space and Flexibility
06:04 Hawaii Vacation Rentals: The Wild Card
06:41 Navigating Hawaii Accommodation Choices
07:38 Cost Breakdown of Hawaii Lodging Options
21:52 Specific Recommendations for Each Island
25:01 Final Tips and Next Steps
29:54 Conclusion and Farewell
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Blog posts related to this podcast
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- 10 Best Resorts in Kauai for Families
- 7 Best Resorts in Oahu for Families
- 7 Cheap Places to Stay in Maui for Budget-Friendly Travel
- Best Places to Stay in Hana Maui for Every Traveler
- Planning Your Trip? Find Out the Best Area to Stay in Maui
- 18 Best Places to Stay for a Hawaii Christmas Vacation With Kids
- Beware of Hawaii’s Vacation Rentals: What No One Tells You About Staying with Kids
- Where to Stay on the Big Island: Kona or Hilo?
- 13 Best Places to Stay on the Big Island with Kids
Follow me on Instagram @hawaiitravelwithkids
Aloha and welcome to the Hawaii Travel Made Easy podcast. I'm your host, Marcie, and if you're new here, welcome to our Ohana. For those of you who've been following along on this journey, Mahalo for coming back week after week. You know, after 42 trips to Hawaii, I've literally stayed in every type of Hawaii accommodation you can imagine, luxury Hawaii resorts, where they brought me fresh towels twice a day. Tiny Studio Hawaii condos where I cooked all my own meals. Boutique, Hawaii hotels that felt like hidden gems and Hawaii Vacation Rentals. So amazing. I never wanted to leave, and here's what I've learned. There's no one best place to stay in Hawaii, but there's definitely a best Hawaii lodging option for your family and your style of travel. I get this question more than any other Marcie. Should we stay at a Hawaii resort or rent a condo in Hawaii? And my answer is always the same. It depends. It depends on your budget, your travel style, how long you're staying, and honestly what kind of vacation experience you're hoping to create. Last month I had two different families reach out to me on the same day. One family had three kids under eight and wanted someone else to handle every single detail they needed. Pools, kids, clubs, and restaurants on site at a family friendly Hawaii resort. The other family had teenagers and wanted the flexibility to explore different parts of the island and cook their own meals in Hawaii. Vacation rentals, same destination, completely different Hawaii accommodation needs. Today we're deep diving into the four main types of Hawaii accommodations, and I'm going to help you figure out which Hawaii lodging option is perfect for your family. We'll talk about Hawaii resorts, Hawaii hotels, Hawaii condos, and Hawaii vacation rentals. The real pros and cons of each. Current Hawaii accommodation costs for 2025 and 2026, and exactly how to decide what's right for you. Because here's the truth, choosing the right place to stay in Hawaii can make or break your Hawaii vacation, pick the right fit, and everything else just flows Pick wrong. And you might find yourself stressed about money cramped for space, or missing out on experiences you were hoping for. So grab your favorite drink, maybe some Kona coffee if you're feeling the Hawaii vibes, and let's figure out where you should call home during your Dream Hawaii vacation. Before we jump into your Hawaii accommodation options, let me quickly address one of the most common questions I get. Are there any true all-inclusive resorts in Hawaii? And does Hawaii have all-inclusive resorts? And here's the honest answer, no. Hawaii doesn't have true all-inclusive resorts like you'll find in Mexico or the Caribbean. There are no Hawaii resorts where everything, meals, drinks, activities, and accommodation is bundled into one upfront price. Now, you may see some Hawaii resorts advertise all-inclusive packages, but these are usually just bundled deals that include your room, some meals, and maybe a few activities. They're not the comprehensive, all-inclusive experience where you pay once and everything is covered. The closest thing you'll find are resorts like Hyatt Ha Maui, which includes most meals and activities, but even that's more of a meal inclusive resort than truly all inclusive. And honestly, most Hawaii resorts that offer these packages are significantly more expensive than booking components separately. So why doesn't Hawaii have all inclusive resorts? It really comes down to the local economy and tourism model. Hawaii's strength is its incredible diversity of restaurants, local food experiences and activities spread across each island. The tourism industry here is built around getting visitors out to explore local businesses, beaches and attractions, rather than keeping them contained on one property. So if you're hoping to find an all-inclusive Hawaii resort where you can pay one price and not think about costs during your trip. You'll need to adjust your expectations, but don't worry, I'm gonna show you plenty of ways to manage your Hawaii vacation costs effectively with the right accommodation options that are available. All right, let's dive into your actual options for where to stay in Hawaii. All right, let's start by breaking down your four main Hawaii lodging options when it comes to where to stay in Hawaii. Now, I'm gonna be completely honest with you about what each of these really means because the lines can get blurry, especially here in Hawaii. Hawaii resorts. This is the full service experience. When I say Hawaii resort, I'm talking about those sprawling properties with multiple restaurants, pools, spas, kids, clubs, and basically everything you need without ever leaving the property. Think Disney's Aulani Resort on Oahu, Grand Wailea on Maui or the Grand Hyatt, Kauai. These are the best Hawaii accommodations for families who want a place where you can literally spend your entire vacation on the property and never get bored. The Hawaii resort experience is all about convenience and luxury. You wanna pool with a water slide, they've got it. Want someone to watch your kids while you get a massage? They've got that. Too hungry at 11:00 PM room service is a phone call away. Next up is Hawaii Hotels. This is the middle ground Hawaii hotels. Hawaii hotels range from basic budget chains to really nice boutique properties. They're typically smaller than Hawaii resorts with fewer amenities, but they're often in prime locations for exploring. I think the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki, it's technically a Hawaii hotel, but it's so big. It feels like a resort where smaller properties like the Maui Seaside Hotel, they give you a comfortable place to stay in Hawaii without all the bells and whistles. Hawaii hotels usually have daily housekeeping, maybe a pool, probably a restaurant or two, but you're not getting the full resort experience with multiple pools and kids clubs. Next are Hawaii condos. These are the space makers. This is where Hawaii accommodations gets interesting. Hawaii condos can mean a lot of different things. You might have a condo unit within a resort style property like the Honua Kai on Maui, where you get your own kitchen and multiple bedrooms, but you also get access to resort pools and amenities. Or you might rent a Hawaii condo in a smaller complex that's more residential. Maybe there's a pool, maybe there isn't. But you definitely get more space and that all important kitchen. Finally, Hawaii Vacation Rentals. This is the Wild Card. Hawaii Vacation Rentals are basically private homes or condos that owners rent out to travelers. These can range from a simple studio apartment to massive oceanfront estates. With Hawaii vacation rentals, you're getting the most variety and the most unpredictability. You might rent a charming cottage in Upcountry Maui, a beachfront condo on the north shore of Oahu, or a house with its own private pool on the big island. The key thing with Hawaii Vacation Rentals is that you're dealing directly with individual owners or management companies, not hotel chains. So what's the reality of Hawaii accommodations? Here's something important to understand. In Hawaii, these categories overlap more than they do on the mainland. Some Hawaii hotels have condo style units. Some Hawaii condo complexes offer hotel style services. Some Hawaii vacation rentals are in buildings that look and feel like resorts. The key is understanding what you are actually getting for your Hawaii accommodation, not just what it's called. Are you getting daily housekeeping? Is there a kitchen? What amenities are included? How much space do you have? Those are the questions that really matter when choosing where to stay in Hawaii. And here's something else to keep in mind. Hawaii has some unique regulations around Hawaii vacation rentals that have been changing a lot recently. Some areas are restricting short-term rentals, which is affecting availability. And Hawaii vacation rental costs. When you're looking at Hawaii vacation rentals, make sure they're legal and properly permitted. Now that we've covered what each type of Hawaii accommodation really means, let's dive into the nitty gritty details of what each option is gonna cost you and what you're actually getting for your money. Okay? Now let's get into the specifics of each type of Hawaii lodging. I'm gonna give you the honest truth about each Hawaii accommodation option. The good, the challenging, and everything in between. Plus, I'll share current Hawaii accommodation costs for 2025 and 2026, so you can plan your budget. Realistically, Hawaii Resorts, this is the ultimate convenience, but at at price. Let me start with Disney's Aulani because it's probably the most talked about family friendly Hawaii resort. This place is absolutely magical for families. I mean, where else can your kids meet? Mickey Mouse on a Hawaiian beach, they've got character breakfast, a lazy river, water slides, and more pools than you can explore in a week. But here's the reality. Check. Standard rooms start at$999 per night in 2025. That's not a typo, and that's before you factor in that$40 per night parking fee, resort fees, and the fact that every meal is gonna be expensive because you don't have a kitchen. I love Aulani. I really do. But a for night stay for family of four is easily gonna run you 5,000 to$6,000 once you factor in everything. For some families, that's absolutely worth it for the experience for other, that's their entire Hawaii budget. The Hawaii Resort pros are real. You literally don't have to think about anything. Kids' clubs mean parents can actually relax. Multiple restaurants mean everyone finds something they like. Daily housekeeping means you come back to a clean, fresh room every day. And let's be honest, there's something pretty amazing about having poolside service bring you a cocktail while your kids are happily occupied in the kids' pool. But the cons are also real besides the price. Hawaii resort rooms tend to be smaller than you'd expect for the money. You're paying for the experience and amenities, not necessarily luxurious accommodations, and you can feel pretty trapped on the property. Everything is convenient, but it's also expensive and you might miss out on exploring local neighborhoods and restaurants. Other Hawaii resort options like Grand Wailea on Maui or Turtle Bay on Oahu's North Shore offer similar experiences with different vibes and price points. But we're still talking 400 to$800 or more per night for most Hawaii resort properties. All right, Hawaii hotels, this is the practical choice. Let me tell you about the Hilton Hawaiian Village because it's a perfect example of a Hawaii hotel that almost feels like a resort. It is massive, 22 acres with multiple towers, several pools, lots of restaurants, and its own lagoon, but it's still fundamentally a Hawaii hotel experience. Current pricing for Hilton Hawaiian Village runs about$300 to$600 per night, depending on the tower in the view you choose. They often have a 40% off promotion for stays of four nights or more, which can bring those rates down significantly. What I love about Hawaii hotels like this, you get daily housekeeping. You're usually in a prime location. The Hilton Hawaiian Village is right on Waikiki Beach. And you have amenities like pools and restaurants without paying full Hawaii resort prices. The Hilton has kids activities, multiple pools with water slides, and you can walk to everything in Waikiki. The trade-offs with Hawaii hotels, hotel rooms are typically just that. Rooms. You might have a small fridge, but probably no real kitchen, and the pools and amenities are nice, but not as extensive as what you'll get at a true Hawaii resort. And you're still looking at expensive onsite dining without the ability to cook your own meals. For families. Hawaii hotels can be a sweet spot if you want some amenities and services, but don't need a full resort experience. Kids under 17 often stay free at hotels like Hilton Hawaiian Village when using existing bedding. All right, let's talk about Hawaii condos, the space and kitchen game changer. This is where I get really excited because Hawaii condos can offer the best of multiple worlds if you choose, right? Let me tell you about the hon ok Kai on Maui, which is one of my absolute favorite places to recommend to families looking for Hawaii condo rentals. Akai is technically a condo resort. You're renting individual condo units, but the property has resort style amenities. Current pricing runs about 400 to$800 per night, depending on the size and view. But here's what you're getting. A full kitchen with Bosch appliances, washer and dryer, multiple bedrooms, and often 1000 plus square feet of space. Plus you'll get access to beautiful pools, a fitness center, spa services, and you're right on. Ka'anapali Beach. The game changer, that kitchen, instead of paying a hundred dollars or more for breakfast, for a family of four, you can make pancakes and coffee for maybe$10. The Hawaii condo advantages are huge for families. More space means everyone isn't on top of each other. Full kitchens mean massive food savings. Washers and dryers mean you can pack lighter. Multiple bedrooms mean parents can have some space when the kids go to bed early, and many Hawaii condo complexes have amenities like pools and barbecue areas. The things to know about Hawaii condos most don't have daily housekeeping. You might get it once, mid stay for longer visits, but mostly you're on your own. Check-in can be more complicated since you're often dealing with individual owners or management companies rather than a hotel front desk. And the quality can vary significantly, even within the same complex, since each unit is individually owned and decorated. When people ask, how much does a condo in Hawaii cost, the pricing varies wildly. You might find basic Hawaii condos for 150 to$300 per night, or luxury condo resorts like AKA for 400 to$800 or more. The key is understanding exactly what you're getting and what amenities are included. Hawaii Vacation rentals the wild west of accommodations. This category of Hawaii lodging is the most unpredictable, but it can also offer the most value and the most unique experiences. I've stayed in Hawaii vacation rentals that were absolutely magical, like a house on the north shore of Oahu where we could literally walk out the back door onto a nearly private beach current Hawaii vacation rental pricing averages around$170 per night according to recent data, but that's a pretty meaningless average because the range is so huge. You might find a simple studio for$80 a night or a luxury ocean front home for a thousand dollars or more per night. Where Hawaii vacation rental shine is, you'll get the most space for your money. Entire houses or large condos, that would cost thousands per night at a resort. Might be available for 200 to$400. You can find properties and neighborhoods where there aren't hotels, like residential areas where you feel more like a local, and you often get unique amenities like private pools, amazing views, or special locations. The challenges with Hawaii vacation rentals are real. No daily housekeeping or hotel style services. You're responsible for everything from cleaning to maintenance issues. Quality can be completely unpredictable. Photos might be misleading, or the property might not be well maintained. There are additional fees to consider. Cleaning fees often run a hundred dollars to$200 or more. Plus sometimes service fees. The legal landscape is changing. Hawaii has been cracking down on illegal short-term rentals, so make sure any Hawaii vacation rental property you're considering is properly licensed. This is especially important for Maui Vacation rentals and Kauai vacation rentals where regulations have gotten stricter. Now, with all this information swirling around, how do you actually decide what's right for your family, let me give you my decision making framework, how to choose the right accommodation for your family. All right? This is where the rubber meets the road. I'm gonna walk you through exactly how to think about choosing the best places to stay in Hawaii for families, because it's not just about price, it's about creating the Hawaii vacation experience you actually want. Question number one, what's your real budget for Hawaii accommodations? I say real budget because I want you to think beyond just the nightly rate. Let's look at a real example of Hawaii accommodation comparison. Family of four, seven nights on Maui. Option, a Hawaii resort at$600 per night. That equals$4,200 plus$40 a night. Parking equals$280 plus three meals a day at resort Prices for seven days equals easily another 2000 to$2,500. Total Hawaii vacation cost around$7,000. Option B, Hawaii condo at$350 per night equals$2,450. Free parking plus groceries and maybe half your meals out is$800 to about a thousand dollars for food total around$3,500. You're looking at potentially$3,500 in savings by choosing the Hawaii condo. That's a huge difference, but that assumes you're okay with cooking some meals and don't need all the Hawaii resort amenities. Here's my budget. Reality check for Hawaii accommodations. If money is tight, Hawaii Condos and Hawaii vacation rentals almost always offer better value. If you have a generous budget and want to be pampered, Hawaii resorts make sense. Hawaii hotels often fall in the middle, but also consider the hidden costs, resort fees, parking expensive onsite dining tips for all the services. These can add$100 or more per day to your Hawaii resort stay. Question number two, what's your family's travel style? This is huge for choosing where to stay in Hawaii with kids, and I've learned to really listen to families when they describe how they like to vacation. You might be a Hawaii resort family. If you want someone to handle all the details you love having activities planned for you. Your kids enjoy organized kids' clubs and structured activities. You prefer to stay in one place rather than explore all over the island. You don't mind paying for more convenience and you want multiple dining options without leaving the property. I have friends who go to the same Hawaii resort on Maui every year. Their kids go to the club every morning. They know all the pool attendants by name, and they absolutely love it. They're not interested in exploring local neighborhoods or cooking. They want to relax and be taken care of. Okay, you might be a Hawaii condo slash vacation rental family. If you like having space to spread out. You want flexibility in your schedule. You enjoy cooking some meals, especially breakfast and lunch. You like exploring local neighborhoods and beaches. You want to feel more like a local than a tourist, and you're comfortable handling your own check-in and logistics. These families often love having a home base where they can come back and relax. Kids do homework or have quiet time, and everyone has space to decompress. You might be a Hawaii hotel family if you want daily housekeeping, but don't need full resort amenities. You prefer central location for exploring. You want some amenities like a pool and a restaurant, but not necessarily a full resort experience. You're staying for a shorter period, maybe three or four nights. And you want the reliability of a known hotel brand. Question number three, how long are you staying? This is more important for Hawaii accommodation choices than most people realize. For shorter trips, that's like one to four nights. Hawaii hotels and Hawaii resorts often make the most sense. You don't have time to take advantage of kitchen amenities. You want to maximize your limited time, and the convenience factor is worth paying for, for longer trips, five nights or more. Hawaii condos and Hawaii vacation rentals start to make a lot more sense. You have time to settle in, shop for groceries and really use that kitchen. The cost savings compound over longer stays. The sweet spot I found is seven to 10 days is where Hawaii condos really shine. You're there long enough to feel settled, but not so long that you miss daily Housekeeping. Question number four, what are your non-negotiables? This is where you need to be honest about what your family absolutely must have versus what would be nice to have when choosing the best Hawaii accommodations for families. Here are some common non-negotiables I hear we must have a pool. This rules out some Hawaii vacation rentals. We need daily housekeeping that rolls out. Most Hawaii condos and Hawaii vacation rentals, we have to have a kitchen that rolls out most Hawaii hotels and resort rooms. The kids need organized activities that points towards family friendly Hawaii resorts, and we want to be walking distance to restaurants that really affects your location choices. So my personal Hawaii Accommodation Recommendation System, after all these years of helping families plan trips, here's my shorthand for the best places to stay in Hawaii. Choose a Hawaii resort. If money isn't your primary concern, you want to be pampered. You have kids who love organized activities and you prefer having everything handled for you. Choose a Hawaii hotel. If you want a balance of amenities and value. You're staying short term and you want a central location, but you don't need a kitchen. Choose Hawaii condos if you want space and kitchen amenities. You're staying five or more nights. You want to save money on food, and you don't mind handling your own housekeeping. And choose Hawaii Vacation Rentals. If you want the most space for your money, you're comfortable with more uncertainty. You want to stay in residential areas, and you value unique experiences over consistent hotel style service. The hybrid approach. Here's something I recommend more and more for Hawaii accommodations. Split your stay. Spend a few nights at a Hawaii resort or Hawaii Hotel to get pampered and enjoy amenities. Then move to Hawaii condos or Hawaii vacation rentals for the rest of your trip. That gives you the best of both worlds and can actually save money overall. Now let me give you some specific recommendations for where to stay in Hawaii on each island, because the Hawaii accommodation landscape is definitely different depending on where you're going. Let's start with Oahu. This has the most Hawaii lodging options. Oahu has the most variety in Hawaii accommodations, which is both good and overwhelming for Hawaii resorts. Aulani is the obvious choice for families with younger kids, but it's definitely a splurge. Turtle Bay on the North Shore is gorgeous and less crowded than Waikiki for Hawaii hotels. Hilton Hawaiian Village gives you that almost resort experience in Waikiki. There's also the Alo, which is beautiful. If you want something more boutique. For Hawaii Condos, I love the Ilikai because it's right on Waikiki Beach. Or look at Waikiki Shore for beachfront condo living for Oahu vacation rentals. Kailua has amazing Hawaii vacation rental options, especially if you want those picture perfect beaches. The North Shore has great house rentals. If you want a more local experience, let's move over to Maui, the premium island. Maui tends to have the highest Hawaii accommodation costs, but also some incredible options for Hawaii resorts. The Grand Wailea is over the top, amazing, but expect to pay$800 or more per night. The Fairmont Kehlani is all sweets, which gives you more space for condo resorts. Nu Kai is my top pick for Maui condos. You get condo space with the resort amenities. Lea Beach Fellows are luxury. If budget isn't a concern for Maui condos. Kihei has a lot of great condo options at various price points. Maui Sunset and Maui Kamau Le are solid mid-range choices for Maui vacation rentals. Upcountry Maui has amazing house rentals with cooler weather and stunning views. Okay, let's head over to the big island, the value Island. The Big Island offers the best Hawaii accommodation value overall, and you can find great options on both the Kona and Hilo sides for Hawaii Resorts. Maunakea Beach Hotel is legendary but expensive. Hilton Waikoloa Village is more family friendly with their lagoon and water features for big island condos. Waikoloa Beach Villas are nice on the Kona side. In Hilo, you'll find more budget friendly Hawaii condo options for big island vacation rentals. This is where the big island really shines for Hawaii vacation rentals. You can find everything from ocean front condos to volcano view houses at much better prices than other islands. And then Kauai, the intimate option. Kauai has fewer Hawaii accommodations overall, but some really special properties for Hawaii resorts. Grand Hyatt Kauai is beautiful but pricey. Kauai Beach Resort offers more value for Kauai condos. Poipu area has several good condo complexes. Princeville area is more expensive but stunning for Kauai. For Kauai vacation rentals, there are some amazing options, especially on the North Shore, but make sure they're legally permitted. All right. My top Hawaii accommodation booking tips. Book Early Good Hawaii accommodation fills up, especially during peak season. Six months ahead is not too early. For the best places to stay in Hawaii, read reviews carefully, especially for Hawaii condos and Hawaii vacation rentals. Individual units can vary dramatically even in the same complex. Understand the fees, resort fees, cleaning fees, parking fees. Make sure you know the total Hawaii accommodation cost before booking. Consider the location. Being on the beach is nice, but you might get better value staying a few minutes inland and walking or driving to the beach. And think about transportation. If you're staying somewhere without easy restaurant access, you'll need a rental car and should factor that into your budget. Okay, so what are the red flags to watch out for? For Hawaii vacation rentals be wary of properties with very few reviews. Prices that seem too good to be true, or properties that don't clearly show their permit numbers for Hawaii condos, watch out for units that haven't been updated in years or complexes with lots of negative reviews about maintenance issues. And for Hawaii hotels and resorts. Be careful about ocean view rooms that might just have a tiny slice of ocean visible. Read the fine print about what's included. All right, the bottom line for Hawaii accommodations. Here's what I want you to remember. There's no perfect Hawaii accommodation choice, but there's definitely a right choice for your family and your trip. If you're still feeling overwhelmed, start with your budget and your non-negotiables. How much can you realistically spend per night? Do you absolutely need a kitchen? Your kids need a pool? Are you okay without daily housekeeping? Answer those questions first. Then start looking at your Hawaii lodging options within those parameters. And remember, you're going to Hawaii. Whether you're staying in a luxury resort or a simple Hawaii condo, you're going to wake up in paradise. The perfect Hawaii accommodation is the one that fits your budget and helps your family create the vacation memories you're dreaming about. So let's wrap this up with some final thoughts and next steps for your Hawaii vacation. All right. We've covered a lot of ground today from$999 per night, Disney resorts to budget friendly Hawaii condos from Hawaii Hotel Convenience to Hawaii Vacation Rental adventures. Hopefully now you have a much clearer picture of what each Hawaii accommodation type really offers. Let me give you a quick recap of the key decision points for where to stay in Hawaii. Choose a Hawaii resort. If you want to be pampered, have everything handled for you and budget isn't your primary concern. Expect to pay$500 to a thousand dollars or more per night, but you'll get pools, restaurants, kids, clubs, and daily service. Choose a Hawaii hotel if you want daily housekeeping and central location, but don't need full resort amenities. You're looking at 200 to$600 per night typically with some nice middle ground options. Choose Hawaii condos if you want space kitchen and better value for longer stays. Expect 150 to$600 per night depending on location and amenities. Plus, you'll save significantly on food costs. Choose Hawaii vacation rentals if you want the most space for your money and don't mind handling your own logistics. Pricing varies wildly from$80 to a thousand dollars or more per night, but the average is around$170. So here's what I want you to do next. First, nail down your real budget for Hawaii accommodations. Not just the nightly rate, but the total cost, including fees, parking, and food. This will immediately narrow your Hawaii lodging options. Second, be honest about your family's travel style. Do you want to be pampered or do you prefer flexibility? Do your kids love organized activities or are they happier exploring on their own? Third, consider the length of your stay. Shorter trips often favor Hawaii hotels and Hawaii resorts for convenience, longer stays Make Hawaii condos and Hawaii vacation rentals more appealing. Fourth, make a list of your absolute must-haves versus nice to haves for Hawaii accommodations. This will help you filter options quickly. You know, after all these years of traveling to Hawaii and helping families plan their trips, I've learned that the perfect Hawaii accommodation is really about matching your choice to your family's personality and priorities. Some of my most magical Hawaii memories were in a simple Hawaii condo where we cooked breakfast together every morning and watched the sunrise from our lanai. Others were at Hawaii Resorts where my kids made friends at the kids club, and we tried new foods at the various restaurants. The key isn't finding the best place to stay in Hawaii is finding the right Hawaii lodging for you. And honestly, you're gonna have an amazing time no matter what you choose, because you're going to Hawaii. All right. I'd love to hear from you. Are you leaning toward a particular type of Hawaii accommodation? Do you have a specific, do you have specific questions about properties on certain islands? Send me a DM on Instagram at Hawaii, travel with kids, or visit my blog for even more detailed guides and reviews of specific Hawaii accommodations. And if this episode was helpful in sorting through all these Hawaii lodging options, please take a minute to subscribe and leave a review. It really helps other families find this show when they're in their planning stages of their own Hawaii adventures. Until then, keep dreaming about those Hawaiian sunsets and trade winds. Your perfect Hawaii accommodation is out there waiting for you. Mahalo for listening, and I'll see you next week. Aloha.