Maui on a Budget: How I Saved On My Hawaiian Vacation

(November 21, 2025)

When friends and family told me that a trip to Maui would “break the bank,” I wasn’t sure I’d ever get to experience the island for myself. But after a little research and planning, I discovered you can do Maui on a budget. Here are some tips on how my wife and I were able to save some money while enjoying a memorable vacation on the island.

Travel Off-season to Save On Maui Accommodations

The first money-saving move we made was choosing to travel during the shoulder season. We went in late October, right after the summer rush, and found airfare and hotels cheaper than the peak winter months. The weather was still amazing—sunny, blue skies, and plus 80 degrees every day, and, best of all, with it being off season Maui was less crowded!

Bundle Your Flight + Hotel + Car and Save

We booked our flight, hotel, and rental car together as a package through CAA Travel. Doing so allowed us to save a few hundred dollars. For example, by including our rental car in our package we saved $100-$150 vs. if we had booked it separately.

Stay at a Maui Resort that has Free Parking

If you stay at a high-end Maui resort run by companies like Hilton, Ritz Carlton, Sheraton or Fairmont for example you’ll be paying hundreds or even over a thousand dollars to stay there. And if that wasn’t enough, they charge you a daily rate for parking your rental car there too—anywhere from $40 to $55.

Instead of spending money on parking, we would rather spend it on activities or treating ourselves to dinner out. If you’re the same, make sure you tell your travel agent you’re only interested in accommodations that offer free parking.

Book Accommodations at Napili Shores Resort

We stayed at Napili Shores Resort, located on the Northwest side of Maui and it was perfect for our budget-conscious Maui getaway.

The resort has cozy accommodations with kitchenettes and full-size fridges, which made it easy to prepare our own breakfasts and store snacks.

Amenities include two pools, barbecue areas, and direct access to Napili Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches on the west side of Maui.

The resort also features two on-site restaurants: The Gazebo, which is right by the ocean and serves breakfast and lunch; and the Kitchen 5513 Restaurant & Tiki Bar which opens at 3:00 and serves dinner. Happy hour is from 3:00-5:00 and they had a great Taco Tuesday deal too.

The Napili Market is conveniently close by–a five minute car ride and 15 minute walk. A small strip mall it has a farmer’s market, a few restaurants and shops, and there’s even a medical clinic.

Don’t Book a Snorkel Trip—See It All at the Beach for Free!

The most popular snorkel trip in Maui is to take a boat out to the Molokini Crater. This costs almost $400 per person.

Save your money.

If you love to snorkel and one of your main goals for going to Maui is to see coral, colourful tropical fish and sea turtles, you can do that for free by snorkeling at most of the beaches in Maui.

For example, within minutes of Napili Shores Resort, we could walk to three beautiful beaches that all offered great snorkeling:

• Napili Beach
• Kapalua Beach
• Honokeana Bay

We didn’t have to go too far in the water to get our fix, and if it’s sea turtles you really want to see Honokeana Bay is a must. Each time we visited this bay we spotted sea turtles at least ten times.

Take Advantage of Free Beach Parking…and Shade!

It pays to get to the beach in the morning. In most cases if you can get there by 10:00 am you will be able to snag free parking on the street. Wait till later in the morning or the afternoon and you’ll likely have to pay for parking in a beach lot.

Another incentive for getting to the beach early is that you have a better chance of getting a shady spot under a tree which will save you from having to rent an umbrella. As the morning turns to afternoon, you’ll be glad you did as it gets hot and a little humid.

How to Save On Groceries when in Maui

If you end up staying at Napili Shores Resort like we did, you could purchase fresh produce and baked goods at the Napili Market. If you want to hit a full on grocery store there are two options about a 10- to 15-minute drive away—Times Supermarket and Safeway. If you feel like going for a drive and getting the most bang for your grocery store buck, head over to the Walmart in Kahului.

Conclusion

With a little planning Maui doesn’t have to be a luxury-only destination. You can enjoy the intoxicating beauty of Maui and the sun, sand, snorkeling, and more without overspending. Your affordable Hawaiian vacation is closer than you think!

Be thrifty and practical. This information was accurate when published, but can change without notice. We recommend you confirm all details with the provider in question before planning your excursion.

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