Watch out for these hidden Hawaii vacation expenses

Here are 18 hidden expenses you could encounter on a Hawaii vacation and, more importantly, possible ways to avoid or lower them. Read on to see how to take the nightmare out of paradise.

1. Hidden Resort Fees

When you book a hotel, you probably expect things like use of the pool, daily maid service and wake-up calls to be included in your room rate. Well, don’t count on it in Hawaii, said Sheila Beal, editor of GoVisitHawaii.com, a Hawaii travel advice site. She said that resort fees of $20 to $40 per day are becoming quite common.

“But there are some hotels that don’t charge them. As you comparison shop for accommodations, be sure to consider resort fees,” she said. At the very least, you should be able to find a desirable hotel or resort that charges a daily resort fee of under $20.

2. Rental Car Taxes

Rental cars in Hawaii are not cheap, and it doesn’t help that there are a plethora of extra fees thrown onto every rental by the state and county governments. Some apply only if you rent from the airport, so there’s a chance to avoid them. Others, you can only budget for or avoid car rentals altogether. Here’s the list, according to HawaiiCarRentals.net. Read it and weep:

• Hawaii Motor Vehicle Surcharge Tax: $3 per day
• Vehicle License Fee (yep, for a rental): 35 cents to $1.45 per day
• Hawaii State General Excise Tax (GET): 4.166 percent
• Honolulu County Tax: .546 percent (Oahu only)
• Hawaii Rental Vehicle Customer Facility Charge: $4.50 per day (airport rentals only)
• Airport Concessionaire/Permittee Charge: 11.11 percent (airport rentals only)

3. Fuel Prices

That rental car is going to cost you at the pump, too. For instance, according to the State of Hawaii, Hawaii gas prices averaged $2.654 per gallon in May 2016, or 18 percent higher than the average for the nation. For this reason, Kendal Perez, a savings expert with Coupon Sherpa, suggested never upgrading to a larger, less-fuel-efficient vehicle.

“By avoiding the upsell during our trip to Kauai, my husband and I managed 41 mpg and were thankful for our small rental car’s ability to navigate the sometimes narrow, windy roads,” she said. Beal added that while a 4X4 Jeep might sound perfect for Hawaii, rental agencies prohibit going off road, so the extra cost would be pointless.

4. Higher Food Costs

Even at grocery stores and average restaurants, the cost of food is higher in Hawaii. “The biggest shock to my husband and me during our trip to Kauai last year was the price of groceries and restaurant fare,” said Perez. “Everything costs more on the island because it has to be shipped across the sea, so naturally there are additional costs we’re not accustomed to on the mainland.”

That means even when you supplement dining out with grocery store supplies, you’ll be slapped with higher-costing food, on everything from eggs to peanut butter, she said. Her suggestion is to be prepared. “When you’re budgeting for food expenses for your trip to the islands, increase it by 30 to 40 percent to absorb the extra costs,” she said. Then hit Costco, which has locations on most islands.

5. Transient Accommodation Tax

Like it or not, you are a transient, and Hawaii charges a tax for that. The TAT, as it is called, is currently 9.2 percent and is tacked onto any accommodation booking. On a $300-a-night hotel room, that’s $27.60 a night. Over a 10-day vacation, that’s almost another $300 — or a night’s stay.

Unfortunately, there’s not a lot you can do about this one, except factor it into your budget. On the bright side, know that the logic behind the tax is to help pay for things like visitor rescues from dangerous surf, the extra wear on roads and more. Without it, according to officials, paradise wouldn’t be paradise.

6. Resort Parking Fees

Paradise might not be one big parking lot yet, but get ready for sticker shock when it comes to daily parking fees at resorts, said Beal. “We estimate that the average is somewhere around $30 to $35 per day for valet parking,” she said. And self-parking is often not much better, and sometimes even the same.

Beal suggested researching this before you travel. “Also, consider whether you can minimize the number of days you’ll need a rental car, and thereby eliminate any parking fees,” she said. Many visitors stay in the resorts the entire time, or explore pedestrian-friendly Waikiki.

7. Breakfast Buffet Costs

If you’re planning to be in a bathing suit all day, chances are you won’t be eating 10 pounds of food in the morning. So, in many cases, the hotel buffet breakfast is a waste of your money. “Resort breakfast buffets are deliciously enticing, but we’ve seen them cost more than $40 per person,” said Beal.

Before you pay $40 for a piece of toast and some eggs, Beal suggested asking if the restaurant provides an a la carte menu. Often, she said, you’ll enjoy a hearty breakfast in the same restaurant for half the cost.

8. Hidden Fees for Free Tours

There are many things to do in Hawaii for free, from beachgoing to hiking. There are also tours that might seem like they would cost money, but don’t. A perfect example is the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor. It’s free to the public, but you will need a reservation.

But many companies will charge you for their Arizona tour, said Beal. “We’ve heard readers complain about the cost of tours to the USS Arizona Memorial,” she said. “While a bus tour may be convenient, paying for a tour is unnecessary, as tickets to the memorial are free.”

9. Surfboard Baggage Fees

If you surf, you’ll want to bring your board to Hawaii. Unfortunately, most airlines have lost their aloha spirit and charge big-time for surfboards: as much as $100 to $200 each way. Fortunately, you have options.

One is to hit Costco in the islands, and grab a $149.99 Wavestorm foam surfboard. For more performance-minded shredders, check out board rental companies like HawaiiSurfboardRentals.com, which rents a variety of boards starting at $40 for two days or $90 per week. They even deliver for free.

10. Snorkel Rental Fees

Hawaii has some amazing snorkeling spots, where you have the chance to get mask-to-gills with an aquarium full of reef fish. But if you don’t own a snorkel and fins, the price of a rental might shock you. Try between $9 and $20 a day, or $35 or more per week.

Instead, stop by a local store like a CVS or Walmart, said Jeanette Pavini, savings expert at Coupons.com. “You can find great deals on a lot of water sports gear,” she said. “And the best part is that many times it will cost far less than what the rental price would be. Plus, you get to keep it.”

11. Interisland Flight Fares

You might think that because the Hawaiian Islands are so close to one another, flying from one to another is as inexpensive as it is short. Wrong. Unfortunately, interisland flights are now priced in the hundreds of dollars.

In fact, prices have soared to anywhere from 71 cents to $1.88 per mile, meaning flights between islands rival the most expensive in the nation, according to The Washington Post. However, there are direct flights from the mainland to all four of the main Hawaiian Islands, so pick your paradise and fly direct.

12. Cost of Theft

Unfortunately, paradise is not immune to crime. In fact, Hawaii ranked sixth on the FBI’s 2014 annual report of states with the highest car thefts, as reported in USA Today. Hawaii’s crime rate is higher than the national average in theft and burglary as well, according to statistics from research site Areavibes.com. Locals know that tourists are favorite targets, too.

So, one thing you can do is make sure you have good travel insurance, as well as comprehensive coverage for your car rental. Perez said that most credit cards and automobile insurance providers offer liability coverage for your car rental comparable to the insurance the rental agency offers. Finally, here’s another reason to avoid that Jeep: Many have knife-vulnerable ragtops.

13. Airline Baggage Fees

We’re all used to airline extra baggage fees by now, but that doesn’t mean you have to concede defeat and pony up the money, said Pavini. Instead, if you have a lot of things to bring to paradise — and who doesn’t? — look into shipping them ahead of time.

“Ask your hotel if they accept packages for free,” she said. “If you’re staying for a long time, it may be worthwhile to buy online and ship heavy and/or perishable items.” Just make sure to order in advance, as Amazon Prime takes up to a week to arrive, she added.

14. ATM Fees

Many mainland banks do not have many branches in Hawaii. Even large banks such as Wells Fargo are few and far between in Hawaii, and so you might find yourself burdened by out-of-network ATM fees. Those can be especially pricey at resorts and at the airport, said Kerry Sherin, a savings expert at Offers.com.

Her advice is to be sure to bring some cash from home. Or, stick to traveler’s checks for a safer method of currency, she said. Just remember that many of the smaller local vendors might only take cash. You won’t want to miss out on an amazing food truck experience because you don’t have a few bucks.

15. Airfare Costs

Getting to and from the islands can be one of the most expensive parts of your vacation, so here’s an area for which you’ll want to use every advantage. First, avoid traveling Fridays, Sundays and Mondays, as they’ll be most expensive, said consumer savings expert Andrea Woroch. Also, search for your flights on Tuesdays, specifically at 4:30 p.m. EST, said Pavini. “This is usually when the airlines post some of their best deals,” she said.

Finally, book well in advance. A CheapAir.com study of 1.5 billion airfares in 2014 found that travelers who booked 47 days early got the best deals on domestic airfares. The study also found that travelers paid an average of $111 more for booking less than 14 days in advance, and $174 for booking less than seven days in advance.

16. Sunset Dinner Cruise Costs

Although a sunset dinner cruise might be high on your list of things to do, they can be pricier in Hawaii than expected. Many come in well over $100 a head. Adding to the high-priced insult is the fact that the key component of the outing is free: the sunset.

“So get your own delicious food, take a basic boat ride and enjoy the sunset for a fraction of the cost,” advised Pavini. You can also plan sundown cocktails on the beach, and make it a much more intimate affair.

17. Transportation to Your Hotel

Many people assume that since Hawaii is an island, things are relatively close and taxi rides are cheap. Not so. For instance, a taxi ride from Honolulu International Airport to Waikiki costs, on average, including a 15 percent tip, $82.34, according to TaxiFareFinder.com. Hit some traffic, and it could leap to $142. That’s a lot of mai tais — or at least a few at a Hawaiian resort.

If you’re not renting a car, Sherin strongly advised a rideshare app. “If you are new to the rideshare scene, Uber typically offers free rides at your initial sign-up,” she said. “By having everyone in the group sign up, you can score some serious rides at little to no cost.”

18. Costs for Excursions and Activities

Since Hawaii is such a tourist destination, there’s a lot to do, from parasailing, shark dives and dolphin swims, to helicopter rides, horseback rides and ziplining. Unfortunately, prices are usually budget-busting, said Perez.

But there are ways to bring vacation prices down to sea level again. “If you’re a military family, active, retired or reserves, be sure to ask for a military discount,” said Pavini. “This is especially true in Oahu, where there is a big military base.”

Be sure to sign up for Groupon and Living Social before your trip to find great deals. Parasailing, ziplines and dolphin swims are all regularly featured. A few quick examples: Parasailing on Groupon was 39 percent less than retail, ziplining was found for 41 percent less, as was a dolphin swim tour.

From GoBankingRates.com: 18 hidden expenses to watch out for when vacationing in Hawaii