Hawaii Blog

Travel writer Matt Gross, better known as The Frugal Traveler for The New York Times, tested his penny-pinching mettle on the Big Island and Kauai, and managed to spend only $1,210.93 on a nearly week-long visit to “the least affordable state in the country.” He and his wife stayed in small B&Bs, picnicked on the beach, and took hikes instead of expensive helicopter tours.

“It made no sense to me: Why come all this way for Hawaii’s natural beauty, only to spend extra to distance yourself from it?” Gross writes. “For almost a week, Jean and I had stayed close to the ground — and, despite our indulgence, well within our budget — and achieved an up-close-and-personal relationship with the islands.”

There’s even a seven-minute video travelogue of the trip, and a list of places to visit and things to do. They didn’t make it to see Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, but they still did quite a bit for the price.