The idea of venturing off into the world on your own has sky-rocketed in recent years. It's a far cry from when I first started literally flying solo, where I would get side-eyes and hear the all-too-familiar deafening sound of silence when revealing vacation plans.
“Ummm, you mean you don't have anyone to go with?” no longer equates to societal judgment as more and more travelers of all ages brave the globe alone.
Plus, isn't it nice to come back home to answer the question, “so, what did you do last week?”.
TimeOut just revealed the '21Best Solo Trips in the U.S.' and one was a huge surprise.
When it comes to Hawaii, oftentimes we think of couples getaways, or if your paycheck can shake it, full-on family vacations, but not solo escapes.
But TimeOut swears by Honolulu. Coming in with the silver medal behind first-place Charleston, Honolulu is full of astounding nature, cultural delights, and some surprisingly affordable stays, one of solo travelers' biggest concerns when booking their next trip.
How Affordable Is Honolulu?
There's no doubt Honolulu, or Hawaii in general, has an expensive reputation, which is likely why this drop-dead gorgeous city typically flies under the radar for solo travelers.
But there's always a shade of grey. Maybe not 50 of 'em, but at least one.
Now that anyone from fresh graduates taking a ‘gap year' to seniors living out their best golden years travel alone, budgets for one of the hottest travel trends are all over the map, from minimum wage scraps to IRA taps.
Good news is Honolulu accommodates all with comfortable stays from upscale resorts to ‘van life' beachside campers at locals' homes, which actually offers more of a sense of real Hawaii by locals showcasing their inner ohana away from Honolulu's modern cityscape.
The latter can be found under $100 per night across Airbnb, along with beachfront hostels Seaside Hawaiian Hostel; a steal given Hawaii's bank account-draining reputation.
You can also stay in nice boutique hotels lost in the mix of Honolulu's vibrant skyline, such as Aqua Aloha Surf Waikiki Hotel at a slightly higher rate.
Better yet, there have been numerous travel deals by various airlines to Honolulu throughout the year.
Keep an eye out for Southwest's sales, especially from the West Coast, where I've personally seen one-way flights as low as $69.
The best part about visiting Honolulu is that it's brimming with thrilling outdoor attractions. Obviously, you'll be spending a ton of time at the beach, which never costs a penny unless you forget to pack sunblock.
Food costs in Honolulu are about what you'd expect in any other major city. You can splurge on fine dining or find cheap eats like Honolulu's famous Hawaiian-style hot dogs.
Which Honolulu Beaches To Visit
Waikiki undoubtedly takes the cake as Honolulu's top beach, but this is like going to Rio and hitting up Copacabana.
In other words, expect an overload of tourists and local surfers. If that's your scene, TimeOut recommends booking a surf lesson at Sparky's .
But if you're like me and crave more idyllic coastlines, TripAdvisor highlights Eternity Beach, Halona Beach Cove, and Hickam Beach for more privacy in paradise.
The latter having the least amount of reviews on TripAdvisor, which signals to me it's one of Honolulu's hidden gems, especially since one beachgoer exclaimed, ‘It is so beautiful! I haven’t relaxed like that in forever!'.
You can't really go wrong, however. You're in Hawaii, after all!
One helpful tip to navigate Honolulu's water safely is checking out the city's Jellyfish Calendar (yep, it's a real thing!).
You'll be flying solo, so you don't want to ask a stranger to, well…you know the old saying to heal jellyfish stings…
Honolulu's Fun Excursions
You might picture remote island bliss when picturing Hawaii, but Honolulu is a relatively big city with lots to do.
You'll have no problem staying busy on your own, whether bar-hopping for MaiTai's or hopping aboard some fun excursions – one being a coffee cruise to start your day off right, also recommended by TimeOut.
Another cheap activity ($5) is to hike Honolulu's Diamond Head, offering breathtaking views of Waikiki and Oahu's lush greenery.
You could also book a walking tour (also $5) to discover all the urban delights this city brings – and make sure to add on a separate tour of Iolani Palace; it's gorgeous!
Many hostels offer group tours too to help cost-split. Plus, you may meet like-minded travelers.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
E-lectric
Wednesday 11th of December 2024
Better stick to the tourist track in Honolulu, otherwise you see the big city ills that plague the worst parts of the US.
Waikiki is maintained like Disney, the rest of Honolulu is as bad as big cities get.
Suzette Smetka
Saturday 14th of December 2024
@E-lectric, I’m sorry that’s your opinion of Honolulu. I’ve lived in Hawaii over 45 years and I disagree with you. Honolulu has an interesting Chinatown, the former kings palace, top notch museums and beautiful beaches islandwide. Don’t just stay in Waikiki! Our housing is very expensive and we’ve had an increase in houseless persons. Seeing some of them shouldn’t be scary. There are parts better to not go to but I wouldn’t paint the town as Bad. I think that’s true for everywhere. And anyway, people here are warm and friendly. You can’t beat it!