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While in Honolulu last week hundred dollar bills were flowing out of my wallet like the great flood. I guess I just wanted to feel like a naive tourist. Why I don't know. I'm not going to let that happen to you here in Kona, if you want to save some dough, listen up! Don't eat at the hotel every day. You can still eat out and save money, just eat were we eat. (Those of us who live here.) For breakfast: Big Island Grill or U-Top It, see here for more info and directions: U-Top It and Big Island Grill Info U Top it only does breakfast and lunch. Big Island Grill does that plus dinner. As far as dinner goes, up and down Alii Dr. from the King Kamehameha hotel there are places to eat. Bubba Gumps, Hard Rock Cafe, Outback Steakhouse, Huggo's and soon there will be the Fish Hopper opening in the old Ocean View Inn. Oops, I almost forgot the Kona Inn restaurant in the village. Last but not least, Hooters is due to open in the old Chart House location. All the places I mentioned above are where the locals eat. If you really want to save money, you can pick up snacks and or food at Sack and Save located on Palani Rd behind First Hawaiian Bank, located at the first stop light south of Queen Kaahumanu Hwy. Turn Left. Safeway grocery is located on Henry St. Take Queen Kaahumanu Hwy to Henry St and head up hill. Second light on the left is Safeway. Make sure to apply for a Safeway card so you don't pay the tourist prices. Really. You'll save a pile of dough.
If you're coming for an extended stay and you're renting a house or condo, go to Costco if you're a member. Located in the new industrial area just south of the airport. Coming from the airport, turn left on Hina Lani, go to the first street and turn right.(Kanalani St.) Go to the third street and turn left.(Maiau St.) Go up the little hill and Costco is on the right. You can't miss it.
There just isn't anyway of getting around the rental car cost here if you want to explore the island on your own. There is a couple of buses that run here, but they're few and far between. Not really practical for seeing the island. In the future I'll be writing more about how to have a cheap Kona vacation and still have a great time. But in the mean time I got to go back to work to recover from that financial whoop'n I took over in Honolulu. LOL.
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Another area I really took a bath on was the rental car. Jeez, I could have bought a beater for what I paid. I have a policy with American Express that insures the rental car for any damage that my regular insurance won't cover. It goes into effect whenever I rent a car and use the American Express card. It's about 26 bucks for the entire rental period if I remember correctly. Much cheaper than the rental car agency's fee of 15 to 20 bucks a day.