When it comes to vacations, we all want to splurge on the best of everything. Sadly, this isn’t an obtainable reality for most of us. Going away can be expensive, from airline costs to the high cost of the hotel buffet (which no one can really refuse). Vacations can be a real nightmare on your wallet if not planned out properly.  See how to save on Maui hotels below.

There is, however, a few ways to cut the cost of a holiday and get the vacation you want for a price that won’t leave you regretting the time you spent away from the desk. A major area to save money is in the accommodation you’ll be using while you’re away from home sweet home. So here are our top ten ways to save money on Maui hotels and other types of accommodation.

1. Research Is Key

If you’re planning a vacation, then it’s best to do so well in advance of when you actually want to go away. Use this time to look around for hotels or other accommodation options such as lodges or bed and breakfasts. Doing so will allow you to choose from the largest availability.

2. Location, Location, Location

When we go off on vacation, we often choose our lodging with the closest proximity to the attractions we want to see while away in a new place. Be it Big Beach in Makena or Kapalua Golf, it is often cheapest to find accommodation a little way outside the prime tourist destinations. Booking even 5-10 minutes away from usual tourist spots and hotels can save you more money than you realize. So, think Kihei instead of Wailea. Or Kahana instead of Kaʻanapali to save on Maui hotels.

3. How Long Will You Be Staying?

Booking for a night here, and a night there can raise your costs more than you would expect. So, when choosing where you will be staying, also take into account the duration of your stay. Many hotels offer discounts on rooms based on how long you will be staying there, normally less per night the longer you are there. If you plan on moving around a lot while on vacation you can save quite a bit of money to choose a central place to stay as opposed to two or three different hotels further away from each other.

4. Choosing Weekdays Over The Weekend

Hotels, Resorts, and Vacation Rentals will often offer discounts if you choose to stay with them over weekdays instead of the weekends. These discounts usually include Sunday evenings, so when choosing when to go on holiday try and get as many off-peak days as you can grab to keep the cost of your accommodation down.

5. Where Will You Eat

Most places will offer complimentary breakfast or discounted dinner options. While these packages are convenient, they are more often than not a lot more expensive than what they should be when you could simply head out somewhere else to enjoy a meal. When booking a place to stay, make sure that you check if any meals are included, and also be sure to see how much restaurants in the surrounding area cost.

6. The Shoulder Season (and off-season)

Peak season is when we all want to be on vacation. It seems like the best time of the year to be in a particular place, and none of us want to go during the off-season despite the discounts. Maui is different. Visiting during the shoulder season is far less expensive. This is the period of time between the peak and off seasons. The shoulder may include the end of the peak season and or the beginning of the off-season, but booking during this period will cost far less than peak and be more convenient to work around when taking work or school into consideration. Of course, the off-season will have the best pricing, and Maui is just as beautiful at this time. Summer and holidays are packed on Maui. Look to October/November for some good rates.

7. Bundling The Essentials

During the research stage for your vacation, you may stumble across a lot of travel bundles on offer. These bundles can include plane tickets, meals, accommodation, guided tours, and many other perks or benefits you want to be included in your vacation. By comparing these to the costs you have already found on your own, you may be able to find a deal. Be diligent though! Sometimes, though convenient, these packages cost you more than reserving everything separately.

8. We All Deserve A Reward Now And Then

While they often seem like much more of a hassle than they’re worth, reward programs are a great way to get discounts or coupons for travel and other vacation costs. In fact, most hotels offer a free reward program. So for those of us who frequently travel to the same vacation destinations they are a great option to earn free perks, or eventually even get a free stay. We often use reward credit cards like Starwood to lock in points toward hotels each year.

9. A Herd Of Tourists

A lot of people are able to reduce the cost of their hotel stays by simply going as a group. When booking a lot of rooms at one time most hotels offer a very decent discount. The rule of thumb is that the bigger the group, the bigger the discount will be. If you’re planning a vacation for a larger group, have a look at vacation homes with a lot of rooms, they are a surprisingly great option.

10. Use your Head

These tips are a great place to get started when planning your vacation and cutting unnecessary hotel costs, but our last tip can apply to more than just vacation. You should use it in your everyday life. Learn to budget and be money-wise. Beware the minibar! Be polite to the staff, this makes it easier to request an upgrade if you want it. Think and plan well before you leave home, and you should have an amazing time that won’t empty your wallet.