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Here’s how to take a Maui golf trip (and play Kapalua’s Plantation course!) for less than $2,400

January 3, 2020

There’s nothing like watching the PGA Tour’s annual opener at Kapalua’s Plantation course to get you in the mood for a Hawaiian golf getaway. The locale is truly paradise: swaying palm trees, breaching humpbacks, and average daily highs that reach 80 degrees … in January!

Not only that, but the newly revamped Tour venue is both a feast for the eyes and a stern test for pros and recreational players alike. If budget is of no concern for you, you can stay in one of GOLF’s Top 100 Resorts, the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua, to make your trip truly one to remember. But if you want to make the getaway as reasonably priced as possible, you can stay elsewhere to maximize your hard-earned vacation dollars. Here’s how to take the golf trip of your dreams to the Aloha state for less than $2,400.

AIRFARE: $400

From a west coast starting point like SFO, LAX and even PHX, you can get a truly smokin’ deal on airfare. A quick search on Kayak revealed nonstop flights to Maui’s airport, OGG, as low as $258 round-trip (!!) for a four-night stay in late February/early March — a veritable steal!

Coming from the east coast makes things a bit more pricey — not to mention time-consuming. From JFK, you’re looking at a layover and at least $500 in airfare. The price is slightly higher from BOS.

Total airfare: ~$400

GROUND TRANSPORTATION: $87

A rental car is definitely in order for this trip, since a one-way Uber from OGG to Kapalua will set you back over $70, and it’s certainly handy to have your own vehicle over a four-day stay.

Kayak has a deal on intermediate cars for only $174 for a four-day trip — a good bargain, especially when split in half.

TOTAL SPEND: $400 + $87 = $487

The Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa is set on 40 oceanfront acres.
The Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa is set on 40 oceanfront acres.
Hyatt.com

LODGING: $999.29

The Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa, centrally located on nearby Ka’anapali Beach, is within walking distance to popular shopping and dining destination Whalers Village, and is just over 15 minutes in the car from Kapalua. And you can’t do much better at a name-brand, oceanfront Hawaiian resort than $404.68 per night, which comes out to a total of $1,998.58 after taxes and fees — $999.29 per person when shared.

TOTAL SPEND: $487 + $999.29 = $1,486.29

GREEN FEES: $498

Since this is a four-day trip, we’ll assume you’ll play two rounds of golf, and one of those rounds will be at Kapalua’s spectacular Plantation course, which isn’t cheap at $359 per person, but hey, it’s pretty much the reason you crossed the Pacific to visit Maui in the first place, right?

Day 2 options are more budget-friendly. You could stay in Kapalua and play the Plantation’s sister course, the Bay, for $229, or one of Ka’anapali’s two courses, the Royal Ka’anapali ($179), or the Ka’anapali Kai ($139). Note: When you stay at a Ka’anapali Resort like the Hyatt, you get a discounted rate at both of the Ka’anapali golf courses, which is what I listed.

If you go with the least expensive option, the Kai, your total green fee spend is $498 per person.

TOTAL SPEND: $1,486.29 + $498 = $1,984.29

Kapalua's Plantation course offers spectacular views.
Kapalua's Plantation course offers spectacular views.
Courtesy

DINING:

Dining while on vacation is expensive at the best of times, and that’s even more true when you visit an in-demand destination like Hawaii. Food and drinks over a four-night stay are never going to be a bargain, but here’s how you can stay somewhat on track:

Arrival dinner: $50

Day 1 golf course lunch: $25

Day 1 dinner: $50

Day 2 golf course lunch: $25

Day 2 dinner: $50

Day 3 lunch: $35

Day 3 dinner: $50

Miscellaneous breakfasts and snacks: $100

Total dining: $385

TOTAL SPEND: $1,984.29 + $385 = $2,369.29 

And there you have it! Four nights and two rounds of golf in paradise, all for under $2,400! Ready to book? Happy travels!

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