Molokai is Hawaii's most affordable island, especially for hotels. And because the island's restaurants are few, most hotel rooms and condo units come with kitchens, which can save you a bundle on dining costs.
The downside is that there aren't too many accommodations options on Molokai -- mostly B&Bs, condos, a few quaint oceanfront vacation rentals, an aging resort, and a very expensive lodge. For camping on Molokai, you have two options: the upscale tentalows offered by The Beach Village at Molokai Ranch, or, for hardy souls, camping with your own tent at the beach or in the cool upland forest. We've listed our top picks below; for additional options, contact Molokai Vacation Rentals, P.O. Box 1979, Kaunakakai, HI 96748 (tel. 800/367-2984 or 808/553-8334; fax 808/553-3783; www.molokai-vacation-rental.com). They have a range of vacation homes, from quaint oceanfront cottages for two from $105 a night to six-bedroom homes that sleep 12 for $750 a night. Note: Taxes of 11.42% will be added to your hotel bill. Parking is free.
Believe It or Not: High-Priced Camping
This was a great idea: a unique eco-adventure that combines camping and outdoor activities with the amenities of a resort. The Beach Village at Molokai Ranch (tel. 888/627-8082 or 808/660-2824; fax 808/552-2773; www.molokairanch.com) features camping on an exclusive private beach, with very upscale "camping" accommodations. The Beach Village offers "tentalows" (safari-type tents mounted on wooden platforms). This is yuppie camping -- with queen-size or twin beds, ceiling fans, solar-powered lights, private bathrooms with composting toilets, and solar hot-water showers, plus big decks with lounge chairs, hammocks, and picnic tables. There's even daily maid service! A big pavilion at the beach has all-you-can-eat buffet meals three times a day, plus nightly entertainment under the stars.
When the ranch first opened these camps in 1997, the price included airport pickup, meals, and a large menu of outdoor activities (horseback riding, mountain biking, hiking, sailing, snorkeling, kayaking, and other adventures). It was all-inclusive and quite a deal at $185 per person.
Today the prices have risen to an astounding $294 for garden tentalows, up to $386 for a tentalow directly on the beach (plus the ubiquitous resort fee of $15 a day for transportation to the beach, use of facilities at The Lodge, use of the fitness center, safe, unlimited faxing and copying, and use of beach equipment at the beach camp), and meals and activities are no longer included. Children 17 and under do stay free (with an adult), and children 12 and under also eat free when accompanied by an adult. Meal prices are $15 for breakfast, $15 for lunch, and $31 for dinner. So the price for two adults staying in the least expensive room, including meals, tax, and the resort fee, comes to $471 a day -- and that's not including any activities you may want to do. That's pretty expensive "camping."
