Is there an optimum length of stay when looking for air fare deals?

[LAS14]

Now that we're retired we can wait until "a deal" shows up to go to, say, Hawaii. I'd like to know what length of stay to specify to increase my chances of finding a good price. Is there such a thing as optimum length of stay?

tia
las

[Submariner]

1. Flying Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday flights helps fill the airlines weekday seats

and appear to offer the best cost deals. I have not heard of an optimum stay period.

[Eliot Rosewater]

2. Length of stay is irrelevant I believe, just the day of the week, whether you stay a week or a year.

The other poster mentioned days that usually are cheaper.

Check Hawaiian Airlines by the way.

I have United miles and would use them up but anytime I compare fares Hawaiian is cheaper, but they may not fly out of where you are.
Dont tell me where you are...LOL, not safe to do that.

We love Maui. Our family has an amazing history there.

Kauai is crazy beautiful and if you go there ONLY go to Poipu Beach area as in where to stay.

[LAS14]

5. We've been a few times before and Kauai is hands down my favorite, but...

...this time we're going to The Big Island.

[Eliot Rosewater]

6. aloha

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[DFW]

15. I stayed in Poipu the only time I was on Kaua'i

We loved it there, never even got up to see Princeville. The helicopter ride down the Waimea Canyon and along the Na Pali Coast was one of the most memorable rides I have ever been on.

[Eliot Rosewater]

18. Sheraton before the Hurricane years ago, room was steps from the beach, wow

[DFW]

19. The place was immense, but all was forgotten when we got down to the water

If I ever get back to Kaua'i, I'd prefer to stay in someplace less monolithic.

The most wonderful hotel we've ever stayed at was the Mauna Lani on the Big Island. Not the most luxurious or the fanciest, but its understated simplicity and optical beauty were not to be topped. The breakfast was number one in the world, and their fancy dancy restaurant, the Canoe House, was one of the few where the food was as spectacular as the view. Plus, the bay for snorkling was better than almost any aquarium.

[CurtEastPoint]

3. what date range are you flying and from where to where?

[LAS14]

4. Anytime in Jan, Feb or March, from Logan or Manchester N.H.

[CurtEastPoint]

7. and going to..........?

[CurtEastPoint]

8. to HNL? Just random checking via Expedia in Jan/Feb/Mar

fares for RT from BOS to HNL are in the 5oo range. You cannot beat that fare!

[LAS14]

10. Good to know how to judge. Thanks! Going to Hilo. nt

[CurtEastPoint]

11. It may be cheaper to fly to HNL then book a sep. flight than all the way to Hilo. You'll have to

investigate.

Eh... just compared and it may be cheaper to book through to Hilo. Good luck. Aloha!

[DFW]

16. We always flew into Kona

It was closer to our daughter's school. Her roommate was from South Kona. Her school was up the Kohala coast, up Kohala Mountain Road from Hawai'i Kai. They used to swim either at Hapuna or Mau Mae. We usually stayed in Waikoloa, as the accommodations in Kamuela (Waimea), where her school was, were primitive at best. Hilo gets more rain, and the botanical gardens were spectacular, but the Kona side just seemed more pleasant. Of course, if you are going to pay Madame Pele a visit at Kilauea, Hilo is as convenient as any place else to fly into.

[LAS14]

9. Thanks to all. I'm planning our trip to leave on a Wednesday and return on a Tuesday. nt

[Major Nikon]

12. Many times buying a round trip ticket doesn't save you any

The round trip price will often be equal to the one-way tickets added together.

Because of this I will often search multiple airlines for the one way ticket prices. Sometimes you can save money that way.

Just make sure you consider baggage and other fees into consideration as that is apples and oranges between carriers.

[Major Nikon]

13. Here's another tip

Southwest Airlines runs a promotion where they give you around 40-50,000 points if you sign up for their credit card and charge $1,000 on the card over a 3month period. I sign up both my wife and I for our own cards. Once I get the points I cancel the cards. Then I do it all over again the next year or as soon as they will let me.

I have to pay an annual fee of $69 for the card, but the amount is way less than what the points are worth.

40,000 points should be enough to get you to Hawaii and back provided SWA serves your area.

[LAS14]

14. thanks!

[Shrek]

17. The airline websites have tools to help with this

For example, on Delta I can choose the Price Calendar option and it'll give me a five-week grid with a specific price for any given combination of departure date and stay duration.

[LAS14]

20. Ohh!! Neat!