Big Island (Kona & Hilo) from San Diego, 14 – 21 Nov: £1,690 for two, all in
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The verdict
Our verdict
Worth it, if
- £24 per person below the typical fare on this route
- Lowest in 30 days on this route
- Kalani Kai#104, rated 9 by 6 guests
The catch: Not nonstop: a stop on the way, 8h 3m in all.
Worth it if you want sun, sand and a pool; skip it if you want a city to walk.
Round-trip flights from San Diego to the Big Island cost $496 per person ($992 for two) for Nov 14–21, 2026. That's 7 nights on Alaska, operated as Hawaiian Airlines, with 1 stop. Expect highs of 80–81°F and lows near 70°F, and the best-value stay, Kalani Kai#104 in Kailua-Kona, is $1,250 for the week.
The total, before you go
£1,690 for two · 7 nights · flights, hotel, taxes & fees
| For two | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two, return | £748 |
| Kalani Kai#104, 7 nights, two guests, taxes in | £942 |
| The total, before you go | £1,690 |
| Hold luggage each, return (not in the total) | about £106 |
£24 per person below the typical fare on this route.
Not in it: seat selection on basic fares and hold luggage (about £26 each way per bag on Alaska, £106 for two return); a resort fee, if the hotel has one, is collected at the desk. Prices are what we found at the time shown; the booking site’s checkout is the binding one.
The flight
£374 per person, return
£748 for two, taxes and fees included · Alaska. Operated by Alaska as Hawaiian Airlines + Alaska as Hawaiian Airlines · 1 stop · 8h 3m
Out Sat, Nov 14, 8:05 AM – Sat, Nov 14, 2:08 PM
| Airline | Per person | Stops | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska. Operated by Alaska as Hawaiian Airlines + Alaska as Hawaiian Airlines | £374 | 1 stop | 8h 3m |
| Alaska | £375 | nonstop | 6h 9m |
| Alaska. Operated by Alaska as Hawaiian Airlines | £374 | 1 stop | 8h 17m |
Prices checked 13 Oct 2026, 21:28 GMT-7. Prices change; the binding price is the one on the booking site.
Paid links: when you book through a link on this page, the booking site pays us a referral fee. Your price does not change. How we earn
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Why now
At $496 per person, the fare is $32 below the typical fare on this route, which is $528. That's about 6% less, and it carries a Lowest in 30 days tag. We checked 12 offers, and fares ran from $496 to $609. Prices include taxes and fees as of when we checked, and they can change. Mid-November falls between Ironman weekend in October and humpback whale season, which starts in December, so the Kohala Coast peak hasn't started yet. Normals show highs of 80–81°F and lows near 70°F, with more overcast days than clear ones. That's comfortable weather for walking around the Kilauea caldera, snorkeling with manta rays at night and driving the long loop around the island. With seven nights, you'll have time for the Kona side and the volcano.
The kind of trip this is
This is a nature-and-adventure week on a road-trip island: volcanoes, black sand, snorkel bays and coffee farms, with beach time in between. It suits a couple or two friends who don't mind early starts and long drives, followed by slow evenings in Kailua-Kona. Days are active and nights are easy. All three stays are in the same town, so you can unpack once and take day trips from there.
Weather in Big Island (Kona & Hilo), 14 – 21 Nov
Typical highs 80–81°F, lows near 70°F this time of year
| Day | Typical high | Typical low | Typical weather |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 14 Nov | 80 °F | 70 °F | Drizzle |
| Sun 15 Nov | 80 °F | 71 °F | Partly cloudy |
| Mon 16 Nov | 80 °F | 69 °F | Partly cloudy |
| Tue 17 Nov | 80 °F | 70 °F | Overcast |
| Wed 18 Nov | 81 °F | 70 °F | Overcast |
| Thu 19 Nov | 81 °F | 70 °F | Overcast |
| Fri 20 Nov | 80 °F | 69 °F | Overcast |
| Sat 21 Nov | 80 °F | 69 °F | Partly cloudy |
Weather data by Open-Meteo.com · averages, not a forecast
Where to stay in Big Island (Kona & Hilo)
All three stays are in Kailua-Kona, a walkable seaside town with coffee shops, snorkel tours and mid-range hotels. It's an easy base for the west side. Kalani Kai#104 is the best value: a vacation home at $1,250 for 7 nights ($179 a night), rated 9 from 6 reviews. Kona Plaza#218 is the other low-cost vacation home at $1,338 ($191 a night). It's rated 10, but from only 3 reviews, so keep that small sample in mind. Aston Kona By The Sea is the top-rated pick with the most reviews behind it: a 4-star one-bedroom suite with a partial ocean view, rated 8.2 from 327 reviews, at $2,985 ($426 a night). All three are room only. If you want a night near the volcano, Volcano Village has rainforest B&Bs at the park gate.
Kalani Kai#104
£942 for 7 nights, two guests · £135 a night
See roomsAston Kona By The Sea
£2,250 for 7 nights, two guests · £321 a night
See roomsKona Plaza#218
£1,009 for 7 nights, two guests · £144 a night
See roomsAll hotels in Big Island (Kona & Hilo) for these dates
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Where in Big Island (Kona & Hilo)
- Kohala Coast (Waikoloa, Mauna Lani, Mauna Kea): The island's sunniest resort strip with golden beaches and golf.
- Kailua-Kona: Walkable seaside town with coffee shops, snorkel tours and mid-range hotels.
- Volcano Village: Rainforest B&Bs at the gate of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
- Hilo: Rainy east-side town near waterfalls and the volcano, at budget rates.
- Captain Cook / Kealakekua: Coffee-farm country above the best snorkelling bay.
What to do in Big Island (Kona & Hilo)
- See the Kilauea caldera at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
- Snorkel with manta rays at night off Kona
- Stargaze from the Mauna Kea visitor station after dark
- Kayak and snorkel Kealakekua Bay at the Captain Cook monument
- Walk the black sand of Punaluu Beach
- Tour a Kona coffee farm in the Captain Cook / Kealakekua hills
Tours and tickets in Big Island (Kona & Hilo)
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Getting there and around
| Airports in San Diego | San Diego International (SAN) |
|---|---|
| Airports in Big Island (Kona & Hilo) | Kona International (KOA), Hilo International (ITO) |
| Flight time | 8h 3m (1 stop) |
| Distance | 2,555 miles each way |
| Time difference | -2 hours |
Paid links: when you book through a link on this page, the booking site pays us a referral fee. Your price does not change. How we earn
What 7 nights in Big Island (Kona & Hilo) costs
| Estimate | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two | £748 |
| Hotel, 7 nights (Kalani Kai#104) | £942 |
| Food, getting around and tickets, 7 days for two | £1,372 |
| Total for two | £3,062 |
Flights and hotel are the prices we found; spending is a planning estimate for an upscale destination, per person per day times two.
Price history: San Diego to Big Island (Kona & Hilo)
| Per person | |
|---|---|
| This trip | £374 per person |
| Lowest in the last 30 days | £374 (14 Oct 2026) |
| Typical price, last 60 days | £398 |
| Price checks | 6 |
Good to know
- Passport: no passport needed for travellers from the United States: a government photo ID is enough for Big Island (Kona & Hilo).
- Currency: US dollar (USD).
- No passport is needed: it's a domestic trip, and you pay in US dollars.
- Hawaii is 2 hours behind San Diego, and the flight covers 2,555 miles.
- The $496 fare has 1 stop and takes 8h 3m: it leaves SAN at 8:05 AM and lands at KOA at 2:08 PM.
- None of the three stays offers free cancellation, and all are room only.
- Humpback whale season runs December through March, so this week comes just before it starts.
Questions readers ask
How much is the flight?
It's $496 per person round trip, or $992 for two, including taxes and fees as of when we checked. The flight is on Alaska, operated as Hawaiian Airlines, with 1 stop. A nonstop Alaska flight was $497 per person: it leaves at 11:43 AM, lands at 3:52 PM and takes 6h 9m.
Do I need a passport?
No. The Big Island is in the United States, so a domestic ID works, and you'll pay in US dollars.
What is the weather like?
Normals for these dates show highs of 80–81°F and lows of 69–71°F. Most days are partly cloudy or overcast, and Saturday, Nov 14 has drizzle in the normals.
What does the whole week cost for two?
We estimate $4,062 for two: $992 for flights, $1,250 at Kalani Kai#104 and $1,820 for spending, which is $130 per person a day over 7 days.
Is 7 nights enough?
Yes, for the highlights. Seven nights gives you time for Kona snorkeling, a coffee farm, a day at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and an evening at the Mauna Kea visitor station.
Which airport do I fly into?
The fare we found lands at Kona International (KOA), close to all three stays in Kailua-Kona. The island's other airport is Hilo International (ITO), on the east side.
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Big Island (Kona & Hilo) in pictures
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Prices converted from US dollars at the rate of 15 Oct 2026.
Image credits
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- Photo: Josh Withers / Pexels, Pexels License
- Photo: Brian Wolf / Pexels, Pexels License