Many visitors to Hawaii end up at pricey, indifferent, chain-owned megaresorts simply because they don't realize that Hawaii is filled with scores of reasonably priced B&Bs. Big resorts may have lots of amenities and flashy trappings, but those who yearn to experience the "real" Hawaii of quiet gardens, rural landscapes, and hospitable residents are never assured of finding those elements in a large hotel. What's more, bed-and-breakfasts are much, much cheaper than Hawaii's mainstream hotels (as you'll discover in the list below). You aren't a sociable B&B person? Don't worry; many of the properties we describe have private entrances, private lanais, even private hot tubs. Most B&B lovers are savvy budget travelers who know that B&Bs are a great way to meet local friends, find out about secret places to visit, and feel that you are part of the fabric of the place and not an anonymous tourist. As for the reliability of proprietors, keep in mind that Hawaii's strict zoning and business laws make obtaining a B&B license very difficult, and those procedures ensure a high level of quality. At the same time, many unlicensed B&Bs have operated de facto for decades and are perfectly professional.

Be sure to ask if the B&B has a minimum-stay requirement and if they will give you a discount for weekly stays (most do). Also, single travelers may be quoted cheaper rates than the ones listed below, which are based on double occupancy. An excellent Web resource for B&Bs in Hawaii is a local one run from the Big Island: Hawaii's Best Bed & Breakfast, 800/262-9912, bestbnb.com.

The Big Island

1. Areca Palms Estate Bed and Breakfast (P.O. Box 489, Captain Cook, HI 96704; 800/545-4390, konabedandbreakfast.com) is on a country estate in the higher-elevation coffee-growing area of Captain Cook. Four rooms have access to tropical gardens with a canopied Jacuzzi, and the B&B has a three-diamond rating by AAA. Rooms start at $85.

2. Butterfly Inn (P.O. Box 6010, Kurtistown, HI 96760; 800/546-2442, thebutterflyinn.com), not far from Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, is a two-story B&B for women travelers, amid an acre of fruit and macadamia nut trees. The top floor of the house has two bedrooms with large windows and a private entrance, and the hot tub in the garden is a perfect place for enjoying the balmy Big Island evenings. Rooms start at $65.

3. Da Third House Bed and Breakfast (85-4585 Mamalahoa Hwy., Captain Cook, HI 96704; 808/328-8410, stayhawaii.com/dathird) is in a remote area of South Kona but only five minutes from swimming and snorkeling beaches. A spacious studio includes a continental breakfast served on your own private lanai. Rooms start at $65.

4. Hale Aloha Guest Ranch (84-4780 Mamalahoa Hwy., Captain Cook, HI 96704; 800/897-3188, halealoha.com) is tucked away on a mountainside in South Kona and run by the friendly German host, Johann, with cozy suites extending into covered patios, a hot tub, and huge breakfasts served with ocean views. Rooms start at $80.

5. Hale Kipa 'O Pele (P.O. Box 5252, Kailua-Kona, HI 96745; 800/528-2456, gaystayhawaii.com) is a plantation-style home popular with gay travelers but open to everyone, located in a quiet suburb above Kailua-Kona town, with three airy suites and a Jacuzzi amid wide gardens. Rooms start at $85.

6. Hale Maluhia Country Inn (76-770 Hualalai Rd., Kailua-Kona, HI 96740; 800/559-6627, hawaii-bnb.com/halemal.html), the "House of Peace," is an estate with a wonderful Japanese-stone-and-tile hot tub, koi ponds, waterfalls, and garden pathways, with five rooms and a slightly more expensive tree house, and full breakfasts with an omelette bar included. Rooms start at $90.

7. Hale Nui Bed and Breakfast (P.O. Box 127, Mountain View, HI 96771; 888/968-4253, bbonline.com/hi/halenui) is between Hilo and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, on the edge of the Ola'a Forest Preserve. Four rooms in a snug home go for reasonable rates, and special discounts are given to parties of four or more. Rooms start at $45.

8. Hale Ohia Cottages (P.O. Box 758, Volcano Village, HI 96785; 800/455-3803, haleohia.com) is one of the most unique B&Bs in the state, built in 1931 with fairy-tale-like cottages filled with antiques scattered around a fern tree and often mist-shrouded property, right next to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Rooms start at $95.

9. Hale Ho'onanea (P.O. Box 6568, Kamuela, HI 96743; 877/882-1653, houseofrelaxation.com) is on three acres in Kohala Estates, with four separate suites decorated with local art and with a panoramic ocean view overlooking the Kohala Coast. Rooms start at $90.