HI must-dos & when to visit Aulani?

[theseacallsme]

Hi everyone,

I'm planning a trip for Sept 2018 for my husband and myself and am currently just gathering ideas.

At the moment, I'm thinking we'll spend about a week touring Hawaii and about a week at Aulani (staying at the resort and visiting the surrounding area).

For those of you that have been to Hawaii, what are your must-dos and must-visit spots/islands? Should we save Aulani for after we tour other areas of Hawaii, or stay there first? What's fun to do outside of the resort? How pricey are rental cars, and how pricey is Aulani's spa services?

So far on my must-do list I have snorkeling & seeing a volcano!

Any and all suggestions are welcome! Thank you

 

[OKW Lover]

Interesting question. When you say "tour other areas of Hawaii" I'm guessing you mean flying to some of the other islands. The only active volcano right now I believe is on the the Big Island (AKA Hawaii). Lots of folks also enjoy visiting Maui and Kauai.

At any rate, I'd suggest you do that touring first and then use the week at Aulani as relaxation. Rental cars are pricey compared to Orlando, but not so bad when you compare to big cities or other resort areas. Aulani's spa is beautiful and it is a bit pricey, but again probably in line with spas in resort destinations.

 

[theseacallsme]

Interesting question. When you say "tour other areas of Hawaii" I'm guessing you mean flying to some of the other islands. The only active volcano right now I believe is on the the Big Island (AKA Hawaii). Lots of folks also enjoy visiting Maui and Kauai.

At any rate, I'd suggest you do that touring first and then use the week at Aulani as relaxation. Rental cars are pricey compared to Orlando, but not so bad when you compare to big cities or other resort areas. Aulani's spa is beautiful and it is a bit pricey, but again probably in line with spas in resort destinations.

Yes, I meant fly to other islands! I am hoping once we're at Aulani we won't necessarily need a rental car. I was definitely leaning towards saving Aulani for the end of the trip!

 

[Midoria]

I would recommend picking up a few tour and books about Hawaii. They are super useful when it comes to planning trips. The thing about asking other people is that if no one else knows about it, then you won't know about it either. I would start by asking how many nights that you plan to be in Hawaii. That's the first thing you have to consider when planning what you can and want to do.

 

[OKW Lover]

Just to amplify my comment about the cost of Aulani's spa services, we recently cruised on RCL and had a massage on board. The price at Aulani was approximately the same as the RCL massage. Aulani's spa has the added advantage of the relaxation area which you can take advantage of before and after your massage. The whole experience at Aulani's spa is really wonderful. Here's a link to their current price list. https://www.disneyaulani.com/media/resorts/pdf/spa/Laniwai-Spa-Pricing.pdf

 

[nkereina]

We did a lot of what you are asking about on our honeymoon last September. My trip report link is in my signature. We loved going in September - low crowds and excellent weather.

We do spa services often when we travel, and we actually found Aulani's spa pricing to be on par with other high end spas we have visited. At home, our local hotel & casino has a nice spa and Aulani's pricing was comparable to it. But with Aulani, they include an auto 20% gratuity as well. We did a couples massage at Laniwai and thought it was definitely worth the price.

We stayed in Waikiki for 3 nights first while adjusting to the time change from the east coast. During this time, we took advantage of our early rise mornings and did Pearl Harbor and Diamond Head. We did not have a rental car as we just booked group tours that picked us up from our hotel in Waikiki. We also wanted to avoid traffic/parking hassles and costs in Waikiki. From there, we flew to Maui for 3 nights and then Kauai for 3 nights. It was a lot of moving around but we did feel we got to see the highlights most important to us on each island, so I don't regret doing it this way. The only thing I would change is that I would book our inter-island flights for either early morning or late night. We flew mid-day which just ate up too much time during the best part of the day. Between Maui and Kauai, we preferred Kauai but I would definitely go to either one again. After Kauai, we spent 6 nights at Aulani. We did tour the North Shore and visited Kualoa Ranch during our time at Aulani but we spent most of the time relaxing. I definitely recommend doing Aulani last and making sure you bake in ample time to enjoy the resort. You are paying for and Aulani is not the best location for touring, so it's best to enjoy the resort amenities while there.

Have fun!

 

[kdonnel]

Yes, I meant fly to other islands! I am hoping once we're at Aulani we won't necessarily need a rental car. I was definitely leaning towards saving Aulani for the end of the trip!

There are alot of things to do on Oahu that would require a rental car. It would be a shame if all you saw of Oahu was the airport and Aulani.

There is Haleiwa and the North Shore beaches, Kaena Point State Park, Diamond Head Crater, the KoKo Head Stairs, Kualoa Ranch, Kailua Beach Park, Lanikai Beach, so many hikes, etc....

 

[nkereina]

Yes, I meant fly to other islands! I am hoping once we're at Aulani we won't necessarily need a rental car. I was definitely leaning towards saving Aulani for the end of the trip!

There are alot of things to do on Oahu that would require a rental car. It would be a shame if all you saw of Oahu was the airport and Aulani.

There is Haleiwa and the North Shore beaches, Kaena Point State Park, Diamond Head Crater, the KoKo Head Stairs, Kualoa Ranch, Kailua Beach Park, Lanikai Beach, so many hikes, etc....

I do agree that a rental car is crucial. Even though we spent most of our time at Aulani relaxing, having a car was convenient for seeing the North Shore and Kualoa Ranch at our own pace. And I'd also recommend visiting Waikik which is probably easiest to drive to. Driving also avoids the issue with getting back to the airport, and allows you to stop for groceries and/or meals outside of Ko Olina which gives you tons more options and can save you money as well.

 

[Elima2015]

I would put Aulani at the end of your trip. If Aulani is the only destination on Oahu and you plan to spend a week, then I highly suggest renting a car. A week just at Aulani would be a bit of a tall order and this is coming from a family who can do beach/pool for days on end (in particular the food/dining would be a stretch to never leave the resort). There are so many great things on Oahu that it would be a shame to miss them all. We love the sights and vibe on the North Shore. We have very young children, so only stopped at Pearl Harbor, but without kids or with a bit older kids, I would have loved to spend more time there. Loved the swap meet and would have very much liked to see the other side of the island - spend the day at a beach, and perhaps see Waikiki. We found that we could venture out to see something, like the North Shore, and be back around 2:00 and go relax by the pool or at the beach. There is also plenty to do at Aulani, so we enjoyed several resort days as well. We saved a chunk of money and stress by buying breakfast items at Costco in near-by Kapolei and eating in the room -- same for snack type foods.

 

[keighttf]

Would definitely recommend going to the big island to see the volcano. Our first trip we did Oahu and the big island and our second trip we did Oahu, Maui, and Kauai. For us the big island was a must see. We really enjoyed Kauai but that would be second in priority for us. We enjoyed Maui but for us it wasn't a must do and we may or may not ever go back. I know for some people it is their favorite. I agree with a previous post about scheduling inter island flights early in the morning or late at night so you don't loose a whole day in travel.

 

[theseacallsme]

I would recommend picking up a few tour and books about Hawaii. They are super useful when it comes to planning trips. The thing about asking other people is that if no one else knows about it, then you won't know about it either. I would start by asking how many nights that you plan to be in Hawaii. That's the first thing you have to consider when planning what you can and want to do.

I absolutely will, but since it's so far in advance, I wanted a place to start and to hear from what others have enjoyed (I love word-of-mouth recs!)

 

[theseacallsme]

Just to amplify my comment about the cost of Aulani's spa services, we recently cruised on RCL and had a massage on board. The price at Aulani was approximately the same as the RCL massage. Aulani's spa has the added advantage of the relaxation area which you can take advantage of before and after your massage. The whole experience at Aulani's spa is really wonderful. Here's a link to their current price list. https://www.disneyaulani.com/media/resorts/pdf/spa/Laniwai-Spa-Pricing.pdf

Thanks for the link! I'll have to budget for the couple's massage. I love a good spa relaxation area and would prob spend a lot of time in it!

 

[theseacallsme]

We did a lot of what you are asking about on our honeymoon last September. My trip report link is in my signature. We loved going in September - low crowds and excellent weather.

We do spa services often when we travel, and we actually found Aulani's spa pricing to be on par with other high end spas we have visited. At home, our local hotel & casino has a nice spa and Aulani's pricing was comparable to it. But with Aulani, they include an auto 20% gratuity as well. We did a couples massage at Laniwai and thought it was definitely worth the price.

We stayed in Waikiki for 3 nights first while adjusting to the time change from the east coast. During this time, we took advantage of our early rise mornings and did Pearl Harbor and Diamond Head. We did not have a rental car as we just booked group tours that picked us up from our hotel in Waikiki. We also wanted to avoid traffic/parking hassles and costs in Waikiki. From there, we flew to Maui for 3 nights and then Kauai for 3 nights. It was a lot of moving around but we did feel we got to see the highlights most important to us on each island, so I don't regret doing it this way. The only thing I would change is that I would book our inter-island flights for either early morning or late night. We flew mid-day which just ate up too much time during the best part of the day. Between Maui and Kauai, we preferred Kauai but I would definitely go to either one again. After Kauai, we spent 6 nights at Aulani. We did tour the North Shore and visited Kualoa Ranch during our time at Aulani but we spent most of the time relaxing. I definitely recommend doing Aulani last and making sure you bake in ample time to enjoy the resort. You are paying for and Aulani is not the best location for touring, so it's best to enjoy the resort amenities while there.

Have fun!

I can't wait to read your report! Thanks for all of the suggestions!!

 

[theseacallsme]

There are alot of things to do on Oahu that would require a rental car. It would be a shame if all you saw of Oahu was the airport and Aulani.

There is Haleiwa and the North Shore beaches, Kaena Point State Park, Diamond Head Crater, the KoKo Head Stairs, Kualoa Ranch, Kailua Beach Park, Lanikai Beach, so many hikes, etc....

I'll have to look into other things to do (though I do want to spent a lot of time relaxing too!)

 

[theseacallsme]

I do agree that a rental car is crucial. Even though we spent most of our time at Aulani relaxing, having a car was convenient for seeing the North Shore and Kualoa Ranch at our own pace. And I'd also recommend visiting Waikik which is probably easiest to drive to. Driving also avoids the issue with getting back to the airport, and allows you to stop for groceries and/or meals outside of Ko Olina which gives you tons more options and can save you money as well.

Thanks! I guess we'll have to suck it up and get a car while we're there!

 

[theseacallsme]

I would put Aulani at the end of your trip. If Aulani is the only destination on Oahu and you plan to spend a week, then I highly suggest renting a car. A week just at Aulani would be a bit of a tall order and this is coming from a family who can do beach/pool for days on end (in particular the food/dining would be a stretch to never leave the resort). There are so many great things on Oahu that it would be a shame to miss them all. We love the sights and vibe on the North Shore. We have very young children, so only stopped at Pearl Harbor, but without kids or with a bit older kids, I would have loved to spend more time there. Loved the swap meet and would have very much liked to see the other side of the island - spend the day at a beach, and perhaps see Waikiki. We found that we could venture out to see something, like the North Shore, and be back around 2:00 and go relax by the pool or at the beach. There is also plenty to do at Aulani, so we enjoyed several resort days as well. We saved a chunk of money and stress by buying breakfast items at Costco in near-by Kapolei and eating in the room -- same for snack type foods.

Both my grandfathers fought in WWII, so Pearl Harbor is a must-do. I am definitely looking forward to at least a few days of resort laziness!

 

[theseacallsme]

Would definitely recommend going to the big island to see the volcano. Our first trip we did Oahu and the big island and our second trip we did Oahu, Maui, and Kauai. For us the big island was a must see. We really enjoyed Kauai but that would be second in priority for us. We enjoyed Maui but for us it wasn't a must do and we may or may not ever go back. I know for some people it is their favorite. I agree with a previous post about scheduling inter island flights early in the morning or late at night so you don't loose a whole day in travel.

I'll keep that in mind when it's time to schedule flights. Thank you!

 

[cgattis]

If you love to snorkel, Hanauma Bay is a must IMO!! One of my very few trip regrets is that we didn't go back there a second time (along with a second morning of surfing for DD). We also enjoyed snorkeling at Poipu Beach on Kauai and Sharks Cove on the north shore. We LOVED our new full-face snorkel masks and if you haven't tried one, I highly recommend it.

Seeing a live volcano was HIGH on my list and it was great! There are also some nice waterfalls near Hilo if you use that as your base for that part of your trip. I highly recommend trying to see it during the day AND at night,

Kauai was so beautiful--it looks prehistoric! It's like being in Jurassic Park without worrying about getting eaten by a dinosaur LOL. Seeing seals in Poipu was a major highlight of our trip. Waimea Canyon was gorgeous and I can't believe we almost skipped it. The drive from Poipu to there is beautiful and Koloa town is cute.

Seeing black/green/red sand beaches was another biggie for me. There are some of each around the islands, so check that out if you think that sounds cool

Waianapanapa Beach was the highlight of Maui for me, but Maui is so visually diverse, there is some different gorgeous thing everywhere you look. I think Kauai is more beautiful overall, but with it being so small, I want to do more of Maui and a splash more of Kauai on my next trip. We also enjoyed seeing upcountry--my husband is a farmer and really loved it (tried to get him to find a job there!! LOL) I want to snorkel Molokini crater next trip--look that up if you haven't. I was afraid my son would be intimidated by it, but after all the awesome snorkeling we did, he'll totally enjoy that next time!

We did Pearl Harbor and the north shore from Aulani, but tried to maximize our resort time there, just resting and relaxing from all our adventures!!!

 

[theseacallsme]

If you love to snorkel, Hanauma Bay is a must IMO!! One of my very few trip regrets is that we didn't go back there a second time (along with a second morning of surfing for DD). We also enjoyed snorkeling at Poipu Beach on Kauai and Sharks Cove on the north shore. We LOVED our new full-face snorkel masks and if you haven't tried one, I highly recommend it.

Seeing a live volcano was HIGH on my list and it was great! There are also some nice waterfalls near Hilo if you use that as your base for that part of your trip. I highly recommend trying to see it during the day AND at night,

Kauai was so beautiful--it looks prehistoric! It's like being in Jurassic Park without worrying about getting eaten by a dinosaur LOL. Seeing seals in Poipu was a major highlight of our trip. Waimea Canyon was gorgeous and I can't believe we almost skipped it. The drive from Poipu to there is beautiful and Koloa town is cute.

Seeing black/green/red sand beaches was another biggie for me. There are some of each around the islands, so check that out if you think that sounds cool

Waianapanapa Beach was the highlight of Maui for me, but Maui is so visually diverse, there is some different gorgeous thing everywhere you look. I think Kauai is more beautiful overall, but with it being so small, I want to do more of Maui and a splash more of Kauai on my next trip. We also enjoyed seeing upcountry--my husband is a farmer and really loved it (tried to get him to find a job there!! LOL) I want to snorkel Molokini crater next trip--look that up if you haven't. I was afraid my son would be intimidated by it, but after all the awesome snorkeling we did, he'll totally enjoy that next time!

We did Pearl Harbor and the north shore from Aulani, but tried to maximize our resort time there, just resting and relaxing from all our adventures!!!

SO much good stuff in here! Thank you!!!

 

[theseacallsme]

After doing some research, I've come to accept that I will probably be better off just choosing 1 island to visit (in addition to Oahu). I am learning it's very time consuming to island-hop and it would eat into a lot of valuable trip time!

That being said, which island could you easily spend a week touring/exploring?