Trying to Plan Hawaii, Aulani

[cvrapclark]

For our 25th anniverary next summer, we want to go to Hawaii, never been. We are DVC members and hope to use points and stay at the new DVC resort. My question is how to plan for food cost and other expenses.

It looks like plan tickets from Atlanta is going to be $1500 to $2000. You can't purchase tickets right now for late June.

I just have no idea. Any advice would be great!!

 

[croppincolburn]

Some of their table service restaurants have menu links with prices on them. I'm sure we will get more info as people start returning from trips.

 

[chris31997]

Are you going to have a car? Are you going to do anything else like luau outside of Aulani?

As a rule of thumb add about 10-25% more to the cost of things. If it cost $1.00 in GA than it is going to cost you $1.50 for example. However, there are plenty of things to do that are free and breathe taking. Many hikes and beaches here that are beautiful.

I would encourage you to get a car for at least part of your trip here and explore the island. Kailua Beach or Lanikai(sp) is one of the top beaches. The Pali lookout is very windy but a neat place to go. Paradise Cove has an excellant luau, and real close to Aulani. Polynesian Cultural Center is a good place to see all the islands that contributed to Hawaii. Sea Life Park, is a small Sea World and is kinda neat. Don't forget the North Shore, to say you have been there and done that. Halewia(sp) has a neat shopping area with a Wylan store, the artist that does ocean life artwork. The best place to get cheap souviners is the Aloha stadium on Wends and the Weekends, just make sure it says made in Hawaii not in China

 

[crisi]

You'll want a car.

Are you planning a DVC studio or will you have a kitchen?

We went to the Big Island and Maui this Spring - both units had kitchens. We were able to do some in room cooking - we bought our stuff at a local grocery store and the concierge at the hotel directed us AWAY from the tourist area to the grocery store where the locals tend to shop. Groceries were more expensive than we were used to (I'd say about a 50% markup on most things).

There are plenty of Hawaii guidebooks which will give you ideas on what to do - from there you can cost them using the internet.

It wasn't a cheap vacation. Hawaii was hands down wonderful, but next time we will be back in Mexico for half the money.

 

[PatMcDuck]

We also want to go "someday" to Aulani.

Is airfare always just crazy to Hawaii? I am so clueless!

 

[klmall]

Go to the Dole Plantation and get a Dole Whip and other delights! Also hike up Diamond Head; it's easy! We stayed at Lanikai Beach in 2004 and loved the whole island.

See our trip pictures here.

 

[andrews_dad]

I've spent 7 weeks of my life on the islands over two vacations, each one 3 plus weeks. LOVE LOVE LOVE Hawaii. Been all over lower 48 US, Canada, Caribbean, and Europe but Hawaii is our fav by far.

 

[daughtersrus]

If you rent a car, be sure to bring a GPS. Being from the Chicago area, we're used to traffic but all of the street names on Oahu sound alike.

 

[Carlyzmom]

Go to the Dole Plantation and get a Dole Whip and other delights! Also hike up Diamond Head; it's easy! We stayed at Lanikai Beach in 2004 and loved the whole island.

See our trip pictures here.

REALLY nice pictures!!! Now I REALLY want to go!!!!

 

[polly p]

We will be there in Dec. I got airfare for$1050 each ticket from travelocity. Also got books from bookstore on hawaii. It has restaurants listed, price range, review etc.

Books also give you inexpensive things to do and see. Planning has been lots of fun, but everyone I talk to said Hawaii is expensive so just be prepared.

Also on Aulani webpage they list a parking surcharge, so if you rent a car you may have to pay to park it.

 

[mermaidwannabe]

Go to the Dole Plantation and get a Dole Whip and other delights! Also hike up Diamond Head; it's easy! We stayed at Lanikai Beach in 2004 and loved the whole island.

See our trip pictures here.

So sweet of you to post those! I loved looking through them. We promised my DD14 a graduation gift of Hawaii when she was 12. It's a huge splurge! Hope airfare isn't too insane but we will just plan for it. Anyways, just wanted to say how much I enjoyed your pics!

 

[PatriciaH]

Air to Hawaii was under $400pp RT from Boston a few weeks ago so watch for specials. I think Southwest will be flying there soon. We want to fly to CA for a few days next fall to visit with our friends, then fly to Aulani for 3 nights, then do the NCL cruise and back to CA for a night or 2.

 

[Texan]

PatriciaH: I just had to chime in; I am still picking up my jaw off the floor; from 1978 to 2012 you have done so much at WDW, DL and other places; I am completely, utterly jealous; does anything stand out more than others? How did you find time to do all this? I am not being nosey; I am just in awe!

 

[MEM]

Air to Hawaii was under $400pp RT from Boston a few weeks ago so watch for specials. I think Southwest will be flying there soon. We want to fly to CA for a few days next fall to visit with our friends, then fly to Aulani for 3 nights, then do the NCL cruise and back to CA for a night or 2.

Really!?! I'm in Boston and haven't seen anything that low - do you recall which airline? We are planning a trip in 2012 to Aulani and I hope you are correct about SWA.

 

[daughtersrus]

Really!?! I'm in Boston and haven't seen anything that low - do you recall which airline? We are planning a trip in 2012 to Aulani and I hope you are correct about SWA.

I don't think that they are yet. The last that I read was that they were adding larger planes that would allow them to fly there.

We're hoping to get back there and Southwest flies out of Midway instead of Ohare so that would be an added bonus.


http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/news/2010/10/29/southwest-airlines-ceo-mentions.html

 

[PatriciaH]

Really!?! I'm in Boston and haven't seen anything that low - do you recall which airline? We are planning a trip in 2012 to Aulani and I hope you are correct about SWA.

It was most of the major airlines. It was a great deal! Some folks on the DIS from Canada even got great $450pp or so fares! Our friends that work for Southwest said "soon."

 

[PatriciaH]

PatriciaH: I just had to chime in; I am still picking up my jaw off the floor; from 1978 to 2012 you have done so much at WDW, DL and other places; I am completely, utterly jealous; does anything stand out more than others? How did you find time to do all this? I am not being nosey; I am just in awe!

Thanks Travel is a priority for us. I was and am a travel agent again so I used to get really great deals-now not so much. DH and I were CM's for about 5 years too so we got discounts on rooms/cruises. Our friends work for SWA so they give us buddy passes, my parents live in Celebration so we have a place to stay, our good friends live in San Diego so we have a place to stay there. We have lots of CM friends still at WDW too.

I would say our Adventures By Disney trips were our best trips ever! And this list is just our Disney trips! We still have so many places to visit too!

 

[AK_Christina]

My only advice while you are there is to find a local bbq place and order Meat Juhn. Its like thinly sliced seasoned beef fried in a sort of egg batter that comes with this delicious dipping sauce. I used to live in Hawaii and that is by far the one thing I miss the most! I dream about the stuff. =) We are actually planning a trip back in Feb for a long weekend and I will be buying a tray full right before our flight back to take back with me... and snack on on the flight.. lol

 

[MinnieForMe]

Air to Hawaii was under $400pp RT from Boston a few weeks ago so watch for specials. I think Southwest will be flying there soon. We want to fly to CA for a few days next fall to visit with our friends, then fly to Aulani for 3 nights, then do the NCL cruise and back to CA for a night or 2.

Can you share where you were watching to find this price? I would have snatched it up at this price. We tried to go last year but the airfare I found from Boston to Hawaii was 2k a person x 5 made a very, very expensive vacation. LOL!

 

[kaywoody]

My husband and I got married in Hawaii, and we bought airfare only from a charter package. It was half the price of other flights. We didn't have the flexibility of when we departed and arrived, but luckily it fit our schedule perfectly!