2nd time to Aulani, but still have some questions!

[joy327]

We will be heading to Aulani next Monday. So excited. It will be the 2nd time for us, but I still have some questions and see if anyone has answers here. Great appreciate if you do.
1. I will take my two sons to Aulani's surfing lessons. I booked this through Aulani excursions webpage. From the site, it says gratuity not included. I just wonder how much I should tip the instructors? It's based on percentage of the price or not? I booked private lessons for both of them, so need to prepare some cash before heading there. Please help! And how about the driver? We also reserved transportation to and back. Should I tip the drive? And how much?
2. I've been reading some thread before that if you walk a little more to the left from Aulani beach, you will see some seals or sea turtles there? I've tried to search for the post that mentioned it but for somehow, I could not see it anymore. Can someone give me some more details about that, please? This trip, my husband will not be able to join us, so I cancelled rental car and are planning to just stay at the resort only. So would like to see if I can bring the kids to see sea turtles or seals without leaving Aulani. Thanks for the answers.
3. Since my husband not with us, I would like to book spa treatment for myself while kids in the Aunty Beach house. I have sent the request throught their website and someone did reply it via email. But after I replied the email, now I have not get any response. Anyone, who's been to their spa, should I call them instead of emailing them? If I wait till we get there, then book the spa, will it be too late? In the email, they mentioned that if I am DVC member, there're some free upgrades, but I thought we can get discounts, not just free upgrades. Cause their free upgrade is the one I want, not sure how should I book that.
Thanks so much for anyone who can answer my questions.

 

[southerngirl528]

Aloha Joy327,

Aulani is awesome, yes? In re: beach w/sea turtles, as I recall you would turn RIGHT or north as you face the ocean from Aulani to see the turtles. No guarantees they will be there but I recall the TR you are referring to. As to seals, you would be referring to monk seals, which are endangered and in all my trips to Hawaii, I have only seen one. They are a rare sight and it is against the law to get close to either of these wildlife species. But you can still get great pix from a safe distance without harassing the animals.

On the spa appointment, if it was me I would definitely call them. I would not wait because services/times do get booked up. As for the DVC upgrades, please don't expect much. I'm a longtime DVC member and have gone to the spa for both our stays there and it is something really small like an aromatherapy upgrade or similar. But the spa is fabulous!!

Not sure about the gratuity question. The excursions desk at Aulani could advise you I'm sure.

Happy planning!!

 

[joy327]

Thank you so much for your answers. I will call spa to reserve the time and ask excursions desk for the gratuity.

 

[jtkboston]

We will be heading to Aulani next Monday.

I'll be there starting Wednesday with my family for a week.
Perhaps we'll cross paths while there?

 

[joy327]

Yes, we will be there for a week, too. So excited! "High five"