5 Nights in April

[cruisehopeful]

I just booked a 5 night stay for mid-April in a one bedroom ocean view on DVC points. It's a somewhat impulsive booking, but I already pay for the points and I had a companion airfare code that I needed to use. My husband and I are pretty pumped about going to back to Hawaii since we haven't been since a few years before covid.

I do need to try to keep the spending down because we have a significant trip the month before. What's the overall opinon on renting a car for the whole stay vs. just a couple days? We'll need a car for a couple days for sure because our favorite part of the island is the North Shore. Is there a rental office in or near Aulani? Are we better off just renting from the airport and keeping the car the whole time? Otherwise, we'd rideshare to and from the airport.

Any other thoughts/ideas on keeping our overall costs down? We always spend way more than we plan when we go to Hawaii. I know we can make meals in our room, but I'll probably want one good meal per day at a restaurant. I'll have to leave a lot of stuff for a future trip, due to money, but I'd like to have as full of an experience as possible. It's just 2 active older adults, one is gluten intolerant and sober. Any ideas/suggestions are welcome.

 

[VGCgroupie]

There is rental on site. I would go online and compare the cost to renting on site a couple days vs the whole rental from airport. Often airport rentals are much much cheaper so it could be a wash.

Having a 1 bed will help with costs on food. Groceries are expensive in Hawaii so keep that in mind and dont overbuy. There are Facebook groups where people post stuff they are leaving behind and they usually have a lot of good stuff, I see many people going to Costco so they have lots of stuff leave upon departure.


Eating out at Aulani, across the street and next door we didnt do much of so I cant help there. We love the natural vegetarian grocery store in Hawaii and they have to go meals that we ate often. https://www.downtoearth.org/


As for keeping costs down I would be diligent about booking all the free offerings they have. Makes for a fun time. Mondays are member party night so I always try to be there on a Monday night.

 

[cruisehopeful]

Down to Earth meals sound great for me. I'll check out the Facebook pages for giveaways.

The DVC event on Monday night sounds fun. I want to do the luau, but it's too pricey for this visit. The DVC event will be a nice alternative.

And I'll get my 8x10 for MMB. I'm glad my husband agrees with my Mickey math. I have to go to Hawaii to get my free 8x10 to get value for my MMB membership.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Down to Earth meals sound great for me. I'll check out the Facebook pages for giveaways.

The DVC event on Monday night sounds fun. I want to do the luau, but it's too pricey for this visit. The DVC event will be a nice alternative.

And I'll get my 8x10 for MMB. I'm glad my husband agrees with my Mickey math. I have to go to Hawaii to get my free 8x10 to get value for my MMB membership.

We have not done the luau. If you book an Island Garden view as opposed to an Ocean View it's possible to get a room that overlooks the Luau from your balcony, great bang for your points.

Yes get that 8x10!

 

[maxbuffmelvin]

I always rent a car for the week at the airport, and prices have ranged from $200 to $800 (COVID era) for the week. Having the car will give more options for getting food off-site at reasonable prices.

We are not foodies, so we generally skip signature/fancy restaurants. We love the abundance of reasonably priced Japanese restaurants in Oahu. Look up the YouTubbers for cheap dining options: Bill and Lisa, Amanda and Felix, Hawaiian Traveler (Sean Kapolali), and Ordinary Adventures.