Aulani help - split time with Turtle Bay?

[nkereina]

Hoping someone who's been to the North Shore or even Turtle Bay Resort can help out.

Planning a two week trip to Hawaii (our first time) for October 2016. First week we'll spend a few nights in Waikiki to do Diamond Head, Pearl Harbor, and shopping staying at Hilton Hawaiian Village. We'll then be hopping to Maui for a few nights followed by a few nights in Kauai.

Our second week I had originally planned to spend entirely at Aulani, hopefully on rented points. But I've been concerned it will be difficult to rent points for a studio for 7 nights straight, especially if I have to rent at the 7 month mark (if I'm unable to find an owner). So, now I'm considering spending 4 nights at Aulani followed by 3 nights at Turtle Bay at the North Shore. We'll have a car and were planning on driving to the North Shore during our Aulani visit anyway, so now I'm wonder if maybe a split stay is the way to go? I'd just hate to be disappointed with Turtle Bay and wish we'd spent the week at Aulani.

What would you do?

 

[Girimama33]

If you have little kids, you may want to stay at Aulani. Turtle Bay is beautiful and it is a great location in order to really take in that side of Oahu, but it lacks the amenities that Aulani has for families. I think you should try and do all 7 days at Aulani, if you can't then splitting a stay at TB would be a great option.

 

[nkereina]

If you have little kids, you may want to stay at Aulani. Turtle Bay is beautiful and it is a great location in order to really take in that side of Oahu, but it lacks the amenities that Aulani has for families. I think you should try and do all 7 days at Aulani, if you can't then splitting a stay at TB would be a great option.

No kids. Just DH and I celebrating our anniversary. With that info, what would you choose?

 

[Girimama33]

I would consider the split stay then. A few days in Waikiki, a few days at Aulani and then a few at Turtle Bay sounds like a great week.

 

[DVCismyhappyplace]

I'm confused. You're going for 2 weeks and trying for the final 7 nights at Aulani. Prior to that, you will be spending a few nights in Waikiki, and then hopping to Maui and Kauai? That's very heavy on the Oahu time and leaves you no time to explore Maui or Kauai. I personally think you need more time on either Maui or Kauai than you would on Oahu. With a two week stay, I would only hit two islands. Three is rushing it.

 

[Anal Annie]

I agree that's a lot of packing & moving not to mention an extra flight to pay for if you return to Oahu again but just wanted to say that I would FINISH at Aulani not Turtle Bay. I really think it would be a big disappointment to go there immediately after Aulani. I don't think it's a good use of your time to hop around so much from place to place / island to island. I DO think it is smart to visit more than 1 island but I think you're hopping around too much for just 2 weeks. OI would just do 2 places on Oahu. JM2C.

 

[chainkid]

I have stayed at the turtle Bay resort . It has a beautiful lobby and the area is very pretty but the rooms are really dated IMO. I was abit disappointed and I had an ocean view room. I also spent three days which was more than enough for me.

 

[dsneygirl]

4 hotels/3 islands in 2 weeks sounds way too crazy for me. That's a lot of packing, moving, waiting for flights etc.

 

[karatstravels]

We did this exact trip last October. 12 days, started at the Royal Hawaiian in Waikiki then to Turtle Bay then finished at Aulani. We were travelling with our 2 kids (11 and 3 months). We enjoyed the North Shore and glad we went. Turtle Bay was nice and I believe all the room have been recently renovated we had a large ocean view room that was all new and very nice, however it was my least favorite hotel of the three. I found the service lacking (especially when compared to the Royal Hawaiian) and they make you check out every pool towel. When you are paying 400+ per night I hate feeling like they think I am going to steal the paper thin beach towels, for some reason this really annoys me. We were at Turtle Bay for 4 nights which was perfect, we spent most of our time visiting various beaches, heading to town for shaved ice and food trucks and snorkelling with the turtles. I would certainly go back, the beaches at Turtle Bay put Aulani to shame, but the hotel is just good not spectacular.