Aulani rental csr

[Iggipolka]

I'm thinking about renting a car at the airport for our upcoming 7 day Aulani stay. Best I'm finding is around $300 for a midsize, which has me wondering if we really need a car.
We do want to go to Safeway, the Dole Plantation & maybe visit a beach or two, so that's why I'm thinking about the car.
For those who have been, is a car needed?

 

[Cinderpamela]

Personally I would not do it without a car. Our thinking was we spent all this money to get to Hawaii and then to not explore the island and all it has to offer would seem a waste.

We drove up to the Northshore, Dole Plantation, and to Turtle beach, drove to Pearl Harbor, went into Waikiki a couple of times. Plus we were able to go to Walmart and the Super Target and get great prices on gifts to bring home. And a must is to go to Leonards Bakery for their Malasada's! Yum!

I would not want to have to rely on eating all my meals in and around Aulani. It was a great experience to be able to try other places.

If you are a Costco member for sure check their rates. We wound up getting an amazing deal through them. It started out with a reservation at around $300 and then every time I checked back it got lower and lower. I think I finally paid around $25 per day for a compact SUV. I felt pretty good about that!

 

[Anal Annie]

I also wouldn't want to be stuck at Aulani without a rental car - it is not going to be like staying IN Waikiki. While I will want to plan a couple of days to just relax and enjoy the resort I can't imagine not wanting to go into Waikiki once or twice and I can never skip Pearl Harbor. We've never been to the North Shore and I'm really looking forward to that...oh and I want to take surf lessons at the Hawaii Fireman's Surf School...and then there are the Target & Costco runs....I know we will not stay planted at the resort for 7 full days. We always rent a car on Maui or the Big Island too when we go so I know this will be the same. It's just not going to be like when we stay in Waikiki and you can walk to a lot of stuff or take the bus.

We're not going until August and I've been pricing rentals and a "full size" has been running about $350ish, even at Costco. From what I've read on the Transportation Board tho it sounds like prices don't start to drop until JUST BEFORE your dates so keep checking! You can always book something for now & then cancel it later if (when) you find a better deal. For now, I have a reservation thru Thrifty for about $272 I think it was. Not sure I want to use Thrifty but it was the cheapest deal I've found so far. I am hoping Costco or Priceline will beat it when we get closer. My first choice would be National then Enterprise so I will keep my eye out for deals.

 

[wdrl]

A rental car can help offset some of the other expenses you'll encounter during your trip. If you don't rent a car, you'll have to pay for your transfers to and from Aulani. Aulani is about 20 miles or so west of the Honolulu Airport and fares are not cheap. If I recall correctly, you'll have to budget at least $50-$75 each way.

If you have a car, you'll have more flexibility in terms of dining. We used our rental car to drive to the Super Target in Kapolei (about 5 miles from Aulani) to get breakfast items, bread and sandwich meats, fruit, and frozen dinners. This helped us reduce the cost of meals during our trip.

There is one additional car related expense you'll have to budget if you are not a DVC member. If you are a DVC member, then parking is free at Aulani. Otherwise, parking a vehicle at Aulani will cost $35 a day.

 

[parrotheadlois]

We used the Costco code and got a Jeep Patriot for 11 days for $225, no parking fee for DVC members so we definitely think we'll get our money's worth. I brought my Garmin from home, works here perfectly!

 

[CynthiaC925]

We used the Costco code and got a Jeep Patriot for 11 days for $225, no parking fee for DVC members so we definitely think we'll get our money's worth. I brought my Garmin from home, works here perfectly!

Hi. I have an economy car with Enterprise for $160 for 8 days through southwest

 

[Anal Annie]

We used the Costco code and got a Jeep Patriot for 11 days for $225, no parking fee for DVC members so we definitely think we'll get our money's worth. I brought my Garmin from home, works here perfectly!

Hi. I have an economy car with Enterprise for $160 for 8 days through southwest

About how far out from your actual travel dates did you find these deals? Is my info. from the Transportation Board right in that it will be much, much closer to the travel dates before deals are available?!

 

[Iggipolka]

Thanks for the info. I guess we'll rent the car, just in case we decide to go someplace. We've got 2 kids under 4, so we're not going to be taking any long drives.
We are Costco members & I used our Entertainment Book coupon for the $300 rate. How close to travel dates are the better deals, a couple weeks out?

 

[NC State Tigger]

Hoping to book at 7 months for an Oct trip for family---we will be 7 (6 adults and 1 child 3 yrs old). Our first trip to Hawaii.

After reading this and other threads, I am sure we will need/want a rental car for our visit.

What type vechicle(s) would be best? We will need a car seat for DGD. Will a mini van be large enough for our party? None of us drive a minivan now. Should we get 2 cars?

Not sure one would be large enough to hold all our luggage. Used a private transfer for our transfer to cruise last year--10 passenger van and filled up the back with luggage.

We hope to do 3 nights in Honolulu and then 7 nights at Aulani. Hate to pay for parking on Honolulu--probably wold not use car that much,if at all for that part of trip.

Any advise?

Thanks-

Donna

 

[Joey7295]

I will be at Aulani April 16-22 and I have a compact at Thrifty for $156.50

 

[huhwhat]

I will be at Aulani April 16-22 and I have a compact at Thrifty for $156.50

wow ! great rate...I just paid $356 for 6 six day rental....through costco....timing is everything !!

FYI...if you do not rent a car it will cost you $100 just to get a shuttle to Aulani......go ahead and rent ~! The Target near Costco also has food

 

[dizneekrazee]

I have a compact booked for just under $19/day for mid April.

 

[Iggipolka]

I will be at Aulani April 16-22 and I have a compact at Thrifty for $156.50

Wow! Fantastic rate! We're going to be there at the same time. . I'm going to look at rebooking my reservation now !

 

[DVC_Corrys]

A car is a must.....

Start trying Priceline now... bid low, you can keep trying.

I booked a Costco rental for $365 for 9 days and tried as a joke one night on Priceline not thinking it would be accepted and I got a 9 day car rental for $200 bucks after all taxes/fees/surcharges/levys/firstchild/etc... that was a win.

 

[polkadotrocks]

I will be at Aulani April 16-22 and I have a compact at Thrifty for $156.50

I see that you are going to Aulani in April of this year. Do you have any concerns about the improvements that they are doing on the property and how it will affect the guests? We are arriving mid May and that was my only concern,


And completely off of the subject, where did you find the pictures or tickers that you have in your signature with the Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort and The Villas at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa with their logos? I've been trying to do my tickers all day and could not find anything like that.

Anyways, if you have heard anything that might help our give us a heads up for the trip it would be greatly apprecited.

Regards,
Julie

 

[Anal Annie]

A car is a must.....

Start trying Priceline now... bid low, you can keep trying.

I booked a Costco rental for $365 for 9 days and tried as a joke one night on Priceline not thinking it would be accepted and I got a 9 day car rental for $200 bucks after all taxes/fees/surcharges/levys/firstchild/etc... that was a win.

How far out from your dates did you do the Priceline bid? I've heard the chances are better the closer to your dates. Also, who did the car end up being through? I currently have one through Thrifty but would prefer another place (like National or Enterprise). We will also need a car for 3.5 (4) days on Maui after our week at Aulani.

 

[ludari]

I have been to the Hawaiian Islands several times and a car rental is necessary IMHO. I have never stayed at Aulani but just confirmed my first trip in May and I will definitely get a rental car.

 

[TagsMissy]

We most definitely needed the car! Aulani is quite far off the beaten path and so without the car you can't do much. I'd also rent offsite as it's cheaper than the rental onsite.

I'd have to look back on my Aulani notes but I found a discount code online which saved us substantial money on our 10 day rental.... just look up Oahu car rental discount codes or something similar to that phrasing. I know we paid $250~ tax all in for the 10 days with the discount code for a compact car.

 

[DVC_Corrys]

How far out from your dates did you do the Priceline bid? I've heard the chances are better the closer to your dates. Also, who did the car end up being through? I currently have one through Thrifty but would prefer another place (like National or Enterprise). We will also need a car for 3.5 (4) days on Maui after our week at Aulani.

My bid was January for a May trip! It was with National.

You can try every 24 hours... so, it is fun for trip planning.

 

[Anal Annie]

My bid was January for a May trip! It was with National.

You can try every 24 hours... so, it is fun for trip planning.

Thanks...maybe I'll try it soon then. We're going in August. I am afraid of getting too small of a car and not having enough room for the luggage. There's only 3 of us and I HAVE learned to cut back on my packing but I HAVE been known to not be able to get all of the luggage to fit in the car before! I don't know if we can get by with "midsize" or if we need larger (full size)? I know compact will not be big enough for 3 people with 3 large checked bags and 3 carry-ons plus some groceries etc...