Aulani

[ZerasPride]

Good morning fellow Sassy Seniors!

I am in the early stages of planning a trip to Hawaii next year for me and DH. He is not in the best of health and I am a bit concerned about a long flight for him but am thinking of breaking up the long flight instead of taking a non-stop. We would fly out of our home city with a 3 hour lay-over and then finish up the flight to HNL. We are DVC members so would make Aulani our home base and not be hoping islands or even around Oahu itself. We are planning to stay as close to 2 weeks as possible - perhaps next September or November for our 32nd anniversary.

My query relates to being older and enduring the long plane ride. My husband thinks we should break up the trip but he hates the thought of packing up and going back to the airport to move to our next destination which is why I was thinking a flight with a long layover might be a better option to give us chance to stretch our legs. Also, how is Oahu/Aulani for seniors in general? I was thinking of booking a few private tours.

Any help/opinions are appreciated. Thanks!

 

[weewuvvdisney]

Good morning fellow Sassy Seniors!

I am in the early stages of planning a trip to Hawaii next year for me and DH. He is not in the best of health and I am a bit concerned about a long flight for him but am thinking of breaking up the long flight instead of taking a non-stop. We would fly out of our home city with a 3 hour lay-over and then finish up the flight to HNL. We are DVC members so would make Aulani our home base and not be hoping islands or even around Oahu itself. We are planning to stay as close to 2 weeks as possible - perhaps next September or November for our 32nd anniversary.

My query relates to being older and enduring the long plane ride. My husband thinks we should break up the trip but he hates the thought of packing up and going back to the airport to move to our next destination which is why I was thinking a flight with a long layover might be a better option to give us chance to stretch our legs. Also, how is Oahu/Aulani for seniors in general? I was thinking of booking a few private tours.

Any help/opinions are appreciated. Thanks!

Maybe take one flight and stay at the hotel at the airport (if there is one) and then just go downstairs in the morning and continue to your next flight. We were flying from Montreal to Toronto to Orlando using airmiles one time. Of course, the only flight we could get was in the evening from Montreal. It was so easy to just go upstairs to the hotel. Adds an expense but made the trip much easier especially with a little one.

 

[WinterSolider]

Not a Senior, just a fat guy... A direct flight on a big plane is much more comfortable than two flights on a 737 or similar. I would prioritize a wide-body aircraft over all other considerations.

 

[StormyCA]

Schlepping luggage is no fun. But I don't think there needs to be a lot of packing/unpacking for an overnight stay. Not sure what you do as far as checked luggage or carryon, but if it would be possible to do a carryon or small bag/backpack with a pair of pjs (each) and needed toiletries you wouldn't even have to open your suitcase. Otherwise, I'd pack the pjs & toiletries on top of one of the suitcase so you're just grabbing them off the top & the other bag doesn't even need to be opened.

 

[OKW Lover]

We visit Aulani every year or two. We've done it both ways. Living near WDW, we have flown to LAX and then to HNL as well as going WDW to ATL and then non-stop to HNL. The latter is our preference but often the price forces us to the former. We always fly first class/delta one to make the long flight more bearable.

The reason we prefer the longer ATL to HNL flight is that it gets it over with. Flying MCO to LAX is a 5 hour flight and the thought of having to get on another plane and do it all over again in order to get to HNL isn't wonderful. We've tried flying to LAX later in the day and spending a night at a LAX hotel before flying to HNL the following morning. It works but then you subject yourself to the whole airport shuttle/check in process again. Not fun.