Car rental, not a DVC owner

[NanMar]

how necessary is a car rental? We're staying for 7 nights and with parking fees, I would pay more for parking than the actual car rental. Traveling with 2 kids, 1 is in a wheelchair. TIA

 

[kdonnel]

I couldn't imagine 7 nights at Aulani and not driving elsewhere. You can certainly do it but I wouldn't.

 

[PetePanMan]

would highly recommend car to go restaurants, other beaches / parts of island etc. unless you are the "stay at resort" type.

 

[nherbert]

There is Alamo car Rental on site. We just had a 5 night stay at Aulani and just rented a car for one day, though we had stayed elsewhere on Oahu for almost a week and seen Waikiki and the north shore already. To rent a car for multiple nights means you need to pay $37 a night for parking which is just cray in my opinion. It took less than 15 minutes for us to get the car at pickup at 9am and we just returned it to valet later in day. Driving is easy here.

Having said that my son would have been happy to have all 5 days at the resort.

 

[Julie645]

We are going to do the 1 day car rental also during our stay there are the resort. Its about $85 for one day from that location from what I can find for our trip that is about 3 weeks out. We are only doing 5 days also and I figure for the cost I really hope I can be entertained there for 4 of 5 days.. I am pretty sure we will be. I am not that worried about it, but so many people have tried to convince us we will be miserable without a car. The parking fee is insane I am guessing they don't want you to have a car to leave so you have to spend all your money there.

 

[nkereina]

We just got back from 7 nights and couldn't imagine being there without a car. The Ko'Olina area is very secluded, and also very few tours do pick ups and drop offs in that area. With our vehicle, we spent a day at the North Shore and a day on the windward side of the island at Kualoa Ranch. Having a car also allowed us to stop twice for groceries and toiletries we were running out of. With a family, having the option to pick up quick and easy things for breakfast and lunch will save you money on Aulani food costs, which may help make up for some of the parking cost.

We rented DVC points for our stay, which came with free parking. The savings on the room itself coupled with the parking saving made it a no brainer for us.

 

[jsteener]

We were there in April with 3 kids 5,3, 1. We had 6 full days there. We had stayed in Waikiki for a week with a car and we're able to see the island, so when we were at Aulani we never left the property besides ti go across the street for meals or to go grab groceries. It was an easy walk. * we also once walked down the street to paradise cove to snorkel but it is not wheelchair accessible.
Anyways, we felt we were sufficiently entertained at the resort. There was tonnes to do, and the kids spent some days in the pool, some days on the beach, and some days playing in the sand. We did quite a few free activities that were provide as well. All in all we never felt like we needed a vehicle while we were there!

 

[newdeal]

I am here right now. You need a car. If you were here 3 days maybe you could manage without a car but for 7 days you just need a car no question. There isn't that much around here

 

[Soccerluvinmama]

We are DVC, so we do not pay for parking. We rent a car and drive off somewhere at least once a day. But when I think about it, other than a handful of sightseeing days, those other trips are probably unnecessary. We will run off to Kapolei to shop or eat out, but we don't really need to.

You're looking at close to $300 in parking. It might make more sense for you to just rent a car from the resort as you need it. You're there for 8 days. The first and last are transition days, so I don't count those. So you have 6 full days at the resort. Even if you rent a car for half of those days, it would be less than what you pay for the parking alone, so I think you would come out ahead.

 

[NanMar]

That's what in thinking too. Shuttle from and to the airport is included and 1 day free rental car. We're doing sea life one day and Pearl Harbor another. I think overall it would be cheaper just to rent from the resort as needed.

 

[heaven2dc]

how necessary is a car rental? We're staying for 7 nights and with parking fees, I would pay more for parking than the actual car rental. Traveling with 2 kids, 1 is in a wheelchair. TIA

I'm curious - where can you rent a car for less than $37/day?

 

[NanMar]

I'm curious - where can you rent a car for less than $37/day?

On Expedia. $230 total price for pick up Sunday morning and drop off Sunday evening. It's a little more because I went with a bigger car (jeep) to make sure there was enough room for my son's wheelchair and medics equipment

 

[Soccerluvinmama]

On Expedia. $230 total price for pick up Sunday morning and drop off Sunday evening. It's a little more because I went with a bigger car (jeep) to make sure there was enough room for my son's wheelchair and medics equipment

Just FYI in case you didn't already know about it, Aulani has a couple of big wheeled wheel chairs that are meant to be taken on the sand that you can use. I saw someone using one back in Feburary. I believe the gentleman said they just asked the front desk to check it out, but I'm not positive. Anyhow, might be helpful for you when you're down on the beach

 

[nkereina]

Just FYI in case you didn't already know about it, Aulani has a couple of big wheeled wheel chairs that are meant to be taken on the sand that you can use. I saw someone using one back in Feburary. I believe the gentleman said they just asked the front desk to check it out, but I'm not positive. Anyhow, might be helpful for you when you're down on the beach

Good tip. When we were on Maui, we saw a rental company dropping one off at our resort so might be another good option too.

 

[newdeal]

you might spend more money getting a car on the day needed at aulani than you would paying for the whole time and paying for parking. Check the prices before you decide on that route. I got a mustang convertable through Alamo via costco for $265 for the week tax included

 

[NanMar]

Just FYI in case you didn't already know about it, Aulani has a couple of big wheeled wheel chairs that are meant to be taken on the sand that you can use. I saw someone using one back in Feburary. I believe the gentleman said they just asked the front desk to check it out, but I'm not positive. Anyhow, might be helpful for you when you're down on the beach

Thank you for sharing

 

[NanMar]

you might spend more money getting a car on the day needed at aulani than you would paying for the whole time and paying for parking. Check the prices before you decide on that route. I got a mustang convertable through Alamo via costco for $265 for the week tax included

I found one for $230 for the week with $37 for parking per night it's $489 vs $90 at Aulani as needed. If the parking was cheaper renting would definitely be the way to go. I don't think I've ever paid that much for parking per night.

 

[newdeal]

I found one for $230 for the week with $37 for parking per night it's $489 vs $90 at Aulani as needed. If the parking was cheaper renting would definitely be the way to go. I don't think I've ever paid that much for parking per night.

yeah that is a lot. Seems like most places in Honolulu are charging $30 per night for parking...although those same places also charge $30 a night for wifi and $30 per night resort fee which Aulani doesn't charge

 

[MouseOfCards]

Just FYI in case you didn't already know about it, Aulani has a couple of big wheeled wheel chairs that are meant to be taken on the sand that you can use. I saw someone using one back in Feburary. I believe the gentleman said they just asked the front desk to check it out, but I'm not positive. Anyhow, might be helpful for you when you're down on the beach

Good to know. Thank you.

 

[NancyDVC]

We are at Aulani now. We are DVC members and my DBF is using an ECV/scooter because she can't walk long distances. The resort is very accessible. We rented a car and the valets and bellmen have been very helpful getting the scooter taken apart put in and out of the car and put back together when we return.
During a tour yesterday I noticed a lift next to the hot tub/spa to get a wheelchair user in and out of the hot tub.
Bring your handicapped parking pass. We use my friend's pass. Check out car rental rates and see if it is feasible for getting a car for just a few days.
Also check out tours from Aulani. You can call the Holoholo Tour Desk (808) 674-6320. Their hours are 7:00 AM-6:00 PM HST. (Remember Aulani time is 6 hours behind EDT.) Ask if they have tours that are accessible for a wheelchair. If not they may have suggestions.
And there are so many activities it is hard to decide when to go off the property.