Hawaii for family of 5

[Brissymum]

Hi,
We are looking at going to Hawaii in then near future, me,DH, DS9, DD8, DD4. Trying to find somewhere to stay for about 14 nights as a family of 5 is proving harder than I thought. I did look at the new Disney resort, but wow those prices are crazy!! Anyone have any recommendation??

 

[battymum]

Travelmum, this ones for you!

 

[Travel Mum]

Battymum

Brissymum, we are also a family of five and we go to Honolulu on December 29th for 17 nights. Aulani is totally out of our budget so there is no way we could stay there but I do hope to go and have a look on one of the days we have a rental car.

Since we arrive at the absolute peak time for Honolulu travel, we are staying our first 8 nights at the least expensive hotel option I could find for my family of five. That is at the Ohana Waikiki West where we have booked a Kitchenette Combo. That is two guaranteed rooms one of which has a little kitchenette. It will mean we will have two bathrooms, two T.V.s, and either four double beds or one king and two doubles - depends what they allocate us. My sister and her own family of five are staying there too.

For the next part of the stay, my sister and her family are moving to the Aston Waikiki Banyan where they have a One-Bedroom apartment. I've stayed there before in the past pre-children and it's fine but I knew my family would want more space than that and so searched for a Two-Bedroom. There are other Astons that have Two-Bedrooms but I found a private condo to rent and fell in love with it. So, for our last 9 nights we are here: http://www.vrbo.com/6740

Hope that helps

 

[Brissymum]

Thanks Travel Mum for your quick reply now have a few places to try and google. One more quick question.... Who are you flying with?

 

[Travel Mum]

We are flying Air New Zealand (we live in NZ)

 

[WAMUMOF4]

You could always rent some points from a DVC member if you wanted a more reasonable price for Aulani.

 

[aussietravellers]

We always stay at the Moana Surfrider in recent years.

The rooms in the Tower Wing (not the diamond tower or banyon wings) are a reasonable size, have two queens and would easily fit a single trundle in there.

Not sure if by law they can have 5 though. But the hotel is amazing! We LOVE it!

 

[JessL]

Would you consider staying in a house? We stayed here -> http://www.hawaii-beachhomes.com/Unit.mvc/Details/2348 in September and LOVED it! It depends on what sort of holiday you're looking for though. This is on the North Shore, so the opposite side to Waikiki. But we're not big fans of Waikiki anyway. Too many hotels, too many shops and too many people for us.

Up side: It's quieter that side of the island - it reminds me a little of the Daintree - it's the way I picture Hawaii in my head. The beach is literally just outside your door and is only accessible by private houses, there were sea turtles swimming with us and a monk seal came up on the beach outside the house to sunbake. Close to surf beaches and snorkelling areas. Hale'iwa is a gorgeous town. We could self-cater which made it much cheaper. A whole house with three bedrooms, two toilets, a washing machine and dryer and a lounge and dining area.

Down side: We had to hire a car. We would have liked to eat out more often.

We're hoping to go back in August 2013 and will definitely stay there again.

 

[aussietravellers]

too many shops

What? There can NEVER be too many shops. Shopping makes a holiday go round

That house looks fantastic! What an amazing spot too. Beautiful!

 

[Brissymum]

We don't have much experience travelling, so I am a bit hesitant to book through places like VBRO....I have this irrational fear of turning up and finding there is no place,even though my mother lists her holiday home on there Although some of those place on there look pretty awesome and would be prefect for what we need.

Would definitely be hiring a car, I hate not being able to go where we want to go.

Thanks for all the helpful suggestions, it definitely something to keep in mind

 

[Beee]

14 of us are staying at the embassy suites in waikiki, I'm pretty sure a 1 bedroom suite would sleep 5 easily. They have a floor plan of the different suites on their website. It's a fantastic location for shops and restaurants etc. we did look into renting a house but you'd need a rental car and we decided with ages ranging from 8-80 we'd be wanting to split off into groups and do our own thing so something central suited us better.

 

[areweindisneyyet]

Embassy Suites is a good location. Often include breakfast and a nightly managers reception. I second taking a look. Trump Towers is getting pricey but also will take 5 but we are moving up the scale and is just around the corner from Embassy Suites. Their is Denny's, PF Chang all in this area, a Cheesecake Factory not too far in the other direction. Close to the Waikiki Macy's. Buses also run to get to Ala Moana, Pearl Harbour, SeaLife Park from closeby to get around the island.

 

[Travel Mum]

All these recommendations about what is around the Embassy Suites is great for me as The Imperial Resort, where our penthouse apartment is, is directly across that little street, Lewers street I think. On Google streetview, it looks like The Imperial entrance is opposite The Embassy Suites entrance

 

[areweindisneyyet]

We stayed further up at Hilton Waikiki Village. We walked to lowers street most nights for dinner. There was an abc store which are everywhere selling some groceries, sandwiches drinks and souvenirs. Heading back towards my hotel there is a us army museum around the corner at the fort. Along the beach in front for the fort you can hire beach equipment. Note while the aqua bikes look good they are way tiring. The men folk took the kiddies and they did not last the full hire time even trying to chase and avoid each other.

 

[Beee]

All these recommendations about what is around the Embassy Suites is great for me as The Imperial Resort, where our penthouse apartment is, is directly across that little street, Lewers street I think. On Google streetview, it looks like The Imperial entrance is opposite The Embassy Suites entrance

I have some other recommendations for places to eat etc around there from a friend at work so I will post them for you later. It really does sound like there is so much to choose from, we certainly won't be going hungry!

 

[Travel Mum]

I have some other recommendations for places to eat etc around there from a friend at work so I will post them for you later. It really does sound like there is so much to choose from, we certainly won't be going hungry!

Thanks Beee, that would be great