Length of stay at Aulani

[DVC Grandpa]

What has been the typical length of stay for those who have gone to Aulani? Considering the travel cost involved, I was wondering if members tend stay a few extra days or hold off going until they can. We are considering going in 2013 for two weeks…don’t know if that is too long but considering travel consumes two days, perhaps it’s not long enough.

A second question, are mid week flights easier to book and a little less expensive?
Thanks

 

[marx]

As one who has travelled from the east coast to Hawaii 2 times, I would say that a stay of 10 days minimum is in order. Not only is there the time zone difference, but also the cost factor of flying so far. We are travelling to Hawaii next month spending 5 nights in Waikiki followed by 8 nights in Aulani.

 

[Pakey]

I would not want to spend 2 weeks on one island, let alone one resort. We usually go for a week but we've done one longer Hawaiian vacation and have another planned for next year. We will switch islands after 5-6 nights.

Long travels days don't figure into how I decide the length of my vacation.

I just bought airfare for our September Hawaiian trip and they were not any cheaper flying midweek.

 

[dsneygirl]

We're staying 8 nights. Hoping to bring a red eye flight home so getting that full 9th day. I would have loved to have added another night or 2 but we used up every point we could get our hands on!

 

[jlwhitney]

We are going for 7 nights at the end of August. It is just not that practical to take any longer with my DH's job and vacation time.

But we get in at 1pm in Hawaii the first day, and wont leave till 7-9pm on the last so we will have a lot of time! Jet lag has never really bothered us and we have been to Spain for the med cruise.

 

[boiseflyfisher]

We were originally booked for 8 nights. While we were there, a room opened up and we were able to extend our stay by 2 nights, so 10 total. I would have stayed longer if I had the pointes!

 

[bfosbenner]

Travel from the east coast does consume at least 2 days. We stayed 7 nights at Aulani and then 5 nights on the big Island. It seems pretty good. One week is tough when you factor the air fare and travel time.

 

[DVC Grandpa]

We were originally booked for 8 nights. While we were there, a room opened up and we were able to extend our stay by 2 nights, so 10 total. I would have stayed longer if I had the pointes!

Did you have a car all or part of those ten days or were you able to get around with out one?

 

[Anal Annie]

I would recommend at least 10 days for Hawaii (2 weeks better still) but I also wouldn't spend them all in the same place. You should experience at least 2 islands while you're making the trip. Each one is different from the others & has it's own personality. Oahu is our least fav. island so whenever we get around to going to Aulani I'm guessing we'll only spend about 4 (maybe 5 nights there tops) before moving on to Maui or the Big Island. We usually only spend 2 or 3 nights on Oahu but I can see wanting to spend a little extra time to enjoy Aulani next time so we'll stay on Oahu longer than usual. You should definitely explore the other islands while you're there.

 

[rpcvpanama]

I have to agree with a longer stay and a stay on different islands. I went last year and spent 1 week on Kauai and 1 week on Oahu. This year going back for 1week at Aulani and one week on Maui. Mys sister came last year for only 1 week and said it was way too short with the jet lag (east coast) and the travel time.

Also, don't spend 2 weeks on just one island. The islands are so different and very easy to travel between that it would be a shame to miss out on seeing at least one other.

 

[MrsNesbitt]

Nov 2011 my husband, teenage son and I visited Hawaii for 3 weeks. We were able to book a last minute 3 nights at Aulani. Next time I think a four night stay would be nice, after that I think we would be a bit bored. It is a little out of the way and dining options are not that great.

 

[theOCdisney]

We are going for 4 nights at the beginning of our two week trip. The remaining time we will be on Kauai: 3 nights on the north shore in a beach house and a week at Marriott's Waiohai.

Just thinking about it relaxes me.

 

[jel0511]

We're flying from the east coast and will be staying 6 nights at Aulani. This is after staying 10 nights on the west coast, 5 of them being at GCV!

 

[mouseaider]

We are flying from Rochester, NY next month and we are booked for seven nights at Aulani. Our route is Rochester to Atlanta, Atlanta to Honolulu. We are flying Delta and after this trip we both have enough air miles to fly to WDW for free.

We also have a rental car for our length of stay after doing a little research. The food choices and prices at the resort are a huge disappointment to us.

We've usually save some money flying during mid week.

You can stay in Hawaii for as long as you have the $$ to spend there, but we chose seven nights and plan to see all we can of Oahu in that time. I think we'll be fine with that amount of time.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[toocherie]

We have booked five nights at Aulani in October, followed by a seven-day cruise around the islands (Norwegian line).

 

[Dennyha]

We just got back from 7 nights at Aulani, preceded by 3 nights on Maui, and 3 nights on the Big Island.

 

[mickeee]

10 nights...Dec 2011

 

[marx]

I would not want to spend 2 weeks on one island, let alone one resort. We usually go for a week but we've done one longer Hawaiian vacation and have another planned for next year. We will switch islands after 5-6 nights.

Long travels days don't figure into how I decide the length of my vacation.

I just bought airfare for our September Hawaiian trip and they were not any cheaper flying midweek.

We just got back from two weeks on Oahu; 5 days in Waikiki and 8 in Aulani. In past trips we have been to the Big Island, Maui, Kauai and Oahu. This was our first trip to Hawaii with our kids (8 and 6) and we are glad we spent the entire two weeks in Oahu. We actually ran out of time and could not do all of the stuff we wanted to do.

While in Waikiki we spent a day climbing Diamond Head, snorkling in Hanauma Bay and visiting the Halona Blow Hole. We wanted to also spend time at the beach in Kailua, but ran out of time. We also spent a day driving to the North Shore stopping at the Dole Plantation (never again), shrimp trucks (Mackys and Giovanis), shaved ice (Aoki) and some of the beaches (including turtle beach, where we saw many turtles). We also spent time shopping in Waikiki (half a day) and on the beach there. Another fantastic drive (especially in the convertable we rented) was a loop road ending at Puu Ualaka State Wayside.

The Aulani resort has soooo much to offer. Of the 8 days there we spent just two off site (Pearl Harbor and the Aloha Flee Market) plus an evening at Germaine's Luau. Aulani had so much to do that I wish I could have spent another day or two there.

We took some meal trips to Sam Choy's (not good) and Ono Hawaiian Foods while in Waikiki, and to Zippys, Helenas (wonderful) and Roys while at Aulani.

We never made it to Waimea Bay, Manoa Falls or Kualoa all of which were on our list to visit.

 

[WsPrincess]

DH is the one planning the Hawaii trip and right now it looks like 4-5 nights at Aulani followed by heading to another island. Maybe staying back at Aulani for 2 nights before heading home. The plan is at least 10 days but probably 14 days total.