Questions for those who don’t rent a car at Aulani

[DVC Grandpa]

We are planning to visit Aulani next January/February for two week. We would rather not rent a car for that period of time but we do have a need or desire to occasionally shop and eat off property once get settled. We already know that the cab ride from the airport is $55 each way and Target is about $30 round trip. For those who didn’t rent a car, I have a question or two. 1). How long did you stay? 2). Did you rent a car at the front desk (Alamo) on those occasions you may have gone off property? 3). Did you have occasions’ to take a cab? 4.) Was it worth not having a car and using a cab to get around? 5). Would you rent a car if you had to do it all over again?

 

[Carrie in AZ]

Hopefully others who have been to Aulani will chime in....

We are going for a short stay in July and do not plan on renting a car. We want to stay exclusively at Aulani and take advantage of all it has to offer. We've been to see the sights of Oahu on a previous visit so no Pearl Harbor, etc. for us this trip. If we change our mind, though, once we are there and want to visit the North Shore, we will rent a car for an afternoon from the Alamo desk on-site. We might lean more heavily toward renting a car for our trip if the cost to park at Aulani was not 35 per night. That is very high and would be hard for me to swallow, especially since we anticipate not using our car each day.

I have read many posts where Aulani guests say they would get tired of staying there for so many days due to the remoteness of the Ko Olina area (not much to do), lack of Aulani restaurants (get bored easily with the few available) and so on, so these guests have recommended renting a car to be able to go out and do things and to eat at restaurants around the island.

Your plan sounds totally relaxing to me, and I would have no problem taking a cab here and there or renting a car from the on-site desk now and again. Look at this way...since you won't be paying 35 to park each night, you'll have some transportion funds already in your pocket to use when you feel like it. Even if you are DVC owner and wouldn't have to pay the daily parking fee, spending a bit of money a few times for a cab or car would still be a lot less than renting a car for the entire two weeks.

And, finally, if you get to Aulani and think to yourself "what in the world was I thinking by not renting a car?" you could then spring for a rental for your entire stay. I see lots of options open to you.

Good luck with it all. I hope you have a very magical vacation!!

 

[DVC Grandpa]

Hopefully others who have been to Aulani will chime in....

We are going for a short stay in July and do not plan on renting a car. We want to stay exclusively at Aulani and take advantage of all it has to offer. We've been to see the sights of Oahu on a previous visit so no Pearl Harbor, etc. for us this trip. If we change our mind, though, once we are there and want to visit the North Shore, we will rent a car for an afternoon from the Alamo desk on-site. We might lean more heavily toward renting a car for our trip if the cost to park at Aulani was not 35 per night. That is very high and would be hard for me to swallow, especially since we anticipate not using our car each day.

I have read many posts where Aulani guests say they would get tired of staying there for so many days due to the remoteness of the Ko Olina area (not much to do), lack of Aulani restaurants (get bored easily with the few available) and so on, so these guests have recommended renting a car to be able to go out and do things and to eat at restaurants around the island.

Your plan sounds totally relaxing to me, and I would have no problem taking a cab here and there or renting a car from the on-site desk now and again. Look at this way...since you won't be paying 35 to park each night, you'll have some transportion funds already in your pocket to use when you feel like it. Even if you are DVC owner and wouldn't have to pay the daily parking fee, spending a bit of money a few times for a cab or car would still be a lot less than renting a car for the entire two weeks.

And, finally, if you get to Aulani and think to yourself "what in the world was I thinking by not renting a car?" you could then spring for a rental for your entire stay. I see lots of options open to you.

Good luck with it all. I hope you have a very magical vacation!!

If you are a DVC Member I don't believe you have to pay the $35 for parking.

 

[Carrie in AZ]

True. Yes, I stated that in my reply above.

 

[JamesF408]

I would agree that renting a car for two weeks would be quite pricey. My wife and I stayed at Aulani in December. It was our first time to Oahu so we rented a car from the airport and enjoyed being able to venture out in the morning and sight see, then coming back to the resort in the afternoon for beach time and pool time.

Thankfully as mentioned if you are a DVC member you do not have to pay the $35 parking fee.

I would suggest renting a car at the resort when you feel the need to venture out for a day.

My wife and I are active people, so Aulani is a very nice resort, but we like to experience what Oahu has to offer. We are vegetarian and we even found a vegetarian restaurant out in the middle of no where and it was pretty good.

So depending on how often you feel the need to venture out, it might be worth a day rental for a car.

 

[DVC Grandpa]

I would suggest renting a car at the resort when you feel the need to venture out for a day.

This was our thought also, but being our only trip to Hawaii we are wondering with all there is to see we might find our selves wishing we had a car. Eating off property may be the bigger thing we would want to do after trying the Disney offerings. I know they are building another quick service dining facility so perhaps that will fill our desires.

 

[Dean]

It's relatively isolated, I would rent a car staying in that area. By the time one pays shuttle service and an occasional taxi or short term rental, it's likely to cost about as much as having a car.