What are the DOWNSIDES to staying at Aulani?

[that1jeff]

AFAIK check out day only.

Ok Thanks!

Are there CMs attending to the space? Hmm. I wonder. Because if there's no reservations anymore, what stops someone from just utilizing it on their check-in day. Unless your room key won't open the door except on your check out day I guess.

 

[CastAStone]

Ok Thanks!

Are there CMs attending to the space? Hmm. I wonder. Because if there's no reservations anymore, what stops someone from just utilizing it on their check-in day. Unless your room key won't open the door except on your check out day I guess.

You still have to get a key from the front desk

 

[TikiRob]

AFAIK check out day only.

So how do you get access if you don't make reservations? You used to reserve it day of check out at the front desk at 6:00am.

 

[CastAStone]

So how do you get access if you don't make reservations? You used to reserve it day of check out at the front desk at 6:00am.

When I went down there at six this morning, the CM told me just to come back when I needed a key.

 

[that1jeff]

You still have to get a key from the front desk

Oh I see. I thought your own room key could open the Luana Louge. Thanks!

 

[Sykes]

I've been to Aulani a couple of times and the last time I visited I did a split stay between Aulani and the Marriott Vacation Club property down the road, plus I did a site visit to the Four Seasons while I was there.

Aulani easily had the most "meh" food of all three. Nothing was bad, but nothing was especially good either. After the first couple of days we ended up doing most of our dining at the Four Seasons next door.

I felt like the Aulani property also tried its hardest to obscure the natural beauty of Hawaii. It's great if you have an ocean view room, but if you're hanging out almost anywhere else on the resort (aside from the beach itself) then your view of the ocean is probably obscured by either giant high-rises or artificial concrete rock formations. At the other resorts it felt like the scenery was front-and-center in almost every public area (and much more lush too--more filled with flowers than rock formations). I assume a substantial part of that difference is trying extra hard to create a safe enclosure to contain younger kids.

Oahu is also my least favorite of the Hawaiian islands. The area around Ko Olina isn't bad, but I won't be sad if I never visit Honolulu or Waikiki again. That's really just a matter of personal preference though, and once again tied to a preference for seeing more of Hawaii's natural beauty.

There's a lot I love about it too, but that wasn't the question. The water park is great, the staff is excellent, and it's not a bad value on DVC points (despite high cash rates), but I'm not in a huge hurry to return when there are so many other excellent properties in Hawaii to try out first.

 

[WinterSolider]

I felt like the Aulani property also tried its hardest to obscure the natural beauty of Hawaii. It's great if you have an ocean view room, but if you're hanging out almost anywhere else on the resort (aside from the beach itself) then your view of the ocean is probably obscured by either giant high-rises or artificial concrete rock formations. At the other resorts it felt like the scenery was front-and-center in almost every public area (and much more lush too--more filled with flowers than rock formations). I assume a substantial part of that difference is trying extra hard to create a safe enclosure to contain younger kids.

Oahu is also my least favorite of the Hawaiian islands. The area around Ko Olina isn't bad, but I won't be sad if I never visit Honolulu or Waikiki again. That's really just a matter of personal preference though, and once again tied to a preference for seeing more of Hawaii's natural beauty.

I know this is insane, but I try to look at every vacation I plan through five lenses, and an ideal vacation would have all five:

• Relaxation (room quality, resort amenities, adult beverages, poolside area)
• Recreation/Adventure (usually hiking but could also be things like ATV excursions or water activities)
• Family Time (tours, general family atmosphere, things for parents and kids to do together)
• Nature
• Culture/History

For us, Aulani is a perfect 10/10 for Relaxation, Recreation, and Family Time. Nature at Aulani (and Oahu more broadly) obviously isn't as strong as what you'd get on Kauai or the Big Island, but with Pearl Harbor, the Bishop Museum, and other attractions, I think Oahu has arguably the strongest Culture/History of the Hawaiian islands (less Hawaiian history than the Big Island, but more American history).

I also think Oahu isn't nearly as bad for nature lovers than it gets dinged for by people who only ever stay in Waikiki. I hate Honolulu and Waikiki too (except for Diamond Head, which we enjoy), but there are other excellent natural hikes and sights to see elsewhere on the island.

 

[CastAStone]

I know this is insane, but I try to look at every vacation I plan through five lenses, and an ideal vacation would have all five:

• Relaxation (room quality, resort amenities, adult beverages, poolside area)
• Recreation/Adventure (usually hiking but could also be things like ATV excursions or water activities)
• Family Time (tours, general family atmosphere, things for parents and kids to do together)
• Nature
• Culture/History

For us, Aulani is a perfect 10/10 for Relaxation, Recreation, and Family Time. Nature at Aulani (and Oahu more broadly) obviously isn't as strong as what you'd get on Kauai or the Big Island, but with Pearl Harbor, the Bishop Museum, and other attractions, I think Oahu has arguably the strongest Culture/History of the Hawaiian islands (less Hawaiian history than the Big Island, but more American history).

I also think Oahu isn't nearly as bad for nature lovers than it gets dinged for by people who only ever stay in Waikiki. I hate Honolulu and Waikiki too (except for Diamond Head, which we enjoy), but there are other excellent natural hikes and sights to see elsewhere on the island.

Yep. We had a blast at Diamond Head (which nearly killed my fat, uh, butt) and Waimea Valley, which *is* undoubtedly touristier than anything we went to on Kauai or even Maui, but is also every bit as beautiful.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Kualoa is insanely beautiful even though its commercialized, it's a great place to get beauty and also satisfy teenagers need for a slight thrill. We love that there are so many different options there for tours so it's not a one and done.