Hi all!!! We are back from our amazing trip to HI and I am hopelessly behind on this thread. Some thoughts from our trip:
- Direct flight from East Coast to Honolulu was perfect flying with younger kids. So glad we didn't do a layover. Standard Hawaiian Air seats are TIGHT but we did fine.
- Thanks for the tip to sign up for Dollar car rental rewards. The general line was out the door, but the rewards line only had 1 person ahead of us!
- I read mixed reviews of Hilton Hawaiian Village and Waikiki in general, but I am glad we did the split stay. Yes, HHV is older, but very well maintained. Staff was friendly. Things were a bit cheaper than Aulani. Good location for sight seeing on the Eastern side of the Island.
- Aulani felt like home (DVC members) and the kids loved it, but the resort felt cramped and was SO CROWDED (school vacation week). I am not a crowd person, so I didn't enjoy the crowded pools, but we liked everything else and definitely plan to return.
- Dukes Waikiki was very over rated. We didn't have a great meal in Waikiki at all, but some of that was due to having younger kids and jet lag and where we chose to eat for convenience.
- Ama Ama was lovely, we ended up there 2 out of 4 nights. We had planned on Roys steakhouse one night but switched bc my son was sick and we didn't want to send him to the kids club to share germs. Noe at the Four Seasons was also beautiful, but $$$.
- Aulani spa 100% worth the cost!!! DH joined me for the water garden after my treatment while the kids did a program at Aunties.
- Aulani Luau was OK, but I have a feeling I'd say the same for any of them. Glad we did it, probably won't do one again.
- Polynesian Cultural Center was a huge hit with the kids, definitely a full day affair. I felt slightly uncomfortable with the cultural representations as tourism (more of a personal.issue in general rather than reflection of PCC), but the Breath of Life show was phenomenal. Much better than Aulani Luau. The Prime Rib dinner was horrible, much better and cheaper options by the main gate. The Ambassador package was helpful - we had a guide to make sure we got to see the most of the PCC and great seating for the show.
- My kids did great at Pearl Harbor. I was nervous they wouldn't "get" it, but the memorial is very well done and led to good conversation. My 4th grader learned about WW2 this year in school, so especially timely.
- Hanuama Bay was our favorite. Not too crowded after lunch time and my daughter learned to snorkel there. My favorite day of the trip. The snack bar was absolutely disgusting though!
- Chase travel/UR rewards portal excursions were great. We did Ocean Kayaking, scuba dive and dolphin snorkel boat trip. Hubby loved Dive Oahu so much he booked a 2nd trip with them.
This got longer than I planned! Thanks to everyone who shared advice on CC syrategy and Hawaii in general. This trip wouldn't have happened without you!