I have a question for y'all, the wife and I were looking at Aulani. In April it would cost 4,777 for a week. Outrigger Reef, where we have stayed before would cost less than $1,400.00. What would be the benefit of 3K to staying at Aulani?
Finally had to jump into this discussion. First, while some parts of the Caribbean are great, Hawaii is just, well, better.
I haven't stayed at the Outrigger Reef, but have spent a lot of time there. That is our beach of choice when we stay in Waikiki, and love the Shore Bird restaurant. It has a great location nestled between the Halekulani and Fort Derussy, and the Beach Walk is right there.
But in comparison to Aulani, similar to comparing the Caribbean to Hawaii, Aulani is just, well, better. It is by far the most Hawaian resort on Oahu, maybe in all the islands. The Hawaian character doesn't feel like theming, more like part of the resort's DNA. Many of the unique activities there don't cost extra, so that has to be factored in. I could go on and on about how fantastic it is, and it is significantly better (except for dining options) than the similarly priced Marriott next door. And the location, while seemingly somewhat remote (at least from Waikiki), is actually pretty good for getting to Pearl Harbor or the North Shore. I think you can get to Pearl Harbor from Aulani in less time than it takes just to get out of Waikiki at some times of the day.
But $4777 for a week? Wow, as much as I love the place, I could never justify spending that much; even $400 a night would be pushing the limits of what I would call "reasonable ". Only owning DVC points has made staying at Aulani possible, at least for us.
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