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Honolulu - Marriott Ko Olina Resort? Far from everything? |
Travel Info I've been researching online for making a journey from FL to HI...most likely it will be a once in my lifetime trip and the Marriott Ko Olina looks positively beautiful but is it so far from everything that I would miss the tourist attractions? Travel Tips Hi there, The Ko Olina resort is a wonderful place on the west side of the island. I almost named my daughter's middle name Ko'olina b/c I liked it. However if you want to be close to the attractions this will not be the place for you. This side of the island is the dry side of the island and is about 30-45 min from Waikiki. Dining out will be a trek and going to the shop will be far as well. I believe this resort is rather expensive too, b/c it offers luxury accomodations with a nice golf course and marina. The only attraction very close to this resort is the Paradise Cove Luau, which I highly recommend. Staying in town can be very expensive too, but you can find some decent hotels for around a 100+- a night within walking distance of everything. You don't need a car on the island, but I personally recommend it to get out and see "everything". I put a list of things together for someone and from here on down I will cut and past it here for you. There are some key things you will want to take from it. Ok hope you have a great trip! I am a nature nut and hawaii is a great place to enjoy our beautiful planet! I put this together earlier but wanted to share it with you cause there are some things here that will help you out! Hawaii is definately worth it! I just can't get enough of that place! I have been 6 times and I have found enough on Oahu to do that i haven't even ventured out to the other islands yet! Here are some things in Waikiki and around the island to do;Dukes is def cool and right on the beach, and if you want to dance you can head over to scruples. If you like to drink then do it in your room cause it is way way to expensive at the clubs. Clubs are generally 21+, but you can get into some of the hotel beach bars prob.There are a ton of eating places down on the strip but the real hawaii is out of town. Take the bus or drive up to manoa and experience the rainforest and a natural waterfall! Take a trip to the north shore and go to waimaia valley and see some of the most spectacular fauna anywhere! If you adventurous hike along the ridges and see paradise from 4000 feet! I did that and loved every second of it..ok well it was more like 8 hours of it but anyway..lol. Diving and snorkeling are pretty awesome too! Hanuama bay is touristy and with good reason. You are guaranteed to see tons of fish and have a nice afternoon at a beautiful beach! Diving can be done just off shore and runs around 100 bucks for 2 tanks and you don't need to be experienced. Not far out of town you can jetski or parasail. Wouldn't really bother with the jetskiing cause they have too many rules in hawaii but the parasailing is something you should atleast try once. After that it gets kind of boring. In town the international market place is def cool and worth strolling through...a tip..go to all the kiosks and then go back and don't be affraid to barter..that's how it works there! On the weekend a really cool thing to do it go to aloha stadium for a huge flea market!!! I mean huge the tents go all around the stadium and everything you find for suviners in waikiki you will find there for way i mean way cheaper!! Oh one last thing, you have to go to a luau and the paradise cove luau is the best. oh crap...just thought of something else that will help you out. Go to Entertaiment.com and buy the book for hawaii and it will give you so many discount coupons it will pay for it self right away. I did and it worked great. Don't forget that part..really do it you won't be sorry. Many 2-1 coupons on dinners in waikiki which is really expensive.I have been to hawaii 6 times now and would love to live there. I hope you make it cause you won't forget it! Aloha! Some more stuff: Must See Attractions Paradise Cove Luau - Best on the Island (get entertainmetn coupon" Polynesian Cultural Center - North Shore ( can catch show here) Make sure you get the "entertainment coupon" Diamond Head - Cause everyone's doing it Waikiki- Can't go to hawaii and miss the strip Manoa Falls - An easy hike with views and feel of the jungle and it's free! Hanuama Bay - Best tourist snorkeling in the islands! Drive the Pali Highway and go to the lookout Makiki Heights drive - Tourists don't find this gem and it's amazing! MUST SEE. Check your map to get to Makiki Heights. Great views of the island Restaurants: There are tons of restaurants in Waikiki. If you are young and like to drink then drink b/4 you go out! The Pacific Beach Hotel has drink specials all week long and there a good deal. There are Mai Tai specials all over but DIXIES has the screamin Mai TAi which comes in a 32 oz glass and is about 6 bucks!!! Good Eats there too! For cheaper eats go outside of town over towards the Kaneohe side. If you do want to eat in Waikiki then i would highly recommend that you go to www.entertainment.com and buy the book for hawaii. This coupon book will save you a ton on the island! Seriously everytime i go i get the book and use all the 2-1 deals in it! Check ebay for it too sometimes you can get it dirt cheap! Hotels; Best hotel for the money is the Ocean Resort Hotel on the east end of the strip. Very close to the beach, decent rooms, service is good and you will pay under a 100 a night for most rooms and the parking is much cheaper than the other hotels Others what do you mean by far. the island is not that big. Compare the resort to your second option (if you have any) And ask yourself, why are you going to Hawaii? If it is to relax, enjoy the beach, lounge at the pool and get a spa; then make your decision based on the Hotel. If it is for the tourist tours, then decide by location. However, I have personally stayed at the Marriott there, and you will not regret your decision. The staff was incredibly attentive, the food was superb, and the hotel amenities were abundant. By local standards, yes, Ko Olina is far from all the tourist attractions but by mainland standards, Ko Olina is close. Far for locals is anything that requires you to drive from one end of the island to the other or requires you to be in the car for more than 20 minutes. Ko Olina is located approximately 1 hour's drive from the major tourist attractions and 30 minutes from the North Shore. You'll definately need a car to see the attractions if you're staying at Ko Olina. Hope that helps......happy travels! Fact: It's an ISLAND. Nothing is very far away, especially by mainland standards. There are interstates; granted you can't leave the state (or even the island) on them, but there ARE interstates. You will want to rent a car and drive around the island anyway, see the north shore, the Pali, Pearl Harbor, Waikiki, International Marketplace, the Honolulu Zoo, perhaps hike up Diamondhead, there's also the royal palace, Chinatown, Ala Moana mall, the outlet shops, perhaps the Polynesian cultural center and Sea Life Park. There are buses but the average tourist is not going to want to waste time figuring out the bus schedule... Ko'Olina is 30-45 minutes from the airport, it's a little further from there to Waikiki; depending on time of day, traffic, and whether or not you know where you're going. (Watch the one way streets around Waikiki area.) The only hitch I can see is if you want to eat meals out different places; but then you can always eat breakfast at the resort, a late lunch while out sightseeing, and pick up a little snack to bring back to the room. I have actually seen people in the elevator with Wal-Mart bags... We've stayed there; the lagoons are beyond incredible; love the shark pool also. Drop dead gorgeous rooms (I could live in the bathroom alone) and nightly hula shows by the pool; love the keiki hula dancers! :) http://ihilani.com/ |
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