Melanie

I am a 57 yr old woman. My daughter and I are going to Oahu in May for a week. I can't not decide- should I rent a car and just drive around or go on the circle island tour? I like being "on my own", but please keep in mind, I don't drive fast and if cars are zipping all around me, I get "anxious" - but I am not more "anxious" that most women my age. I think just worrying about which way to go, etc and cars zipping around would scare me. Can I just drive normal and get by ok? Can I pretty much stay on the coastal roads, etc without getting on the super highways. Please give your opinion. I have to decide soon, so I can start making my plans. Thanks!

x

I am a 40 yr old woman and I would never dream of going to Oahu without a car. I am way to independant and do not want to go on organized tours or just stay at Waikiki (yuk).
Last year I hit multiple sites each day and stayed as long as I wanted. Parking at my hotel was only 8.00/day and the car was only 16.99 day through Travelocity. I'm going back in March and plan to do the same!

x

I am a 40 yr old woman and I would never dream of going to Oahu without a car. I am way to independant and do not want to go on organized tours or just stay at Waikiki (yuk).
Last year I hit multiple sites each day and stayed as long as I wanted. Parking at my hotel was only 8.00/day and the car was only 16.99 day through Travelocity. I'm going back in March and plan to do the same!

cath

I have been to Oahu 30+ times and have ALWAYS rented a car. I can't imagine spending valuable vacation time on a tour bus or public transit.

melanie

Ok, you have convinced me to get a car. now please answer my questions - can I stay on the coastal roads without getting on the super highways. Why did you have to pay to park at your hotel? Is that normal for Hawaii? Is there a car rental in the Waikiki area or do I have to go to the airport to get one?

Bill

Melanie,
You can decide when you get there. You will find a tourist industry welcoming you and offering buses and rental cars at your convenience.

You'll get by ok by driving normal. The locals likely have experience with tourist drivers. Don't worry about getting lost and stopping in the middle of the road or something. Just continue on, if you miss an exit, it's not like the next exit is 40 miles further.

It is typical to pay for parking at any urban hotel in U.S. In Waikiki, you can get a car for the day.

xxx

Melanie, I have paid for parking in the hotel in Florida, (FLL) in S.D. and many other cities. Perhaps smaller motels do not charge, but it is quite customary for larger hotels in tourist area to charge for parking. Hawaii is no exception. New Orleans, New York,etc.etc.

DJ

Melanie - I'm 56 & do not drive. I've gone to Oahu many times & have probably done if differently each time depending on whether I go by myself or with someone. Most recent trip was October 2002. I went with a friend who was on kind of a tight budget, so didn't want to rent a car every day. When we arrived, we took a shuttle to our condo in Waikiki. There are a few car rental locations right in Waikiki. On our second day, we rented a car from Budget, located right next to the Hyatt. We then drove up to the North Shore, and spent the day driving around & sitting on Sunset Beach watching surfers. We returned the car that evening, so that we wouldn't have to pay the $10 at our condo parking ramp. We went back to Budget later & rented a car again for a couple more days. We also purchased a pass for "The Bus". We purchased it at ABC - it cost $15 and had to be used for 4 consecutive days. We only used it for 3 days, but felt it was still worth while.

Melanie

Thanks Dianne! That was very helpful. Thats where I want to drive -to the NorthShore.

aloha

Melanie, I recommend you get a book called 'Driving and Discovering O'ahu'; the author is Richard Sullivan. It has very detailed directions for the whole island. It also has lots of great photos and tells exactly where each scene is and how to get there. (for some reason this book doesn't seem to be widely available but I think it is a great resource. There is also a volume on Maui.)

In general I think drivers in Hawai'i are courteous and the speeds are slower than on the mainland. You will definitely not be the only driver on the road who is in unfamiliar territory. How old is your daughter? Will you share the driving? I'm guessing one of you will drive while the other reads the map?

If you are staying in Waikiki you will find it is not difficult to get out from there to the more rural areas, as signs etc. have been done with the tourist in mind. If you don't like freeway traffic you can drive from Waikiki to the N. shore by going east (by Diamond Head) and circling around the coast in a counter-clockwise direction. This is a very scenic route with much less freeway than if you started out of Waikiki to the west, although going counter-clockwise is a longer route than going clockwise.

If you are interested in the North shore you might consider staying up there for a few days to explore the area. There are vacation rentals all over the island.

For getting around in Honolulu, the bus or taxis are better than driving because the street names can be confusing and parking hard to find. the bus system is excellent.

Melanie

Thanks to Dianne, I got in touch with the Budget she was talking about (turns out it is a block away from where I am staying.!). Got a very good price for 3 days rental. And thanks to Aloha, I will take his advice and go around the island starting with Diamond Head, which is a mile from where I am staying. My daughter is an adult and is looking forward to sharing the driving. I will also look into that book Aloha mentioned. Thanks everyone!