bcirish

We are staying in Waikiki one block from beach for a week and the car rental is not bad but just found out that on top of the car rental there is a $25 charge every day bringing the cost of the car close to $400 for the week. This is our first time on Oahu and although Icould not imagine not having a car in Maui when we were there I am not sure about Oahu. We just watched a video on Oahu and the traffic looks like downtown Chicago and when we go there we put the car in the garage and take cabs or walk. I am wondering if it would be better to take tours for the sight seeing - can do a lot of tours for 400!. We like to see what is out there and see the island - not much on the city part - and we love to snorkel. Will there be chance of that in March and if so which beach? How about whales? In the video, they spent little time in Oahu - they glossed over the island and went off to other islands - now I am concerned about our choice - right now I wish we were headed for Maui - we loved it there and it wasn't crowded. any help?

crefloors

Have you tried doing a search for Oahu? There has been many posts about it. I love Oahu. I think it has everything. You have the city and yet with a short drive you can have all the beauty and quiet you could ask for.

Of course Honolulu proper has a lot of traiffic. Once you get out on the highways, you will get away from the traffic and driving is easy. As I recall, Oahu is not known to be good for whale watching, Maui seems to be the best for that paricular activity.

luvtravl

Do you have options on where you can stay on Oahu? If you are "not much on the city part", you might consider renting a condo or beach house on the North Shore or along the windward coast. We visited Oahu last year and loved the areas away from Waikiki. Next time if we visit during the summer we plan to rent along the North Shore near the wonderful snorkeling at Shark's Cove. It's nice have the city nearby but we wouldn't want to stay there. If you are locked into staying at Waikiki, Oahu has the bus which provides very inexpensive transportation throughout the island as an alternative to a car.

dusty56438

Have you already made reservations at the hotel?

There are many hotels that only charge $10-$15 per day for parking.

Some condos on www.vrbo.com have free parking.

You should be able to rent a car for $150 a week or less.

There are many places in Waikiki where you can rent a car if you just want a car for a few days.

Traffic in Honolulu can be bad, especially during rush hour. But Honolulu is only a small part of Oahu.

Lots to see & do on Oahu:

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...1&tid=34812564

MelissaHI

Do a search on Oahu...check out Dusty's link....then come back and see if you still have concerns. Oahu has a lot to offer whether it's your first time or your 10th.

Here's why:
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...1&tid=34515901

hulajake

Hanauma Bay is an excellent spot for snorkling almost all the time. You may want to mix in a tour and a rental or The Bus. I agree with everyone that Oahu has alot of things to see and do and we're looking forward to our next trip to work on our own list.

suze

I love Waikiki myself, but if you don't like the city, why don't you stay somewhere else instead of right in Waikiki? You have chosen a very busy and crowded part of Oahu. The entire island is nothing like Waikiki proper, you could stay somewhere much less crowded.