Hawaii - Rely on Uber or Rent a Car or Public Transport?

xkaboomx on 13/08/2017 - 23:51

Hi Everybody,

Hoping to get some insight from the well travelled and regulars to Hawaii.

I am going in to Honolulu in 2 weeks for 5 nights with my GF

I am wondering if we should rent a car or rely on uber or public transport. My hotel will charge around $35 per night for parking if i rent a car and total car rental cost will be $300 for the trip.

What will be the cheapest and best possible solution?

Also any other suggestions to for must see places or to save some $$$ while I am there.

Much appreciated,

Poll Options

  • 3
    Uber
  • 3
    Public Transport
  • 13
    Rent A Car
Travel

Comments

  • altomic on 14/08/2017 - 00:40

    I rented a car for the day and went up the east coast. stopped at a couple of beaches. went to a mexican road side restaurant (excellent). avoid the coast on the weekend -due to traffic.

    otherwise buses are cheap. from $1.50 gets you a 2 hour ticket. we caught a bus to wet'n'wild (fun for the kids).

    around honolulu you can walk most places if you are up for walking.

    we stayed at the Ambassador Hotel Waikiki, Honolulu which was about $200 a night. ok place. 3 blocks back from the beach. 10 minute walk/$10 taxi ride from Moana Mall (which is OK). the walmart across the road is a great place place to buy groceries, booze, clothes, souvenirs.

    walk up Diamond Head State Monument - easy to get a bus to the base and then half hour walk up.

    Manao falls is really nice. about 50 meters back from the falls there is a beautiful track that winds through the mountains for approx 15kms. I only realised it was there when I did the climb so I had no stuff (snacks, extrawater). I walked about 2 kms and saw some very beautiful scenery. including giant boa trees.

  • [Deactivated] on 14/08/2017 - 01:24

    Uber and bus tours recommended.

    Though car rental is nice and cheap (alamo was pretty good). If you enjoy driving, rent a car. The island can be driven around in a day. Though traffic is terrible.

  • wonderkathy on 14/08/2017 - 08:26

    I have just returned, yesterday,from Hawaii.Honolulu. This was my second visit. I would not recommend hiring a car due to the expense of parking. Honolulu was very crowded due to it being school holidays in America, but these end at the end of this month. On our previous trip we used the local bus for a day trip and went all around the island, stopping to see the turtles that come up onto the beach each morning. Well worth it a most enjoyable day with the locals. We also used the bus to go to Pearl Harbour and to the Outlets. Bus tickets cost $2.50 per person. You buy the tickets on the bus but you must have the correct money as no change is given. A great place to eat is the Cheese Cake Factory, but it is extremely popular so get there early. For shopping you can't beat Ross, there is a very large one in Seaside street, they open early, 7.00am. At Macy's visitors get 10% off when you show your passport. This trip we also stayed on The Big Island and Kauai as we wanted to see the Volcano and the red lava. I believe you can do a helicopter ride from Honolulu. Our flight was from Kauai where we flew over the waterfall that was featured in Jurassic Park an experience that will last forever. I hope this helps with your planning.

  • cheapgeek on 14/08/2017 - 08:26
    +1

    done this a few times myself….. the comments above are good…. you probably don't need car whole time, and bus & uber both can be ok….. it really depends where you are going to go… e.g. the outlet mall you can drive, but there are buses. if you want to go upto the north shore a car may be good

    ultimately a trade off of time vs $….. depending on where you're staying it can be possible to get street parking (down near the zoo I seem to recall was not outrageous)

  • Cluelessness11 on 14/08/2017 - 08:59

    My partner and I rented mopeds for 3 days to travel around in Waikiki. We thought it was super fun, yes there are bad reviews due to dangerous etc, but just don't be an idiot while riding them and be extra cautious. We loved riding the mopeds and even travelled to Hanauma Bay to snorkel there although it was quite scary riding on the Highway but we managed :) Does not cost to park and we found it so convenient to travel around Waikiki, to Hanauma Bay and to Diamond Head.

    All other times, we've just used public transport/Uber, we were there for 5 days also. Hope this helps.

    • poboy on 14/08/2017 - 13:20

      Out of interest, did you have experience riding a scooter previously? I don't understand why people ride these without a licence.

      Can people instinctively counter turn with half a second notice? Do people know what to do when their back wheel is skidding? Madness.

      Not having a go at you - just the general south Asia tourist attitude.

      • Cluelessness11 on 14/08/2017 - 13:33

        No previous experience riding scooter, I am just used to driving my sedan vehicle in Melbourne.

        Honestly, I wouldn't ride a scooter in Asia, just due to the fact that there is so many more people and cars on the road on top of Asia being known to not obeying road rules so I wouldn't feel safe.

  • KSyd on 14/08/2017 - 09:30

    If you plan to use Uber, you should also download Lyft, another rideshare app used in Honolulu and other cities in the US. That way if Uber surges, you have another option for rideshare. We used both during our last trip.

  • pantsparty on 14/08/2017 - 09:36

    I always hire a car so I am free to zoom around the island as a I please - much easier to jump between the restaurants, shops and beaches you want to visit. I never found traffic too bad- much better than Sydney. Just make sure your accommodation includes parking.

  • original15 on 14/08/2017 - 11:04

    We found public transport easy as in Honolulu. Rented scooters (which was awesome) for day trips
    If anyone is heading to the other islands I recommend a car though. Stupidly got a cab first day in Kauai. Never again

    • poboy on 14/08/2017 - 13:21

      Why the sadness for the cab?

      • original15 on 14/08/2017 - 18:02
        +1

        Service of the cabs was fine was just the price. Maybe we just got a dodgy one or got duped lol

        Not sure if all the islands cabs are like this but Kauai is not nearly as touristy as the others so maybe the prices are higher as less cabs. Cab cost $125 USD (that's without tip) for about a 40min journey. We were exhausted and just got a cab when we landed. Could rent a car for a whole day for much cheaper, or there is a bus for $2.50 lol (it's what u find out later lol)
        Maybe we shoulda checked the rates but same journey back in oz wouldn't have been anywhere near as pricey so we were a little surprised. But next day jumped on the bus and went and rented a car lol
        For those thinking bout going to Kauai if you have enough time in Hawaii, defs do it. Loved it

  • GourmetFoodie on 14/08/2017 - 11:45

    I've done car and no car (been to Hawaii 3 times). For 5 days I dont think hiring a car would be worth it if you are planning to stay around Waikiki - taxis are numerous and uber does work there but I'm told there are less drivers. The bus is cheap but slow - though perfectly fine if you are living on island time :)

    The only benefit of a car would be if you plan to do the North Shore - that's a day trip in itself though so depends if you have time.

  • GourmetFoodie on 14/08/2017 - 11:46
    +1

    P.s. I see some people have recommended scooters. Beware that many travel insurance policies do not cover scooters and the US is the last place on earth you want to pay medical bills in.

  • onetwothreefour on 14/08/2017 - 12:41

    Hire a car for a couple of days and you'll be able to drive around the whole island.

    Lanikai Beach is amazing.

  • sahh on 18/08/2017 - 23:54

    Maybe hire a car for half the time to go to the places which are more convenient with a car (other side of island, outlet mall etc)

    $35 a night for parking is pretty steep, is there any street parking nearby?

    Also recommend going to Dole Pinepple farm, good cheap way to spend a few hours

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