edgewood49

After all these years I agree with you, nothing like the Ali'i even though the doorman is gone and the "girls" moved to the Rainbow Tower

tatterdema

I booked a standard waterview room through Costcotravel. Lowly Silver status. Any suggestions on which tower I should ask for?

edgewood49

Well, it's highly doubtful you will get Ali'i maybe just maybe Rainbow if not Tapa

you know you will not get points when you book low cost online services.

tatterdema

Thanks, yes I know I will not get points. I am basically ruling out any upgrade at all, and just wanting to know which tower is best in the oceanview category. It states that they are in the Diamond Head, Tapa, or Kalia towers. Only thing I really would like is a balcony, but also wondering if one tower has larger rooms, or one has been remodeled, or one is away from noise/construction, close to pool, etc.

Thanks again.

ylord789

I will arrive at HNL on 04/23/2016 very late, about 9:40PM. What is the best and hopefully cheapest way to get to this resort that late?

I don't think I will get any upgrade by being there so late.

Also, I booked two nights on HILTON's 25% flash sale,claiming to be $141 per night. It ended up to be $392 for two nights including resort fee and taxes, so far.
I think I should get some AA miles (I selected AA miles on my profile) on those two nights.

Friendly Traveling Deathmerchant

I was just next door at the always-excellent Embassy Suites Beachwalk yesterday. Airport to ES at 1130pm. Used Lyft (cheaper than Uber) at $18 bucks or so. Easily half the price of a cab.

I may have heard Uber drops off, but can't pick up at HNL. (Check)

There's not many Lyft drivers in the area, so it took 15-20 min from hailing one on the iPhone app to the time I was picked up.

I'd say as soon as you get off the plane, have your app look for drivers and plan accordingly to hit "request Lyft" to time it with your arrival curbside.

The app said Lyft would pick up at "the wikiwiki bus area" which isn't clearly marked, but curbside, closest to the doors (not the buses to rental cars on the second curbs) worked. I sent the driver a text through the app to give him a heads up what door I was under, etc.


Alternatively, the CHEAPEST, is going to be the city bus. Walk down to farthest "local airlines" terminal and I think it's the #72 bus takes you to Ala Moana mall (nice food court for fast affordable lunches) and onward to Waikiki Beach. However, it's a milk run that stops all over and probably triples if not quadruples time to Waikiki vs a car or Uber/cab/Lyft. I did it once because I'm curious/cheap/experiential like that but probably wouldn't again. Burns too much valuable beach time.

Kacee

For proximity to the water, you want Diamond Head or Tapa. Here's a resort map. I believe Tapa has been renovated, not sure about Diamond Head.

edgewood49

the front desk is busy almost 24 hours a day, you have flights coming in from many parts of the world and people checking out late. So you might get lucky it's a crap shoot at times anyway. Has been for the 30 or so years I have been coming here

ylord789

Thanks very much for your info.
I have been very cheap for many years and probably will be cheap for some more years. But I would be surprised that the city buses would run that late, most likely at 10:30PM in my case.

ylord789

Thanks. It is my first time in this resort. If we don't get an upgrade, we are OK if we don't get lost.

Finkface

They definitely run that late. The last #19 for instance, leaves the airport at 1:22am. http://www.thebus.org/route/Timetables/Rt19.pdf. There are other routes that go to Waikiki as well.
Check out the schedules at http://www.thebus.org

edgewood49

Public transportation in most cities around the world end around this time. Can always fly in at a reasonable hour!

ylord789

Thanks very much. I am happy to know such option exists.

tatterdema

Thanks! Looks like either Tapa or Diamond Head is what I will request.

edgewood49

Actually Tapa is "back of the house" street side, still if not in Ali'i and can not get Rainbow then Tapa is the best choice. It's a newer tower other than the vacation units.