Is a stop in Honolulu worth it?

[Deleted]

I might be making a trip to visit family in vegas early next year and the cheapest fares are via Hawaii. Is a couple of days in Honolulu worth it? (If DH was travelling with me I'd consider Konu). Or should I just only have the layover? I like nature and history so I'm not sure what Honolulu would have to offer.

Also is it possible to keep accommodation costs low? Any suggestions would be great.

[basilosaurus]

Yes, and you should visit me. I know another aussie on the island, too

For real, though, there's not a ton of history besides pearl harbor and a few old buildings. There's a good museum on Hawaiian and Polynesian history.

For nature, there's of course beautiful beaches, if you're here in winter you can go whale watching, there are hikes and waterfalls.

I don't know if any of that interests you given where you live and travel, but you can definitely find a way to enjoy yourself for a couple days.

[MissusTexas]

I absolutely think it's worth it! If you give yourself enough time to get out of the city like an extra 2 days, you can rent a car and drive to the north shore, visit the dole plantation, go hiking, etc.

In one day we took the city bus to Sandy Beach, Hanauma Bay, and hiked Diamond Head- all very beautiful and pretty cheap activities.

I enjoyed Honolulu, too. The International Marketplace was interesting and the food court had great stuff, Duke's Waikiki had a great atmosphere and the food was good. One afternoon we laid out on Waikiki beach, which wasn't horribly crowded, and even snorkeled there with our own gear. There wasn't as much to see as in Hanauma Bay but the water was so clear we just enjoyed what pretty fish we did see.

[emilyinchile]

I'd say yes. Pearl Harbor gives you history as does the Iolani Palace, and between snorkeling and hiking Diamond Head you'd get nature. Here's what we did in 5 days outside Honolulu: www.emilyinchile.com/tag/hawaii/ (didn't get to Diamond Head - next time!).

[basilosaurus]

Sorry, I forgot about accommodations. I've had good success with hotwire on the neighbor islands. I also know there are small places night right on the beach, but within a block or two, that are under $100/night. One of them that actually gets quite good reviews on tripadvisor had a sign out a couple months ago for $89/night.

I know some people that rent out rooms through air bnb, so you could look there, too. Quite a few rent out a private space, so it's not like you'd have to share a home.

[mdgirl]

The Ohana hotel chain isn't fancy but the rooms are clean and they have good rates.

[CloudBee]

Yes, it is. Get a rental car and drive along the coast.

[shorty20]

Yes, it's definitely worth a stop!

[sunny]

we love oahu. I would take at least 1 day and drive along the island. the beaches on the eastern side while driving are just beautiful (waimanalo, kailua, etc.). vrbo.com has some options.

[Deleted]

Hotel tip - I stayed at the Aston Waikiki circle or something like that for 90 a night in march last year. It was a great hotel for the price. Clean, free water stuff you can borrow, friendly staff, and right on the water.

[MissusTexas]

We stayed at the Sheraton Waikiki and would not suggest it-it needs updating badly and the service was very impersonal. Great location to walk anywhere in Honolulu, though!