u/drask1987

For our 39th Wedding Anniversary:
I wasn’t sure if anyone would be interested in this information but I thought I’d share.
We booked all these tours and the trip in early April 2026 for an Oahu visit June 2026.
Specifically, we flew in on a Sunday night, and avoided weekend rates by leaving Friday morning.

Sunday June 7 to Friday June 12
GRAND TOTAL $2739.64

We flew American Air from LAX 6/7/26 7:25PM
To Honolulu 10:11PM
We stayed in a modest room at Surfjack Hotel in Waikiki for:
Sunday/Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday& Friday
We flew American Air Friday June 12 11:41PM
Arriving LAX 8:11AM
Seats and two large luggage were included by using the AA Advantage card
Total for flight and hotel $1803.46

Parking during entire stay at LAX:$76.02
Via 105 Airport Parking

Shuttle from Honolulu to Waikiki Sunday night: $35.00 booked with Viator

UBER from Waikiki to Honolulu airport Friday night $18 plus $10 tip $28.00
(Our first ever Uber, so had a coupon code)

Tours booked via Viator/Trip Advisor $672.88
(Discount due to booking 3 tours together via Viator/Trip Advisor)

6/8 Pearl Harbor/Punch Bowl cemetery
P/U at Ross in Waikiki

6/9 Oahu Grand Tour
P/U near Ross in Waikiki
All day 10+ hr tour with snorkeling, Dole plantation, North Shore. Blow Hole, ByodoIn Temple, Food and coffee stops

6/11 Germaine’s Luau
Shuttle service included
Red Package

Separately:
6/10 HOHO RedLine $40
**Tall Tom tour guide is the BEST!!

6/12 HOHO Blue line $40
Best way to see the far reaches of the island

We rode both days, multiple times to see everything in depth and got off a few times

Separately:
6/8 Kohana Rum & Chocolate pairing $44.28
with coupon from signing up via email
(Inside a mall, not their plantation)

We walked more than 40 miles during our time as Waikiki isn’t very big.
We only went to Waikiki beach once and wish we’d gone more.
Wasn’t happy with the Luau as our table was the furthest one away from everything and we were last called up for food that was barely any left and it was gross.
Favorite tour was the all day Oahu grand tour. Snorkeling sucked as it was still murky waters from the storm but otherwise loved it all.
Second best was the red line HoHo. Tall Tom took pix for us, gave insightful tips and was genuinely a lot of fun.
Best food: Steak Shack behind and to the right of the Outrigger Hotel. I’ll die on a cross with that statement. Was referred by the tour guide and was the only meal my husband ate every bit of including my leftovers.

I’ve never told anyone this:
But all yall are blowing me away with your preop diet dedication….
The night before I started my pre-op diet (was only 3 days, thank Jesus)
I ate an ENTIRE BOX of Bomb Pops.
I figured: 80 calories per pop, not a big deal.
Except there were TWELVE of them.
Lawd, when I tell you, the sugar crash I got, was horrific!! I was miserable that first day.
To this day….7yrs later…I can’t eat a bomb pop.

We leave Sunday for our 39th anniversary in Waikiki
I’ve been struggling with a few things:
We usually go to Europe for our anniversary where it’s cold so I pack layers and warm clothes
But I have packed MORE clothes for a beach vacation than I do for Europe.
I assume you wear a bathing suit with an outfit or cover up over it.
But I’m worried about getting hot by wearing two outfits.

Do people double up like that or do you go into a changing area and put on a suit?

On the same token, I haven’t packed any jackets or sweaters assuming it’s always warm?
Does it get cold?

We usually over extend ourselves with activities. Not a moments rest.
This time we thought we’d “relax” but Gawd, that sounds so boring!!

What do you do on the beach?
Like really just lay there?
Or obviously a wading into the ocean but I’m scared to death over the prospect of being ate by a shark. So I will not be going into the ocean past my ankles.
And is our crap safe on the beach? Obviously leave anything of real value at the hotel but are blankets and towels safe?

Finally: we leave at nearly midnight Friday and have no plans after checking out of the hotel at noon. Do you think we should treat it like any other travel day and plan an activity since we leave so late? It just means we will be wearing beach clothes on the plane.

Thanks to anyone who offers up advice.

Aloha 🏖️