Is the Grand Circle Tour something we should do? I was thinking of maybe doing this tour and then if there was something that we seen or like while on the tour then we could go back at another time.
Grand Circle Tour of Oahu
we did the circle island tour july 2004, my kids and i enjoyed it specially since we didn%26#39;t have to worry about the driving. we were there this past dec and we decided to rent a car for the day.it is very easy to get around the island, specially with the oahu revelead book and map the rental office provided. it was a much better experience to do this on our own than the tour bus, and you also save some money.you are able to spend as much or little time at different spots as you like.
Grand Circle Tour of Oahu
We did exactly this in May 05. We took the Grand Circle Island tour with Polynesian Adventure Tours www.polyad.com which cost about $35. The tour was great because we learnt alot of interesting information and facts from our local guide ';Michael'; that we would not have known or possibly learnt ourselves. You stop at quite a few places along the way and depending where the stop is, it can last from 15mins to 1/2 hour. Lunch stop was about an hour.
Towards the end of our trip we hired a Mustang and drove around the Island and stopped at the points we wanted to see in more detail and spend more time at. The island was really easy to drive around, well sign posted and the hire car places will give you maps for assistance.
Enjoy.
I loved the Grand Circle Island Tour. I went on a cruise in November but my husband and I had two days to kill before the cruise on Oahu, so we wanted to get to know the island. We got a Go Hawaii Card from the IMAX theater (I guess you can order them online--too--but it was new then) The card didn%26#39;t cost much and included the Circle Island Tour so we decided to try it out. THe tour was narrated and we went from East Oahu in Kahala into Halon Blowhole and Sandy Beach. I really liked the view from Pali Highway. We stopped for lunch at Dole Plantation. It was wonderful to get to see so much in one day. I think it%26#39;s best if you%26#39;ll be in town for more than one day and want to get a scenic overview of the island.
Forget the ';tour';!!! For well less than the cost of one person you can rent a car for the day and enjoy the experience at your leisure.
As long as you time it to avoid Honolulu%26#39;s famous rush hours, the driving is easy and you can%26#39;t really get lost (if you start by driving east, keep turning left; to the west, keep turning right).
There are guidebooks up the wazoo to tell you what to look for, and you will be able to see what you want for as long (or short) as you want. Plus, most tours don%26#39;t provide for much beach time, and you will be going by a half-dozen of the world%26#39;s absolute finest.
I agree with your idea of taking the tour and using it to decide on places to revisit in more detail. That is exactly what we did. It also means the normal driver can sit back and enjoy the view for a change.
We combined the circle island tour with the Pearl Harbor Memorial. I would not do it again. We stopped for 10 minutes at each place so you really didn%26#39;t get to enjoy anything. Lot%26#39;s of time looking out windows and listening to, in our case a very BORING driver talk about his personal life. I would rent a car and drive to the North Shore, Hanuama Bay, The blow hole (awesome beach that you can get to that they filmed
';From here to eternity';) I think that is what he said. We did drive by where they filmed ';Lost'; and saw the gates they drive through to go to work. I say rent a car and drive yourself. Once out of Honolulu the traffic didn%26#39;t appear to be bad.
I agree with amberloo and kayz
the tour is too limited..driving is not too bad if you avoid rush hour..then you go at your own pace, and can stop, or not, at whatever appeals to you.
Pick up a copy of ..dare I say... Oahu Revealed. Very informative and enjoyable reading, and explicate directions to many interesting sites. Then you can save your money AND time that you would have spent on the tour, for something else.
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