Pay the $15. Consider it as part of the hotel cost.

You might find something a few $$ cheaper, but its not worth the time to pursue something cheaper.

There is free parking along the Ala Wai Canal, but almost imposible to find a spot. Plus they sweep the street there a couple days a week & if your car isn't moved, it is likely to be towed.

I see this is your first post on this forum.

Here is a list of things to do on Oahu:

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g29222-i37-k647862…

Hey Dusty:

Since you're a local, you'll probably know the answer to this question: why do the hotels charge for parking? Isnt it enough they get $200-$300 (sometimes more) a night for their rooms??

Just curious...

TG

Because they can.

Parking in Waikiki is really difficult to find, therefore the hotels can charge for parking.

Also even though the parking garages are under, atop, or adjacent to hotels, they are operated by contractors instead of by the hotel itself.

The new Embassy Suites is going to charge $25 a day for parking. The trend with parking is that rates are going up & up.

On the other hand, it only costs $8 a day for some hotels, mostly the ones that are a couple blocks from the beach.

Some rentals on www.vrbo.com include parking.

For anyone else rading this thread, here is a recent article & some tips for short term parking in Waikiki:

honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article…

For downtown Honolulu, validated parking is pretty cheap at Aloha Tower lot & also at Chinatown Culture Plaza on Beratania.

Dusty:

I understand hotels can pretty much charge for anything they want and there isnt much anyone can do about it. I just find it ridiculous that on top of $200-$300 night and more for a room, parking is extra.

Although I guess I can understand if it's contractors who own the parking garages and lots, rather than the hotel itself.

TG

Where near Waikiki Beach? It's not a tiny area.

Last week, I stayed at the Ocean Tower at the south part of Waikiki. I found a public parking garage at the Waikiki Banyon for $8 per 24 hours, full in and out priveleges. It's kind of a maze of a garage, but I did manage to find parking somewhere in the garage no matter how late I came in. It's otherwise a fairly sane garage with decent-sized parking spots, etc.

If you are staying a few blocks from the hotel this might work but you are too far away, probably not worth the trouble.

Here's a map to the Waikiki Banyon:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=201+Ohua+Avenue,+96815&ie=UTF8&z=17&ll=21.273989,-157.819043&spn=0.004879,0.013561&om=1

You just drive in, pay your $8 to the guard, get a sticker, and you're set. It's cheaper than $8/day if you stay a whole week.

I'm with Dusty, pay the $15. And count yourself lucky - on our most recent vacation, we paid $38/day to park in Boston.

Parking several blocks away at a cheaper garage, rather than at your hotel, will result in a totally different Waikiki experience. Rather than hop in the car and go whenever you feel like it, you will find yourself saving your energy and making far fewer outings. Dining and shopping choices will change. Freedom to come and go far outweighs the few dollars a day you save, and scrimping pennies in this way can really diminish your enjoyment.

All large cities have hotels that charge a lot to park. We try not to rent cars in large ctiies. We went to Waikiki last year and did NOT feel that it was necessary to rent a car at all. When you want to go see the north part of the island you could either rent a car for one day, take a tour, take the bus that goes around the island-There are many options.

Not everyone has a car - in my opinion is why parking is charged separately.

I get around with only public transportation so would not want that extra amount included in a hotel room price.

Also I don't pay anywhere near that much for a room ($125 is tops for me).

Suze

Hey, everyone's Oahu vacation experience is different. Last week, I went alone mostly to explore the island and take pictures. I got up at 5AM one morning to photograph the sunrise at Lanikai Beach. I shot the sunset at Sunset Beach on the North Shore. Not really practical to do all of this without a car. I found having a car essential and well worth the money spent. Sure, if you are planning to hang around Waikiki mostly, you might not need one or you could just rent one for a few days. But not everyone will want the same kind of vacation you will have.

I didn't mind walking a few blocks to save $7/night parking at the Banyan because I was mostly not even around Waikiki during the days and it was just me. Actually, I did not care much for Waikiki and would consider staying elsewhere (perhaps at a B&B) somewhere else on the island next time. I loved Oahu but not so much Waikiki.