Bags are checked? Boarding pass in hand? You’re just hours away from starting your tropical vacation in Hawaii. And if you’re booked with us at Polynesian Hostel Beach Club, here’s what to expect from the first day you arrive to the last day you leave.
Airport to Hostel
So your plane just touched down. You have a reservation with Polynesian Hostel. But that’s at Waikiki Beach, and the airport is quite far from there. So what are the transportation options?
Well, taxis can be kind of expensive. You could try Uber or Lyft if you are a couple or small group so you can split the cost. Or if you’re a single traveler, go for the shuttles. Once you pick up your bags and exit baggage claim, you’ll see a few shuttle companies waiting to take you to your destination. They usually average around $16/person one-way. You can use our direct shuttle link with Roberts Hawaii to book one in advance.
Aside from taxis and shuttles, there’s also the city bus. But keep in mind that the bus does not allow large luggage onboard. If all you have is a backpack and/or small carry-on, you can board the bus for $2.75/one-way or $5.50/day-pass. After about an hour on the bus, you’ll arrive at Waikiki Beach and our hostel is only a block from there.
Arrival to the Hostel
Having trouble finding our hostel? The address is 2584 Lemon Road. Lemon Road is right across from the Honolulu Zoo. And our hostel is right behind the Queen Kapiolani Hotel. You’ll see flags from various countries flying just outside and you’ll be entering a big black gate where you’ll find the office just on the other side.
Don’t worry if you arrive early. Your room may not be ready, but we’re still happy to see you. We’ll provide a space for your luggage. You can enjoy some complimentary coffee and tea while you wait. We also have a free pancake breakfast in our kitchen from 7:30am-10:00am. And feel free to use our filtered water station for a cool and refreshing drink.
Check-in
We generally start our check-in’s around noon. That gives our cleaning staff enough time to prepare the rooms and get ready for the new arrivals that day. But you can also check in later too if you want. Our reception is open 24 hours. So even if you arrive late into the night or after midnight, it’s all good. There will still be someone here to get you checked in.
So our check-in procedure is pretty simple. We’ll just need a passport or some other government issued ID so we can start the check-in process. Remember we’re a travel hostel too, so you might be asked to provide flight details showing your departure from the island. Then there’s a few rules you’ll need to read over, make your payment, receive some bed sheets and a key, and now you’re done.
But before you go, we just want to make sure you feel comfortable at the hostel. So allow us to tell you about all of our fun stuff we got going on, like the tours and daily excursions. We’ll probably tell you about free breakfast again. And then there’s the free beach toys and surfboard rentals. You got questions? We’ll try to answer them. Places to eat? Things to do? Directions? We got you covered.
Throughout your Stay
You’re sure to make some new friends at the Polynesian Hostel. There’s this saying we got, “Come As Guests, Leave As Friends.” And it’s very true. Some people come to stay with us and be complete strangers. But later, they end up being lifelong friends.
And there’s plenty of opportunities to make new friends. Our common area in the back is also our kitchen where guests can hang out and cook together. The smoking area is another hangout place to talk story, have a couple of beers, and get to know one another. Make some tour plans with your dormmates. How about a hike? Boat party? Road-trip? Possibilities are endless.
Need some help with those plans? Come to our front office. We got maps. We can print bus directions. Help you get a car rental. How about a moped? Bicycle? Book a tour? Let us know what it is you need help with and we can do our best.
Other things you may not know:
- Got a car? There’s street parking nearby that’s free. Ask us where.
- Did you forget your lock? We sell locks for the lockers upstairs.
- Need to weigh your luggage? We got a scale too.
- Forget your cellphone charger? Use our charging station behind the desk.
- Forget your towel? We got towel rentals.
- Need to do laundry? We offer laundry service too.
Check-out
Well it might be only two days or two weeks or it could be even longer. But the truth is, we come to that dreadful day of check-out. No one wants to leave Hawaii. But all good things must come to an end.
Our check-out procedure is just as easy as our check-in. Just remember that everyone needs to be checked out by 11 am. If you were in the dorms, bring your sheets down to the front office. You can use our free luggage storage again if your flight is not till later in the day. And do you need transportation to the airport? We can help with booking a shuttle or taxi. If it’s a taxi, we can probably find you an inexpensive flat-rate one. And of course, there’s Uber and Lyft too.
Feel free to enjoy all of our commons area on the ground level until it’s time for you to leave. Don’t forget to say “Aloha” on your way out. Remember us in the future. You’ll want to book with us again. Oh, and bring all your friends next time too.
Aloha!! Safe travels!!
Image By: NerdWallet
