Is the Go Oahu Pass worth it? Oahu Pass review 2022

As everyone is aware, many of the most popular attractions in Oahu have shut down on and off over the course of 2020 and 2021, but as of now almost everything is operating normally again. Better still, tourism is still down a bit and Go City Oahu is offering lower prices than before on their 3-day and up passes. You’ll see below that these are amazing values, although that could change again once the crowds are fully back.

When purchasing the pass, you’ll see that prices are broken into groups according to how many days you want covered in your trip. Adult prices cover ages 13+ while a child pass covers ages 3-12. Children under 3 are free.

• 1-Day Adult $84, 1-Day Child $79
• 2-Day Adult $144, 2-Day Child $123
• 3-Day Adult $214, 3-Day Child $179 (3-day and longer passes one premium attraction)
• 4-Day Adult $289, 4-Day Child $239
• 5-Day Adult $309, 5-Day Child $264
• 7-Day Adult $354, 7-Day Child $294

>>>Buy the Go Oahu Pass at an ADDITIONAL 10% off using this link and the promo code GOPOT10

Look for “Have a promo code?” in your shopping cart and use the code ‘GOPOT10′ for the exclusive Price Of Travel 10% discount. The 10% discount is valid on sale prices, so you save even more.

Although the prices above are the official prices of the pass, keep a lookout for sales throughout the year. Luckily, these sales happen on a pretty regular basis and allow you the chance to save a good chuck of change. Also, keep in mind that each pass, no matter how many days you get on it, it valid for a two week period and is activated when you visit your first attraction.

Dolphin Encounter by Sea Life Park – $188.46

Available with a 3, 4, 5, or 7 day pass, the Dolphin Encounter by Sea Life Park offers you a chance to get up close and personal with dolphins in a waist deep platform. From the platform you’ll get to view the dolphins playing as well as showing off a few of their tricks. All together this attraction is about 45 minutes long, but it is advised that you show up a half hour early. This attraction is suitable for both kids and adults.

Mauna Splash Luau and Sea Life Park admission– $128.48

Great for those who love cultural experiences, the Mauna Splash Dinner Show offers viewers a show featuring dance, song and fire knives. Each show has about 100 different performers. The dinner itself is composed of traditional luau dishes such as poi, lomi salmon and kalua pork. During your visit to the Polynesian Cultural Center, make sure to take time to explore the 42 acres as well. This attraction is also only available with a 3, 4, 5, or 7 day pass.

Private group surf lesson – $138.39

A new addition to the Go Oahu Pass, you can now arrange for a surfing lesson for your group, which is something you’ll never forget. You must make a reservation at least two days in advance. If you are alone you can upgrade to a private lesson for an addtional fee. This attraction is also only available with a 3, 4, 5, or 7 day pass.

Makani Catamaran Sail – $138.00

Venturing alongside Oahu’s coastlines, this catamaran sailing cruise is a great way to see Oahu from a different angle. On board you’ll find a full bar, a covered seating area, an LCD TV, sunbathing net areas, pilothouse seating and a stereo surround sound system. You’ll also get the chance to view wild dolphins alongside a plethora of other creatures that call the ocean around Oahu home. Each tour last about 2 hours and reservations are required. This attraction is also only available with a 3, 4, 5, or 7 day pass.

Polynesian Cultural Center – $76.25

Get an all-day admission to this large and popular center filled with experiences and stories to help understand all about the polynesian culture that still dominates the Hawaiian islands.

Battleship Missouri at Pearl Harbor – $34.99

Located in Pearl Harbor, the Battleship Missouri is refurbished and available for viewing. The tour takes you to the Surrender Deck and gives you the chance to see where a Japanese kamikaze pilot flew into the ship’s hull. The shuttle bus that takes you to the Missouri runs about every 10 minutes or so, making it so that you’ll have lots of opportunities to select a time that works best for you. The tour runs around an hour and a half and it should be noted that comfortable clothes are best. Children are allowed, however they do need to be supervised at all times.

Diamond Head Hike (with shuttle service) – $36.64

A dry hike that offers great views of both the ocean and the mountains alongside some impressive skyline views of Honolulu, the Diamond Head Hike is a great way to see a large area of Oahu in only a few hours. Great for all ages, this hike is one of the easier hikes on the island, though it should be noted that it’s a hot hike with a good amount of stairs. Comfortable shoes, clothes and lots of water are needed.

Secret Island Beach at Kualoa Ranch (half day experience) – $54.40

With kayaks, paddleboards, and canoes included, along with swimming, volleyball, pin-pong, and more, this 3 hour experience is a great choice for adventure seekers. And because of the location, you’ll find spectacular views of Kaneohe Bay and Chinaman’s Hat, so you’ll want to bring your camera with you.

Stand Up Paddle Board 3-hour Rental – $66.43

A 3-hour rental is a great way to enjoy some stand up paddle boarding on the North Shore. Once on your board, you’ll get the opportunity to view sea life in the coral reefs below. Because you have 3 hours, you’ll have plenty of time to move at your own pace without having to worry about keeping up with a group. Great for both adults and children. Due to the limited amount of paddle boards however, reservations are required.

Pearl Harbor and Honolulu City Tour – $63.87

This is a 5-hour tour in a luxury minibus that shows you the highlights of downtown Honolulu as well as a tour and the history of Pearl Harbor along with a visit to the USS Arizona site.

As stated above, the pass covers admission to 34 Oahu attractions and free admission to 1 of the top premium attractions on the island. Also included with the pass is a local guidebook that explains what each attraction is,their hours of operation and a map. On top of that, you’ll also find shopping, entertainment and dining discounts. But does all of this make the Go Oahu Pass a good deal? Well, that depends on exactly what you’re looking to get out of your vacation and how many people you have with you.

If you plan to visit as many attractions as possible, then the pass serves as a great way to save money. If you were going to each attraction by itself and paying full price, the money would add up pretty quickly and exceed the cost of the pass.  Below is an example of a possible itinerary showing the difference between the price of a 3 day pass and paying full price at the gate.

Day 1

• Sea Life Park $44.99

Day 2

• Pearl Harbor Historical City Tour $63.87
• Diamond Head Hike $36.64
• Makapuu Lighthouse & Halona Blowhole Sightseeing Tour $32.99

Day 3

• Makani Catamaran Sail $118.00
• Polynesian Cultural Center $76.25

The final cost of this particular itinerary ends up coming up to $372.74. The cost of a 3 day pass is $214.00 for an adult. As you can see, the pass saves you a total of $158.74. This is money that you then could use for a nice dinner or two, at the local shops, or for a surf lesson.

If you’re traveling with a family or large group, the savings add up even more. If you plan to do a lot of hiking and are not really into the attraction scene, then the pass is probably not the best fit for you as you might end up not visiting enough attractions to make up the difference in price. So you’ll want to keep that in mind when figuring out if the pass is right for you in particular.

When you purchase your pass, you’ll have the option of going to any of the attractions connected to the pass. Some of the more popular ones are: Wet ‘n Wild Hawaii, Sea Life Park, Waimea Valley, Diamond Head Hike, Polynesian Cultural Center and the Honolulu Museum of Art.

You’ll also have the option of picking one of the six main Oahu attractions which include a sunset dinner sail on Makani Catamaran and a dolphin encounter by Sea Life Park.

The  general consensus is that all of the attractions are a great visit and worth the time. However, there are a few attractions that don’t cost very much to began with (under $15) and end up taking time away from your day. These might be the ones that you choose to skip unless you plan on being go go go throughout the entire day without any breaks between attractions. It’s generally best to choose some of the more expensive attractions that take up a few hours so that you get the most bang for your buck and more of an activity.

Oahu itself is a very small island with general travel time from one side of the island to the other only taking about 2 1/2 hours. With that said, traffic can increase this travel time by a few hours on the weekends when locals and visitors alike are driving to the different beaches. When you plan your attractions, it’s best to group the attractions that are close to each other into one day, or two, so that you’re not wasting away the sunshine trying to get from point A to point B.

Also, keep in mind that traffic in Honolulu is heavy no matter what day or time it is. This is true for the entire year, even in the off-season. It’s best to go to attractions that are on the outskirts of town where you can avoid the bulk of traffic. Generally traffic around the outer rim of the island is pretty light, making those attractions ideal for those wishing to do a lot of different ones throughout the day.

Once you’ve decided that the pass is a great fit for your Oahu vacation, the next step is to purchase the pass. This is the easy part. You can purchase the pass at:

>>>Buy the Go Oahu Pass at an ADDITIONAL 10% off using this link and the promo code GOPOT10

Look for “Have a promo code?” in your shopping cart and use the code ‘GOPOT10′ for the exclusive Price Of Travel 10% discount. The 10% discount is valid on sale prices, so you save even more.

Once you’ve purchased the pass, you have the choice of receiving it via snail mail, email or delivered straight to your smartphone.

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Photos by Flickr users NASA, Brain Snelson, Jean Tessmer, Daniel Ramirez, Stuart Seeger and Sibley Hunter.