I Stayed in a Van in Hawaii for two Days, It Was Not Value It + Images

Waking up on the seashore in Hawaii could sound like a dreamy respite, however my current keep in a camper van on Oahu was the alternative.

Throughout a current journey to Oahu, I made a decision to attempt renting a camper van by Airbnb as an alternative of reserving a lodge and renting a automobile.

Although I used to be born and raised in Hawaii, I would by no means tried this earlier than.

In the end, regardless of the van’s overwhelmingly constructive critiques, my journey was removed from what I would imagined.

Here is what my expertise was like and why I’d not do that once more.

Renting a van consists of the danger of last-minute adjustments.

Stays in cell dwellings could also be topic to adjustments that you simply would not face when staying in everlasting buildings like resorts.

The van I rented wanted last-minute repairs, and I used to be knowledgeable the night time earlier than my reservation that I would want to gather it an hour away from the unique check-in location.

Happily, the brand new pickup spot was near the place I used to be tenting, however this might have majorly inconvenienced me.

Discovering authorized locations to park in a single day was a problem.

After reserving the camper van, I began trying to find locations to park in a single day. This was tougher than I would anticipated.

First, I seemed into RV parks and campgrounds on the North Shore and the southeast aspect of Oahu.

An RV park would have been a perfect area for the van, however all of them required a three-day tenting allow. Since I deliberate to remain for less than two nights, every in a unique a part of the island, this did not seem to be the most suitable choice for me.

Many of the campgrounds had been totally booked, however they did not supply car tenting anyway.

The one place I discovered that allowed car tenting and had a campsite accessible was Malaekahana Seaside Campground, so I booked one night time there for $8.37 with my kamaʻāina (Hawaii resident) low cost.

For my second night time, I secured a parking area at Solar Farm Hawaii through Hipcamp for $59.

There was no consumer guide with the van, so I needed to inquire about loads of issues.

After I picked up the van, I spotted there was no consumer guide wherever within the car or on its Airbnb profile.

I needed to preserve messaging my hosts to ask about numerous issues, together with potential upkeep points and tips on how to work sure facets of the rig.

With a rental, you are by yourself for any cleanliness points.

Sadly, with leases, you do not all the time know what you are going to get.

In my view, the van I rented might’ve used a correct cleansing earlier than the keys got to me.

I definitely was not anticipating a five-star-resort expertise, however I used to be dissatisfied that primary cleansing protocols did not appear to have been adopted. The pillows and towels seemed soiled, trash was within the van’s nooks and crannies, and the cooler reeked of fish.

In contrast to at a lodge, I could not request a brand new room or contemporary towels. I used to be alone.

Upkeep points could be excessive stakes when your mode of transportation can be your momentary dwelling.

There are numerous dangers distinctive to renting a van, together with the danger of upkeep points. If one thing occurred to the car, my journey can be derailed as a result of I would be out of a spot to sleep and a solution to get round.

I am grateful that nothing catastrophic occurred, however even small issues anxious me all through my journey. For instance, dim headlights made it tough to drive at night time, and the brake lights had been caught on, so I did not really feel secure driving till my hosts confirmed it wasn’t a difficulty.

Parking such an enormous rig was difficult, particularly when know-how failed me.

After the van’s backup digital camera stopped working throughout my journey, I used to be additional nervous. With out it, it was nearly inconceivable to see out the again of the van, which made reversing hazardous.

With out the digital camera or parking sensors, I knew the chance of hitting one of many surrounding automobiles was excessive if one other human wasn’t guiding me.

At one level I had somebody stand close by and yell instructions to assist me pull out of a crowded car parking zone. After that, I sought out heaps with angled stalls, spots that I might pull straight into, or areas with loads of open area.

In some circumstances I adjusted my journey plans to swimsuit the camper van and my security issues.

Finally I realized that safely parking and driving the van required a little bit of technique. I wished to keep away from slender roads, for instance.

I additionally did not find yourself taking the van to Honolulu as a result of it was too tall to slot in town’s parking buildings and I used to be involved about my security.

For one, I used to be anxious about driving there, since it will probably get crowded. And although Honolulu is comparatively secure, there have been experiences of greater than 600 automobile break-ins from late July to late August. The big van would definitely have stood out on town streets, making it a possible goal.

On my first night time, I arrived on the campground late and obtained locked out.

The day of my reservation at Malaekahana Seaside Campground, I known as within the afternoon to let the entrance desk know I’d be arriving after hours. They stated I’d be wonderful and minimize the dialog quick.

Little did I do know that I’d find yourself being locked out of the campground.

I questioned if there had been some miscommunication over the telephone. Maybe they thought I would be arriving after workplace hours, which ended at 4:30 p.m., not after the gates closed at 7 p.m.

Once I arrived nearer to 9 p.m., I discovered a telephone quantity with directions to name safety and have the gate unlocked for $20 (greater than double what I had paid for the campsite).

One other customer suggested me to remain within the car parking zone in a single day.

A customer sitting outdoors the workplace suggested me to not name the safety guard, saying he’d be upset if I contacted him and sure would not assist me.

Because it was too late and darkish for me to discover a totally different place to park, the customer advised I depart the van underneath the parking-lot lights and lock the doorways whereas I slept.

I made a decision this could be OK since I had a allow and administration was anticipating me to park and sleep on the property. Nonetheless, I wakened earlier than the gates opened to keep away from any bother for my makeshift campsite.

Happily, my second campsite was fairly gratifying and simple to search out.

For my second night time, I booked a parking area at Solar Farm Hawaii by Hipcamp. It was a pleasing expertise.

Finding the farm was easy, and I used to be given clear instructions to search out my designated parking spot. The property had an out of doors bathe, considerable fruit bushes, and pleasant occupants who had been there on extra of a month-to-month foundation.

The property was attractive, and the homeowners and friends had been welcoming.

I used to be greeted by a supervisor who gave me a tour of the area, which included an out of doors lounge, a communal kitchen, paid laundry services, bogs, and, my private favourite, an out of doors bathe.

The farm additionally had loads of contemporary produce on the market. Choices change primarily based on availability however could embrace coconuts, papaya, eggplant, zucchini squash, numerous herbs, and native flowers.

My van did not have a bathe or rest room, so I used to be excited to make use of these facilities on this campsite.

I’ve an affinity for lodging with outside bathing, so naturally I indulged in an al fresco bathe. The water was a bit chilly, but it surely was refreshing after a protracted day of being within the scorching Hawaiian solar, and I actually felt like I used to be one with nature.

The communal areas additionally served as hubs the place friends crossed paths. Everybody I met was variety and welcoming — I solely want I might have stayed longer to kind deeper connections with them.

Throughout my final morning with the van, I lastly discovered tips on how to function numerous issues that I would thought had been damaged.

I went practically the complete journey considering the inside lights and sink did not work, as a result of I did not see a pale notice that labeled buttons to regulate the water tank, inverter, and refrigeration.

The checkout course of was irritating as a result of I wasn’t given ample directions for the place to go away the van. After bringing it to a storage unit, I needed to ask the front-desk staff to indicate me the place to park it.

In a lodge, the check-out course of is easy and self-explanatory — you allow your key in a field or on the entrance desk. 

Higher communication from my hosts in regards to the van or clearer directions may need saved me loads of stress.

Total, renting the camper van price far more than I would thought it might.

A standard purpose individuals flip to van life is to economize on journey or residing bills. Nevertheless it’s a fantasy that van life is a less expensive various.

The hidden prices of my keep within the camper van included Ubers earlier than and after the reservation, campsite reserving charges, and gasoline.

The rental itself was $362.89. I additionally spent $149.18 on rides, together with ideas; $67.37 on in a single day parking; and $75.34 on gasoline.

This made for a complete of $654.78, earlier than factoring in meals and actions.

It will’ve been cheaper to guide a extra conventional keep and lease a small automobile.

Earlier than my journey, I wished to see how a lot it might have price if I would booked the most affordable lodging and transportation I might discover for a similar weekend.

I discovered a room in a two-bedroom, one-bath house in Honolulu on Airbnb priced at $251 for 2 nights, and a two-day Porsche rental by Turo for $176.

Had I booked these as an alternative of the camper van, I’d have spent about $427. Assuming gasoline would have price the identical and I would nonetheless have wanted to order Ubers to and from the airport, it is possible the journey would have price about $562.34.

If my calculations are appropriate, I might have saved nearly $100 if I would booked a extra conventional keep.