| Lanai Hotels FAQ

Below is a list of questions that we have been asked about traveling to and from and staying at the hotels on Lanai. Also, we have some answers to questions about places and activities around the island.

How do I get to Lanai?

The two main methods of getting to the island of Lanai are by airplane or by ferry. There are several flights daily on Hawaiian Airlines between Honolulu and the Lanai City airport. Ferry service on Expeditions Ferry between Lahaina, Maui and Lanai runs several times per day as well.

What do I need to do to take the ferry from Maui to Lanai?

The Expeditions ferry runs several times a day between Lahaina and Lanai. You need a reservation. You can either do this through one of the activities reservation brokers around Maui (like Expedia) or the concierge at your hotel, or you can call Expeditions yourself to make the reservation. If you call (contact info below), they can also provide you with a schedule of departure times from Maui and Lanai.

If you make a reservation with one of the activities brokers or through your hotel, you will likely pay them for the ferry fare and they will give you a voucher that you will take with you onto the boat. If you make the reservation yourself through Expeditions, you will need to pay for your fare after you board the ferry (cash is best).

The Ferry is located right at the harbor in Lahaina at the first slip. You can’t miss it. Just get yourself and your luggage down to the harbor about 30 minutes before departure to get in line. You will see many other people with suitcases and golf bags lining up at the ferry slip. The ferry may or may not be there when you line up, but generally they run on time and if it is not there it will be there shortly with a load of passengers coming back from Lanai.

Once boarding starts, you will go aboard the ferry and find a place to stow your luggage along the interior luggage storage areas of the first floor cabin. Just follow everyone else. There is plenty of space for large suitcases and golf bags, coolers, and whatever else you have. You might even see residents of Lanai bringing back tires and large loads of groceries after a run to Costco in Kahalui.

Once your bags are stowed, you will check with the captain. He should be right there at the desk in the first floor cabin. If you have pre-paid for your fare, you will give the captain your voucher and he will check you off and give you a ticket. If you have not pre-paid for your fare, then you will pay for your fare and get your ticket. Whether you have pre-paid or not, everyone MUST check in with the captain once on board to get your ticket. Once everyone is ticketed, the ferry ride takes about 45 minutes.

Expeditions Ferry    800-695-2624

http://www.go-lanai.com/

Do I need to coordinate transportation to my hotel when I arrive on Lanai?

Not really. There are just a few flights arriving to Lanai City airport and a few Expeditions ferries coming into Lanai each day and the Four Seasons hotels that run the shuttle service on the island know when the ferries and flights arrive and have one or more shuttles waiting for you when you get to the island.  This is a small island and there is only the one shuttle service and so it does not matter which of the Lanai hotels you are staying at, The Manele Bay, The Lodge at Koele, or the Hotel Lanai in Lanai City, the shuttle will stop at each of them.  If you really need to confirm that there will be a shuttle waiting for you when you arrive, you can call the hotel and inform them which flight or ferry you will be arriving on so that they can confirm that a shuttle will meet you. Like I said, you don’t need to do this, the shuttle will be there. I think they must also coordinate with the airline and the Expeditions Ferry because they seem to act like you were expected when you arrive.

Should I rent a car on Lanai?

There is only one place to rent a vehicle on Lanai and that is the Dollar outlet in Lanai City. They rent mostly Jeeps, but they do have a couple of vans and a few other vehicles I believe. I any case, you do not NEED to rent a vehicle on Lanai. The shuttle service runs and leaves from the Manele Bay Resort (at the Beach) every hour and goes through Lanai City stopping at the Hotel Lanai for drop-offs and pick-ups and then on to the Lodge at Koele for the same. The shuttle waits there for about 15 minutes then heads back the other direction making the same stop in Lanai City then on back down the hill to the Manele Bay.

You can snorkel and swim and all the beach and pool type activities at the Manele Bay. You can explore the tiny little town of Lanai City and the central square and park area with its surrounding shops, and do some exploring of the grounds around the Lodge at Koele without needing a car. There are even hiking trails that start around the lodge. The same goes for getting to the two golf courses, the Experience at Koele and the Challenege at Manele - the shuttle can take you.

However, if you want to get to some of the other interesting sites around the island like the Garden of the Gods, Shipwreck Beach, the petroglyphs, etc., you will need to rent a jeep at Dollar. This is expensive, around $150 per day the last time we did it. But, if you have never been to Lanai and you are staying for a few days at least I would highly recommend it. The Lanai hotels and Lanai City are great, but there are many other interesting places and things to see on the island. If you do decide to rent a Jeep, the Dollar outlet is just a couple of blocks down the street from the Hotel Lanai  in Lanai City. It is best to make a reservation since they have a limited number of Jeeps.

Dollar Rent-a-Car Lanai:   808-565-7227

Should I stay at the Manele Bay Resort or The Lodge at Koele?

If you are asking this question we will assume that you have ruled out the Hotel Lanai and decided to go for the luxury option in the Four Seasons. And either of these Lanai hotels are an excellenet choice. But, to decide on where you should stay, depends on what you are looking for.

The Four Seasons Lodge at Koele is less crowded, more peaceful, and tends to have an older set of travelers. Set in the pines outside of Lanai City and nowhere near the beach, this is a place to go and get away from the traditional Hawaiian beach hotel scene. And while I am sure that children are welcome, I have never seen any children staying at the Lodge. I am sure that there are some, but the point is not many. There is not  a lot for them to do there.

There is a pretty, small pool at the Lodge, but I have rarely seen anybody use it. You will see many people walking the grounds however and admiring the fine landscaping.

The Four Seasons Manele Bay Resort is just off of the beach and tends to be a main hub of activity for the island. The beach and the bay are awesome and the pool at the Manele Bay tends to get crowded since any guest at either of the Four Seasons hotels on the island may use the facilities at the other hotel. So, guests from the Koele come to the Manele Bay for the pool and the beach. There also tends to be a younger crowd staying at the Manele Bay and more children around.

If you are planning to stay on Lanai for more than a couple of days I would suggest staying at both Four Seasons hotels. They both have their charms and the service and staff at both are excellent. The two hotels are just a 30 minute shuttle ride apart and you can use the facilities at either hotel. Personally, I like to stay at the Lodge because I like the quieter atmosphere and so does my wife. Still, we go snorkeling and spend time at the pool at the Manele Bay Resort almost every day we are on the island.