Go City Oahu Card, Is It A Great Buy?
During my honeymoon, a 12-day cruise on the Celebrity Eclipse, I researched ways to save money on attractions for my five days in Oahu. We decided to purchase the Go City Oahu card before departing Vancouver.
The Go Oahu Pass (formerly the Go Oahu Card) is an easy-to-use Oahu all-inclusive pass that gives complimetary admission to certain attractions.
Choose from an all-inclusive pass or an explorer’s pass with a set number of attractions. Purchase a 2, 3, 4, 5, or 7-day all-inclusive pass. The pass includes over 40 attractions with up to 55% off in savings.
The Go City passes aren’t new to Oahu. They are available for popular cities such as New York, San Diego, and many popular destinations.
Saving Money With Go City Oahu
I particularly liked the Oahu card because we could use it on non-consecutive days. So, when staying for over a week, we could split our attractions up and do beach days in between.
The Oahu pass is activated at the first attraction and stays active that day. Knowing that we needed to maximize savings by planning multiple tours on the same day.
If we choose to skip a day and head to the beach, no problem. We could reactivate the card on another day when wanting to use the card again. This is where it pays to plan.
Where To Buy The Go City Oahu Pass
Go City cards are available online. They often have super sales, so check them regularly. Sometimes, Groupon offers the passes at a discounted price, but these may be for a set number of days and not work with your itinerary.
Since we stayed in Oahu for almost five days and didn’t want to pay the dreaded US/Canadian exchange rate, I decided to buy my 4-day Go City Oahu Card from our local Canadian Costco.
The total cost for our Go City passes was CAD 259 (USD 198) for each adult. This works out to a cost per day of USD 49.50. Unfortunately, Costco no longer sells these passes.
Once purchased, the pass is either printed or downloaded the Go City app. I downloaded the passes but printed the Go City guidebook to plan our itinerary long before our honeymoon. Planning is essential to maximize savings.
It’s important to note that some attractions require reservations and operate only on certain days.
Unused cards can be returned for a full refund within 30 days of purchase. After purchasing a pass, the card holder has two years to activate it before it expires.
Ready to buy your Go City Oahu Card?
Choose the perfect pass for one to seven days. 3 to 7 day passes include a PREMIUM attraction.
What’s Included
We recommend puchasing a pass for 2 days or more because it includes one premium activity. So, if you’re in Oahu for three days, it’s best to buy a three-day pass to benefit from this incentive.
If you’re staying on Oahu for seven days, you may want more days to maximize savings.
Two-day passes aren’t necessarily good value. Here’s a breakdown of what a pass costs PER day, to compare its value. Do note, these are the full prices, although the Go City site often has sales.
| Two-day adult | USD 239 | USD 119.50 per day |
| Three-day adult | USD 299 | USD 97 per day |
| Four-day adult | USD 374 | USD 93.50 per day |
| Five-day adult | USD 444 | USD 89 per day |
| Seven-day adult | USD 529 | USD 75 per day |
The premium venues are fantastic, and you might have a tough time choosing one.
The premium attractions usually come with a high-ticket price, like the Aloha Kai Luau at Sea Life Park, a USD 200 value. So, the Go City card is a great value when you factor in the savings.
Without the pass, you may not consider paying these prices. However, the card gives you options to do things you might not do otherwise. Here are the premium attractions and their value:
Aloha Kai Luau at Sea Life Park (valued at USD 204). A great way to immerse yourself in Hawaiian Culture without traveling too far from downtown Honolulu.
The pass includes free admission, a deluxe complimentary lei, a Hawaii buffet and five day access to the park.
Ka Moana Luau at Aloha Tower ( valued at USD 169). Enjoy story telling, culture, and a farm-to-table meal, along with dancing, hula lessons, and more.
There are over 40 regular attractions with culture, adventure, water activities, and relaxation. Families might like the Waterpark: Wet‘n’Wild Hawaii and Sea Life Park, while couple might prefer the Waikiki Whale Watching and the Kona Brewing Hawaii Kai Tasting Flight.
Our Go City Oahu Itinerary
The following is a run-down on what we did with our passes and how much money we saved.
We arrived in Honolulu by cruise ship at 8 am Monday and couldn’t check into our hotel until 3 pm, so this is how our itinerary went.
We had a rental car for the entire five days on the island. While most things are accessible in the Waikiki area, and some tours provide transportation, having a vehicle reduces travel time.
Monday
No visit to Oahu is complete without a visit to Pearl Harbor. Since we arrived by cruise ship and were so close to Pearl Harbor, it made sense to stop there before checking into our hotel.
Even if you’ve been to Pearl Harbor before, it’s a place you see again.
Pro tip: get your complimentary tickets to the USS Arizona first because the wait can sometimes be a few hours. You can plan to see the other attractions around your scheduled time.
- USS Bowfin Submarine – USD 22
- USS Battleship Missouri – USD 35
- Pacific Aviation Museum – USD 26
- USS Arizona narrated tour – USD 8
- Total: USD 91
While the submarine museum was also included in our pass, it was closed during our visit for renovation.
Tuesday
- Iolani Palace – USD 27 (requires a reservation)
- Byodo-In Temple – USD 5
- Polynesian Cultural Center Luau and dinner show – USD 128
- Total: USD 160
While we visited the Byodo-In Temple with our pass, it’s no longer included. However, with minimal admission of under USD 10, it’s a must-see on Oahu.
The Polynesian Cultural Center Luau is not a premium attraction anymore, but you have access to the center as a regular attraction.
Your ticket is also good for three consecutive days. So, if you feel you didn’t have time to see all the Polynesians Islands, you can return within three days for complimentary entry.
Wednesday
- Diamond Head hike – USD 44
- Makani Catamaran sail – USD 118 (requires a reservation)
- Total: USD 162
Diamond Head State Monument has become extremely busy. The park has since implemented an online reservation system to do the Diamond Head trek.
Hikers can book one-hour time slots from 6 am, with the last entry at 4 pm. Since it’s hot and the trail offers no shade, I recommend going as early as possible.
We climbed at 8 am and made the roundtrip hike in 70 minutes. Once booked, you must arrive within 30 minutes of your arrival time, or you could be denied entry.
Thursday
- Kualoa Ranch Secret Beach – USD 55
- Hanauma Bay snorkel – USD 22
- Total: USD 78
Kualoa Ranch is a popular venue in Oahu. Some of its tours sell out regularly, so it’s advisable to make a reservation for your selected excursion.
We enjoyed Kualoa ranch so much that we returned the next time we were on Oahu. The following time, we tried the Best of Kualoa Experience. This all-day package included three excursions and a buffet lunch. I highly recommend it!
While we paid USD 198 each for our Go Oahu passes, we saved a massive 60% or US 293 per person on admissions. That’s an incredible USD 586 in savings!
While we could have done more, we were on our honeymoon after all and wanted our vacation to be leisurely. Our Go City itinerary is a sampling of what you could do and see by the day.
Bear in mind, attractions and pricing changes each year, so what be a premium attaction one year may not be offered the next.
One of the things on my bucket list was to try stand-up paddle boarding. While the pass includes a three-hour rental, I chose to try it at the Secret Island Beach, part of Kualoa Ranch.
Kualoa Ranch provides kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and many other water toys to use during your excursion. One bucket list item down and many more to go!
Do note that the Kualoa Ranch is a bustling place and offers a variety of fantastic tours. While you can book multiple excursions at the Kualoa Ranch, the card limits you to one trip per day.
Since the Ranch is a 45-minute drive from Waikiki, scheduling other tours around it was problematic. Plus, with so many great excursions, deciding which one to choose takes time.
While the Oahu pass worked great for us, it’s not for everyone. It helped to have a car, so we could quickly get from one activity to another.
If you’re a beach bum and want to relax by the ocean, this card isn’t for you.
How To Maximize A Go City Oahu Pass?
Remember, planning is key to maximizing your savings, so group your activities by area to reduce travel time. Also, look up to see when the events are available because some operate on certain days of the week.
Get up early. Remember the saying, “the early bird gets the worm,” well, in this case, the early bird saves the most money.
Book a time slot where necessary. Don’t be disappointed by showing up at an activity and finding out you need a reservation to participate.
If you’re from another country and want to avoid incurring high cell phone charges, plan your itinerary at home and make your reservations using your hotel phone once you’re in Oahu.
If you don’t like to plan and follow a set schedule, purchasing the pass may not be the right choice.
Go City Oahu Regular Attractions
Regardless of which pass you purchase, you have access to many regular attractions with a value of up to USD 188. Sometimes these change yearly, so it’s best to check the guide.
Since purchasing my pass, they added a Beer Lovers Tour, whale watching, and Hawaiian Style E-bike Rentals. However, they’ve reduced the number of premium attractions.
With more than 40 attractions, picking which ones to do can be difficult. We suggest picking the premium one first and fill in the other days with other tours.
Try to select ones in the same region to reduce travel time between areas. Even if it rains, there are indoor activities too.
The best-valued regular attractions are the Circle Island Tour with Byodo-In Temple (a USD 147 value), and the Makani Catamaran Sail (valued at USD 143).
The following tours are valued at USD 20 or less, so they don’t offer the best value. These are the Queen Emma Summer Palace (USD 14), Kona Brewing Tasting USD 16, and the USS Arizonia audio tour (USD 14).
Kualoa Ranch Tours are very popular in Oahu. While the pass included a few options when we visited, only one is included now – the Ocean Voyage Adventure Kualoa Ranch Tour valued at USD 63.
Families might enjoy the Wet n’ Wild Hawaii, Sea Life Park, and aerial challenge course at Coral Crater Adventure Park.
Adults might like the Battleship Missouri Memorial, Polynesian Cultural Center, or Diamond Head Shuttle & Hike.
What’s great about the pass is that you might end up doing something you may not have considered. For me, stand-up paddleboarding was a first and something I can check off my bucket list.
Conclusion
In conclusion, is the Go City Oahu pass worth it? Our decision to buy was a good one.
We accomplished our goal of seeing as much of Oahu as possible while saving almost USD 600. However, is the pass right for you?
Make a sample itinerary of what you want to do and see. Then determine how much it would cost if you paid regular admission prices. Then, compare that to the cost of buying the pass for the days you desire.
Whether it’s your first trip to Oahu or you’ve been multiple times, this tropical oasis is pure paradise.
How did you purchase it at a Canadian Costco? Customer service or was there a physical gift card?
I bought the passes on their website. But it looks like they stopped selling them, maybe due to the pandemic and lack of travel. However, you can purchase them at Expedia.ca.