Waikiki Hotels

No one would visit Honolulu without spending as much time as possible on Waikiki Beach. Since the days when Bing Crosby crooned ‘Sweet Leilani there in ‘Waikiki Wedding,’ the only thing that’s changed is the number of high-rise hotels on Waikiki Beach. People still flock to Waikiki to ride the surf (or watch the surfers), walk the beach, bask in the sun or visit the shops. Finding a Waikiki hotel is as simple as going online and researching the many choices out there. Here is a sampling of some Waikiki hotels.

For something completely different, and relatively cheap, Waikiki hotels don’t come much better than the Resort quest Waikiki Beach Hotel. Room décor ranges from neon pineapple yellow to tropical prints in hot lava red. Hand-painted bamboo curtains on closets and surfboards used as entry signs add to the quirky atmosphere. An international food court allows guests to pack a complimentary cooler bag of breakfast munchies. When evening comes, visit the poolside bar, where you can enjoy Hawaiian music (a Hawaiian sound with a reggae beat!).

The above hotel is not to be confused with the Resort Quest Waikiki Beach Hotel Towers, where rooms are more like full-service suites. The décor is more sleek and traditional, and amenities include room service, outdoor heated pool, microwaves, refrigerators, washers and dryers in room, and meeting facilities. Pets are allowed, and room mini-bars are available. This hotel overlooks Waikiki Beach, and offers a truly luxurious stay.

The Ocean Resort Hotel Waikiki and the Aqua Waikiki Wave Hotel are among the Waikiki Beach hotels that offer attractive accommodations at reasonable rates. The Ocean Waikiki Resort Hotel offers conveniences like an on-site restaurant and lounge, pool, room service and safe deposit boxes. At the Aqua Waikiki, you can take advantage of its two restaurants, sundry store and apparel shop. Rooms are equipped with mini-refrigerator, microwave, high speed internet access, and have a balcony. Room rates range from around $100 to just over $200, depending on the time of year, making this conveniently located hotel a good value.

A truly unique Waikiki Beach hotel is the Pacific Beach Hotel Waikiki. Rooms here can be as reasonable as $260; you can also opt for a suite for as much as $2200. The unique feature here, though, is the Oceanarium. This 280,000 gallon aquarium is three stories high, viewable from any of the three hotel restaurants, and home to nearly 400 fish from more than 70 Indo-Pacific species. And, if you need something even more relaxing, visit the Hawaiian Rainforest Salon and Spa, located on the fourth floor of the Oceanarium Tower. The spa provides both men and women with the latest spa therapies, along with traditional Hawaiian healing arts. Services include:

●massages
●hydrotherapy
●dry and Steam Saunas
●herbal Body Wraps
●facials
●waxing
●manicures and pedicures
●cosmetic services

The Sheraton and Hilton chains are both represented on Waikiki Beach. At the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel, prices range from under $200 to almost $700, with more than half the rooms facing the ocean. Amenities include:

●nightly poolside entertainment
●laundry facilities
●twenty gift and specialty shops
●two swimming pools
●fitness center
●Xerox business center
●children’s program
●video check-out
●travel services

The Waikiki Prince Kuhio Hotel will soon become the Hilton Waikiki Prince Kuhio Hotel. With a newly renovated lobby, a redesigned swimming pool with sundeck and Jacuzzi, and an Executive level of six floors offering a private lounge and more luxurious rooms.

As you can see, hotels in Waikiki come in all styles and price ranges. Decide which is right for you, and get out and enjoy all that this great area has to offer.