Some of our recommended Hotels & Self-Catering in ...

Oahu

Note: daily resort fees and/or parking charges apply at many Hawaiian properties. These range from around $20 - $30 per day and are payable locally. Click for information about grades of accommodation in Hawaii.

Hotels

3* Aqua Waikiki Wave Hotel
Great value and a great location. This boutique style hotel is ideally placed in the heart of Waikiki, convenient to shops, restaurants, bars and just two short blocks to Waikiki Beach. The larger than average sized rooms and lobby have all recently been upgraded. There is a small pool tucked away at the back, but to be honest, the beach is better.

3* Aqua Palms & Spa
This hotel is located at the Ala Moana end of Honolulu, a short bus/trolley/taxi ride or an easy walk from the heart of the downtown district. There are plenty of nearby restaurants, bars, hotels and shops, plus busy roads, but it is a popular location nonetheless, particularly for those on a budget. The closest beach is the man-made lagoon which is part of the Hilton Hawaiian Village complex, so it's ideal for children. The hotel has recently been completely renovated and offers a roof top pool, deck and spa. Dining facilities are available in the IHOP restaurant next door. To get the best value we recommend you select one of the higher category rooms (Junior Suite or Luxury 1 Bedroom Suite). There are no sea views available at this property.

3* Aqua Bamboo & Spa
Another great value property which benefits from management by Aqua Resorts and has recently undergone a transformation in terms of decoration. This hotel is in the heart of downtown Honolulu, just a couple of blocks from Waikiki beach. Favoured by young couples, the corridors and rooms are small but if you opt for a higher category room you'll be very happy with the space available, despite the lack of sea views. There's a lovely little courtyard garden with pool at the back where you can easily forget you're in a major city. The 9th floor suites with big lanai would be ideal for a family of up to 4 visiting Hawaii.

3* Aston Waikiki Beach
In our opinion this is one of the best value 'beach' hotel in Honolulu. A fine pool area and lively bar/restaurant and all just across the street from Waikiki Beach. Beach towels provided. Well appointed rooms with very comfy beds, all recently renovated. There is a trolley stop outside the door for easy access around town. Located towards the Diamond Head end of Waikiki, a short 5 minutes walk from the centre of all the hustle and bustle. 

3* New Otani Kaimana
Another great value beach front option, but this time a little less than a mile outside the main downtown area. It's a pleasant and easy walk along the park path beside the beach to reach the shops and restaurants (or a 5 minute, frequent service trolley or bus ride) so we know you won't feel too out of things. Being this bit closer to Diamond Head and away from the hustle and bustle does make for quieter nights with less city street noise. There are great facilities, including Hau Tree Restaurant, voted best outdoor restaurant in Hawaii in 2009. The rooms are large and clean. We recommend opting for an Ocean View category or higher.

4* Coutyard by Marriott (formerly Wyland Waikiki Hotel)
A great find in the heart of downtown Waikiki. As with many hotels in this area the room views are not what your stay is about, but we reckon you will be too busy enjoying Honolulu to notice! Completely refurbished and re-opened for business in 2008 the chic Coutyard by Marriott has a lovely garden with large pool - you'd never know you were in the middle of a city. There is also a 'chill out' room with massage chairs and flat screen TV, bar and small cafe on site. Generous, well appointed rooms, some with kitchenette area, most have showers, not baths. It's only approx 5 minutes gentle stroll to the beach.

4* Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa
Just across the road from Waikiki Beach, the Marriott has all the great facilities you would expect from this chain. There are a number of shops, including a Hertz car rental outlet, in the ground floor arcade as well as a good choice of restaurants. There are 2 freshwater heated pools, fitness centre and spa. Rooms are of a good size and all have a private lanai (balcony).

4* Waikiki Parc Hotel
If you love stylish hotels coupled with great service and a high standards, the Waikiki Parc is the one for you. The hotel's public areas underwent a make-over in 2008 to upgrade the pool deck and pool bar, hospitality lounge and the fitness room areas. There is a NOBU restaurant on site. The best views are from the 8th floor up (Ocean View). It is an ideal combined city/beach location, being just steps away from Waikiki Beach. It is a sister property to the 5* Halekulani, just across the road, where you can enjoy signing privileges at the restaurants, pool and spa.

4* Hilton Waikiki Prince Kuhio Hotel
Another great hotel from Hilton. This centrally located hotel has a large elegant lobby and 24 hour cafe/bar serving high quality bistro-style food. Rooms are large and recently renovated with good furnishings. The hotel is located at the quieter end of Waikiki (towards Diamond Head) but still near the area's finest shopping, nightlife and attractions.

4* Outrigger Waikiki Beach
Ranked among the top 20 Hawaii hotels recommended by TripAdvisor business travelers and voted among the top 25 resorts in Hawaii and among the top 35 family-friendly hotels in the U.S. for 2009 by the readers of Travel & Leisure magazine. There's a great buzz about this place which combines all the facilities you'd expect for a beachfront with the great location of a city centre hotel. There's a good range of restaurants including Duke's, on of Honolulu's best known bars. This hotel, together with its nearby sister property, the Outrigger Reef on the Beach, offers guests a beautiful, complimentary, traditional Hawaiian early morning vow renewal ceremony on the beach. There's also a great Spa located on the Penthouse floor where you can relax on the private outdoor deck after your treatment. To get the best from the views select an Ocean View room category or higher.

5* Sheraton Waikiki
With a completely renovated entrance-way and lobby, this first impression of this hotel now matches the rest of the facilities which are way up there. Large open spaces in the corridors and hallways, generous sized luxury rooms, shops, restaurants, gardens, swimming pools, stunning views and all in the heart of downtown Honolulu. There's no beach as the deck area has been built out to accommodate the infinity pool, but you can easily access the beach in front of its neighbouring properties. Unless you particularly like looking out over buildings or are watching your budget we suggest you select an Ocean View room or above.

5* Hyatt Regency Waikiki Resort & Spa
This large deluxe hotel places you firmly in the centre of Honolulu and offers consistently high standards throughout. The rooms are luxurious and the on-site facilities include more than 60 shops and boutiques, pool, sun deck, spa, restaurants and bars. As with many Hawaiian hotels, the higher the floor, the better the view.

5* Royal Hawaiian
Built in 1927, the iconic Royal Hawaiian Hotel, known as the "Pink Palace of the Pacific," ushered in a new era of luxurious resort travel to Hawaii. A member of Starwood Hotels and Resorts and located on the most coveted spot on Waikiki beachfront, the Royal Hawaiian is an exclusive enclave for luxury and romance. The hotel has recently undergone a major refurbishment making a stay here as romantic as it gets. A couple of nights here would be a perfect start (or end) to a truly memorable Hawaiian honeymoon.

Self-Catering / Apartments

3* Aqua Bamboo & Spa
This boutique property has recently received the 'Aqua Spa' treatment which means not only has it just been done up with new furnishings, but it has also now got good spa facilities on site. The location is great too, being an easy walk to the beach (approx 5 mins) but conveniently close to all that's happening in Waikiki in terms of shopping, restaurants and night life. The rooms are not massive but are well equipped with kitchenettes. The small swimming pool is in a nice garden setting with a large deck area and is ideal for relaxing after a busy day exploring. The staff are very helpful and the property is small enough that they'll quickly get to know you.

3* Aston Waikiki Sunset
This is what we call a good 'solid' property. The location is excellent, at the Diamond Head end of Waikiki, just a block from the beach. The apartments are spacious and there are good guest facilities (parking, pool, BBQ area, etc). The one bed apartments feature a large open plan living room (which easily sleeps an extra adult or couple of children on the sofa bed) and kitchen area. The owners started a major upgrade on all apartments in Feb 2009. Since the work is mainly decorative and will be restricted to between 9am and 5pm, Mon - Fri, noise should not be a problem, but nevertheless there is a 'buffer zone' above and below the floor being worked on to further reduce any possible impact for guests. We recommend opting for the Deluxe Mountain View apartments - great value, wonderful night views of the street lights winding up the mountains, and all completely renovated with new furniture and fittings.

4* Outrigger Luana Waikiki
If being right on the beach or in the heart of Waikiki is not a priority for you, then this property offers excellent quality and value. It is a short walk into the main downtown area and to the beach but it is close to the Ala Moana shopping centre and the Dollar Car Rental depot. As you would expect, the mainly city views aren't anything to write home about but you'll be staying in large, clean, well furnished studios or apartments with fully equipped kitchen facilities. There is a small pool on the property with loungers on the deck as well as an activities desk in the lobby and good service from the staff.

5* Embassy Suites Hotel
A home away from home just steps from Waikiki Beach! The one and two bedroom apartments are large, very well furnished and maintained with all the facilities you would expect from a quality hotel including a large pool deck and bar area, in-room dining (lunch & dinner), concierge, fitness centre and more. For the better views select a higher floor, the lower ones face other buildings. Despite having your own kitchen, staff will deliver a cooked-to-order breakfast to your room each day and every evening there are complimentary cocktails and pupus (canapés). The property is situated on the Waikiki Beach Walk, the city's new shopping, dining and entertainment district. Donald Trump is building his latest Tower across the street which does cause some construction noise, particularly in the open lobby area. The work is going to continue throughout 2009 but is strictly controlled and stops promptly at 5pm each day. If you are out and about all day enjoying all that Oahu has to offer it should not be a problem for you.

 

Photo Credits: HTA / Tor Johnson, Aloha Holidays, Marriott