Fodor's Expert Review Hilton Waikiki Beach

On the Diamond Head end of Waikiki and two blocks from Kuhio Beach, this 37-story high-rise is great for travelers who want to be near the action but not right in it. You enter through a lobby of rich wood detailing, contemporary fabrics, and magnificent floral displays. The lobby bar offers tropical cocktails, an Island-style pupu menu, happy hour specials, and live music, and the M.A.C. 24/7 Waikiki restaurant serves modern comfort food (try the M.A.C. ginger ale made fresh at the bar). The 10th-floor outdoor pool has plenty of seating and some cabanas. If marriage is on your mind, a wedding gazebo anchors the hotel gardens, and there's penthouse reception space, too. Though rooms are dated, they're available in several sizes and configurations. Book one on an upper floor for an ocean or mountain view from your lanai.