gordonsumner

Hi ya. I was hoping you good folks could help me with a resort choice in Honolulu. Looking for a nice resort on the beach with modern or renovated rooms. Not really interested in one that is snooty, ie, the Four Seasons. Trying to figure out best option with:

1)pool that would be most fun for kids
2)walking distance to variety of restaurants and grocery store
3) largest standard size room for 3 people, preferably one with pullout sofa

I was also wondering about car rental. We usually go to Maui where we always rent a car for entire stay. Not sure if this makes sense here considering we are staying in a city. Should we consider just renting one as needed rather than planning one for the entire trip?

Mahalo!

suze

There aren't that many what I would call "upscale resorts" right in Waikiki/Honolulu, more regular nice hotels rather than large properties.

The Hilton Hawaiian Village probably comes closest (multiple pools, multiple restaurants).

There's the Kahala, but it is outside and not walking distance to things in central Waikiki.

The Sheraton has a large and newly remodeled pool area right off the beach that is very nice, but I'm not sure how upscale it would be considered.

I think the Halekulani is the most luxurious hotel in central Waikiki.

Embassy Suites on BeachWalk is another you could look at.

Kealalani

The 4S isn't snooty. However some of their guests may be. Shouldn't blame the place for their behavior.

gordonsumner

Hi suze. Thanks for the info. You responded to my Puerto Vallarta inquiries last month too. I am not too impressed with what I am seeing so far in Honolulu. Oh well.

suze

I think maybe it is not what you're looking for. I adore Waikiki and the island of Oahu myself. For me it's easy to get to from Seattle, low-key, lots of fun, friendly local people, you don't need a car, public transportation is very good.

But i stay at budget places, eat local, at the food courts, farmers markets, from the grocery store, picnic on the beach, and various cheap restaurants, just kick around on The Bus and the beach, hotel pool, a few sights or activities.

I think for a more high-end luxurious vacation, central Waikiki is probably not what you're after.

gordonsumner

Thanks again for the responses suze. We are in Seattle too. Just trying to figure out something different. We usually stay in Wailea on Maui but that has gotten old. Might have to go back to thinking about Mexico. It looks like we are in for a rough winter here so it has to be one or the other if we are going to escape as a family and still want to limit the plane ride! Take care.

suze

I've always heard (and seems to make sense) that the hotels in Waikiki are so small (not large, spread-out resort properties, often with tiny pools even at the expensive hotels, etc.) because real estate is so precious in that small central area. Waikiki's tiny, so really not much room for sprawling resort complexes. What about Turtle Bay up on the North Shore?

garyt22

Hilton Hawaiian Village... Ali'i Tower... separate check-in, pool and Amazing Family Suites... plenty of room and its exactly what you are asking for... we kept the car all week and there are tons of great short road trips... They also have a free Friday night Cultural Show and Fireworks that is the same cast as the Polynesian Cultural center... saves you $$$$$ ... grocery on site and great spread out resort property... Turtle Bay is isolated and farther from activity...

Dukey1

If you'd like to be a little closer to the "center" of things you might consider the Hyatt...not any sort of spread out "resort"...and for that matter, even the Royal Hawaiian might satisfy you.

"Snooty?" what's that all about? sounds like a self-confidence issue to me.

suze

Well sure there's lots of very nice hotels in central Waikiki all easy distances for walking to everything... HHV, Halekulani, Sheraton, Royal Hawaiian, Moana Surfrider, Hyatt, even the two Outrigger properties are all great places to stay.

But they specifically asked for an "upscale resort" and a "pool most fun for kids" and I think only HHV would really fit that description, and even that depends just how "upscale" you mean by that term.

gordonsumner

gary, I checked into the 1 bedroom suites and they are $1500 a night?!! And at that price they only have one available the last week in January. That's insane. suze would you choose Waikiki over Puerto Vallerta for a winter escape? Just curious.

Kealalani

could you explain the snooty comment?

garyt22

Sting...You asked in the original post about "Upscale" and Standard size rooms... no one is making you take a suite...

Kealalani... I understand the "snooty" thing... if you have ever been to an upscale property in NYC or California... there are a lot of "huffers"... they huff if they don't get their butts kissed by the staff, they huff if your kid makes a kid noise in the restaurant... they huff if they take a day shower and the staff doesn't replace the towels... they are travel babies that are very high maintenance and its nice to avoid those places if you have kids...

gordonsumner

I didn't start this thread to talk about FS but I agree with everything gary stated. I am not the type to walk around in Gucci sandals by the kids pool. Lol. These are the people with self confidence issues actually. Anyway, gary I am just shocked a cookie cutter hotel chain like the Hilton can get that kind of money for a suite. We rent an awesome 2 bedroom luxury condo in Wailea on Maui for half that. What a joke. I was under the impression Waikiki was one of the cheapest places to stay on the Hawaiian Islands dat's all.

garyt22

The Ali'i tower at the Hilton HV is their deluxe high-end property... if you want cookie cutter, the other towers are regular Hilton, but still nice... and cheaper... you just asked for the wrong thing in your original post... it should have been titled... Best Family Resort in Honolulu...

gordonsumner

gary I would prefer non cookie cutter but this appears to be the best option for a family fun hotel stay. Standard room in the Ali'i tower is $259.00. That's fine but I would love to find a larger room with a nook that has pullout sofa for a little more money but not $1500 a nite more $$.

suze

gordonsumner~ I love them BOTH equall but in different ways, as far as going to Puerto Vallarta or Waikiki for winter vacations. I pretty much alternate back and forth, with a few other places now and then (Negril Jamaica, Cabo San Lucas).

I've been going to PV since the early 90's and have been there 19 times. I only 'discovered' Hawaii myself more recently, but have been there 5 times now.

The weather is more predictable in Mexico, likely to be hot and sunny. Sometimes storms blow thru in Waikiki and you might get a day of rain in January. Hawaii has the benefit of being officially U.S. so you don't need to deal with changing money or even need a passport. PV people obviously speak Spanish, you need peso, and have to be a little bit careful with food & water safety imo. Local people are incredibly friendly and outgoing towards tourists in Vallarta. People in Hawaii are nice too but a bit more reserved in their welcome.

To one point you mentioned YES I believe Waikiki IS definitely the largest concentration of inexpensive hotels in all of the Hawaiian islands. It's just not a suite at HHV is all (lol). For example, my favorite budget hotel (Waikiki Sand Villa) I only paid $67/night last year for a decent room, with canal view, lanai, great pool area, free airport transfers, free internet/computers, etc.

gordonsumner

Thanks for all your input suze. Decided to go for Waikiki for this one. Went with a waterfront room at Hilton Ali'i tower for $259 and put in for an upgrade to a suite if available at a deeply discounted rate. Holding off on renting a car since they have a Hertz desk at the hotel anyway. Now I'm working on activities and restaurants!

garyt22

make sure you check the hotel activities also... we paid almost $400 for a day at the Polynesian Cultural Center and then on Friday night got the same show for free at the HHV plus fireworks... they also have cultural workshops and classes... I think you will be happy at Ali'i...

gordonsumner

gary, thanks. I definitely will!