Hi can anyone help me judge what the difference is between these two hotels? We are visiting in Feb 09 on a romantic anniversary and having trouble deciding between Hotel Halekulani or W Hotel?

Which one would you recommend?

Is it a case of likely to get a slightly less better room in a more expensive hotel if I went for Halekulani over W Hotel?

Will I get a good view from my hotel?

As an aside the W Hotel is not in the most recent Fodors Oahu book either.

Have you read Trip Advisor? Both the hotel review section, but also on the Honolulu forum (similar format to here on Fodor's). There was a long discussion about the Halekulani earlier this week.

Have you looked at the New Otani? It's a nice hotel at the quieter end of Waikiki.

Haven't been in either.

but here are some differences:

"W" - located on "Gold Coast" of Waikiki. This is an area still in Waikiki but separated from the main part of Waikiki by a 10 minute walk. Located past Waikiki Aquarium. No pool.

Halekulani - located in the main part of Waikiki. The best rated hotel in Waikiki. Not much of a beach area in front of the hotel, though on both sides of Halekulani is plenty of beach. They have a pool. New Beach Walk is near there. Some construction at Halekulani & nearby at Trump Tower.

http://travel-hawaii.com/oahu_hotels.html

http://travel-hawaii.com/hawaii_hotel_construction.html

Aerial vies of hotels:

http://www.wizardpub.com/oahu/oahaerials.html

Lots of Oahu info:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34812564

Thankyou Dusty- the aerial website is particularly amazing!

I am leaning towards Halekulani- the W hotel looks tiny!

I am going to have a look at the threads Suze advised too.

have you considered the Royal Hawaiian (not sure the remodel is complete?) or the Moana Surfrider? They are beautiful old hotels that are refurbished. Those two, to my eye, would be the most romantic choice.

I believe the Halekulani is considered THE best hotel in Waikiki, so a notch up from the W.

I am not sure what the price difference is but if money wasnt an issue, I would pick the Halekulani hands down over the W. I cant compare the rooms because I have not stayed at either but I have had dinner at both and walked around the grounds. W is a funky/cool hotel but has no pool and is a bit of a walk away from the main drag (I guess this could be a positive, depending on your outlook). The grounds of the Halekulani were amazing. It was such a quiet, calming, romantic atmosphere in the middle of Waikiki. I loved it.