Hotel recommendations for Waikiki area, please.
 

We're planning to return to Honolulu next February, after many years away. I'd love recommendations for a hotel on or with close views of Waikiki Beach, perhaps similar to the Outrigger. All we want is a nice room with a balcony facing the ocean so I can sit and enjoy watching the waves. We're not swimmers or beach-goers, being of fair skin that just burns; so need for a pool. Nearness to restaurants would be nice. Price range around $300/night (ideally with no resort fees) for two--and especially hotels that have showers rather than bath/shower combinations. Any ideas? Very grateful! I've been browsing the hotel sites but haven't found anything that totally appeals.

aloha underhill,

I was hoping to help but my ideas aren't quite what you are after. my best hotel suggestions are "budget" ones (quotes because Waikiki is not cheap!)... The Royal Grove, White Sands Hotel, and Waikiki Sand Villa.

Since you mention Outrigger, is there a reason you don't want to stay at one of those? I like The Reef near Fort de Russy location best.

And as far as "balcony facing the ocean" ... does it need to be ON the beach. Or if you can see the ocean from 12 blocks away that's OK? I'm just not sure how far $300 will go. I was shocked recently when I looked up my old favorites mentioned above and they were getting $250/night these days (i've been on a mexico kick so haven't been in Waikiki in awhile).

Waikiki hotels are pretty expensive ESPECIALLY if you want an ocean view.

We have stayed 3 times at the 'Ilima - a good budget option with full kitchen and fantastic views of the Pali (the mountains inland from Honolulu). The picture on its' website is actually very typical of the sort of view you can get. It also has ocean views but they are more like distant ocean glimpses. For the best views I highly recommend the Deluxe Studios. The studios on the lowest floors do not have views.

Have you checked for perhaps a package, like with AARP or Triple A? I would look at Costco and will look at Costco when I'm ready to go again. Well, I'm ready NOW but not workable now. Hawaii is very expensive always. Finding one with no resort fee is going to be difficult I think.

My favorites on Waikiki are all quite expensive these days: The Royal Hawaiian, The Moana Surfrider. The Outrigger next door is somewhat less. Do you have any hotel points? These are all now part of the Marriott/Starwood group, and this would be a great time to use points to stay. Across the street from Waikiki is the Hyatt.

Costco--didn't even think of that. Thanks for all the suggestions. We stayed at the Outrigger years ago and liked it, but pretty pricey now.

Under $300, ocean view or ocean front -- and no resort fees? You'll likely need some sort of discount package so start with Costco, but the airlines also sometimes offer hotel packages bundled with the airfare.

We had a nice room in the Aston Waikiki Sunset a few years ago. It's three or four blocks from the beach but has nice views of Diamond Head and/or the ocean if you are on a higher floor.

We also liked the Princess Kaiulani. It is across the street from the Sheraton Moana.

Thanks for the suggestions. Now upping the budget!

didn't want to spring the bad news bluntly... but yup... either you'll needed to lower your wish list or open your wallet further :-)

If you are willing to not be on the beach do check Sand Villa and White Sands. They are both decent '3 star' kind of places central enough for convenient walking that would be withing that price range.

Is the White Sands a motel? If so, that's where we spent part of our honeymoon 56 years ago!

We don't need to be ON the beach, just have a really good view of the ocean--and a lanai.

Aston Waikiki Circle has some "oceanfront view" rooms under $300. Rooms are compact and shower is tight:

I think it will be near impossible to get an ocean balcony room in Waikiki at any hotel that is right on the beach for $300/night. You might want to check some hotels across the street from the beach like the Hyatt or Marriott.

MANY of the hotels throughout Waikiki have rooms under your budget . . . but they mostly will have mountain/city views. Ocean view balconies cost more.

You might want to look at The Waikiki Parc Hotel. Same owners at the Halekulani:

https://waikikiparc.com

That hotel is just what I want, but the web site doesn't show any open dates at all. Something must be wrong.

Most likely it is not accepting reservations that far in advance.

Well, I just called--and the agent checked and said there was NO availability right into May!

>>Well, I just called--and the agent checked and said there was NO availability right into May!<<

Because it is closing Oct 1 for major renovations until next year . . .

well that makes sense.

Is the White Sands a motel?
Sure, I guess you could call it that (on Nohonani).
Hotels in Waikiki | White Sands Hotel

Interesting that the Waikiki Parc agent didn't know anything about the closing--and she was adamant that there wasn't a web-site problem, either. Odd that the web site doesn't include the closing information.

On the website's "Availability Calendar" you can reserve up until the end of September. Then after that all future months are grayed out as unavailable. I'm not surprised they don't want to advertise a long-term closure for remodeling, I am surprised a travel agent wouldn't know what was happening.

I'm looking for late January and any time in February. Do the dates make a difference in rates?

Yes.

just checked Hyatt Regency (which is very nice & in your price range, have you considered it?).

July is $279/night, Jan $239/night, Feb $259.

>>July is $279/night, Jan $239/night, Feb $259.<<. Those sound like good rates . . . there is a $37 per night resort fee to factor in.

I have 2 reservations for early February and will now go back and check out late January rates. Thanks very much for the helpful info. Looking at the Hilton Waikiki Beach and Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach (just for fun).

Just switched the Alohilani to the end of January and saved $450. Thanks a bunch! Now on to the Hilton...

The Hilton rate is also about $400 lower. Oh boy!

Now to book the Hawaiian Airlines tickets and let our friends know we'll be coming.

Ah, had to look that one up :-) Seems it was the old Pacific Beach Hotel recently remodeled and renamed?

Any thoughts about the Iliki Hotel and Luxury Suites? There's a deal today for a "luxury suite with ocean view" for $329 (plus only a $25 resort fee). Looks very nice.

People on the Trip Advisor forum love the place. It's condos, right?

Seems to be. Wanted to check it out because a deposit is required.

Didn’t NeoPatrick stay there awhile back? Hopefully he will chime in. Or do a search.

At the Alohilani you could save 3 or 4 hundred by having your local friend book the reservation with you, they have special rates with local i.d, he'd have to be at the desk with you at check-in time.

Our friends live some distance up on the North Shore;; so I wouldn't want to ask them to drive down just for the check-in. But thanks for the suggestion about the local rates.

Kama'aina ("child of the land") discount is for RESIDENTS of Hawaii. Many (most?) hotels offer this. At White Sands it's 15%. But it's not meant to sneak your haole friends in for cheaper rates. i'm sure clarkgriswold was joking.