We are a couple going to Oahu for Pearl Harbor day in December.

We would like to stay in a simple, quiet small hotel or condo with a pool. We could stay in Waikiki or closer to Pearl Harbor.

Our budget calls for a hotel for less than $ 100 a night. Any suggestions ?

We are currently looking at the Ambassador Hotel or the Royal Grove Hotel. Any opinions on these properties ?

TravelandNature

The Royal Grove is a great hotel, sometimes it's hard to get reservations though because it is a very popular place, so call them ASAP!

My other two budget favorites in Waikiki are the Hawaiiana Hotel and The Breakers on BeachWalk, but even they are now a bit over your price range (~$125).

suze -

Thanks so much for that quick, on the mark reply.

I will take your advice and contact the Royal Grove today. Also, I will check the Hawaiian Hotel and the Breakers on BeachWalk. You never know when someone might run a special.

Still searching for a good airfare from California to Oahu. Might just use airline miles. Know of anyone having a fare war ?

TravelandNature

No fare wars now. Reduced capacity due to bankrupsy of two lower-cost carriers has substantially reduced the competition.

www.kayak.com can give you an idea of pricing.

There's really good prices right now from Seattle, but I think December and going over the holidays is considered more high-season, than it is right now.

Those two hotels never run specials, I'm afraid. They are small and independently owned and popular enough they don't need to.

For specials you can look at somewhere like Queen Kapiolani (a Castle resort) or one of the other high-rises that are part of larger corporate chains (like Aqua, etc.).

You can get a better hotel through Priceline. Check out www.biddingfortravel.com before bidding on Priceline.

Some people are not familiar with Priceline. I think it's worth including with the suggestion the fact that you do not get to pick a specific hotel. You don't know for sure what you are buying until your bid is accepted and you've paid for it.

I stayed at the Ilima in Waikiki and was very happy with it. Someone else's bill on the counter when I was checking out and he got a good deal of just around 100 per night. I would call the hotel directly. The prices on expedia etc run around 125.

The rooms are studios equipped with stove, fridge, microwave, coffeepot. The bed was comfortable and it was very clean.

My husband and I are going in November and we booked both our hotels through priceline. For the first 6 nights we were able to get a 2 star hotel for $45/night. We are staying at the Maile Sky hotel. It is nothing fancy but it will do us just fine. Our last 2 nights we are staying at the Hyatt Resort for only $147/night and we did that through priceline. Actually we got our plane tickets through it as well and we are flying out of Rapid City for only $607 a person. Priceline has been really great for us to plan our budget vacation.

Thanks, everyone.

I will have to check Priceline. I am aware of how the site works but have just never used them.

We have stayed at the Ilima twice before. It is okay, although it could be cleaner. The free parking is a good deal. However, we will not have a car on this short trip.

We have stayed at the Maile Sky Court - somehow, all roads seem to lead there. It is a slumber mill and the staff can be indifferent. The location is a pretty walk through the park to the beach. A
$ 45 a night rate is worth investigating.

Basically, Hawaii is just plain overpriced. It is no longer a budget destination, although it is still lovely.

There are usually some airfare bargains to Hawaii between Thanksgiving and Christmas. This year, however, the airlines do not seem willing to make price committments.

Thanks again for the help.

TravelandNature