planning to spend 1 or 2 nights in waikiki with my husband and 2 sons, ages 9 and 10. just staying long enough to do the arizona memorial and hanauma bay. looking for hotel advice. Don't want to spend more than $150-$175 a night but would like to be on or close to the beach. Our travel agent recommended the aston beach hotel as it has views for about $150. I would love to stay at the hilton or sheraton but don't want to pay the extra $$. Any ideas? I could use priceline. Thanks for the help!
Tammy

Look at a map of Waikiki...hotel locations. Take a look at Outrigger on the Beach.....Good location, along with other hotel in that area. Around Lewers st. just one block off the main drag.

For onLy 1 or 2 nights you may want to take your chances with Priceline. Don't think I'd risk a whole family vacation with the uncertainty of P-Line but you may just luck out with a Waikiki bid.

make sure you go to BiddingForTravel.com
to see what kinds of prices are being accepted for the Waikiki West zone. I am pretty sure the HHV and the SHeraton are in the "resort" category. Do your homework and understand all the conditions before placing a bid!

I always use P-Line when I go to Waikiki for 1-2 nights. I have gotten the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani THE LAST 5 times in a row for $50 a night. (The rooms there are not big enogh for a family of 4!)

The Ohana Waikiki Towers is a good choice for you. Should cost less than $100.00 per night and it's centrally located for beach and other actions.

Priceline only guarantees space for two individuals per room. But you can specify purchasing two rooms at the same property when you make your bid. For something like the Princess Kaiulani 3 star rating (for which I stayed at once -- it's OK, nothing fancy) that would give a price of a little more than $100 a night. Much better option than reserving a single, larger room, with only one bathroom.

I would not and I am sorry to give you "would nots" but I would not stay at the Hilton Hawaiian during a school break. I did this in 2000 when I went with nieces and nephews. I by passed a favorite Sheraton Moana because I thought the kids would enjoy the pool at HHV. The hotel is not equipped to deal with guests at full capacity. They don't have the staff or the facilities (pool)(lobby). A complete waste of money when they are completely booked. A fun hotel at other times. I have visited other times and enjoyed myself.

I would squeeze in a tour of Iolani Palace probably the best introduction you will find on US & Hawaiian history.
I think I would not go to either Hanama bay or the Arizona. a receipe for a headache to visit both back to back like that. Get to Hanauma bay at 9am and you may fine yourself with out a parking space. That happened to us. Oh but they were letting in local cabs, buses, walkers. You were not allowed to walk in if you were tourist though. We were told we had to walk to the bottom of a hill and pay a limo to drive us though the gates.

I would also recommend Priceline. We bid on a resort and received Sheraton for $100 per night.

If you are uncomfortable about using Priceline, you can maybe reserve a room at Outrigger Waikiki using the entertainment discount for 50% off. Depending upon how important the view is for you, the rooms range $140 - around $200. (discounted rate)