We are planning on visiting Waikiki for the month of November - we want a 1 bedrm condo with great ocean views and close to the beach - we don't want to spend more than $3000 - any ideas? I have checked the Banyan and the Pacific Monarch - which is better?

My advice would be to check out vrbo.com. There are many, many one bedroom condos in Waikiki and most have terrific rates and many are in hotels where you are able to use the hotel ammenities (pool, spa, etc). I found one I absolutely loved and that's where I stay now everytime I go. The terms are usually much more flexible than a hotel would be, which I liked a lot.

Sign onto vrbo.com and then choose Oahu, Waikiki and scroll through all the many choices - click on any that sound good and it will put you onto a page for that particular unit - most have pictures and good descriptions. You can check each unit's calendar for availability and send an email to the owner/agent right there on that page. One word of advice, though - try to get a unit where the owner or agent live on Oahu - it makes a world of difference in case there's a problem in the unit - that way someone's more easily accessible if needed.

Lots of info including maps of Waikiki hotels & condos:

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

Sorry, don't know the two specific places you asked about. But there must be hundreds of options that fit what you describe in Waikiki in that price range (~$400/night).

$3000 for the month of November... so around $100 per night for 30 days?

Just checking....

I don't know the Pacific Monarch, but the Waikiki Banyan is decent. I don't know if there are "great" ocean views, though...

I've stayed at the Waikiki Banyan and I don't remember any ocean views--just Kapiolani Park and maybe a little bit of Diamond Head at best. It is walking distance to the beach, has convenient shopping and on the bus route.

offlady: So, would you stay there again?

Don't know about the Banyan, but have stayed at the Pacific Monarch a couple of times. It's decent, definitely not deluxe. I've stayed in a 1br, with a small kitchen area. If you stay on a higher up floor, you'll have an ocean view, although I wouldn't say it's great. You're looking between the Hyatt & another high rise property. It's a couple blocks to the beach. The best condo property with great ocean views is Waikiki Shore, but more expensive. I second looking at vrbo.com. Dianne

Ooops, misread... for a month not a week (duh). Sorry about that.

belle, the unit I stayed in was just a simple apartment, no frills, with just the basic rental amenities (towels, sheets, cookware). If I needed a place for a whole month, then yes. It had a full kitchen, laundry facilities (I vaguely recall it had a shared laundry room per floor), a separate bedroom, and was much more spacious than a hotel room. I do remember the night lights looking towards the mountain at night were pretty.

But if it was for only a few days where I didn't need the laundromat and kitchen facilities, then I'd stay at a hotel on Kalakaua nearer to the restaurants and shopping.