I'm planning on going to Hawaii (Oahu Island) and did some searching on some hotels in Honolulu/Waikiki but there are soooo many and so many different rates. I dont want to get stuck in some old dirty hotel because it says "goood value" but I dont want to end up at a back part of the beach location too. I'm willing to spend around $80-120 per nite but would prefer to be walking distant from the beach and the place to be somewhat nice, nothing fancy. any suggestions thanks again, there's just tooo many hotels to search from so I thought maybe some suggestions from you guys would be goood
Unless you prefer your tropical vacation to include horrible traffic and crowded beaches I would suggest you check out another Hawaiian island. I hated Honolulu other than getting to visit Pearl Harbor. Its like downtown Houston with a beach running beside it. I stay a week in Maui every other year and it is so much better. Its more laid back and has a better "tropical vacation" vibe to it.
Kauai was by far the best island in Hawaii. It's absolutely gorgeous. Maui was a close second -- the luau we went to was one of the coolest things I've ever seen. Yeah, I agree with Brad...Oahu is a waste of time if you're only there for a little while...I can't remember what hotel we were in, but it was about a half a mile from Waikiki and had a pool on top (very tall building). We basically spent all our time shopping and in the hotel pool, because Waikiki was packed beyond belief.
I stayed at the Doubletree, more or less across the road from the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Went to the HHV's beach, which was ok. The Doubletree is ok, not a great hotel, but if you have to be in Oahu (I agree that other islands are better) and just want to party and go to the beach, it would be an ok choice, I guess. They have a (somewhat small) pool as well, which I used, too (met one of the contestants for American idol there, she was cute).
Oahu is great if you have time to explore the whole island. Not just lounging on Waikiki That being said, we stayed at the "W" 2 years ago. Its right on the edge of Waikiki, by that giant park as you drive towards diamond head. It didnt feel crowded at all, we even had our own little beach area that seemed really secluded. no pool, but who needs a pool when you are in the middle of the pacific ocean.
The Hotel Coral Essex has reasonable rates and plently of availability. Be sure and ask for a room in the Ricky Ricardo wing.
Most places on Waikiki are good. I've also stayed at the Manderin Oriental. It is not on Waikiki, but it's pretty nice. Has a small private beach and a pool with dolphins and stuff you can swim in.
Oahu is great. We stayed right on Waikiki beach. We were there around Feb so it was not crowded at all. I am sure it's packed during the summer. You either stay right on the beach or don't bother staying "within walking distance". The next hotel away from the beach is not that close. Who wants to walk there carrying stuffs you need? You might as well stay a little further and drive. We rented a car to explore the whole island and it was great. We visited Diamond Head, the Aquarium, the beach a little further from it (don't know the name), a Japanese temple, the North shore, Luau at the Polynesian center, another Luau on the beach, submarine dive, Pearl Harbor ... Lots of shopping/ eateries. There are many places we did not have time for.
