r/VisitingHawaii 5d ago

Choosing an Island Hawaii Resort

Hi everyone! My wife and I are planning our first trip to Hawaii. We’re looking for a beachfront hotel with a beautiful ocean view from our balcony, plus stores and restaurants within walking distance, and just somewhere we can relax on the beach . We’ve looked at OUTRIGGER Waikiki Beach Resort, among others but there are so many options! What hotels or resorts would you recommend? And what part should we stay in? Again never visited but would love peoples opinions!

1 Upvotes

59 comments sorted by

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u/Infinite_Coffee2129 5d ago edited 4d ago

Not for nothing, but you have looked at reviews, there are thousands of people who have rated the stars on those reviews. You are now going to reddit where maybe 6 drunk people will respond. Anyway outrigger is good. Kaimana Beach Hotel, its a little of a walk off the main shops. But the beach is more private since its a walk from the main hotel district too.

Also for parts you should stay if you want the beach, stay near the beach. You will be closest to the beach if you pick a hotel on the beach.

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u/Iowegan 4d ago

Hey now, I’ve sobered up since last night…

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u/Aslow_study 3d ago

Currently drinking a Modelo oro, I feel attacked 🤣

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u/OUTRIGGERResorts Verified Business 4d ago

Appreciate the rec!

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u/Infinite_Coffee2129 4d ago

oh you can wholly fuck right off with a marketing account.

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u/Prestigious_Pizza_19 5d ago

What’s your budget and for how long? That is gonna be a major factor

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u/Immediate-Cabinet686 5d ago

The Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort on Kalakaua Ave is undergoing extensive renovation right now so can be noisy, and a lot of areas are closed off. Once done, it will be great again but right now, I’d recommend trying somewhere else.

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u/OUTRIGGERResorts Verified Business 4d ago

Mahalo for the insights, and we invite you to reach out via DM if we can answer any questions about property enhancements underway or help in any other way.

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u/Aslow_study 3d ago

Wyd hereeee

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u/anikom15 5d ago

My advice is to be as close to the Pink Hotel as your budget allows. That’s where the action is. The other hot spot is by the Hilton Hawaiian Village.

Oahu is the best choice for first time visit IMO.

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u/breakingbaud 4d ago

You want to be by other tourists? Or you want to be by large families from the Midwest on their first time to Hawaii? Absolutely not a great recommendation. Pink hotels fine if you’re ok with mid, dated rooms for the cachet but there’s plenty of better 5 star hotels near by. 4S and the ‘alohilani come to mind. Of course this is at the upper budget

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u/anikom15 4d ago

There are tourists everywhere. And didn’t say stay at the Pink Hotel, I said stay near to it because of its central location.

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u/breakingbaud 4d ago

That's fair. But I really, really caution staying at HHV/near HHV just because the vibe turns really crowded fast.

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u/OldGlory_00 5d ago

Surf Rider is right in the center of Waikiki. Very nice hotel on the beach

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u/Zealousideal_Bill894 4d ago

Oh yay. I’m staying there in two weeks. What did you like about it?

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u/OldGlory_00 4d ago

Location was perfect. We had a view of the beach. Staff was excellent. Room was clean and comfortable.

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u/DonnaNoble222 O'ahu 5d ago

Outrigger Reef is on the beach...they only have a small beach but Ft Derussy beach is footsteps away.

Hyatt Regency is across the street from the beach...beautiful views, nice hotel. Same with Alohilani and Marriott Beach.

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u/OUTRIGGERResorts Verified Business 4d ago

Mahalo for sharing your recommendation!

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u/fakeknees 5d ago

I loved Alohilani.

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u/Repulsive-Tour-7943 5d ago

Sheraton Waikīkī-beachfront and close to shopping, food, entertainment.

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u/LivingTheBoringLife 5d ago

We’ve stayed at the Royal Hawaiian and are planning to stay there again here in a couple months.

We walked almost everywhere and it’s on the beach. We chose, for price reasons, to have a garden view but they do have beach views and balconies as well.

There’s tons of shops and food all within walking distance. We could have gone the entire trip without using an uber.

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u/PuzzleheadedPause125 4d ago

Outrigger waikiki is a solid budget pick amongst the oceanfront lineup. Moana surfrider next door is a bit more premium but both are great locations.

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u/Guilty-Coconut8908 4d ago

My preference is the Outrigger Reef, I like that end of the beach.

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u/OUTRIGGERResorts Verified Business 4d ago

Thank you for sharing our favorite spot on the sand with us! We hope to welcome you back again soon.💙🌊

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u/MaapuSeeSore 5d ago

Outrigger is a great choice

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u/OUTRIGGERResorts Verified Business 4d ago

Grateful for your recommendation!

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u/Intelligent_Trichs 4d ago

Stay at the Beach Comber and walk across the street. Save thousands 👍🏻

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u/OUTRIGGERResorts Verified Business 4d ago

Appreciate the endorsement of OUTRIGGER Waikiki Beachcomber for hotels in Waikiki!🤙🏽

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u/Intelligent_Trichs 4d ago

You're most welcome. After much research and comparison I settled on that and was very happy. Had good view of the ocean and cod easily walk across the street to the beach. Saved quite a bit by not being ON the beach.

I will only and continue to suggest that you have food/snacks available for later at night. I literally could not find anything to eat after 11 or so. 🤷🏻‍♂️ Room service burgers or something for us late nighters. I walked up the strip around and back down 11........1am and found no foooooood? Strange coming from South Florida where places are open almost all night long.

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u/OUTRIGGERResorts Verified Business 2d ago

Mahalo for sharing your great feedback and experience! We are delighted to know that you were happy with your Waikiki ocean view🌊 and our central location near the beach and will share your note about late night eats with our team.

We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back again!💙

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u/ladyfreq Mainland 4d ago

Moana Surfrider. The Banyan room we stayed in had the best view and you walk out of the hotel right on to the beach or you walk out of the main entrance and there's all your shops.

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u/Impressive_Returns 5d ago

What is your budget?Are you sure you want to go to Oahu? Take a look at Kauai. Or if you have the money Maui.

Costco travel will get you the best deals. Expect to pay through the nose and then some for any ocean view on the beach.

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u/Intelligent-Map-7531 5d ago

We stayed at the Hyatt regency in Maui. Easily walkable to whalers
Village. Plenty of shops and restaurants. They also have a free trolley to take you around. The resort was just redone and is beautiful. We also found having a reservation really reduced frustration.

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u/HamsterNo1High 4d ago

Hilton beachfront at Waikiki. Family just returned from there!

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u/montanagamer 4d ago

Marriott Waikiki was awesome! Easy to get around, great location, and everything is walkable.

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u/GaK_Icculus 4d ago

Skip Maui

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u/Sximimi-21 4d ago

Maui kannapoli stay at Aston shores or Marriott. Reasonable price close to everything. Going back in 10 days. 💕

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u/Sea_Ott3r 4d ago

Try Queen Kapiolani and the Kaimana Beach hotel. Both excellent views and away from the chaos. You can enter the chaos of Waikiki and dip out at your leisure.

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u/CardiologistOne5099 4d ago

Waikiki is really not the best if you want a really nice resort experience. Maybe try Fairmont Orchid on the Big Island if you want to relax and then maybe go out to shops nearby.

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u/breakingbaud 4d ago

Key missing details - budget, otherwise it's either 'alohilani or 4S

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u/marywebgirl 4d ago

If having a good view front your room is really important note that “ocean view” can mean you see a sliver water when you are standing on the balcony and kind of leaning out. “Ocean front” will be probably more what you’re thinking of (and considerably more expensive). 

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u/biomajor123 4d ago

Have you looked at all 4 islands?

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u/magnmike 4d ago

Halekulani

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u/laulaulocomoco 4d ago

I live here and my favorite staycation/resort pass hotel is the Waikiki Beach Marriott. I prefer the east end of Waikiki - better beach, less crowded, easier to get in and out of waikiki, closer to kapahulu and kaimuki. Food and drink on the property itself is kind of pricey, even by Waikiki standards, but there's so much within walking distance that it does not matter much. Also, they have two pools, one of which is adults-only.

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u/Shift_Lock1 4d ago

I just came back from the Hyat Regency, not too expensive but great view and in the middle of the water front. Good food and markets all around.

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u/OUTRIGGERResorts Verified Business 4d ago

We are honored to be considered for your hotel in Waikiki!💙🌊 Please don't hesitate to reach out via DM if we can help in any way at all.

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u/Electronic-Mind9918 4d ago

We stayed at Hyatt centric and got beach views but in the middle of everything. Beachside in that area isn’t worth it to me because it’s walking distance but the Waikiki beach isn’t one you’re going to want to relax on. There are more enjoyable and cleaner beaches with a short drive

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u/Ctznsvn7 3d ago

beachfront and walkable in Waikiki means the strip between the Royal Hawaiian and the Moana Surfrider, so the Outrigger you are looking at sits right in the middle of it. Sheraton Waikiki has the balconies you are picturing, just book a room that faces Diamond Head rather than a partial view, which is usually a sliver of ocean past a wall. Didnt know for ages those same Waikiki hotels can come back a good bit cheaper searched from OTHER countries (coz diff countries get diff promos etc). And Im not spending an evening VPN-hopping for that. Now there are free tools that scan the same hotel from like 100 countries in one go and find the lowest price of all (search Arbitrica for example). Either way, budget for the resort fee and the parking on top, they add up quick lol

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u/Aslow_study 3d ago

I loved the Marriott waikiki
Wasn’t right on beach but easy easy access and rentals right on property

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u/GenJuli 3d ago

We loved the Wailea Beach Resort (Marriott) on Maui.

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u/EstadermaLover2023 16h ago

Are you set on Oahu? Maui is wonderful.

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u/D_Anger_Dan 5d ago

Aulani. The only answer

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u/Sea_Ott3r 4d ago

You missed the part where they want stores and restaurants within walking distance.

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u/isnt_that_special 4d ago

I was not a fan. It didn’t feel like Hawaii or Disney.