Castly Island Colony

The Castle Island Colony is a budget hotel. It is three blocks from Waikiki Beach. If you see pictures of it that make it look like it is right on the water -- that water is actually the Ala Wai Canal, the back border of Waikiki. Some rooms have a kitchen sink and a microwave. The rooms on the highest floors have good views of the ocean and the mountains. Some people report problems with bugs or uncomfortable beds and some people have no problem with the Castle Island colony.

Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach
The Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach is a few steps closer to town than the Outrigger Reef on the Beach. The biggest complaint that anyone seems to have with this hotel is that it has thin walls with no soundproofing. Other than that the location is spectacular and the hotel and its restaurants are very popular. You'll be paying more for the location than for amenities as this hotel has one of the best spots available on the beach but not really anything else to justify the prices. Of course, because of the great location the beach area right outside of the hotel is extremely crowded most of the day. I would especially recommend this hotel for people looking to hang out with other people and see and be seen.

Ohana Maile Sky Court
Personally, I would not stay at the Ohana Maile Sky Court again. I stayed there for one night in August of 2005 and had a semi-bad experience. I booked it because the price was really inexpensive, and I generally like the Ohana hotels. The place looked nice enough on check-in, but the room was the absolute smallest hotel room I have ever seen. Because it is so small the foot of the bed was only about 4 feet away from the door and I could hear all the noise in the hall while I was trying to sleep. Every time anyone closed the door to their room anywhere around me I heard the loud banging sound. There was also a noise issue with the in-room airconditioner. It wasn't seated securely in the window and wind outside made it make creaking noises. If you can sleep through anything, maybe this isn't an issue for you. The hotel is located a good quarter to half mile from Waikiki Beach, depending on which part of the beach you want to get to. The walk isn't bad for just finding something to eat in Waikiki or shopping, but I would hate to lug all my stuff that far to the beach itself and back.

Outrigger Reef on the Beach
The Outrigger Reef on the Beach is a large, classy hotel with one of the best spots right on the middle of Waikiki Beach. Walk outside the back door and your toes are in the sand. However, you are paying for that location. The hotel rooms can be nice, and they can have a great view, but if you are on one of the sides you may just have a view of the hotel next to you. Also, you'll be charged tons (almost $20.00 a day) for parking and charged something like $30.00 if you want to sit in one of the hotel's chairs on the beach. This is the price you pay for the prime real estate hotels. Hawaii hotels outside of Waikiki generally do not charge for their chairs or charge quite so much for parking - places with ample parking like most places on the Big Island usually let you park for free if you don't use valet.

Sheraton Princess Kaiulani
The Sheraton Princess Kaiulani is centrally-located in Waikiki, right next to the International Marketplace and just across the street from the beach. This is both good and bad. The location can be noisy because of street noise and the nightly shows the hotel puts on. People who aren't used to big city dynamics can be uncomfortable or overwhelmed with the evening action, as this really is a central spot. However, prices are generally good and the walk across the street to the beach is really short.