Honolulu, HI: Hotel & Motel Planning Guide

When to Visit Honolulu, HI

With temperatures that rarely climb out of the 80s, Honolulu is a popular city to visit all year. However, with temperatures averaging between the 60s and 80s, low humidity, excellent surfing conditions, and whale-watching season in full swing, the months between December and April are some of the most popular times to visit. Of course, this also means it's the most expensive time to stay in Honolulu.If you're planning your trip between the months of May and August, it's possible to find some good deals on hotel rooms, especially if you arrive in early May before school lets out and families start traveling. These are the warmest months in Honolulu, with temperatures sometimes reaching above 90 degrees. However, pack some layers if you plan to hike to higher elevations because it can still be cool.The months between September and November are some of the best to visit Honolulu. Not only do temperatures usually range between the low 70s and mid-80s, crowds are lighter, so hotels charge less for rooms. However, there is a greater chance of rain during these months, so make sure you pack a raincoat.

Best Discounts in Honolulu, HI

To get great discounts on Honolulu hotels, you just have to know where to look. AAA members can save 10 percent at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa. Right across from Waikiki Beach, this beautiful hotel is also just over two miles from Diamond Head and a 15-minute walk from Waikiki Aquarium. Choose between mountain or ocean view rooms, and take advantage of amenities like balconies, 55-inch flat-screen televisions, an outdoor pool with live entertainment and a bar, a fitness center with a hot tub and a spa, and a kids' club.With several active military bases still on the island, many hotels offer discounts for service members and their families. Ewa Hotel Waikiki offers affordable rooms or suites with kitchenettes, and a military discount of 10 percent with valid ID when checking in. Even if you're not a member of the armed forces, you can take advantage of other specials, including government discounts, business discounts, and hotel and air packages.

Best Value Options in Honolulu, HI

If you're searching for mid-range hotels in Honolulu, you have plenty of choices that will meet your budget. You can stay on the beach and not spend a fortune at Aston Waikiki Beachside Hotel. The Aston is only an eight-minute walk from Honolulu Zoo and four blocks from shopping at DFS Galleria and International Market Place. The Aston Waikiki Beachside Hotel doesn't have an on-site restaurant, but many of the nearby eateries will deliver meals right to your room door.To stay conveniently close to many top attractions in Honolulu, consider a stay at White Sands Hotel. Here you're just a seven-minute walk from Waikiki Beach, a 15-minute walk from the Honolulu Zoo and Royal Hawaiian Center, and just over a mile from the Ala Moana Center. The resort fee at White Sands Hotel covers Wi-Fi, access to beach towels and beach chairs, shuttle service to nearby attractions, a hotel lending library, local phone calls, daily newspapers, and in-room coffee.Maile Sky Court is a high-rise hotel located near International Market Place, the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center, and the Hawaii Convention Center. The hotel offers guest rooms, as well as suites and studios with kitchenettes. The upper-floor accommodations provide fabulous views of the ocean. Relax on the large sundeck that has an outdoor pool and spa tub, or walk three blocks to Waikiki Beach and enjoy snorkeling, water skiing, surfing, kayaking, windsurfing, and more.

Top Honolulu, HI Destinations

Perhaps the most famous destination in Honolulu is Waikiki Beach. This white sand beach is a hot spot for visitors from around the world. Here you'll find a variety of activities from shopping, dining, and entertainment, to numerous beach activities, including surfing, stand-up paddleboarding, and swimming. Since it's the main resort area for Honolulu, you'll find plenty of hotel rooms either directly on the beach or just a few blocks away.Another famous destination in Honolulu is Diamond Head. This famous landmark was formed around 300,000 years ago when a single explosion created the broad crater. Today, it's known for its scenic hiking trails and gorgeous views. If you're looking for a hotel close to Diamond Head, check out Lotus Honolulu at Diamond Head. This boutique hotel offers a relaxing getaway away from the bustle of Waikiki Beach. Choose between rooms with ocean views or Diamond Head views, and take advantage of hotel activities including yoga and a selection of beach cruiser bikes you can borrow to explore the area.No matter what your plans for Honolulu include, you're sure to find a hotel that not only meets your location needs but satisfies your budget as well. From the lush slopes of Diamond Head to the white sand beaches of Waikiki, numerous hotels around the area can offer you a relaxing place away from home.

Honolulu, HI in a nutshell

Honolulu sparkles with its famous coastal area that serves as the main drag for leisure-seekers wanting a piece of that sun-drenched Hawaiian holiday. Waikiki Beach epitomizes the splendor of Oahu's great economic center. But beyond the sandy beaches and the luxury resorts, more of Honolulu's legacy unravels through downtown's landmarks. The city's legendary coastline is complemented by Honolulu's historic sites and cultural attractions. Kawaiaha'o Church and Iolani Palace are remnants of Hawaii during its days as an independent kingdom ruled by King Kamehameha The Great, whose imposing bronze figure stands in the heart of downtown. You can sample both traditional and modern Hawaiian art from a number of galleries and museums like Bishop Museum, Hawaii State Art Museum and the Contemporary Museum. Having seen Honolulu's cultural gems, discover its culinary treasures from fine restaurants across the city. Treat yourself to the freshest seafood and native ingredients served in a delightful luau bash along with traditional entertainment.

'He who can't swim is he who can't live. 
- A popular Hawaiian proverb.

Hawaii, as we all know, is probably the best known island tourist hub in the whole wide world. The mere fact that a trip to Hawaii is harbored as a dream by millions of tourists around the world is good enough to tell us volumes about the beauty of this enchanted place where no worries seem to exist and time comes to a grinding halt. There's no life in the fast lane here. Everything works in a slow motion, as days and night conspire together to create a panorama so beautiful, you wouldn't want to return at all! 

And when it comes to Hawaii, no island is better known than the capital of the state “ Honolulu. 

Located on the Oahu Island, Honolulu is the gateway to Hawaii. With the only international airport in the state being located here, it is only just that over 20 million travelers are handled by the city's airport. Although the city is less ˜Hawaiian' than its brethren “ mainly because of its high population density. But still, one can hope to find a good deal of respite here, than most places in the world. 

If you are making plans of visiting Honolulu in search of natural beauty and peace of mind, our only advice would be to act on it immediately “ because it would be one of the best decisions of your life on the road. And before that, you would be better off going through this fact-check article about hotels in Honolulu! Happy voyage! 

Cheap Hotels in Honolulu

Being a premier tourism destination, Honolulu has more expensive resorts than cheap lodges. But that should not, by any means, deter your travel plans. If one is to look closely enough, there are enough cheap hotels to be found here. 

Waikiki Prince is our top choice in this price range, where basic amenities and comfort matter more than luxury or extravagance. Keeping the same thing in mind, Waikiki Prince prefers to keep the math simple by providing spacious rooms with good levels of comfort at great prices. Of course, you might not fall in love with its decor or food “ but you get what you paid for! 

Ilima Hotel is an affordable place where you can hope to get just the sort of comfort one looks for, especially when the stay is supposed to be a short one. 

On a larger scale, Royal Grove Hotel is definitely worth checking in. It is a large establishment with over 100 rooms and a banquet hall, as well. Its low prices and convenient location add to its value, as well. 

Luxury Resorts and Spas in Honolulu

Now we are talking! The perks of being a much-sought-after tourist destination has a number of perks on the side. For example, a host of global hospitality companies have set up multiple luxury resorts in Honolulu, transforming the city into a city of palaces where luxury overflows and extravagance rules. 

Hilton Hawaiian Village is especially of note here, because it provides tourists an insight into native Hawaiian lifestyle with a supremely designed and executed theme resort. Of course, being a Hilton hotel, it features the best facilities and the prettiest decor you can think of. 

This is where luxury Honolulu hotels seem to leave behind cheap hotels in terms of popularity. In spite of their steep prices, many tourists prefer to look at them as once-in-a-lifetime sort of an experience where people usually don't seem to care much about pricing. 

Up next is Modern Honolulu, the landmark hotel in the capital. It's majestic façade and exorbitantly designed suites add a whole lot of class to your stay in Honolulu.

Trump International Hotel and Tower Waikiki Beach can also be given a go, if extravagance appeals to you more than class or style. Utterly ostentatious outlook of typical Trump properties is present intact in this one, delighting regular Trump fans. 

Top Things to Do/See in Honolulu

Apart from beaches (we won't talk about beaches here, as you might already know much about them), there is a whole lot to see, feel and experience in Honolulu. Pearl Harbor, for example, is the most visited naval history center in the world. Carrying scars of the battles fought in the past, it stands tall today as a naval museum and history hub. 

The USS Bowfin, a retired US Navy Vessel, stands parked next to Pearl Harbor, housing memories and interesting facts about the US Navy. 

Bishop Museum in Honolulu is a definitive museum of Hawaiian history and tradition. It houses over 2,000 artefacts that exhibit the riches of Hawaiian native culture that is dominated by the sea and waves. 

As far as natural wonders are concerned, Diamond Head should be at the top of your itinerary. It is a volcanic crater that sits atop the city, creating an effect of a silent guardian angel of the city. 

Looking for Hotels in Honolulu Near the Airport? 

Honolulu International Airport, as mentioned earlier, is a quite busy one. Although it is such a busy airport, it is located very close to Waikiki “ the central business district of Honolulu. Because of this proximity, it becomes quite easy for travelers to travel directly from the airport to the city, making obsolete the need to find Honolulu hotels near the airport. 

That may come as a respite for tourists, but there's one catch. Honolulu is not really seen as a city having efficient traffic. So, even a short drive of 3 km may take you longer than you usually anticipate. 

Most Ideal Time to Visit Honolulu

September and October are two months that present you with the best possible combination of climate and economy, as airfares to Honolulu drop while hotels in Honolulu slash their nightly tariffs. 

Apart from that, a unique season of festivals in Honolulu means that you will be best poised to explore the local art, food and music culture up, close and personal!