Scenic Hotels in Honolulu

"I chose this place for my solo trip because hotels were too expensive. The location is absolutely fantastic, right on a main street, so I felt perfectly safe walking alone at night. Even though it's a capsule hotel, they provide towels, thin slippers, and a toothbrush. The sheets were clean, and it felt private enough that I could actually sleep. Since there are Japanese staff, communication in Japanese was easy. Everyone staying there was traveling solo, so it was very quiet. I even wondered if it was the quietest place in all of Hawaii (lol). The shared lounge/living area was also quiet, and you could get free tea and water. My capsule was next to the women-only door, so I frequently heard the door opening and closing in the middle of the night and early morning, which was a bit bothersome. My only real complaint would be the shared showers. I stayed for two nights, and on the second day, someone hadn't rinsed out their hair after using the shower, and the sinks were also full of hair. I guess that's to be expected for this price point. Other than that, everything else was good. I think it's a great place if you can tolerate the showers."

"The hotel is very quiet, and the sea views are absolutely stunning. From the room, you can see so many yachts. It's lovely to watch them head out to sea in the morning, and in the afternoon, there are lots of people surfing. The hotel's pool is fantastic, and there's a Japanese restaurant downstairs that's incredibly delicious – we really enjoyed it, and it was only a bit over 100 for two, which is quite reasonable. The best part is how clean the hotel is; the hygiene is excellent. I'll definitely stay here again next time!"

"The Rainbow Tower is quite new and the rooms are decent, but the elevators are incredibly slow. With over 1000 rooms sharing just 5 elevators, you're looking at nearly a ten-minute wait every time. I'd advise against booking an ocean view room because you won't really see much ocean; it's mostly lagoon. For a true ocean view, you'd need to book an 'oceanfront view,' and even then, it depends on the front desk's mood – they might give you a low floor where you still can't see anything. My room was on a very low floor with virtually no view, plus there was construction going on downstairs, which was very noisy. The hotel's location is a bit out of the way for Waikiki; it's over a 15-minute walk to the main area. However, it's only a 15-minute walk to Ala Moana Shopping Center. Also, if beach quality is important to you, don't stay here. The beach is full of coral fragments, which hurt your feet, and the water is murky. The towel counter closes at 6 PM, so there's nowhere to return towels after that. Additionally, they don't offer complimentary beach chairs or bodyboards, unlike Marriott where they're free. Overall, it's not really worth the price."

"We had a great stay at the Waikiki Resort Hotel. Location was perfect, just a block off the beach and central to everything in Waikiki. We received a discount on our car rental located on site. The staff was friendly and helpful throughout our stay. The pool was nice. The buffet was fine. The rooms were great with a king bed for a couples stay. High value stay."

"They were very accommodating with luggage storage before check-in, a 12 PM check-out, and even luggage storage after check-out. While it's a bit far from the beach, there's a convenient W Line bus stop nearby that goes to the airport, and famous shops like Target, ABC Store, Marugame Udon, and Kona Coffee are all close by, which was very convenient."

"This was one of the hotels I'd been wanting to stay at, with Diamond Head right in front of me, and I was satisfied with the location and decor, which met my expectations. Due to the high prices, we had to settle for in-room dining, but even at night, we could look down from the 5th floor at the 3rd-floor pool and the lively chatter at the restaurant, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere, and our canned beer tasted great. However, the valet parking was expensive at $60/day, so we opted for the free street parking along Waikiki Beach, as mentioned in reviews. On Saturday, our first day, we were lucky to find an empty spot and save some money, but there were none on Sunday, so we parked on the shoulder of a road a bit further away. This area was also packed with street parking. Nevertheless, the next morning, we found a parking ticket and had to pay $155 at the downtown district court. I can certainly understand a 'NO PARKING' sign, but it would be helpful to have clear signs for free parking areas too. In the end, it cost us an additional $35 – what a bummer."

"Staying in Hawaii, this hotel near Waikiki Beach and Kalakaua Avenue is beautiful and great for shopping. In Hawaii, definitely splurge on an ocean-view room – don't be stingy! At Halepuna, you get a complimentary reusable water bottle and slippers. You don't even need to bring your own toiletries; just ask, and they'll send them up. Plus, it's connected to Halekulani for breakfast, and you can charge it to your room. I have to say, Trip.com was amazing this time! My flight arrived early at just past 9 AM, and I had requested an early check-in through Trip.com the day before. By 10:30 AM, my room was already ready. The service was absolutely fantastic!"

"Good location at the beginning of Waikiki- close enough to everything without being in the midst of touristy chaos.  Amenities decent- nothing too fancy but all the basic amenities covered.  (Pool✅, gym✅, sauna✅- steam room was out of order) missing a jacuzzi & would have liked extended pool hours- but really enjoyed our time there- free excellent first come, first served- cabana options ,and  complimentary ice cakes.  Staff was friendly & helpful- despite an initial awkward check in experience.  Breakfast buffet-(Cafe 410)  good choices, attentive staff. Recommend going early to beat the loud & large crowds. Elevators were like a roller coaster ride and zipped us up to our room and down to lobby in a flash.  The water bottle check in gift was a nice and appreciated touch. (Just wished that ice machines were on every floor) Signature Steak House- pricey but worth every dollar!!  Very elegant/classy atmosphere - though kind of looser on the dress code than expected.  Steak melts in your  mouth- light, flavorful- perfect!  Best.Damned.Steak.Ever!!  Really set the bar and forever ruined all other steaks in comparison!!! Overall , very nice Kamaaina couple staycation. Only complaint would be the horrible mattresses!! (So uncomfortable that we had a hard time sleeping and woke daily with sore backs- and that there wasn’t free Kamaaina parking."

"I recently stayed at this hotel in the Penthouse and, overall, had a pleasant stay. However, there were several areas where the guest experience could be improved. Pros: * The location is convenient, with Waikiki Beach approximately a 15-minute walk away. * There are plenty of restaurants within walking distance, although I would recommend making reservations in advance as many are very popular. * There are numerous ABC Stores nearby, making it easy to pick up snacks, drinks, souvenirs, and other essentials. * A special mention goes to Ralph, who was outstanding throughout our stay. He was friendly, approachable, and always happy to help with any questions or recommendations. He quickly became our go-to person whenever we needed assistance and is a real credit to the hotel. Cons: * Upon arrival, we were not offered the welcome drink that other guests appeared to receive. We checked in shortly after 3:00 pm, yet we saw guests arriving at around 9:30 pm the previous evening being offered welcome drinks. It was disappointing that this was not provided consistently. * We were never informed that the hotel offers complimentary beach umbrellas and chairs on a first come, first served basis. We ended up purchasing our own before accidentally overhearing another member of staff explain this benefit during another guest’s check-in. * Similarly, we only discovered that the hotel offers a complimentary walking tour after overhearing a different staff member mention it to another guest. It would have been helpful if all guests were informed about the activities and amenities available during check-in. * We booked the Penthouse expecting to fully enjoy the advertised 90-degree views. While the views themselves were excellent, the balcony was much smaller than expected and not really large enough to comfortably sit and enjoy them. * The bathroom, particularly the bathtub, felt dated and would benefit from refurbishment. * The room itself is showing its age and could do with a modern refresh. * The breakfast room is exceptionally small considering the number of guests staying at the hotel. During busy periods it becomes crowded and difficult to find seating. * One morning, a guest was allowed to bring a dog into the enclosed, air-conditioned breakfast room. To my understanding, this is not permitted under Hawaii law unless the animal is a legitimate service animal, and it made the dining experience uncomfortable. * The Skyline floor cannot be accessed using the elevator on the far left, which was inconvenient and not clearly explained. * At check-in, a $200 deposit was authorised along with an additional hold on my credit card. This extra charge was never explained by staff, and I only became aware of it after reviewing my credit card statement. Greater transparency regarding incidental holds would have been appreciated. Overall, the hotel is in a good location with helpful staff, especially Ralph, and provides a comfortable base for exploring Waikiki. However, there were several inconsistencies in communication and a number of facilities that would benefit from updating. Better communication during check-in about available amenities, clearer explanations of credit card holds, and refurbishment of the rooms would significantly improve the overall guest experience."

"This hotel is located at the back of the Luxury row. It is convenient for the beach and also shops and bars. The room was large, the bed was comfortable. The balcony is quite small. Overall it is clean. There is a gym onsite but the pool is tiny. The front desk service is efficient and friendly. They provide complementary coffee and tea in the morning. They also provide complementary beach towels."