Visitor Needs Help Finding "Perfect" Hotel (Waikiki/HNL) (Honolulu: car rental, rental)

[UNCMetsGal]

Aloha Everyone!!

Hubby and I will be sailing on Pride of America, and we're book-ending our cruise with 2 nights (before and after) on Waikiki Beach.

This is a "Dream Come True" vacation for me, and while I'd love to say that "money is no object", of course, it IS. That said, I was hoping to get some advice on a hotel/resort on/near Waikiki Beach. Here's what I *need*:

1) Shuttle Service to/from airport
2) Ocean View for less than $200/night.

Any suggestions are WELCOME!

Also, I have located a few options, but would love some input, if you folks have any, on the "value" (money, view, service, etc..) of these facilities (I've read reviews, but am hoping some locals (or those more well-traveled than the average vacationer) will have better insights):

1) Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel
2) Pacific Beach Hotel


My heart was set on the Hilton Hawaiian Village, but the price of a ocean view room with a king-sized bed seems out of reach (imagine that! ). So I am hoping to be able to find something similar but at a lower price.

Any and all help is greatly appreciated!!

[KonaKat]

This is the height of our high season - you might try priceline . com or other similar sites to compare prices. For an unbeatable Hawaiian experience, my vote goes to the big pink Royal Hawaiian Hotel, recently renovated.

[whtviper1]

You challenge is $200 - you get what you pay for.

I think the best location and value for your money is the Waikiki Parc Hotel - they have specials including parking starting at $214/night - if you really have to have ocean view, you can get ocean view specials at $263/night.
This is a very nice upscale hotel.

You are on your own for the hotel shuttle - all the shuttles at the airport go to all the Waikiki hotels but none are free.

[McFrostyJ]

Originally Posted by UNCMetsGal

My heart was set on the Hilton Hawaiian Village, but the price of a ocean view room with a king-sized bed seems out of reach (imagine that! ). So I am hoping to be able to find something similar but at a lower price.

I don't think you will find anything similar to the Hilton Hawaiian Village, with an ocean view, for $200 a night. However, you can find nice clean rooms, with an ocean view for that or less. We have stayed at both Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel and Pacific Beach Hotel. Nothing wrong with either. However, the Park Shore(right next door) is a little cheaper and still has the same view.
Waikiki Hotel Beach Accomodations - Park Shore Waikiki Hotel

[UNCMetsGal]

Sorry, I should have mentioned that we're vacationing in May - so I have time to hunt/price compare.

Thanks for the tips so far! It sounds like really "any" of the hotels along Waikiki Beach will be "nice enough" - which is really what I am after, since I'll have 7 days on the boat as well.

I'll dig some more!

Also, thanks for the head's up about the shuttle. I wasn't aware that airport-to-hotel shuttles would cost me. I WAS aware of having to pay to get to/from the pier/hotel for embarkation/debarkation.

Thanks again!

[piranha_trader]

Id be wary of what they call Ocean view too. Ive been clobbered on the term more times than I can remember with their definition of "Ocean View" consisting of a sliver view in which case you're better off getting a mountain view.

[terracore]

The shuttle service will cost nearly as much as a car rental figuring passengers x 2. But unfortunately paying for parking will make the shuttle service cheaper in the end. IMO, Honolulu, especially waikiki, is not "real" Hawaii. You're not there long but the island is small. I'd get a car and explore. The hotel shuttle at the Hilton isn't a hilton hotel shuttle like you are accustomed to, it's a bus service operated by some other company and its far from an "on call" hotel shuttle.

+1 what the other person who said "ocean view" rooms are frequently just a side window with a sliver of a view. Be especially weary of "lagoon views" as the hotel advertisement doesn't mention the "man made" nature of the "lagoon".

Also, the "luau" at the hilton on their "rooftop garden". Sigh... "rooftop garden" is another term for "on top of the parking garage" and by "garden" they mean a few potted palms.