Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel - Honolulu, Hawaii - Nostalgic Hotel near the Beach

Formerly known as ResortQuest Waikiki Beach, this two-tower, 20-story hotel was built in 1968. More recently, it was added to the Aston Hotels & Resorts group, who put it through a complete makeover in 2006.

The Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel's new retro-Hawaiian-style look contributed to its winning the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau's "Keep It Hawaii'' Certificate of Merit for Accommodations. From surfboards adorning the walls of the lobby and oversized tiki torches greeting visitors to tropical colors used in the guestroom d,cor, the projected theme is "Aloha with Attitude.''

At the Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel, 85% of the 644 guest rooms offer ocean views. Each Standard Room has one king bed or two doubles in 225 square feet of interior space with a private lanai. Junior Suites cover 374 square feet, containing one king bed or two doubles, plus a sofa bed in the living area.

Amenities include a 32" flat-panel TV, refrigerator, hair dryer, iron and ironing board, and high-speed Internet access (fee required). All rooms are nonsmoking. Cribs are available for free upon request, while rollaway beds can be added for $30 per day.

One of the Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel's selling points is its complimentary "Breakfast-on-the-Beach'' every morning. Guests are encouraged to sit out on the lanai and enjoy breakfast at their leisure, or else take it along with them in a take-home souvenir cooler bag as they head for the beach, shopping or sightseeing.

For the convenience of guests, the Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel has its own small gift and sundries shop, an ATM, a dry cleaning service, a heated swimming pool and a fitness center. Tour buses pick up right in front of the hotel, making it easy for guests to venture off to experience some of Oahu's most notable attractions. Full information is available at the Activity Desk in the lobby, which also provides a free coloring book and crayons for younger guests.

The hotel's award-winning signature restaurant is the 272-seat Tiki's Grill & Bar, an open-air venue with a retro South Pacific design on the second floor. Opened in 2003, it features the flavors of the islands - such as Coconut Shrimp, Calamari Katsu, Kalua Pig Quesadillas and Braised Beef Short Ribs - prepared in an open exhibition kitchen. A 30-foot, man-made volcano is the bar's centerpiece, where pupus (appetizers), tropical drinks and refreshing cocktails are available from 10:30am till midnight daily.

Located on the ground floor is Cold Stone Creamery, offering super-premium ice cream from 11am to 11pm each day. It is adjacent to Wolfgang Puck Express, providing sophisticated fast food with a sidewalk caf, atmosphere from 11am to 10pm. The menu includes Chef Puck's own versions of salads, thin-crusted pizzas and overstuffed sandwiches, along with beer and wine for consumption inside or al fresco.

Convenience is clearly a benefit of the Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel. The property is just 35 steps from Waikiki Beach, at 2570 Kalakaua Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96815. That's 8.3 miles from Honolulu International Airport. Valet parking is available for $22 per day.