Get inspired by our experience, where are the best places to stay in Honolulu and how much does 1 night in a double room normally cost.

Where to stay in Honolulu

Honolulu is a city that stretches out into a long western "noodle" that measures almost 10km, so expect to be an average 20-30 minute commute unless you stay right in the centre, where prices are highly inflated.

For all hotel, guesthouse and private accommodation offers, check the traditional website.

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You can choose your location based on price, as surprisingly the cheapest accommodation can be found around Waikiki Beach due to the high competition for hotels. However, check out other places in and around Honolulu to choose your accommodation:

• Waikiki Beach (the center of the island's tourist action and the largest selection of hotels)
• Downtown Honolulu (Honolulu's commercial center, not as nice as Waikiki, but there's a chance for a cheaper hotel)
• Manoa (quiet residential area within easy reach of downtown with several smaller hotels and guesthouses)

Best and cheapest hotels in Honolulu

To help you navigate your accommodation choices, here are some tips on specific hotels.

Cheapest accommodations

Expect the lowest rates in Honolulu to be between 120 usd and 190 usd per night in a 2-bed room. These are mostly aparthotels, studios and smaller private guesthouses. What are the cheapest hotels in Honolulu with acceptable ratings?

• Royal Grove Waikiki - A simple hotel just outside of Waikiki with furnished studios with a kitchenette, bathroom and toilet in the room
• Ewa Hotel Waikiki - aparthotel with upgraded studios about 100 meters from Waikiki beach
• Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Waikiki - one of the cheapest hotels of the big chains, very good quality at an affordable price very close to the beaches

The golden mean

Classic 3* or 4* hotels of standard quality with good ratings will get you around 200 usd to 300 usd per night for 2 in Honolulu. A large number of hotels are located especially around Waikiki Beach:

• Waikiki Marina Resort - a nice hotel with fully equipped studios located almost directly at the north end of Waikiki Beach.
• Sheraton Princess Kaiulani - The 3* luxury arm of the Sheraton, located just a short walk from the beach, offers a high standard at a (by Honolulu standards) reasonable price
• Courtyard by Marriott Waikiki Beach - this classic of the well-known chain is normally one of the cheapest 4* hotels in Honolulu

Luxury hotels

Want to indulge in the ultimate in comfort and don't care so much about price? Then stay at great resorts right on the beaches. Prices at these hotels range from 350 usd per night in a 2-bed room.

• Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort - While priced below average for the category, this is the best hotel in North Waikiki with a shallow lagoon location and great access to all amenities
• Sheraton Waikiki - Waikiki's most famous hotel is right on the beach in the middle of all the action.
• Moana Surfrider Westin Resort - another classic 4* hotel, again right on Waikiki Beach near Honolulu's main surfing hub

And what are the best hotels in Honolulu anyway? The clear favourite is the 5* Halekulani hotel with all the amenities and ocean views available, located right on Waikiki. Prepare around 1 500 usd for a night in a 2 bed room.

Then our secret tip is a great The Kahala Hotel and Resort in East Honolulu in a very quiet area with a private beach

Honolulu Hotel Rates

Finding out how much accommodation costs in Honolulu is going to be very painful. There are few more expensive destinations in the world. The cheaper hotels in the wider downtown area are hard to find below 150 usd per night for two, while the better beachfront hotels don't drop below 250 usd per night.

In addition, be aware that the hotel prices displayed on traditional booking portals like booking.com are not final and you have to add about 10% local tax.

A sensible solution can be the airbnb platform, through which you can save up to several thousand for a multi-night stay. Deals around the outskirts of town can also be found around 55 eur for a night for two.

When choosing accommodation in Honolulu, but really anywhere in Hawaii, a cardinal rule applies: book as far in advance as possible. As the arrival date approaches, the options rapidly diminish and the remaining ones often become many times more expensive.

Find hotel prices in Honolulu