Are you looking for the best places to stay in Oahu? This post has our top picks for hotels, resorts, and vacation rentals on the island. Whether you want to be right in the action on Waikiki Beach, getting pampered at a secluded beach resort, or relaxing at your own vacation rental.
You can find accommodations from expensive 5-star luxury resorts to affordable hotels, to budget-friendly hostels. But be mindful that everything in Oahu is expensive, so hotel prices are also rather inflated.
Most hotel rooms are listed for $200-400 per night, with very few truly budget options under $150 per night. And on the high end, luxury hotels and resorts can cost over $1000 per night.
But resort fees, parking fees, and taxes can really bring the price of an Oahu vacation even higher. Seriously, sometimes it will literally double the price of your stay.
So it’s good to be mindful of these extra fees when booking a hotel in Oahu.
Sometimes the listing will indicate “resort fee included”. Or if you plan on renting a car in Oahu, most places in Honolulu/Waikiki charge between $25-45 per night for parking. But there are lots of other types of transportation in Oahu that you can consider.
Waikiki & Honolulu | Best Places To Stay In Oahu
By far the biggest tourist hotspot in all the Hawaiian Islands is Waikiki Beach. This district in the capital city of Honolulu is where city life meets beach life. You can be relaxing on the beach, with endless restaurants and shops just steps away.
And you also have easy access to Honolulu’s biggest attractions like Iolani Palace, Honolulu Museum of Art, Punchbowl Crater, Honolulu Zoo, Pearl Harbor Memorial, Bishop Museum, Children’s Discovery Center, and the Ala Moana Center.
Waikiki Beach is on the island’s leeward side, which means more sunshine and calm waters. Though there are typically still some gentle waves that are great for surfing beginners. There are so many places to stay in Waikiki, which helps keep the price down. But it also means crowded beaches.
However, the shore in Waikiki is broken up into several beaches, with some being less busy than the actual Waikiki Beach.
If you want to be right on the beach, Waikiki has some of the best beachfront hotels. There are many hotel rooms with unrivaled ocean views.
Luxury Hotels And Resorts
The Royal Hawaiian
A grand and historic luxury resort on Waikiki Beach is The Royal Hawaiian. Sometimes called the ‘Pink Palace Of The Pacific” this luxury hotel has a prime beachfront location right on Waikiki Beach. Since 1927 it has held an impeccable reputation for being one of the best luxury resorts in Oahu.
The location of The Royal Hawaiian is ideal for stunning ocean view rooms with panoramic views of Diamond Head, Waikiki Beach, and the Pacific Ocean.
The Royal Hawaiian offers private beachfront cabanas to relax on the beach in comfort, two swimming pools, a fitness center, a full-service spa, restaurants, an on-property bakery, water sports rentals, and cultural activities.
Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa
Moana Surfrider is probably the most historic hotel in Hawaii. This building became the first major hotel on Waikiki Beach in 1901, beginning Waikiki’s transformation from swampland to tourism mecca. Many expansions and renovations over the years have maintained this resort’s reputation as a premiere hotel in Oahu.
You can stay in updated but cozy rooms in the historic wing or spacious rooms in the newer Surfrider tower.
You can simply relax by the pool or at the spa. Or join some activities like snorkeling, scuba diving, parasailing, surfing lessons, catamaran sails, and more.
With an onsite restaurant, bar, and Waikiki beach right in front, there is no need to leave.
Some other great luxury hotels in Waikiki Beach are Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort, Sheraton Waikiki, Hilton Hawaiian Village, ‘Alohilani Resort, and The Modern Honolulu.
The Kahala Hotel & Resort
The Kahala Hotel & Resort on the far east side of Honolulu is one of the best resorts for families and honeymoons.
This 5-star resort is a bit outside the action in the city, which can be good or bad depending on your perspective. Many people might prefer the more secluded resort feel that is away from the city noise (but close enough to visit easily).
Kahala has made sure you have everything you need right at the resort. There’s an outdoor pool, sauna, spa, fitness center, tennis courts, golf course, and casual & fine dining.
But if you are craving something beyond the on-site amenities, it’s still only a 10-minute drive to Waikiki, 15 to downtown Honolulu.
They offer a free shuttle to Ala Moana Shopping Center. Or a short drive the other direction brings you to popular spots like Hanauma Bay and Koko Head Crater.
And even though the beach is public, it still has more of a private beach feeling. (Hawaii doesn’t allow private beaches).
Mid-Range Accommodation
If you want some more mid-range hotels and resorts, you can find plenty of options around Waikiki. They may not have that prime beachfront property, luxurious hotel rooms, or upscale amenities, but some savings on accommodation is always nice.
Imperial Hawaii Resort
The Imperial Hawaii Resort is one of the best places to stay in Oahu for families. It offers a variety of hotel suites that are perfect for giving your kids a bedroom of their own. They have studios, one-bedroom suites, and two-bedroom suites, all with living room space and kitchens.
Having your own kitchen is great for the traveler that likes to save money by cooking their own meals.
They also offer guests a chance to participate in volunteer projects for 10% off their stay and waiving the resort fees. These initiatives offer visitors an enriching experience to leave Hawaii better than when they arrived. Volunteer projects range from reforestation and tree planting to self-directed beach cleanups, ocean reef preservation, and creating Hawaiian quilts for our Kupuna (elders).
Shoreline Hotel Waikiki
The Shoreline Hotel Waikiki is a vibrant and colorful boutique hotel. The cute and cozy rooms make a good home base for your vacation. And the whole property is very Instagram-worthy.
The hotel’s name is perhaps a little misleading, since it’s like a 5-minute walk to the beach. But rest assured the hotel is in a great location in Waikiki with everything you need close by. They have an outdoor pool and an onsite restaurant.
Ilima Hotel
The Ilima Hotel is another great mid-range hotel option in Oahu with kitchens. Their newly renovated rooms are incredibly well-appointed.
The Ilima Hotel has a sauna, outdoor pool, fitness room, and rooftop terrace with views of the city, mountains, and the Ala Wai Canal. There is a limited amount of free, first-come first-serve parking for guests.
Coconut Waikiki Hotel
Another one of the highest-rated mid-range hotels in Waikiki is the Coconut Waikiki Hotel. They have an outdoor pool, gym, laundry, and valet service.
There are a variety of condos and apartments for rent on VRBO that are mid-range and budget-friendly. While you might be passing up on things like pools and room service, they can offer some savings vs traditional hotels and resorts.
Budget-Friendly Accommodation
There are very few truly budget-friendly hotels in Waikiki. But if you are looking for stays under $100 per night you can turn to hostels and cheaper vacation rentals.
Or check out our camping in Oahu guide.
Hostels In Waikiki
Luckily there are a few very highly-rated hostels in Waikiki, where you can get a bed in a shared dorm for around $50 per night. Beds can be in either mixed-gender or single-gender dorm rooms.
Hostels are great for young or solo travelers on a tight budget. And also a great way to meet like-minded people.
And some hostels have private bedrooms too that are a decent value for couples.
A few great Hostels around Waikiki are:
- The Beach Waikiki Boutique Hostel
- Polynesian Hostel Beach Club
- Seaside Hawaiian Hostel Waikiki
- Honu Waikiki
They all are within short walking distance of the beach, and close to all the restaurants, nightlife, and shops. But the closest hostel to the beach is The Beach Waikiki Boutique Hostel at only a 4-minute walk to Queen’s Beach.
West Coast | Best Places To Stay In Oahu
Maybe city life isn’t for you. That’s okay! Some people just want a quiet and peaceful retreat for their Hawaii vacation.
If you leave the city of Honolulu and head up the west coast, you can find some of the best places to stay in Oahu. Like the tourist oasis of Ko Olina with several man-made ocean lagoons and an excellent 18-hole golf course nearby.
Or to truly experience the slower pace of “island time”, you can head even farther up the coast to the quiet beachside surf towns of Waianae, Makaha, and Nanakuli.
These other west coast Oahu locations benefit from that sunny weather and calm ocean water, but without the chaos of the city.
Luxury Accommodation
The Four Seasons Resort at Ko Olina
One of the best luxury hotels in Oahu is The Four Seasons at Ko Olina. It’s a good match for visitors looking for that true luxury 5-star hotel.
A hotel room or suite can easily exceed $1000 per night here. The hotel is located in Ko Olina, a tourist oasis with man-made lagoons that give guests perfect beaches for relaxing, swimming, sunbathing, snorkeling, and more.
Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa
One really unique resort experience in Oahu is the Aulani Disney Resort. It’s a perfect family vacation destination for Disney lovers. The Aulani has water slides, lazy river, a spa, several pools, hot tubs, Disney characters, and other bits of Disney magic that make it more than just another resort.
It’s located on the man-made lagoons of Ko Olina that is ideal beach access for small children.
The Aulani Disney Resort is a perfect place for kids, or adults who never want to grow up.
Other great luxury options in Ko Olina are the Marriott’s Ko Olina Beach Club, Beach Villas at Ko Olina, and Ko Olina Resort.
If you travel further up the west coast of Oahu, The Hawaiian Princess Resort is lone big “hotel” up this way. It’s a timeshare property full of individually owned condos.
Instead, the accommodation options up here are dominated by vacation rentals. And they come in all shapes and sizes, from decadent luxury homes to affordable beachside surf studios. If you want to find a quiet retreat at your own rental home, condo, villa, bungalow, etc, then northwest Oahu is a great location.
And there are still a variety of good restaurants and shops to check out nearby.
The North Shore | Best Places To Stay In Oahu
The North Shore of Oahu is famous for big wave surfing, food trucks, and a slower pace of life. The massive waves, especially in the winter months, make this coast a little less enticing (and safe) for your typical tourist.
However, there are still some protected coves for family-friendly swimming. And it’s also a great place to observe sea turtles.
Staying up here gives you easy access to the most popular attractions on the north shore like Waimea Bay, Waimea Falls, Shark’s Cove, Bonzai Pipeline (famous surf break), Ted’s Bakery, and Turtle Beach.
Turtle Bay Resort
The only traditional resort on the north shore is Turtle Bay Resort. This luxury resort on the northernmost rocky tip of Oahu isn’t ideal for beachgoing. But Turtle Bay Resort makes up for it with tons of amenities and activities for guests to enjoy.
The resort has several swimming pools, six restaurants and bars, including the signature farm-to-table Alaia restaurant. There are endless activities to participate in; golf, spa, helicopter tours, horseback riding, bike rentals, tennis courts, pickleball, and more. Or get out on the water with surfing, standup paddle boarding, snorkeling, and kayaking.
And just a 15-minute drive down to the Polynesian Cultural Center and 40 minutes to Kualoa Ranch.
Other Accommodation On The North Shore
Nearly all the other places to stay on the North Shore are vacation rentals, condos, etc.
You can check out rental properties like Ke Iki Bungalows, or find tons of unique vacation rentals along the north shore.
And again the only truly budget-friendly accommodations on the north shore are hostels and camping.
The Backpackers Hostel offers travelers on a budget such an amazing opportunity to stay on Oahu’s north shore. Enjoy the laid back local vibe right across from the beach.
They have a variety of shared dorm rooms as well as private rooms. They offer bikes for rent, free wifi, snorkel equipment, and off street parking.
The East Coast | Best Places To Stay In Oahu
Here on the windward coast of Oahu, you will find suburban neighborhoods with access to awesome beaches and tons of restaurants. And the lush green mountains on the east side are more impressive to look at.
Over here, you are closer to some of the best outdoor activities in Oahu, like hiking trails, Ho’omaluhia Botanical Gardens, and Kualoa Ranch.
The east coast of Oahu is again dominated by vacation rentals and bed & breakfasts. So it’s a good place to rent your own house or apartment and feel like a local.
If you want a traditional hotel or resort feel, the Paradise Bay Resort and Waimanolo Cottages are good options.
The beaches on this coast are beautiful, but wind and waves are more common. This makes it popular for surfers and kite surfers.
Conclusion | Best Places To Stay In Oahu
The Waikiki area in Honolulu is without a doubt the busiest and most popular tourist destination in Oahu, and all of Hawaii. Many visitors appreciate the endless abundance of restaurants, shopping, and nightlife found along Waikiki. And the beautiful beaches are always bustling with activity.
And if you are looking for a good budget or mid-range hotel, Waikiki has the most options to choose from. Use websites like Expedia, hotels, booking, hostelworld, Hopper, etc to get the best deals on your stay.
But for many, the crowds and noise of the city aren’t their ideal version of a Hawaii vacation. If you want a vacation without the chaos of the city but still in a lively hotel or resort experience, then Ko Olina is a great place for you.
And if you venture even farther away from Honolulu, you can really find that laid back local vibe, and experience the “real” Hawaii. These parts of the island have only a few traditional hotels and resorts, but plenty of unique vacation rentals.
Still not sure what region of Oahu you want to stay in? This post goes into much more detail about each part of the island; attractions, weather, activities, and more.
Once you’ve chosen where to stay in Oahu, don’t forget to book some incredible tours and excursions for your trip. Oahu has so many cool and unique activities to join, like helicopter tours, sunset cruises, snorkeling with turtles, and even shark cage diving!
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