The Best Resorts in Honolulu

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Honolulu has a hotel or resort for every travel style. Sometimes, a basic hotel with few bells and whistle is sufficient, but sometimes you want to pull out all the stops and have all amenities and services at your fingertips. Not all resorts will break the bank—some are geared toward the budget-minded and those traveling with family or larger groups. Others, of course, will knock your sandals off for a hefty price. Resorts in Honolulu, Hawaii's capital city (on the island of Oahu), have the full range of choices for your next vacation, including quieter spots that are still close to action of the city.

Here are eight best bets for luxury and boutique resorts, as well as resorts just slightly off the beaten beach path.

Known as the "cosmopolitan jewel of Waikiki," the 'Alohilani is set on the beach but has an understated, elegant profile. Common areas are designed for indoor-outdoor luxury, with a 200,000-gallon oceanarium, a saltwater infinity pool, and a club for kids. There are also two destination restaurants by Morimoto on property. Rooms are equally pleasing and come with ocean or Diamond Head views. Guests can also upgrade to Longboard Club access for an even more exclusive experience.

The Hilton Hawaiian Village is so vast that there are certainly actual villages in the world smaller than this resort. It's the perfect place for travelers who want to access every conceivable resort amenity while feeling like a participant in the busy life of Waikiki. A world unto itself, the Hilton Hawaiian Village is a popular place for conventions, so who knows what group you'll bump into. Despite its size, service is coordinated and efficient. Families love this resort for its wealth of activities for kids. The resort also has a Mandara spa and some of the best shopping in Waikiki.

Waikiki’s famous “Pink Palace” has been a Honolulu destination since 1927. The Royal Hawaiian’s opulent suites are the way to go here. Decor is a hybrid of Old World luxe and lush, local bounty. The hotel is a short walk to the Royal Hawaiian Center and Waikiki Beach Walk. You can also rent a cabana right on the beach by day and reserve a town car to take you to dinner in town at night.

An especially good resort choice for those who like to shop, the Hyatt Regency Waikiki has 60 boutiques on site, as well as a full-service oceanfront pool with cabanas for rent, a well-equipped fitness center, and three restaurants (plus a lounge devoted to Regency Club members). The property has 1,230 rooms—some of the largest in Honolulu.

An older property that's popular with families is the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort in the heart of Waikiki and within walking distance of most everything of interest in the neighborhood. It's also the home of Blue Note Hawaii, on of Oahu's best live music venues. Staff cater to kids, and the pools are designed for family fun. Upgrading to the Voyager 47 Club will get you premium-view accommodations, as well as access to a private lounge that serves breakfast, snacks throughout the day, and appetizers and drinks each evening.

A recently renovated gem of a moderately priced resort (for Hawaii), set on a nice stretch of Waikiki Beach and with amenities galore, including a 24-hour state-of-the-art fitness center, an infinity pool, poolside cabanas, five restaurants/bars, shuttle service, and a Biki bike station.

Set apart from Waikiki in the posh neighborhood of Kahala, the Kahala Hotel & Resort is the only beachfront resort in the area, just a 10-minute drive from the heart of Waikiki. Oceanfront suites are the room category of choice here—all include TOTO washlets, jogging maps, iHome docking stations and access to a 24-hour fitness center with steam room and sauna. The property has some of the best views of the Diamond Head crater on the island, as well as complimentary shuttle service to Ala Moana Shopping Center.

A low-key resort on the quiet side of Waikiki, near Diamond Head, the Lotus Honolulu offers affordable luxury and all the room features you might want, including balconies with big views, iHome phone docks, and in-room mini-fridges.Service is highly personalized — hop on a beach cruiser bike by day and return for the complimentary wine reception at night. For beach-swimmers only, as there is no pool. But there are tennis courts across the street if you want to exercise.

Source: Forbes.com

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