The Ritz Carlton Residences is one of the most luxurious places to stay in Waikiki and the whole of Oahu. Here are some hotel options for Waikiki: Ritz Carlton Residences Ritz Carlton via It’s also the best area in Oahu for nightlife. That being said, Waikiki is a great place to stay in Oahu for families and people traveling on a budget. We definitely felt like we didn’t experience Oahu at all on our honeymoon, so on our subsequent visit, we made it a point to stay elsewhere. Some people prefer to venture further afield and stay within one of these parts instead. Most people consider the ‘real’ Hawaii – the beautiful, not so touristy part, to be outside Waikiki. Furthermore, some hotels can charge up to $40 per day to park a rental car! In fact, the entire area is crazy crowded, and getting around on the roads can be stressful. Some people’s Hawaii dream isn’t sunbathing on a packed out Wakikian beach. However, there are plenty of people who opt to stay outside of the Waikiki bubble. There are also plenty of restaurants, with something to meet every taste! We would walk to a different restaurant every day! Nearby attractions include museums, cultural sites, shopping malls, a zoo, and an aquarium. There’s certainly everything you need here in Waikiki, as you’ll be able to take in a variety of attractions. Other than traveling by bus one day, we spent our whole honeymoon in Waikiki! We were a poor married couple (my parents had gifted the honeymoon as a wedding present), so we didn’t rent a car.

In fact, that is exactly what we did on our honeymoon. Many tourists ‘fly and flop’ – they travel to Waikiki and don’t leave for the entirety of their holiday. This, and the fact that shuttles from Honolulu airport to Waikiki are very affordable, means that it is the most budget-friendly place to stay in Hawaii. There are cheaper hotels than elsewhere on the island due to more demand. There are other benefits to staying in Waikiki as well. And while it is a crowded and busy area, it is still beautiful. It’s part of Honolulu, which makes transportation easy and affordable. Waikiki is Hawaii’s oldest resort area, and it’s been popular for around 120 years.

(See more great photo spots on my Instagram Guide to Oahu here!) We took the photo above at Tantalus Lookout where you can see Diamond Head stretching all the way to Waikiki. Waikiki is part of the South area of Oahu. In this guide, we’ll look at the best places to stay in Oahu and some of the best hotels in Oahu! Waikiki the South (which includes Waikiki, Diamond Head, and other parts of Honolulu).

Oahu vacation packages 2021