Honolulu is one of the world's most popular vacation spots
Honolulu is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, and happily, there's a hotel to suit every budget. Many give discounts if staying a week or longer, and current specials can be found on a hotel's website. If you don't like the rate you see online, sometimes calling the hotel directly and asking for a discount (especially if staying at least a week) can work. Another tip: look for rooms with kitchenettes, a great way to save money.
Royal Grove Hotel
Most visitors want a hotel close to the beach.
The Royal Grove Hotel is one of the best budget options in Hawaii. The hotel is privately owned, and the rooms, while very modestly furnished, all come with kitchenettes. The hotel offers weekly rates from April through November, with rates beginning at $350 for a room without air conditioning, and $450 for a room with air conditioning (despite the savings, visitors will probably be more comfortable with air conditioning). Even the non-weekly rates are very reasonable, beginning at $55/night (no air conditioning) and $67 a night (with air conditioning). Advance bookings are commended for this hotel.
Royal Grove Hotel
161 Uluniu Ave.
Honolulu, HI 96815
808-923-7691
royalgrovehotel.com
Chain hotels
Having a kitchenette means more money for other treats
The Ohana, Aqua Resorts, and Castle Resorts chains each have budget options among their hotels, including rooms with kitchenettes that start at less than $100. While not having weekly rates per se, they do offer specials of the "book four nights, get the fifth night free" variety, encouraging longer stays. Each chain offers different perks, such as packages that include meal options; the Ohana chain offers free phone calls (local and to the mainland), and the Aqua chain gives substantial discounts for booking one or two months ahead. The hotels also offer discounts for AAA members, seniors (50 or older), military and government personnel. If you are staying at a chain hotel, you can also probably get a discount in booking an air/hotel package with your airline.
ohanahotels.com
aquaresorts.com
castleresorts.com
Condo rentals
"Island style" is laid back and casual.
For less formal and more spacious accommodations, there are many condo rentals available in Honolulu. Ali'i Beach Rentals specializes in long term rentals, with 30 percent off rentals of a month or longer. Aloha Waikiki Vacation Condos also rent several properties on Oahu and the other Hawaiian islands as well. The Hawaiian King is a former hotel converted to condo rentals (it's a bit further from the beach, but less than a 10-minute walk). Each unit is separately owned (with individual websites), meaning the prices can vary. Be sure to read the fine print. Many condo rentals add a cleaning fee of $75 to $100, making the overall room rate not much different than that of a budget hotel. Many also require damage deposits. Cancellation policies are often stricter as well.
Ali'i Beach Rentals
808-221-1346
www.aliibeachrentals.com/
Aloha Waikiki Vacation Condos
800-655-6055
waikiki-condos.com/
Hawaiian King
417 Nohonani St.
Honolulu, HI 96815
winstonswaikikicondos.com/ (seven-day minimum stays)
condohawaiianking.com/
hawaiiankingcondo.com/
Other tips
Some Hawaiian hotels also have condo rentals.
Craigslist can be a great way to find last minute deals on vacation rentals. When you go to craigslist.org, click on the link for "Honolulu," under "U.S. Cities," then click on "Vacation Rentals" under the "Housing" category. Some of the listings are from private individuals, while others are from companies that provide links to their own websites.
To find out what other travelers think about a particular property, look at a consumer website such as TripAdvisor or Yelp. The Discount Hotels Hawaii site has an excellent map marking exactly where every hotel in Waikiki is located, with a link to a mini review.
craigslist.org
tripadvisor.com
yelp.com
discounthotelshawaii.com
Tags: Grove Hotel, Royal Grove, Royal Grove Hotel, with conditioning, with kitchenettes