BrianD4

If you are renting a car, park it at the Waikiki Banyan across the street from the Marriott. Parking there is $12/day as compared to $32/day or so at the Marriott.

I have stayed at the Hyatt several times, and it is a very nice property. I always take the online reviews with a grain of salt. Some people can never be satisfied.

Best rate on hotel website for this trip was $810. The total Priceline charge was $527.52. I was hoping for the Sheraton, so I'm very happy. I had mixed feelings about getting something booked this early, but I doubt I would have obtained a deal much better than this. Hotel prices in Hawaii (all islands) have definitely taken a jump up in the last year.

Oh, and I used the PRICELINE links :)

Congratulations! The Marriott is a very nice hotel, and just a block away from the zoo, Waikiki Aquarium, and Kapiolani Park. Also, the Waikiki Banyan is just across the street, so you can get the cheap $10/day parking instead of the $30+ the Marriott charges. If you don't have a car, the Waikiki Trolley (pink line) has a stop right outside the Marriott. It will take you all over Waikiki and the Ala Moana Shopping Center (if you dont' want to walk, which I always enjoy doing).

While you are in the Waikiki area, make sure you stop at Leonard's Bakery (have the famous malasada) and Wailoa Shave Ice (both on Kapahulu). They are must-stop places.

Thanks again for the input everyone. As for the bed situation, we're totally fine with that risk - ideally it would be great to be able to get 2 double beds or a rollaway, but our daughter still ends up coming into our room to sleep in our bed at least once a week, so we're used to having to share!

So based on everyone's feedback, I think I'll start bidding on Resorts in Waikiki Beach (using the links provided, of course!) and see if I can get one for $145-ish to start, and use the other zones, but still sticking with Resorts only, to bid up to a max of $155-ish. Does that sound reasonable? Also, since we still aren't totally clear on our dates/plans, I'll just try to get a place in Waikiki for our first week there (20th - 27th), and then try to decide in the next few days what we'll do for the remaining days of our trip.

Make sure you don't include other areas if they have resorts (i.e. North Shore) unless you are willing to stay there. I don't know if your bids will be successful, but you never know until you try!

I have stayed at both the Marriott properties in Ko Olina. There is also a new Disney propery there. The hotes are pretty isolated, so anything you want to do is pretty much limited to either the hotels or a long drive off the properties. The food prices are outrageous as well, and parking is $30 or so a night (check the website for latest costs). Personally, I wouldn't stay there for more than a couple of days if this were my first trip to Hawaii. There is just too much to see and do around Waikiki.

There isn't any free parking in Waikiki, and it isn't cheap. The one excaption is parking at the Waikiki Banyan, where you can park for $10 a night. Dirt cheap by Waikiki standards. No matter where I stay in Waikiki, I park at the Banyan and walk to my hotel. Saving $20+ a day makes the hassle worth it.

Regarding your bidding questions, I never choose anything other than "resort" when bidding in Waikiki. I always use the marina as a rebid zone, but have never won the Hilton Hawaiian Village. I always end up with either the Sheraton Waikiki, Hyatt Regency Resort, or Marriott Waikiki. The Sheraton and Mariott are at opposite ends of Waikiki (Marriott is closest to Diamond Head/Zoo/Aquarium), with the Hyatt in the middle. You can't go wrong with any of them.

Personally, I prefer staying in Waikiki and driving to the North Shore. I think you will be happier doing that. I would book reservations somewhere while you are shopping on Priceline, just in case (something you can cancel, of course).

1) Do all the Resorts in Waikiki Beach charge resort fees on top of the Priceline price? Do we have a confirmed list of the Priceline hotels in Waikiki that do charge a fee?

The Sheraton Waikiki and Moana Surfrider charge a fee, but it includes parking. The Hyatt Waikiki didn't charge a fee the last time I stayed there. You might check the websites of each property to see the current terms.

2) Is it generally true that if you made the reservation through Priceline, you'll be stuck in the worst rooms that the hotel has? What I'm wondering is whether it's worth it to go for a Resort if we're going to be put into the smallest, dirtiest room that doesn't have a view - in that case I wonder if it's better to just go for a 3.5* in Waikiki Beach instead, since we would simply be paying for location?

I have had views over parking lots, and also been upgraded to ocean-front rooms. There isn't a definite answer to your question, but I wouldn't count on an upgraded room during your time of travel, since the hotes are fairly busy during those dates. Whether a 3.5 is suitable for you is a matter of personal preference. I like the ambience of the resort-class hotels in Waikiki.

3) If we aren't able to find anything in Waikiki Beach, location-wise is it better to try for Waikiki City Central or Waikiki Marina?

Waikiki City Central would be closer to the main parts of Waikiki Beach (and the downtown nightlife), but even the Marina hotels are just a 15 minute or so walk away.

4) We are arriving quite late on the 20th, so we probably won't arrive at the hotel until 10:30pm - is this going to be a problem with a Priceline booking? I read some reviews on various travel sites where people encountered problems (were told the hotel was overbooked, etc.) when they checked in late, especially when they had a Priceline booking.

I have never had problems with late arrival.

5) Is it generally more expensive on weekends? The vacation rentals seem to charge a flat nightly rate regardless of the day of the week, so I wonder if it's more economical if we plan to spend the weekend outside of Waikiki?

You can go to the various hotels websites and see how the rates vary on weekends. Personally, if this was my first trip to Waikiki, I would want to stay in Waikiki. It is so nice to walk out of your hotel and be "right there". Also, parking at some of the vacation rentals can be sketchy at best.

I have stayed at the Maui Sheraton several times, and it is a wonderful hotel. The snorkling is fantastic (turtles, manta rays, countless species of fish), the grounds are impeccable, and there are free shuttles to Front Street and local shopping. You are also walking distance to Whaler's Village with shops and restaurants. It isn't of Four Seasons quality, but it is a very nice hotel. I don't think you will be disappointed in the least.

PS I am going to Maui in June, and I hope to be lucky enough to get a Priceline bid accepted for the Sheraton.

I just returned from 3 days at the Sheraton Maui. It is a spectacular hotel in a tremendous location.

I always rent a car. While there are many things to do within walking distance of the Marriott, I like to go out and explore the island. Public transportation is available, but I don't want to spend hours on a bus stopping at dozens of different stops on my way somewhere. I usually plan a morning trip to some destination away from Waikiki (Diamond Head, North Shore, Hanauma Bay, Lanakai, Hawaii Kai, etc etc) and then spend my afternoons/evening relaxing in Waikiki.

I usually average $30 a day or so for a rental car when I use Priceline (including $10 a day for parking). If I am there a week, the most it can cost me for the car is $250 or so. It is well worth it to me to spend that $250 and have the car.

However, if you plan on spending all your time around Waikiki and not touring the island, you won't need a car.

Hi

Thanks for the comments and i am caught between both choices as i love the convenience of the car and i would consider hertz but find them expensive compared to dollar . Any tips on car rental and i should say i have to get insurance included and i get a better deal if i book before i go or is that an old wives tale .

The restaurants outside of Waikiki sound very interesting can you recommend a few ?

Check with your insurance carrier and see what your coverage is for rental cars. You should be covered. Also, I believe most credit card companies provide supplemental insurance when you pay with a credit card. I have never purchased insurance from a rental car company.

As for the cost, I always go to Travelocity and book the cheapest car rental I can find, and then I go to Priceline and bid for a car. If I win a bid on Priceline, I go out and cancel the Travelocity reservation. I have never been disappointed and usually save quite a bit.

I don't know if you have a rental car, but parking is $30 a day or so at the Marriott. The Waikiki Banyan is across the street, and parking there is $10 per day or $60 for 7 days. It is the best deal in Waikiki.

Park at the Waikiki Banyan for $10 a day or $60 for 7 days. It is across the street.

As a note for the future, you can park at the Waikiki Banyan (just across the street from the Marriott) for $10 a day, $60 for 7 days.

The Waikiki Banyan, across the street from the Marriott.

I have never tried to extend via asking the hotel, so I can't really speak to that. I doubt they would do it, but I don't know. I always just resubmit through Priceline.

Just a fyi, the Marriott is close to the opposite edge of Waikiki from the Ala Moana area. It is a very nice hotel, and I would recommend it. For someone walking around Waikiki, it is close to the zoo, Waikiki Aquarium. I think for someone new to Waikiki, staying at a hotel in that area is a little better than staying by the marina, since you are closer to the nightlife/street performers on Waikiki. Of course, you can walk from the marina area to the Marriott in about 30 minutes (easy walk), so it isn't as if you have to drive anywhere. Also, you can take a trolley for $1 (pickups right outside the Marriott) and ride it to the Ala Moana area/shopping center).

Personally, I would rebid when you get there and hope for a couple of days at the Sheraton. It is right on the beach, and is also a nice hotel.

I take advantage of the cheaper rates, mainly because sometimes my rental car sits for a day or two at a time.

The Sheraton did not charge me a resort fee during my stay in December. To my knowledge, the only fee is parking ($25/night).

The Waikiki Banyan has parking rates of $10 per night, but it is several blocks away from the Sheraton. Check this website for some current rates. There are some hotels on the list that are a block or so away from the Sheraton, so it depends on how often you are going to be walking to get your car.

http://travel-hawaii.com/waikiki_hotel_parking.html

There are several shuttle services that offer transportation to/from the airport. Reliable Shuttle charges about $13 per person one way, and picks up many times during the day at various hotels in Waikiki. You might look at reserving a car with the pickup/return as the same location, and using the shuttle service to get you either to or from the airport. Normally, pick up and return at the airport is substantially cheaper than picking up in Waikiki, although some of the car rental places with locations away from the touristy areas of Waikiki have decent rates. I would advise you to go to National or Enterprise's web sites and check rates at the various off-Waikiki locations.

I think I am confused. Are you talking about alternative parking for the Maui hotel? If so, there really aren't any other options besides parking at the resort.

I would not be concerned. Most hotels in Hawaii are smoke-free, and if they do have any "smoking" floors, it has been my experience that they will move you as far away from them as possible to accomodate you.

I didn't have a view of anything except a tall hedge. However, I was very happy with my room. Keep in mind that the room you get has everything to do with what the hotel has available.

I was at the Waikiki Marriott from 4/17-4/22 and they upgraded me to a Diamond Head/partial ocean view at check-in (I just asked, no fee charged). I spent one night at the Hyatt Regency, and they upgraded me to a mountain view at check-in (I didn't ask, they just gave me the upgrade after I complimented the hotel as I checked in).

I was there from 4/22-4/24. If you have any questions, just ask. It is a gorgeous, gorgeous hotel. Make sure you snorkle along the rocky point at the end of the long beach adjacent to the hotel. Stunning!