Hotels in Honolulu: prices and the best time to book
Honolulu is the capital of Hawaii on the island of Oahu, a base for Waikiki Beach, Diamond Head, Pearl Harbor and Hanauma Bay. Most properties cluster in Waikiki, right by the beach and the promenade, and the range runs from budget hotels and apartments to five-star oceanfront resorts. Prices here are high and quoted in dollars, and the average stay is about four nights. Our list covers 970 properties. Below you will find real nightly rates, the cheapest dates and a short guide to the area.
When to book for the lowest price
Prices in Honolulu are always steep, but the gap between seasons is clear. September comes out cheapest, when rates drop by about a fifth against the average, while March is priciest, at the peak of spring break, when it can run about a third higher. The shoulder seasons are good on price and weather, spring from April to June and autumn from September to November, when it is less crowded. Across the week, Sunday tends to be the cheapest day to arrive and Saturday the priciest. A stay here usually runs a few nights, so it pays to book ahead for the holidays and long weekends.
How much a stay in Honolulu costs by property type
Most of it comes down to the standard and the distance from Waikiki Beach. A simple hotel or apartment starts at about a hundred and twenty dollars a night, a three-star hotel costs more, and a four-star and a five-star oceanfront resort run the most. The rates below are real starting prices per night, in dollars.
| Property type | Price per night (from) |
| Budget hotels and apartments | from approx. $125 |
| 3-star hotels | from approx. $166 |
| 4-star hotels | from approx. $245 |
| 5-star hotels and resorts | from approx. $451 |
Indicative nightly rates in dollars, dependent on the dates. March and weekends run clearly higher than September. Check exact prices and availability by selecting your dates in the search above.
Which stay suits whom
- Families. Families praise apartments and properties with facilities, such as ESPACIO The Jewel of Waikiki, Aston Waikiki Beach Tower and Marriott Vacation Club, Waikiki. Apartments with a kitchenette help keep down the cost of a stay with children.
- Couples. For a romantic trip, couples pick Aston Waikiki Beach Tower, Marriott Vacation Club, Waikiki and Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani, all highly rated.
- With breakfast. If a good breakfast matters, try Luana Waikiki Hotel & Suites, Wayfinder Waikiki and The Equus, all praised for the morning meal.
- With an ocean view. The best views are at Prince Waikiki over the harbour, Aston Waikiki Beach Tower and 'Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach, praised by guests for the panoramas from the rooms.
Sample hotels in Honolulu with prices
Here are a few properties from different brackets, from a budget hotel by the beach to five-star residences. Prices are starting rates from current offers, in dollars, shown to compare the order of magnitude.
| Property | Category | Price per night (from) |
| Royal Grove Waikiki | budget hotel by the beach | from approx. $141 |
| Luana Waikiki Hotel & Suites | hotel praised for breakfast | from approx. $212 |
| The Equus | boutique hotel | from approx. $218 |
| Hotel La Croix | hotel in Waikiki | from approx. $242 |
| Prince Waikiki | hotel with harbour views | from approx. $359 |
| Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani | hotel with no resort fee | from approx. $362 |
| Luxury Ala Moana Resort | apartment by Ala Moana | from approx. $423 |
| The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach | 5-star residences | from approx. $783 |
Where to stay
Most hotels and apartments sit in Waikiki, right by the beach, the promenade and the restaurants, close to a walk along the ocean and up Diamond Head. It is the most convenient base for a first stay. It is quieter and away from the crowds by the Ala Moana Shopping Center, with over three hundred and fifty stores and a bus link to Waikiki. You get around by TheBus network, taxis and ride-hailing apps, and from Honolulu you take short trips to Waikiki Beach, Diamond Head, Pearl Harbor with the USS Arizona Memorial and Hanauma Bay.
When Honolulu is more expensive
The season in Honolulu is set by the holidays and the weather. It is priciest and busiest in March, at the peak of spring break, and on weekends all year round. Winter and the turn of the year also push up demand, when Americans escape the cold to Hawaii. It is cheapest and quietest in September and in the shoulder seasons, spring from April to June and autumn from September to November, when the weather still suits the beach but there is less demand. Prices here stay high whatever the time of year, though.