When visiting Oahu in Hawaii, should you stay at Waikiki Beach?

Waikiki Beach, Oahu, Hawaii

We decided to visit the Hawaiian Island. OahuNext, we had to decide if we wanted to stay at Waikiki Beach. It seemed logical to stay at Waikiki Beach, one of the most famous beaches in the world.

When we asked the question on social media, we received mixed feedback. 

Some people suggested that we avoid Waikiki Beach altogether and instead head to Ko Olina, the North Shore or Ko Olina. Some people told us Waikiki Beach was their favorite beach. Hawaii vacation.

After much deliberation, I decided to spend 3 nights in Waikiki Beach followed by 4 nights in the North Shore. Ko Olina Beach. We can experience Waikiki and Honolulu while spending time away (our trip happened in December).

Honolulu has grown much more than we anticipated. 

Should you? Stay informedWaikiki Beach, Hawaii

We recommend visiting Waikiki Beach when you travel to Oahu. Even if it’s just for a day. It’s the most famous beach in HawaiiYou should definitely check it out yourself. 

The question is: “should you stay at Waikiki Beach?” is what I’d like to explore further.

Travel is personal. What works well for us might not be the best for you. It’s near impossible for us to answer that question without understanding how you travel and what’s important to you. 

However, after spending a few nights at Waikiki Beach, we’re undecided we if would do it again. 

We stayed at a swanky hotel Alohilani ResortThis hotel is located directly across from Waikiki Beach on Kalakaua Avenue. We had a great time at this hotel. It’s a nice property and the rooftop pool bar and lounge is really cool. Our hotel balcony has a fantastic oceanfront view of Waikiki beach. (See below photo).  

We actually stayed at Waikiki Beach twice on this Oahu vacation because our return flight home was cancelled – more on that story Here is a link to the article.  

Related – What it’s like to travel to Oahu during the pandemic

The photo above shows the view from our hotel room of the beach. Alohilani Resort. The weather wasn’t cooperative during our initial days in Oahu. It rained continuously for 3 days, causing the streets to flood. See the photo below. 

Now, you might be thinking – I can see why you didn’t have the best experience staying on Waikiki Beach because it rained for most of you visit. This is a fact. This is true.

The weather was perfect for the two days we spent at Waikiki Beach. 

Note – Hawaiian airlinesNow offering Deals on flights to Hawaii.

That’s a lot of water! We’re told the streets in Honolulu often flood when big storms hit Oahu.

The weather is not a reason to stay away from Waikiki Beach. Our visit to Oahu saw a lot of rain. Oahu is located in the Pacific Ocean and is a tropical area. Tropical storms are expected. 

Related post – Photos of Marriott Ko Olina Beach Club in Oahu

What we love about Waikiki Beach

There’s a lot to like about Waikiki Beach (and Honolulu). It’s built for tourism, so visitors will find the amenities and comforts they expect from a popular travel destination.

Here’s a few of things we like about Waikiki Beach:

• Choose from a wide range of hotelsWe like to have choices. Honolulu offers a variety of hotels and resorts for all travel styles, from budget to luxury. We stayed at Alohilani ResortYou can also find out more about the following: Marriott Waikiki ResortI would recommend both.
• Rooftop lounges and pools.You can find out more about this by clicking here. Waikiki hotelsEnjoy the Hawaiian sun from rooftop pools and lounges.
• Many dining options are available.Kalakaua Avenue is home to hundreds of restaurants, ranging from chain restaurants and local favourites to everything in between. 
• The beach. Duh! It’s nice having a beach within steps of your hotel or Vacation rental.
• Water sports are easily accessible. You can rent surfboards, Stand-up paddleboardsSnorkeling equipment Canoeing, jet skis, Sailing toursJoin an Evening Sunset Cruise. 
• Waikiki is a buzzing hub of energy.Music is played in restaurants, bars, and retail stores. Motorcycles, sports cars and other high-end vehicles screech along Kalakaua Ave. It’s loud and proud.
• Centrally located for activities.Waikiki Beach has many things to offer, including the Aquarium, Honolulu Zoo and Kapiolani Park. Waikiki LuauPearl Harbour Tour Guided adventure tours, Helicopter tours, Diamond Head Crater Hike, Sport fishing tours, Whale watching tours, Snorkeling toursShopping at Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center and the Waikiki Atlantis Submarine Adventure. 

Waikiki Aquarium

A visit to the aquarium is a great family activity on a rainy Oahu day. Waikiki Aquarium. It’s located within walking distance to the hotel strip and it’s close to the Honolulu Zoo.

The aquarium is small. It takes only an hour to see it all. It’s an inexpensive activity at $12 per adult and $5 per child.

The rooftop infinity pool is a favorite of our boys. Alohilani ResortEven though the water is extremely cold. 

Rooftop restaurant at Alohilani Hotel.

Waikiki Beach Surfboard Alley.

The iconic Duke Kahanamoku Statue is located at Waikiki Beach.

Waikiki Beach: What we didn’t Like

We enjoyed our time on Waikiki Beach. Waikiki Beach has some things we didn’t enjoy. 

• Very busy and crowded.Several taxi and Uber drivers told us that Oahu tourism was still struggling. Travel restrictions are preventing Japanese tourists from visiting. They make up a significant portion of international visitors. Waikiki Beach seemed crowded when we visited, so I can imagine how busy the beach will be after travel returns. Photos like theseShows how crowded a beach can be.
• Waikiki Beach = Las Vegas in Hawaii?Oahu, a popular tourist destination, is home to the world-famous Waikiki beach. We expected it to have a touristy feel, but it was too touristy for us. It has an eerie Vegas vibe, with loud music blasting from rooftop pool parties and drunken visitors.
• Traffic is terrible.Honolulu, a large city, has traffic problems that are similar to those of a big city. Expect to be stuck in traffic if you plan to explore the island beyond Waikiki. 
• Homelessness is a major problem.Many people with mental health and/or drug issues find refuge on the beach walk. Homeless people yell, urinate and wander in traffic. Waikiki Beach is home to a police post, but the station does not seem to be operational. It was not safe to walk along the beach in the evening with our kids.
• It’s very expensive.The majority of supplies are shipped to islands, increasing prices. It doesn’t help that our Canadian dollar is weak right now.

It doesn’t feel anything like Hawaii. 

We’ve visited Maui and Molokai on previous trips to Hawaii. They felt more. HawaiianWe could feel it. Aloha spirit. Sadly, Waikiki did not have the same feel. Instead, it felt over-developed. 

Related – Travel to Molokai – What to do and what not to do

View of the beach from our balcony Marriott Waikiki Resort.

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Should you? Stay informedWaikiki Beach, Hawaii

Let’s go back to the original question. 

Obviously, we can’t answer that question without further information about you, your travel style and what you hope to get out of your Hawaii vacation. 

Do you want learn to surf? Do you enjoy shopping in high-end stores? Do you want to experience nightlife and poolside parties? Waikiki Beach would be a great fit for you if this is the case.

Also, if you’re looking for more Budget friendly hotels and/or vacation apartment rentals, you’ll find more availability in the Waikiki area (and Honolulu).

However, if you’re looking for quiet beach time and laidback Hawaiian vibes, it’s best staying at other parts of Oahu.

You have many options to choose from. Consider areas such as Waimanalo and Kailua, Lanikai and Waialua, and the North Shore.  

We spent some nights at Ko Olina BeachIt was more relaxing for me than Waikiki. Ko Olina, however, is also very developed and costly. It is similar to the Wailea areaMaui. 

Above – hotels and apartment condos at Waikiki Beach in Honolulu.

Do you require a vehicle rental? 

We did not Rent a vehicleThis time, prices are high due to shortages. With daily rental costs, plus gas, parking and insurance, the price for a week is over $1500 USD (approx $2,000 Canadian). This is for an economy car.

It’s a tough decision.

When we look back at our trip, we wish that we had explored more of Hawaii and gotten further away from the busy Waikiki hotels and beach resorts. 

Uber and taxis were our go-to transportation. Also, they are expensive. We paid $75 USD to drive from Ko Olina Airport (approximately 25-minute drive) to Honolulu Airport.

If you plan to Rent a vehicleWaikiki Beach is the perfect location if you want to drive around Oahu. Keep in mind that hotels charge a premium to park at night. Parking at most luxury hotels will cost you at least $40 a night.

Read more blog entries from Hawaii:

Have you ever visited Oahu before? What do you think about Oahu? 

Would you recommend staying on Waikiki Beach if you could?

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