Hawaii - Jeff Campbell [100]
Breakers (923-3181, 800-426-0494; www.breakers-hawaii.com; 250 Beach Walk; r $120-150; ) You’ll either love it or hate it: this older, Polynesian-style hotel is a throwback to earlier times, with a petite garden and floor-to-ceiling louvered windows. Very old, creaky rooms all have kitchenettes; those on the second-floor also have Japanese-style shōji (translucent paper-covered wooden sliding doors).
Aqua Bamboo & Spa (922-7777, 866-406-2782; www.aquabamboo.com; 2425 Kuhio Ave; r $120-160, 1br $215-285, all incl breakfast; ) Looking for a meditative retreat from Waikiki’s urban jungle? An intimate boutique hotel, the Bamboo has stylishly minimalist rooms and a small saltwater pool, should you tire of the ocean. Free in-room wired internet and wi-fi in lobby and poolside.
Wyland Waikiki (954-4000, 877-995-2638; www.outrigger.com; 400 Royal Hawaiian Ave; r $129-355; ) Named after the cheesy muralist; the ocean theme is pervasive here, starting from the lobby aquarium. Fresh, contemporary rooms may be smallish, but have flat-screen TVs and some kitchenettes; they’re only good value at under $200 per night. Free in-room wired internet and lobby and poolside wi-fi.
Hotel Renew (687-7700, 888-485-7639; www.hotelrenew.com; 129 Pa′oakalani Ave; r incl breakfast $149-209; ) Just a half-block from the beach, this eco-conscious boutique hotel has attentive concierge staff who can be counted on to provide all of the little niceties, from chilled drinks upon arrival to beach mats and bodyboards to borrow. Design-savvy accommodations come with platform beds, projection-screen TVs, spa robes, earth-toned furnishings and shōji sliding screens. It’s romantic enough for honeymooners, and also gay-friendly.
Aston Waikiki Circle Hotel (923-1571, 877-997-6667; www.astonhotels.com; 2464 Kalakaua Ave; r $150-220; ) Tired of square boxes? This circular building must have been très chic back in the playful era of postmodernism, but today this survivor is all about value not fashion. About half of the rooms, complete with lanai, get a full ocean view. The drawback is that they aren’t big enough to practice your hula dancing in. In-room wired internet costs extra.
Cabana at Waikiki (926-5555, 877-902-2121; www.cabana-waikiki.com; 2551 Cartwright Rd; 1br incl breakfast $159-255; ) Waikiki’s only exclusively gay-owned and -operated hotel is only minutes from Hula’s bar, Queen’s Surf Beach and a 24-hour gym. Each of the 15 comfy units has a king-size bed, full-size sofa bed and either a kitchenette or full kitchen. An eight-man hot tub awaits in the tropical garden.
Waikiki Grand Hotel (923-1814, 888-336-4368; www.waikikigrand.com; 134 Kapahulu Ave; r $139-199, ste $159-350; ) Best known for Hula’s, a popular gay bar, this condotel is just a minute’s walk from Queen’s Surf Beach. Individually owned units (some kitchenettes) vary from horrifying to heavenly, so view the online photo with some skepticism. Weekly discounts available.
Aston at the Waikiki Banyan (922-0555, 877-977-6667; www.astonhotels.com; 201 Ohua Ave; 1br $190-295; ) This all-suite, high-rise hotel is a short walk from the aquarium, the zoo and of course, the beach. Roomy suites have a handy sofabed in the living room. Kids get a free souvenir sand pail full of cool, fun stuff at check-in, and the pool deck has a playground, tennis and basketball courts, and a putting green. In-room wired internet and common-area wi-fi cost extra.
New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel (923-1555, 800-356-8264; www.kaimana.com; 2863 Kalakaua Ave; r $190-440; ) Just half a mile from the throbbing hub of Waikiki, this low-key hotel sits oceanside in front of Sans Souci Beach Park. Book early, because repeat guests also crave the seclusion and idyllic beach access. The rooms are small, but the view