Honolulu Hotel Tips by thinking Top 5 Page for this destination

Hilo-Kona-Maui-Kauai: The Island's only Hawaiian Owned Hotel Chain

There are no Hawaiian owned hotels on Oahu.
But the hotels are part of the Sands and Seaside Hotel Chain.
They are as follows:
Hilo Seaside Hotel
800-560-5557
www.hiloseasidehotel.com
from $59 per night

Kona Seaside Hotel
800-56-5558
www.konaseasidehotel.com
from $74 per night

Maui Seaside Hotel
800-560-5552
www.mauiseasidehotel.com
from $72 per night

Kauai Sands Hotel
800-560-5553
www.kauaisandshotel.com
from $64 per night

Comparison: about average

Price: US$40-80

Theme: Hotel

HAWAII'S BED AND BREAKFAST PLACES

Unique Qualities: Instead of staying at a hotel, what about finding a wonderful bed and breakfast place?

Comparison: about average

Directions: Bed and breakfast locations are located on all the Hawaiian islands.

Theme: Bed and Breakfast

Website: http://www.hawaiiweb.com/html/bed_and_breakfast.html

Halekulani: HALEKULANI: AND THE 2,185 Sq ft VERA WANG SUITE Halekulani Review

The Halekulani is a nice,understanded 5 star hotel in Wakiki.
It is terribly expensive, and in my opinion, not really worth the money. I should know, as I have stayed here many times as a guest, and once up to 4 months at kama'iana rates.

But Wakiki is noisey, filled with sirens, and very much like Manhattan in all of its negative aspects. What Honolulu has done during the last ten years is invest monies to make itself into something it is not- an urban chic product set in a tropical setting. It has transformed its real charms into a mass product. And with so many of those now in the globalized world, is one more urban chic city really necessary or profitable?

Unique Qualities: My very favorite place from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM is the happy hour at HOUSE WITHOUT A KEY. It is low keyed, understanded, and wonderful. Prices for some things on the menu can be a good value if you stay away from mai tai's and flaming drinks. I stick to Ice tea or fresh squeezed lemon juice.

The Halekulani is taking reservations for its Vera Wang Suite, opening late February 2005. The 2,185-square-foot ocean-view suite was decorated by the designer best known for stylish wedding gowns. The price is between $4000-$5500
a night depending on whether you want the one bedroom or two bedroom configuration. The suite comes with a butler from 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM, and greetings from the hotel manager, and champagne. For more informaton about the suite, see
http://www.halekulani.com/verawang/introduction.asp

The Royal suite is also available for $5000.00. There are no discounts or negotiations on these two suites.

The Diamond Head suite is a one bedroom suite with a view of Diamond Head that can be discounted 20%.

The hotel also plans a $400,000 revamping of its cocktail lounge, Lewers Lounge, with chain draperies and dramatic lighting, the perfect forum for the caipirinhas and flaming drinks that are being created for it by Dale DeGroff, a longtime Rainbow Room bartender in Manhattan turned cocktail consultant. Just how expensive can we make these cheap liquor drinks?

The manager of the hotel as well as Honolulu's economic minister wants to make Honolulu into a "Jazz Destination" so they can increase prices even more. Well that is the goal in capitalism. But who wants to pay for that? Maybe only immature, insecure wannabees who feel compelled to have their identities defined by the advertisers who are helping the corporation make a profit.

Address: 2199 Kalia Rd, Honolulu, HI 96815

Comparison: most expensive

Directions: Next to Fort DeRussey.

Price: US$180 and up

Theme: Hotel

Website: http://www.halekulani.com

Waikiki Parc: WAIKIKI PARC: Sister hotel of Halekulani Waikiki Parc Hotel Review

Great location and affordable. They have a wonderful all-you-can-eat buffet at really reasonable prices. Unfortunately, it will be replaced sometime soon with an expensive trendy bar.

Kama'ina rates for the hotel were $129.00 in 2005, but twice that for anyone else.

Unique Qualities: Great location that allows you to walk to everything and not far from the bus which is at the corner of Lewers and Kuhio.
The white stretch sedan of the hotel charges the same rates as any cab, so if you want to give it a try, it is a bargain.

Address: 2233 Helumoa Road, Honolulu, Hi 96815-1982

Comparison: about average

Directions: Waikiki

Phone: 808-921-7272

Price: US$180 and up

Theme: Hotel

AAA RELEASES 4 DIAMOND RATINGS IN HAWAII

January 11, 2005

AAA releases Four Diamond listings

Fourteen local hotels and 11 restaurants have been designated as 2005 AAA Four Diamond winners, AAA Hawaii said Tuesday.

The announcement came a day after the Halekulani announced that its restaurant La Mer had won an even rarer Five Diamonds once again.

"The AAA Four Diamond designation demonstrates a hotel or restaurant's ability to perform grand and small gestures with superior service and high quality," said Jeff Goldsmith, AAA Hawaii district manager.

Local Four Diamond restaurants (and years on the list):

Pahuia, Four Seasons Hualalai Hotel (5 years).

The Grill, Fairmont Orchid (first year).

Swan Court, Lahaina (16 years).

Sarento's on the Beach, Kihei (second year).

The Banyan Tree, Kapalua (third year).

Spago, Wailea (third year).

Bali by The Sea, Honolulu (16 years).

Orchids, Halekulani (10 years).

Chef Mavro, Honolulu (5 years).

Hoku's, Kahala Mandarin Hotel (third year).

Azul, Kapolei (9 years).

Theme: Hotel

HYATT REGENCY MAUI: HYATT REGENCY RATED 4 DIAMONDS

Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa once again received four-diamond ratings for the property and its Swan Court restaurant.

The rating from AAA is based on quality, amenities and hospitality offered at hotels. This is the 16th year the Swan Court got the rating and 10th year for the resort.

"This year less than 3 percent of AAA rated lodgings and 4 percent of rated restaurants received the Four Diamond," said Frank Lavey, the property's general manager. "The resort is honored to be recognized in both categories."

A four-diamond rating typically goes to upscale properties with stylish accommodations and attention to detail. In the restaurant category, fine-dining establishments with menus that offer a degree of creativity and elaborate presentations are considered for the rating.

Theme: Hotel

Top ranking hotels in the HAWAIIAN ISLANDS: Zagat ranks hotels

Zagat Survey names top Hawaii resorts

The Zagat Survey, a consumer survey published by Tim and Nina Zagat, has ranked four Hawaii resorts among its 2005 Top U.S. Hotels, Resorts & Spas Guide.

The Four Seasons Hualalai on the Big Island was ranked at No. 1 among resorts with 100-plus rooms, followed by the Four Seasons at Wailea in Maui at No. 2, and Lodge at Koele in Lanai at No. 6.

The Princeville Resort on Kauai was No. 5 on the top-rated newcomers list.

The average hotel room rate is up about 1.48 percent, according to the survey, with one-third of travelers reporting that their personal travel spending has gone up in the past year.

Since Sept. 11, 2001, domestic travel has gone up, while foreign travel has gone down, according to Zagat's.

Among other findings in the annual survey, which is culled from more than 250,000 voters worldwide:

Online travel planning has taken off. Sixty-nine percent of travelers said they now book their travel plans on the Web instead of using a travel agent.

Of the travelers surveyed, poor service was the greatest irritant, irking 59 percent, while 17 percent cited dirty rooms and 12 percent cited noisy guests.

The amenity that travelers placed at the top of their list were fitness centers, followed by daily newspaper delivery, frequent guest programs and wireless Internet connections.

Theme: Hotel

Hotel rates up to 70% off

Theme: Hotel

Website: http://travel.hotels-and-discounts.com/hotels/searchframe.jsp?cid=59562&city=Honolulu&stateProvince=HI&country=US&validateCity=true&submitted=true

Vacations fo go: The best last-minute resort markdowns

Check out the website as it offers lots of information and markdown prices

Theme: Hotel

Website: http://www.resortvacationstogo.com/country.cfm?co=7&source=fwhat

Hawaiian Monarch: The most economical hotel on Oahu Hawaiian Monarch Review

This hotel is very well located in Wakiki.
It costs $40.00 a day for two plus local taxes.
I never stayed there but many people I spoke to have and they liked it well enough to return for months at a time.

Unique Qualities: The location is very good and the rooms are similar to most hotel rooms costing 3-4 times as much. It is just doesn't have the latest decorations.

Address: 444 Niu St, Honolulu, HI 96815

Comparison: least expensive

Price: US$40-80

Theme: Hotel