Waikiki, Hawaii --
Summer's over, and that means the traveling Brady bunches of America suddenly have vanished from resorts everywhere. As if months of suffering singles' voodoo finally has come to fruition, it's time to enjoy the benefits of a more child-free, less-crowded off-season!
Since so many couples, attracted by lower hotel rates, flock to Waikiki for romantic fall getaways, we thought we'd do a quick Pretty Price Check on one of the top things vacationers consider when booking a hotel on the islands: the view.
Remember: When it comes to the view, it's all about location, location, location! To show you that you don't have to pay the prettiest penny to get the prettiest view, we chose two hotels in Waikiki*. While each boasts corner suites with their respective hotel's best view, one costs nearly four times more than the other**.
Hotel #1: Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach
(Hotel #45 on map)
Pros: Beachfront location; oceanfront views; modern rooms; two pretty restaurants on the premises with oceanfront patios; staff is friendlier and more eager to please
Cons: Neighboring buildings obstruct many views, including those of Diamond Head; location on the busiest section of Kalakaua and most-cramped section of beach means lots of extra noise and crowds; small, pointless pool
Price for Rooms With Prettiest Views: $679 and up
Price for Cheapest Ocean View Rooms: $317
Angle of Unobstructed View: approx. 130°
Hotel #2: Park Shore Waikiki
(Hotel #61 on map)
Pros: Prettiest, unobstructed views of Diamond Head and the beach; location next to Kapiolani Park and Honolulu Zoo at the end of the Kalakaua strip means less noise and more convenient access; two large restaurants on the same block with great views unobstructed by other buildings; unobstructed pretty views from the small pool deck; convenient location to the less-crowded beach; ocean view rooms on higher floors can see and hear the outdoor movies on the beach
Cons: Smaller rooms that could use complete makeovers; smaller beds; minimal amenities; exterior hallways; friendliness of staff is hit-and-miss; small pool deck lacks any charm
Price for Rooms With Prettiest Views: $183-$229
Price for Cheapest Ocean View Rooms: $127
Angle of Unobstructed View: approx. 210°
Is Hotel #1 worth it with all that concrete in the way? With considerably a smaller angle width of unobstructed view, not to mention a considerably higher decibel level, we think not.
** We randomly selected Nov. 2 as our nightly rate comparison.
