Où dormir — Hawaiʻi

Poʻipū

Low-rise condo resort set in 35 acres of tropical gardens. Quiet, uncrowded, steps from Poipu Beach. Spacious rooms with private lanais. The beach access is the best in Poipu. Perfect for couples.

Waikīkī

Mid-century modern design hotel that stands apart from cookie-cutter Waikiki. The Hideout pool bar is excellent. No resort fee — extraordinary for Oahu. Book partial ocean view.

Kohala Coast

Gracious resort on Pauoa Bay with a protected swimming beach (rare for the Kohala Coast). Spa Without Walls treatment areas are outdoor, set in lava rock gardens. Brown's Beach House at sunset is romantic and excellent.

Poʻipū

The crown jewel of Kauai resorts — 50 acres with the best pool complex on the island, including a saltwater lagoon you can actually swim in. Anara Spa is world-class. Worth every dollar.

Waikīkī

The benchmark for Hawaiian luxury since 1907 — "House Befitting Heaven." La Mer is Oahu's only AAA Five Diamond restaurant. The orchid-mosaic pool on the ocean floor is iconic. Request a Diamond Head view room.

Kīhei

Budget condos directly on Kamaole I beach — you can't beat the location at this price. Basic units, no pool, but wake up 20 feet from the ocean.

Waikīkī

Artsy boutique on the quieter end of Waikiki. Rooftop pool. Best budget option that doesn't feel cheap. No beach access but 5-min walk.

Waikīkī

Massive resort complex (lagoon, 5 towers, 20 restaurants) — great for families who want a self-contained resort. Friday fireworks from the beach. Can feel overwhelming; book a Rainbow Tower room for the best views.

Kohala Coast

62-acre fantasy resort: monorail, boat rides, dolphin lagoon, multiple pools. Overwhelming in the best way for families. The Dolphin Quest program (swim with dolphins) is world-class — book months ahead. Buy the resort fee package upfront — it saves money.

Waikīkī

Beachfront, solid value, great location. Less pretentious than the luxury flagships but has everything you need — beach access, pool, multiple restaurants.

Kona

Oceanfront in downtown Kona with a saltwater swimming lagoon. Not luxurious but the location and views are excellent at the price. Walking distance to restaurants and the snorkeling at Snorkel Bob's. Skip the garden-view rooms — only ocean view is worth it.

Ko Olina

Disney magic meets Hawaii. Incredible water park, lazy river, character breakfasts. Leeward coast so less rain than Waikiki. Best pick for families with kids under 12 — worth the price for the full experience.

Hāna

Remote luxury retreat at the end of the Road to Hana. Sea Ranch cottages with ocean views, farm-to-table dining, horses on property. Stay 2 nights — one night is never enough. The resort shuttle takes you to Hamoa Beach (one of Maui's best).

Poʻipū

Intimate boutique resort (121 rooms) on Poipu Beach. Best for couples — adult atmosphere, stunning pool, Red Salt restaurant is excellent. Much quieter than the Grand Hyatt. Premium but worth it.

Waikīkī

Intimate boutique hotel one block from the Ala Wai Canal. Quiet end of Waikiki, walkable to everything. Rooms are small but clean — best value on the strip.

Kapaʻa

Simple oceanfront property in Kapaa on the east side. Best budget option with direct beach access. Pacific sunrise views are the selling point. Central location for north and south shore day trips.

Kīhei

Condo complex directly on Kamaole Beach III — one of Maui's best swimming beaches. Full kitchens save money on meals. Best for families doing 7+ nights.

Waikīkī

Studio and one-bedroom suites with kitchenettes — ideal for families on a budget. Five-minute walk to beach. Outdoor pool. Good for stays of 7+ nights.

Kīhei

Spacious condo units with full kitchens, short walk from Kamaole Beach II. On-site pool and barbecue areas. Units are privately owned — read individual unit reviews before booking.

Kapaʻa

Small family-run beachfront hotel in Kapaa — one of the last truly local budget options on Kauai. Rooms are dated but clean; beachfront location is unbeatable at this price.

Kīhei

Basic but clean condo-style accommodation in central Kihei. Tennis courts, pool, hot tub. Walking distance to restaurants and the Kamaole beach chain.

Waikīkī

Farthest east in Waikiki — quieter, cheaper, closest to Diamond Head trailhead. Complimentary continental breakfast. No resort fee (rare). Best for hikers.

Waikīkī

Oceanfront with a 280,000-gallon aquarium visible from the lobby bar and Swell Pool deck. Prime Kalakaua Avenue location. Ocean-facing rooms at sunrise are spectacular.

Kohala Coast

Directly above Hapuna Beach — consistently voted Hawaii's #1 beach for swimming. Contemporary renovation completed 2019. Beach access alone justifies the room rate. Excellent value compared to its Four Seasons neighbor.

Poʻipū

Expansive suites with full kitchens in a tropical oasis setting. Five pools. Walking distance to Spouting Horn and Poipu Beach. Feels more premium than the price suggests.

Waikīkī

Newer property with complimentary breakfast included — rare for Waikiki. One block from beach. Rooftop pool bar. Book direct for best rates.

Kailua-Kona

Built into a lava flow on Keauhou Bay — manta rays feed below the restaurant terrace on most evenings. Oceanside pool over lava. Best resort in Kailua-Kona proper.

Kohala Coast

A classic — opened in 1965, the first true luxury resort in Hawaii. Private Kauna'oa Beach is exquisite. An extraordinary Asian and Pacific Art collection (1,600 pieces) lines the corridors. Lunchtime at the Pavilion is a Hawaii tradition.

Waikīkī

The "Pink Palace of the Pacific" — a 1927 landmark on the best strip of Waikiki Beach. Historic wing rooms have more character than the tower. Mai Tai Bar is the best seat in Waikiki at sunset.

Ko Olina

The only true luxury resort on Oahu's calm west side. Four protected man-made lagoons ideal for families and snorkeling. 35 minutes from Waikiki but a world apart.

Kohala Coast

Stunning lava-field setting with ancient Hawaiian fishponds and a petroglyph trail on property. CanoeHouse restaurant is one of the Big Island's finest. 3,200 acres — feels boundless. Sunset manta gatherings at the beach cove are nightly.

Volcano

Two-bedroom private cottage in the fern forest at Volcano; kitchen, quiet, fifteen minutes to the park. For two nights of lava at night.

Waikīkī

One-bedroom condo suites with a kitchen and an ocean-view lanai, two blocks from the beach at the quiet Diamond Head end of Waikīkī. Her default Oʻahu stay for families.

Kailua-Kona

Oceanfront condo complex on Aliʻi Drive south of Kailua-Kona with a saltwater pool and a sandy sunbathing area; one-bedroom units 110, 116, 121, 124 and 202 are the ones she books. Her default Kona stay.

Volcano

Guest rooms in a private home at Volcano — mountain-view and ocean-view rooms and a luxury suite. Hosts who know the park; breakfast on the lanai.

Kailua-Kona

The only hotel on a beach in Kailua-Kona town, at the pier where the Ironman starts. Walk to restaurants; parking and resort fee at check-out.

Kīhei

Condos across from Kamaʻole Beach III; one-bedroom units with a kitchen and lanai, two pools. Quieter than the Kamaole Sands next door.

Volcano

Small B&B in the rainforest at Volcano; the Red Ginger room, breakfast included. Book early — it fills for the summer.

Kailua-Kona

Reliable chain stay above the town with breakfast included and free parking; standard rooms with two queens. The budget-conscious Kona pick.

Waikīkī

Condo tower at the Ala Moana end of Waikīkī with two-bedroom units and full kitchens; the marina side is quieter. Good for a family of five.

Volcano

The village's historic lodge, with the best restaurant in Volcano downstairs. Rooms Tsugi and Awapuhi; a fireplace for the cold nights.

Kīhei

Her most-used Maui hotel: across the road from Kamaʻole Beach I in central Kīhei, pool and tennis, rooms in the Kai building with two queens or a king. Resort fee and parking at check-out. No ocean front, all the beaches within a walk.

Kīhei

Low-rise condo complex on the hill above Kamaʻole Beach III with two pools and big lanais; one- and two-bedroom units (C105, F203, B115, M106, M104, L107, J108 are hers). Full kitchen; cleaning fee applies.

Kīhei

Condo complex across from Charley Young Beach in Kīhei; one-bedroom units (2223), three pools, tennis. The budget condo alternative to Maui Kamaole.

Poʻipū

New two-bedroom townhouses on the Poʻipū golf course with air conditioning (rare on Kauaʻi) and a pool; units 13A and 12H are hers. Five minutes to Poʻipū Beach.

Kapaʻa

One-bedroom condo suites in Kapaʻa on the east side, across from the Coconut Marketplace and a short walk to the beach path; units E3 and J8. Three pools; the value stay between the two shores.

Volcano

Private house beside the volcano, her pick for a family doing two nights in the park. Cleaning fee charged; quiet, no restaurants within walking distance.

West Maui

Kāʻanapali Beach resort at the quiet north end, with garden bungalows and ocean-view tower rooms. Luau on site; parking and resort fee at check-out.

Volcano

Two-bedroom private house in Volcano village, eight minutes from the national park entrance. Cool nights — bring a sweater. Cancellation fee applies.

Pāʻia

A dozen suites in the garden of Mama's Fish House on the north shore, the Luxury Junior Suite steps from the cove. The base for the Road to Hāna.

Kohala Coast

Two-bedroom condos in the Waikoloa Beach resort, a short walk to the Queens' shops and the bay. Full kitchen, pool; the family alternative to the Marriott.

Kohala Coast

Three-bedroom oceanfront condos with an owners' pool club; the most space per dollar on the Kohala Coast for a group of six.

Waikīkī

Modern four-star above the International Market Place, a short walk to the beach. Ocean-view rooms; no beachfront, better value than the beachfront names.

Waikīkī

Twin towers across the road from Waikīkī Beach; ask for the Waikīkī-view rooms. Resort fee and parking are charged at check-out.

Waikīkī

Small beachfront hotel on Sans Souci beach below Diamond Head, away from the Waikīkī crowds. Diamond Head-view rooms are the ones to book.

Poʻipū

Oceanfront resort on Poʻipū Beach; ocean-front rooms face the sunset and the monk seals. Resort fee and parking at check-out.

Waikīkī

Big beachfront resort in the centre of Waikīkī with the infinity pool; family rooms with a third bed. Resort fee and parking at check-out.

Waikīkī

Boutique retro hotel two blocks inland; the one-room bungalows are the pick. Loud pool scene by day, quiet rooms.

Kohala Coast

Kohala Coast resort on ʻAnaehoʻomalu Bay with the calmest swimming beach on the coast. Resort-view rooms are the value; parking and resort fee at check-out.

Volcano

Historic 1931 main house plus rainforest cottages and modern bungalows in Volcano Village, ~1 mile from Volcanoes National Park. Individually rented units with on-site management — the closest premium-feel stay for pre-dawn park access and evening lava glow.

Wailea

Artistically designed resort with the best pool complex in Wailea — infinity pools cascading toward the beach. Morimoto Maui on-site. Studios well-appointed for the price.

Kaʻūpūlehu

The most exclusive resort in all Hawaii — 243 rooms across 865 acres, with four pools including King's Pond (a 1.8 million gallon snorkeable tide pool). Service is legendary. Complimentary daily Hawaiian cultural programs.

Wailea

Consistently ranked #1 hotel in Hawaii. Service is peerless — staff remember your name by day two. Ferraro's Bar e Ristorante at sunset is one of Hawaii's best experiences. Book 6+ months ahead for peak season.

Kāʻanapali

The most Hawaiian hotel in Kaanapali — locally owned, staff are genuinely proud of teaching Hawaiian culture (lei making, hula, ukulele lessons all free). Not the fanciest but the aloha spirit here is real.

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park

The only hotel inside Volcanoes National Park — perched on the rim of Kilauea Caldera. Historic 1846 property. Wake up to volcanic fog and the glow of the crater at night. Book months ahead — limited rooms and nothing else nearby. The Rim Restaurant has surprisingly good food.

Wailea

All-suite resort — every room is a suite with a walk-in closet and plunge pool. White Moorish architecture is striking. Ko restaurant for a special dinner. Quieter and more intimate than the Grand Wailea next door.

Kāʻanapali

Landmark resort on Ka'anapali Beach with a massive pool featuring waterslides and a swim-through grotto. Drums of the Pacific luau on-site is the best-value luau on Maui.

Wailea

Excellent beach access at Wailea Beach (one of Maui's finest). Strong points redemption value. Not the splashiest property but reliable, well-located, and often discounted.

Hanalei

Perched above Hanalei Bay with the most dramatic setting in Hawaii — watching clouds move through the Na Pali peaks from your infinity pool is otherworldly. Sustainable luxury brand. Farm-to-table dining.

Wailea

The most extravagant resort in Hawaii — nine-pool aquatic playground, the Hibiscus Pool river, and Spa Grande (Hawaii's largest spa). Families with children will not want to leave the pool complex.

Wailea

Three-bedroom villas on the Wailea golf course — the way to put a family of six in Wailea without a resort bill. Kitchen, pools; the beach is a short drive.

Keauhou

Condo resort on the Keauhou golf course above the manta-ray bay; one-bedroom villas with kitchens, two pools. Ten minutes to Kailua-Kona.

Haʻikū

Private studio in Haʻikū among the gardens, kitchen and lanai. Paia's restaurants are fifteen minutes; the Hāna road starts here.

Haʻikū

Private studio in the Haʻikū countryside on the north shore — her Hāna-side base for two nights, with the road to Hāna starting ten minutes away.

Wailea

All-suite five-star on Polo Beach in Wailea; every room a suite with a sofa bed, so a family fits. Mountain-view suites are the value.

North Shore

The only full resort on the North Shore — 5 miles of coastline, two Arnold Palmer golf courses. Magical in winter when big wave season hits. Book the Ocean View rooms. 45 min from Waikiki; rent a car.

Līhuʻe

Large, older resort near Lihue airport — convenient for early departures and late arrivals. Four miles of uncrowded beach. Affordable entry point to Kauai.

Captain Cook

Living Big Island history since 1917 — the pork chops at the on-site restaurant are a 75-year institution. Extremely simple rooms. Best choice for budget travelers basing near south Kona snorkeling (Two Step, City of Refuge).

Kapalua

Only 56 residences (1,200–2,700 sq ft each) — extremely private. Spectacular Kapalua Bay. Sunset over Molokai from the restaurant is breathtaking. Best for groups or honeymoons seeking space.

Līhuʻe

Newly developed (2021) luxury residences with marina access and private beach club. Hualani's restaurant is excellent. Best for groups wanting villa-style accommodation with hotel services.

Līhuʻe

Resort on a long beach five minutes from Līhuʻe airport, the central base for both shores. Premium rooms look over the pool to the ocean; the beach is for walking, not swimming.

Hilo

Classic hotel on Hilo Bay — the crescent bay view from bayside rooms is beautiful. Walking distance to the Farmers Market and waterfront. Best budget base for volcano visitors; 45 min to national park.