Picking a Honolulu hotel for an upcoming trip led to severe sticker shock.
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89 thoughts on “It’s The Rip-Off Honolulu Hotels That Are Killing Us”
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Picking a Honolulu hotel for an upcoming trip led to severe sticker shock.
Get Breaking Hawaii Travel News
Comments are closed.
Not sure how cleaning rates at a vacation rental property couldn’t beat $1000 per night at the Kahala. You can find 2 bedroom places for $250-$300 per night, add in a cleaning fee of $180, split that over two nights and you’re at $390 per night on the high end, beating all of your found prices.
Since Hawaii is one of the 50 States would it not be illegal for them to charge a State entry fee no matter what. What would happen if all the States charged an entry fee on travel. I realize a lot of their travel is from International travelers but the United States gets a lot of International travelers and there is no entry fee charge from a state in the United States mainland. Hawaii is getting out of control with all its lodging and travel fee add ons
I gave up on Hawaii because of the resort fees, and it is cheaper for me to find a nice resort in Mexico for less than 1/3 the cost of Hawaii. Goodbye Hawaii, this sucker’s not going there no more. I got tired of the homeless, the beggars everywhere, and the mentally ill harassing me on the streets. What Good are overpriced hotels and then have to put up with insanity as soon as you walk out the door. Also, if you hurt a mugger you’ll be the one to get in trouble, not the mugger.
Well when I go to Hawaii I usually go for 10 days. I use to stay in a hotel. But now I use a Air B&B because of the parking fees at the hotels. They are $50 per night or more. Air B&B is free. I save $500
If you live in HI and are a member of Kaiser health plan they pay your airfare and overnight hotel stay.
Hotels wouldn’t charge these rates, if people wouldn’t book. It’s a free market economy. I can see the challenge for residents visiting family on other islands or getting medical treatments, but tourists from other states or countries shouldn’t complain. Rates will go down, when fewer tourists arrive
I know you want tourism to go away. It’s not. We…the *tourists* are essentially your bread & butter. So, please stop wishing tourists would go away & stay away. Be careful what you wish for. Not all *tourists* are rude & crude. Some of us *tourists* respect the places we visit.
What about the HIlton Hawaiian Village!
Resort fees are ridiculous. These need to be abolished!
U R right about it all. I lived in Hawaii from 1970 to 2015. Retired and ended up in Portugal. I am back in America because of the COVID issue and have been looking to Hawaii again. It is impossible to return to Hawaii, on any island because of the outrageous hotel and short term rental rates, and extreme rental car rates. Hawaii is their own worst enemy,very greedy. It is cheaper for me to fly first class on TAP to Lisboa round trip, than it is to fly round trip to Hawaii from Seattle.
My wife and I have been going to Hawaii since the early 70’s our first trip (1972) 14 days/13nights airfare, free booze and real food served on china and silverware utensils,a complementary lei, transfers, free orientation breakfast and free luau on a private beach from Edmonton, Alberta was $369/person. Obviously with Covid we have not been for the last few years and having reviewed hotel, car rentals, all the new fees it’s likely we won’t be going back anytime soon. Whether someone can afford the steep prices now being heaped on tourists is not the question dollar value is gone and with so many other travel options available where guests feel welcome and you don’t feel extorted the islands will be losers. Aloha
I work for a resort. The fees for a one night stay are crazy! The resort adds in parking fees, resort fees, and hotel room cleaning fees! The taxes and all these creative extra fees runs you at least another $80-100 (tipping for valet). The problem is not just sticking the tourist w/these fees, they are passing it on to Kamaaina as well. Need to go see ohana on a neighbor island? Or you need to seek medical service.. no breaks for Kamaaina. So these fees impact everyone malahini and Kamaaina alike! It’s ridiculous. All these made up fees! Don’t get me started on rental cars!
Specific to Waikiki, I’m sure Wailea/Kaanapali, 95% of the Properties are Japan owned, regardless of the name on the banner, be it Hyatt, Westin, Sheraton, Marriott, Halekulani, Halepuna, Waikiki Parc, Prince, Lotus, Kaimana, Hilton Vacation, The Kahala, a Ritz Carlton, that is where Pricing is set. That said expect diminished value as well, as at the Moana and Royal Hawaiian, neither the Beach Club Lounge nor Mailani Lounge in the Tower, are yet to re-open, meaning those with access, miss very generous Continental Breakfasts in the AM, and Pupu’s and Cocktails in the evening, minimally $35/Head a Value lost for each meal or Happy Hour! To my knowledge, the Regency Zclub at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki is still open and a great added Value.
I am a bit concerned about blaming Japan for the Waikiki hotel prices. Are you sure they are owned by Japanese? Or does it matter what coutry owns it? I am just afraid of bashing foreign countries.
No bashing intended, the Japanese led the charge in Tourism in Hawaii in the late 1960’s early ’70’s when they started to travel worldwide. They even have a euphemism calling the 9th Prefecture or something along those lines, just as Hawaiians do with Las Vegas as the 10th Island. Just Duck-Duck the particular Hotel and it’s ownership, those I referenced were all owned by Japanese Corporations, Hilton Hawaiian Village is owned B&M by Park Hotels & Resorts of Vienna, Virginia. Again, no slur intended, 30 years of Business travel to Oahu and Maui, as well as, pre millennia they owned The Plaza, Pebble Beach Golf among others. One can see the same with China today.
Now try you are flying to Honolulu for medical and have to stay one night so can see you next day before you fly home.
No such thing as a medical rate same thing with airlines
Thought Hawaii took care of their Kupuna
Greed is a big sin. how much profits do they really need to make .and yet they don’t take any of those profits and give staff a generous raises. after all your staff is who help make your profits. they sure don’t seem like they take the profits and upgrade there hotels and keep there structures safe.how much of there profits go to help the community. greed not a good thing
The Alohilani is one of my favorites — the hotel, rooms and pool deck are gorgeous. They are more affordable than most of the other nicer hotels. I try to visit 3-4x a year. I was in Waikiki mid October and I paid about $1,000 more than my visit in January…food is more expensive too. But it is still less expensive than staying two nights in Sonoma or Napa California!
The Breakers Hotel gets my vote for the best value.
I remember the $99/night kama’aina rates. We could stay with in-laws for a few days stay at the Royal Hawaiian. Now, we pack everyone into our house during the holidays. No one can afford to stay at hotels here anymore. Rental cars are ridiculous too. (Just paid $800 for a Jeep on the Big Island for 4 days.) However, we rented a beautiful VRBO home on the Big Island for $280/night on 30 acres. The incoming Honolulu governor (Josh Green) wants to shutdown most vacation rentals, so options on Oahu will be slim pickings.
Maui isn’t any better! For our November 2022 trip we booked 5 nights at Kaanapali Alii, 3 with points and the last 2 nights paid $2080 total so $1040 per night. Thankfully, that includes the resort fee and parking so happy that won’t be added on! This resort is nice but it’s definitely not $1k/night worthy. I used to pass up rooms at Grand Wailea for that price, now I’m paying it for a mid range resort. This will probably be our last trip to Hawaii for a very long time, sadly.
We traveled from the big island to Oahu for a couple days in June for some medical treatment. We stayed at the Aston Waikiki Circle Hotel and I have to say although the rooms were small, we had an oceanfront room on a high floor for $177/night. Quite the bargain for a prime location along the Waikiki beach front. The rooms were clean and tidy. However parking is pretty much non-existent, as we were directed to a parking garage 4 blocks away. Add to that a resort fee – for what? There are no amenities there. Again by the time parking, resort fee and taxes are added, the nightly rate jumps to over $200 per night but for the location it’s not bad. Would stay there again.
If you’re looking last minute Hawaii travel than you should expect to pay a premium. I start researching our Hawaiian stays 8 to 9 months ahead of time. I usually find a deal early than shop it till I many times re-booking half a dozen times.
Don’t get me started on rental cars I continue to shop them right up to getting on the plane.
This isn’t just a Hawaii travel thing, rooms are costing more and fees are adding up at all popular travel destinations.
We’re going to Disneyland in December folks I know are spending thousands more than we are for same trip. Why? Waited last minute all good deals dried up.
The fees aren’t hidden, online they’re disclosed at checkout. If the final price falls within our budget I book it.
Not surprised. And then, if you look at Hawaii’s infrastructure, you’ll see that they spend nothing on preventive maintenance, literally letting things fail before fixing anything.
Thank you for the update on Honolulu hotels. The prices they charge make me happy that I purchased a Hilton timeshare that gives me a full kitchen and lots of room to relax. Yes, it was pricey up front, but we take the whole family and we’ve made some great memories. We aren’t likely to stop visiting the islands, because we have family there, and our son lives in Kaneohe. It’s home for my husband, but it sure “ain’t like it used to be”. Prices going up, fees on everything. Thanks for keeping us informed.
Hi Lee.
Thanks for the input. And more than 100 comments over the past 5 years!
Aloha.
We were in Honolulu the first week in May, staying at the Waikiki Resort Hotel on Koa Ave. I had found a travel site under the AAFES Marketplace partners, & looking at the rates I saw it was substantially less than the other hotels in the Waikiki area, at $178/night plus the fees. Reading the reviews we decided to take a chance with it. It was a nice place – comfortable, clean & in a good location, with friendly & helpful staff. We hope to visit Hawai’i again soon, & we would definitely stay here.
I feel the same way about “resort fees,” unclear why they don’t just include them in the price points instead of having them as add-on charges.
Stayed 11 nights at Ohia Waikiki Studio Suites and thought it was great. $1585 total price, no hidden fees. Although it’s not fancy and an older building it had everything my daughter and I needed. One block from the beach, kitchen, 2 super comfy full size beds, maid service, pool, right in the heart of all the shopping and nightlife. For the price it was great. We spent most of our time at the beach, but at the end of the day we had a clean and quiet place to shower, cook, watch tv and relax.
I don’t disagree with your conclusions but I would like to point out, as I did yesterday, that its not just Honolulu. Before Covid I used to go to Maui yearly. This was the first year I went (end of May) and I found that the hotels there had increased double (1,000%) since I was there in 2019, car rentals (economy) had tripled, and tours that I normally take (Haleakala, Hana) had doubled. Everyone is making up for income lost during Covid but this was simple gouging and greed. Kauai (late August) was “more” economical but not by much. It’s not just Honolulu, it’s all the Islands.
Greed? Not! it is survival for us on Kauai. Our taxi transportation and island tour fares has fallen behind for years because of council member deaf ears. The last ten years the fare has increased 10 cents from .35 to .45 for tenth of
a mile and the tour rate of $60/hour has not change since early 2000, it is now 2022! Gas has gone up and the vehicles and repairs are always increased 20 years ago. Buying a reliable mini van is almost the same as putting a house down payment averaging $75,000 for a nice mini van.
Good information!
I feel the $50 fee will go to the corrupt politicians or corporations and not to the purpose of protecting the inviroment. I don’t think a $50 fee is going g to stop the flow at all. That seems to me a ridiculous idea.treat the islands like a public building,, it will only seat so many at a time or it becomes a hazard.. well, it seems to me that to many people on any given island has and will continue to be a hazard in many,many different ways.
Just my 2 cents
Thank you for the synopsis of your search for affordable and acceptable accommodations in Honolulu.
Covid-19 relieved our “addiction” to travel there from Hilo several times a year.
Now we will save our hard earned dollars for a really special trip out of state.
Hi Mike.
We’re largely with you on that, in our cases being on rural Kauai. You can find some better value propositions, and we have, but there aren’t many, and they are still very costly.
Aloha.
Hawaii is so stunningly beautiful that almost everyone will pay the exorbitant prices one time. Just to see Hawaii, just to experience Hawaii and all it has to offer. But that will be it, they will not ever return.
And by the time the State and Counties and Tourism Board realizes they are at the point of diminishing returns, it will be too late. The bottom will fall out of the tourist industry and they will be begging people to return.
Earlier this year we thought about a quick two day trip, because the airfare was so cheap. I looked up the hotel we stayed at about 6 years ago for about $180 for two days, it sits a bit across the beach & the zoo. When I checked it’s price it was an amazing $400 for the two days. That was the end of our quick trip to Oahu. Aloha & mahalo.
Waikiki hotel prices are ridiculous! And, the kamaania rates are a joke.
From the Big Island.
We just stayed at Ilima Hotel in Waikiki with view of canal and mountain s for $159 a night as kamaina. 2nd stay there. Newly renovated. Free parking but we used Charley’s Taxi with flat rate from airport to Ilima for $35. Easy place to stay off the busy strip.
Karima from Maui
I’ve stayed at the Ilima before, pre-pandemic – the staff is so friendly and the hotel is just fine. I can’t speak to the renovation, but in 2019 it wasn’t fancy but had everything you might need (including a laundromat!) Clean, comfortable, and a good location. I wouldn’t hesitate to stay there again.
Kauai Calls: Used them a few years ago when we stayed in Kapaa, they are legit and the prices were more reasonable than Poipu, only drawback is that it rains quite often in Kapaa! We stayed in a wonderful condo that was nicely decorated with great appliances! The pool had a lazy river type feel…loved it!! I would not hesitate to use them again!
I just checked a unit that we rented that Kauai Calls now owns. Unbelievable I paid $100 a night plus taxes in 2017 for that Islander on the Beach unit. The same unit now rents for almost $300 a night with taxes included. That is gouging, not reasonable.
It’s not rocket science when our public school systems are not teaching our kids to think critically, i.e., and challenge obsolescence in elected officials.
Hawaii is doing an excellent job of curbing tourism with these high prices…be carful what you wish for Hawaiians…
We like the Coconut Waikiki Hotel for Kamaaina. No resort fees and half price valet parking ($20).
I thought of adding three days on Oahu after our December trip to maui. 400.00 plus room rates high taxes and resort fees on top. I can afford it but I don’t like getting ripped off.
What do you know about the rental company Kauai Calls, and how can I make sure they are legitimate? We booked a room for 10 nights (Islander on the Beach), and were charged a bottom line price of $2930.00. No parking or resort fee. Basically, no other charges. Checking on numerous other sites, the same property & building (after all add-on charges) we would be charged between $4600/$5200. The phrase, “if it sounds too good to be true” comes to mind? I have talked and e-mailed Kauai Calls, and have no reason to think they are not legitimate. TIn fact, they are very nice. I just need to make sure before we get there that there are no surprises. Any suggestions?
Those dive hotel prices make the Disney Aulani seem almost reasonable.
Islander on the Beach in Kauai is Not a dive.
It appears to me from reading what you are writing and my sister’s visit last month that Hawaii prices are getting out of hand for the middle class. I imagine that residents enjoyed the less crowds during Covid. Think about this….if a lodging costs $200 a night for four families and they stay for three nights, that is $2400. But if the charge is $400 per night and three families rent, that is $3600 for the three nights. Renters of lodging would get less people for more money. That satisfies the want for more money but not having the islands be as crowded. But….how sad to make Hawaii a vacation place only for the rich. So much there to do for honeymooners, couples and families with kids who aren’t wealthy.
Back in May,i had the pleasure of 2 nights in Waikiki as I had to take care of business. Being from Kauai, the prospect of time on Oahu is a great treat.
Bookings.com helped me get a room at the Aqua Palms in Waikiki. Across from the Modern.Total price was about $290 for two nights which included taxes and fees. Room had a micro and refrigerator as well as a coffee pot.View was of the city from the back of the property.Not a big deal as I was gone all day.I didn’t have a car so parking wasn’t an issue. I believe it may be $25/day.
It was wonderful to be able to walk to my appointments – within a mile, stop at AlaMoana for a lovely walk and window shopping, and even get my favorite “guilty” pleasure for lunch!
Will definitely return!
All Hawaii accommodations are ridiculously priced. It happened before the inflation mess started, actually. Greed. That hotel room doesn’t cost the hotel any more money than it ever did. Hawaii is not a good value. Add on your visitor fees and Hawaii may get what it says it wants- less visitors. Be careful what you wish for.
So done with Hawaii.