I recently stayed at the Marriott Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa, a property often considered when travelers search for the best hotels Oahu has for convenience and amenities. Here’s my honest review to help you decide if it’s the right fit for your Oahu vacation.
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Location: 5/5. A Strong Contender Among the Best Hotels Oahu Visitors Choose
The location is one of the resort’s strongest points. The hotel sits right across the street from Waikiki Beach, and beach chair rentals are conveniently included in your stay, a huge perk compared to other resorts. You’ll also find tons of restaurants, shops, and cafés within walking distance, and the Honolulu Zoo is just one block away, making it ideal for families and first-time visitors.
Room Experience: 3.5/5
We were upgraded to a partial ocean view room for our wedding anniversary, which was a thoughtful gesture and very appreciated.
However, the king room layout was a bit inconvenient. There was only one nightstand, so one side of the bed had nowhere to place a phone, charger, water, or anything else you usually keep bedside. It made charging my phone pretty inconvenient.
Dining & Breakfast: 3/5
Breakfast was included in our stay, and the buffet with omelet station was good quality. The downside: the menu was exactly the same every single day, so it gets repetitive and a bit boring after a few mornings.
We also tried the hotel’s main restaurant, Queensbreak, and were underwhelmed. On our first night the chicken nachos had barely any chicken, and although the ribeye steak we ordered on the last night was good, it wasn’t memorable, especially at resort-level pricing.
Amenities & Activities: 4.5/5
The amenities are where this resort shines. The property includes:
- Pool tables and foosball
- Lei-making classes
- Ukulele lessons
- Yoga classes
- Hula classes
- Beach chairs included
- Multiple pools
The classes included in the resort fee were fun, cultural, and worth doing.
Parking: 2/5
Parking is $65 per night, which feels extremely steep, especially for hotel guests already paying a resort fee. It would be great to see Marriott include parking or offer a more reasonable rate.
Overall Experience: 4/5 Good, But Not the Top of the Best Hotels Oahu Has to Offer
We enjoyed our stay thanks to the amenities, walkability, and thoughtful upgrade. However, we would only stay again if beachfront hotels in Waikiki are too expensive during our travel dates. While the Marriott Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa is solid and convenient, it’s not the strongest contender among the best hotels Oahu provides if direct beachfront access is your priority.
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