Families Magazine – Editor, Janine and her family stayed as guests at the Holiday Inn Express in Waikiki for 3 nights in November 2019.
What’s the best hotel in Hawaii for families? Well, I am so glad you asked, because I think we have found it!
A great family friendly hotel needs to have a specific range of things to warrant the title ‘family friendly’, so in this article I will explain why the Holiday Inn Express in Waikiki is not only worthy of this title, but certainly gives other hotels in the area a run for their money.
In this article you will find out all you need to know about the Holiday Inn Express in Waikiki to help you make an informed decision to kick start your Hawaiian holiday with your family!
Where is the Holiday Inn Express in Waikiki?
The Holiday Inn Express Waikiki is located at the gateway of Waikiki in Honolulu. This 44-story hotel with panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, Koolau mountains and Waikiki skyline is just 3 blocks from Waikiki beach (check out the view from our hotel window, below) and a short stroll from the Waikiki International Market Place.
Being so well located, the hotel is an excellent choice for families with very easy access to shopping, dining, and local attractions.
Address: 2058 Kuhio Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815, United States
Tel: +1 808-947-2828
How to get to the Holiday Inn Express in Waikiki
It is most likely that you will be travelling to the hotel from the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. The airport is well signed for ground transportation. You can take the airport shuttle for $17 or grab an Uber. We took the Uber option for approx. $35.
Transport from the hotel
Whilst the shops and restaurants are all within easy walking distance of the hotel, you may be interested in knowing that the public bus is also an inexpensive and handy option.
A bus ride is $2.50 for adults and $1.25 for children. If you’re planning to catch multiple buses in one day the 1-day pass costs $5 for adults and $2.50 for children and can be bought on TheBus. Find out more here.
Why is this the best family hotel in Waikiki?
This is a fantastic hotel for families because of the excellent location in Honolulu’s Waikiki. The guest rooms feature free wifi, a compact refrigerator, Keurig coffee maker and a microwave. (Seriously guys, high five to this set up for families!)
The complimentary breakfast means that families don’t need to traipse outside the hotel to find their first meal of the day or pay any additional charges to eat at the hotel.
How to choose the best room (with the best view) for your family
Right – so this is what you actually really need to know. The best part about reading reviews from families who have actually stayed in the hotel, is knowing where the best rooms are and how to book them!
The hotel offers Double and Queen rooms. If you are travelling with kids there are a couple of ways you can configure your stay.
You can book one hotel room with two Queen beds (and add a fold-away bed if you have 3 kids). The room in the photo below is our room. We booked the room with the two Queen beds and we added the fold-away bed.
Alternatively, you can book two hotel rooms… and this is the best way to do it for convenience and space. The corner rooms on each floor are set up with a Queen bed in one room and two Double beds in the adjacent room. Whilst the hotel does not have interconnecting rooms, you can book the two corner bedrooms to have your kids in a room adjacent to yours. I would recommend this for older kids.
The higher the floor, the better the view. The photo below is the view from our room.
What kind of breakfast is served at Holiday Inn Express Waikiki?
In my opinion, the breakfast at the hotel is excellent! Served from 6:30am – 9:30am, families staying at Holiday Inn Express Waikiki can enjoy a well lit breakfast room with both inside and outside seating options. If you are seating outside, keep an eye open for opportunistic birds.
Breakfast option(s) include:
- Continental
- Buffet
My son loved the well stocked breakfast buffet with: pancakes (with honey or syrup), muffins, juice, milk, yoghurt, eggs, bacon, cereal and fruit…. and I loved all that and the coffee!
Facilities at Holiday Inn Express in Waikiki
The hotel has a range of family friendly facilities, listed below. Like all hotels in Honolulu, there is a resort fee.
The Holiday Inn Express Waikiki charges a Resort Fee of $25.00 per night per room that is in addition to their room rates. This will be automatically added to your bill by the hotel.
Does Holiday Inn Express in Waikiki have a pool and Jacuzzi?
Yes!! They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so we will let you decide if this pool and Jacuzzi area would suit your family…. but it certainly got a double thumbs up from us!
Cool…. it looks great…. but what other facilities does the hotel have?
- Mini golf
- Chess
- Shuffle board
- Gym
- Games room
- Laundry
- Mini mart
- Concierge and tour bookings
What are the check-in and check-out times at the hotel?
Check-in at Holiday Inn Express Waikiki is from 3:00 PM, and check-out is until 12:00 PM.
Can I park at the Holiday Inn Express Waikiki
Yes! If you hire a car, parking is available for guests at $29 per day.
What attractions are near the Holiday Inn Express Waikiki?
We love these family friendly attractions, that are all open to the public near the hotel:
- Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon
- Honolulu Zoo
- Waikiki Aquarium
- Diamond Head
Our verdict on the Holiday Inn Express in Waikiki
We absolutely loved the Holiday Inn Express in Waikiki. We definitely think it is a family friendly hotel. The staff are friendly, the facilities are kid friendly, and the location is spot on! I know I mentioned it above, but I must give another shout out to the coffee machine, microwave and mini-fridge in our room…. absolutely perfect for busy families on the go!
If you are keen to investigate their current prices and availability, click here.
If you stay at the Holiday Inn Express, let us know… we would love to hear your thoughts too!
