If the Hawaii trip of your dreams looks like a stylish boutique hotel with vintage vibes, mai tais with little umbrellas, palm trees, and easy access to food, shopping, and world class attractions all on one of the world’s most beautiful and iconic beaches, then you’re going to love Waikiki. 

There are sooooo many “Instagrammable” hotels here…you know…the kind where you just want to take pictures absolutely EVERYWHERE.

Yes, there’s the grand jewel of Waikiki (more on her in a minute 💗), but there’s also a handful of small, budget friendly hotels where I love to post up as a basecamp when I have non-stop activities and island exploring planned.

My Favorite Boutique Hotels in Waikiki

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The Royal Hawaiian

Recently voted “the most Instagrammable hotel in North America,” there’s no surprise the Royal Hawaiian is at the top of this list. 

This is definitely the most iconic hotel in Waikiki…in all of Hawaii!  “The Pink Palace of the Pacific” has a style that speaks of a bygone era but it’s still high on modern luxuries. 

It’s right in the heart of Waikiki, but tucked back off the main strip behind the Royal Hawaiian Center so it never feels quite as busy as so many of the other big hotels. 

If it’s in the budget, definitely book the Mailani Tower. It’s the newly renovated “luxury” tower and it has much more modern and updated rooms (not to mention ah-mazing views) than the older wing.

Check rates at the Royal Hawaiian here.

The Laylow

The Laylow is a boutique city hotel with the vintage Hawaiiana charm that dreams are made of. 

The Laylow, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s Autograph Collection, doesn’t sit beachfront or have ocean views (rooms on the very upper floors may have a distant side view), but it’s just 2 short blocks from the beach.

Shopping and dining options abound and it’s a great location for walking pretty much everywhere in Waikiki. 

The rooms at the Laylow are all pretty spacious and bright. The room I booked featured two king size beds (something I’m finding more common in city hotels where a group of adults may be traveling together) and there was plenty of floor space. 

The Laylow is fairly insta-famous and they’ve done a good job carrying that over to the rooms. The colorful wallpaper and ukulele make a fun photo op and every room gets a FUN gift basket featuring branded flip flops, refillable water bottles, snacks, and some other fun goodies. 

The Laylow definitely feels more like a city hotel than a resort, but one with a really relaxed vacation vibe. They’ve really leaned hard into the vintage Hawaiiana vibe. 

I wouldn’t call the Laylow a budget hotel, but I think it’s an excellent value for what it offers. And this is probably the nicest hotel on this list. 

If you’re just looking for a place to shower and sleep while you’re out exploring the island each day then you can definitely find a cheaper place. But if you value coming back to a nicer hotel at the end of the day, the Laylow is a great option. 

Check rates at The Laylow. 

Pics from my stay at the Laylow below ⬇️

Kaimana Beach Hotel

I think the Kaimana Beach Hotel flies under the radar big time. It’s at the quiet end of Waikiki (close to Diamond Head), but if the beach is the reason for your trip, you won’t be disappointed here. 

It sits right on perhaps the best little pocket of Waikiki Beach and it’s never overly crowded. I would argue the beach experience is much better here than at all the big beach resorts further up the road. 

The hotel underwent a top to bottom renovation a few years ago, and it is so cute! The design is so on point and their onsite restaurant, Hau Tree, is a gem. 

There’s no pool here, but with the beach right outside, you really don’t need it. 

And it’s still a quick 15 minute walk up into the heart of Waikiki. 

Check the rates at the Kaimana Beach Hotel here.

Pics of the Kaimana Beach Hotel below ⬇️

Wayfinder

There’s nothing I love more than a hotel where they get the design…just right. Wayfinder delivers a detailed and layered experience from the lobby to the guest rooms to the pool, and it feels stylish and comfortable at the same time. 

It still feels like a city hotel, but one that knows it’s in Hawaii. I wouldn’t necessarily book a stay here for my whole vacation if beach and pool were the priority, but for the price, it’s a really great place to basecamp while you’re out adventuring. 

The rooms and bathroom here, while small (the beds are doubles not queens) are actually nicer and better designed than a lot of hotels in Waikiki. 

There’s an onsite restaurant that’s well known for their poke, a coffee bar, and a spot by the pool so it’s nice to have options close by.  

Check the rates at the Wayfinder here. 

Pics of my stay at the Wayfinder below ⬇️

White Sands 

Talk about Instagrammable! You’d be hard pressed to find a more aesthetically pleasing pool area in Waikiki. The umbrellas! The SWINGS at the bar!

And that’s really the feature of White Sands. It has a cool retro vibe that makes it a hangout spot. 

Honestly, I was a little disappointed by the rooms here. They photograph well, but they felt pretty tired in person (and carpet gives me the ick) and overall the room and bathroom were on the lower end of hotels on this list. 

Also, I would highly recommend a white noise machine (I always travel with one), because there’s a live band in the bar area most nights and it’s an older hotel so there’s not much sound proofing. 

But it’s priced right! And it has a slightly better location than Wayfinder. It’s a block or so closer to the nicer end of Waikiki, which is something I think about as a female (sometimes single) traveler. 

Check rates at White Sands here. 

Pics of my stay at White Sands below ⬇️

The Surfjack Hotel

The Surfjack was one of the first older Waikiki hotels to be renovated into a trendy more sought out place to stay. The hotel plays up the 1960s Hawaiiana style, and it’s often one of the most budget friendly options because of their parking. 

They contract with a lot that’s just $15/night (compared to $40-50/night at a lot of these other hotels), and often if you book directly on their website, it’s free. 

The onsite restaurant, Mahina and Suns, is a favorite with locals too. 

Check the rates at the Surfjack here.

Pics of the Surfjack below ⬇️

Romer House

I haven’t gotten to stay at Romer House yet, but it’s at the top of my list for my next trip. It recently opened as Oahu’s only adults only hotel and it looks pretty dreamy. 

* Don’t confuse this hotel with the Ambassador Hotel of Waikiki which used to be named Romer.

Check rates at Romer House here. 

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