Has anyone ever stayed at the Hyatt, Waikiki Beach on Oahu?

[Quakerfriend]

And, how does it compare to the Hyatt on Maui? ...or the one on Kauai?

We are wondering about the area in general. ie, safety issues, things to do for kids etc.

Thanks!

[Monkeyman]

1. Kauai best bet

[ellisonz]

2. Unless you want the big city expierence...

I would go to Kauai or Maui.

[AutumnMist]

3. My Parents usually stay in Maui

and really like it for a multitude of reasons. I haven't been myself so I cant recommend from experience. :)

[brook]

4. Better bet....

Turtle Bay Resort on the North Shore. Comparable rates. You can drive anywhere on Oahu you want to -and come back to serenity on the North Shore.

[Quakerfriend]

5. You guys are great! Thank you much.

[etherealtruth]

6. I'm very biased ...

I prefer Maui and I greatly prefer the Westin on Kaanapali (sp?) to all other hotels on the island

[Joe Fields]

7. No, but I HAVE stayed at a Holiday Inn!

[KamaAina]

8. We had a staff training there earlier this year

(cross-post from HI forum)

it is directly across the street from the beach where you rent surfboards and/or sign up for surf lessons, etc. Its ground floor consists of a fancy shopping arcade, and there are several fine dining restaurants on site; Ciao Mein (he he) is considered one of the city's finest, serving, as if you hadn't guessed, Euro/Asian fusion cuisine. Other more family-friendly options are just blocks away, as Waikiki is basically a busy, crowded city that happens to adjoin a beach on one side.

There are all kinds of tour operators who will take you to all the other activities, including hikes (there are several popular ones right above town!), Hanauma Bay (collapsed volcanic crater where you wade right in and interact with tropical fish), Sea Life Park (now with dolphin interactions as well as Sea World-type shows), and all the other brazillion things you'll see in brochures in the lobby, your room, and all up and down the street.

(end cross-post)

By all means try for O'ahu AND one of the other islands. Interisland airfares have plunged recently because the duopolists, Hawaiian and Aloha, now have actual competition from go!, a unit of Mesa Air.

[huskerlaw]

9. I have!

I can't compare it to the ones on Kauai or Maui, but we stayed there when I was 13 and I was back there last year.

The area in general is completely safe. It's literally across the street from Waikiki Beach, which is a tourist trap and has the police protection to prove it. The thing about staying in Honolulu is that it's less of a relaxing Hawaiian vacation and more of a tourist thing. That's going to be the big difference from the other islands.

You'll be in downtown Honolulu. Which means there's tons to do, but also tons of people. If you want specific things to do, let me know. My friend and I spent 2 weeks in/around Honolulu last year with her 8-year-old. We did different things every day and he had a blast.

On edit: If you're re-thinking spending your vacation in a city and would rather go for relaxed, I highly recommend the Hilton Waikaloa on the big island. It used to be a Hyatt and we stayed there when I was 13 as well.