The Best Hawaii Hotels To Visit In 2025 For Every Type Of Budget

The visually striking Royal Kona Resort wows from miles away, with its angular white lines jutting out from the shoreline of dark volcanic rock. Positioned dramatically against the ocean’s edge on Kailua Bay, this resort is all about embracing life on the water, whether at the private beach, protected saltwater lagoon or cabana-lined pool. The theme continues with fresh seafood at Don’s Mai Tai Bar & Restaurant, and treatments utilising sea salt scrubs and seaweed masks at The Lotus Centre spa.  

Embrace local culture with a Voyagers of the Pacific Luau experience complete with fire dancing, spend your days diving with manta rays or wander over to Kailua-Kona village to shop until you drop. 

A new addition to Honolulu’s hotel scene, Renaissance Honolulu Hotel & Spa stands out from the crowd with its sleek, art-led design, two-bedroom penthouses, and glamorous eighth-floor sky deck, a watery wonderland with a saltwater pool, whirlpools, and lap pool. Just minutes from the iconic Waikiki Beach, this sky-high resort is a luxury launchpad for exploring both near and far. A complimentary shuttle service provides access to the world-class open-air shopping of Ala Moana or the powder-white sands of Waikiki. 

Reach new levels of serenity at the cutting-edge wellness centre, complete with Peloton equipment, Japanese-style indoor and outdoor baths, and a Himalayan salt sauna. Come dinner time, take a front-row seat for award-winning culinary action at MARA, the all-day restaurant celebrating both the Mediterranean and Hawaiian way of life (tapas and shellfish are specialties).  

Magical Maui is on full display at Royal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows, one of the first resorts to call the jaw-dropping Ka’anapali Beach home. Build your own adventure, with days spent on one of Maui’s best stretches of sand with a book in hand, in a poolside cabana with a locally made ice cream, taking to the waters via paddleboard or kayak, or slipping into true tranquillity at Alana Spa.  

Dining options cater for every type of mood: admire the spectacular setting from Lahaina Noon, or sip on cocktails to a soundtrack of live music at The Branches. Don’t miss The Myths of Maui Luau, a cultural show with historic tales, local delicacies, song and dance (it’s well worth adding the optional whale-watching tour). 

Wake up to stunning views over the shimmering Pacific Ocean from Prince Waikiki, an award-winning Hawaii resort sitting at the gateway to one of Honolulu’s best-known neighbourhoods. Its Miami-style pool deck is a standout, with an adults-only infinity pool, saltwater pool and bubbling hot tub all suspended over the yachts of the harbour. 

After a farm-to-cup coffee brewed with beans from local volcanic slopes, set out to explore Oahu’s natural wonders: will it be a hike to the Diamond Head crater, catching waves at North Shore, or a stroll through Lyon Arboretum’s tropical gardens? On return, admire the sunset from Hinana Bar and savour fresh island cuisine at 100 Sails Restaurant & Bar. For something truly special, try Katsumidori Sushi Tokyo—the only location outside of Japan from chef Noboru Nagumo.  

If you love to be in the beating heart of it all, look no further than 'Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach, an eco-luxe retreat perfectly positioned on Honolulu’s glamorous main beachfront promenade, Kalakaua Avenue. But its attractions go way beyond location: think a lobby that doubles as an aquarium, a slick and stylish pool deck with overwater cabanas and an oh–so–Instagrammable rooftop bar overlooking the ocean. 

For true destination dining, sample Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto’s take on Asian flavours at Morimoto Asia. Feeling a little more Mediterranean? La Bettola and Piccola Onda will satisfy any Italian cravings, while the small-batch artisanal scoops at Double Fat invite you to sample unexpected flavours like yuzu creamsicle and honey furikake.  

You’re invited to lay low at The Laylow, where flickering fire pits, nightly chillout sessions with live music and an achingly stylish pool area await. Set amid lush gardens a few blocks back from Waikiki’s iconic sands, you can relish the best of both worlds from this central spot, which offers both seclusion and an opportunity to jump into the city’s action when you fancy. 

The hotel can facilitate experiences like helicopter rides, snorkelling with turtles and traditional luaus, or simply strolling through the nearby streets lined with boutiques and restaurants, before returning to feast on modern Hawaiian cuisine at Hideout, the open-air restaurant with nightly live entertainment. 

Prepare to embrace the unexpected, like ukulele lessons and a cute welcome basket on arrival (but we won’t spoil the surprise with what’s inside). 

Swimming with manta rays, lei making, and "Feast and Fire" luau shows: you won’t be forgetting a stay at Outrigger KONA Resort in a hurry. This newly renovated oceanfront resort on the Kona Coast, above the cliffs of Keauhou Bay, couldn’t be better placed to explore Big Island and historic Kailua-Kona, revered by the Hawaiian monarchy for its spiritual significance. Head out to the bay for a guided kayak and snorkel tour—this is one of the only places in the world where manta rays come right up to shore—or visit Punalu’u black sand beach to see hundreds of green turtles on the sand. 

On 22 emerald-green acres, amid lava cliffs and mountains, is a multi-tier swimming pool (with a 200-foot water slide, no less), two restaurants serving fresh seafood and island fare, and oodles of aloha spirit.

Nature lovers present: the 17-acre, beachfront Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa sits amid coves of crystalline waters, volcanic mountains, sacred fishponds and the powdery white sands of Anaeho’omalu Bay on the Kohala Coast. Among the swaying palms is a tropical playground, with days spent snorkelling, paddleboarding, ziplining or hiking in and around the coastal landscapes. Relaxation is found in a private cabana by one of the resort’s three sparkling pools or on the sands of the beach, at Mandara Spa (hello, Fire & Ice Massage) or on one of the three nine-hole golf courses on site.

Come sunset, watch as music, dance, and island flavours come to life at a traditional luau, and sample farm-to-table dishes at Hawaii Calls Restaurant, where award-winning chef Jayson Kanekoa curates the menu. 

A straight-up icon, the Kahala Hotel & Resort has been an A-list hideaway since the ‘60s, hosting the likes of Frank Sinatra, Sir Elton John and even Queen Elizabeth II. Hailed as the Best Hotel in Hawaii in the Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2024, it’s little wonder why even the local dolphins decided to call the resort’s private lagoon home. 

Nestled in Honolulu’s upmarket Kahala, this five-star sanctuary is the pinnacle of Hawaiian hospitality. Find out why as you dine on ocean-view seafood at Hoku’s, indulge in a traditional lomilomi massage with Pohaku stones at Kahala Spa, or enjoy the serenity of the cabana-lined oceanfront pool. When it comes time to explore, Oahu’s natural beauty is within easy reach, with Diamond Head and North Shore just a short drive away.